9/22/2023
Sandor Petofi postage stamp – gift to the President of Vojvodina Assembly
The large philatelic project of the Post of Serbia on the occasion of two centuries since the birth of one of the greatest poets of Hungarian literature and revolutionaries, Sándor Petőfi, was presented by the Acting Director of the Post of Serbia Zoran Đorđević and the President of the Assembly of AP Vojvodina István Pásztor, at the ceremony held in the PTT Museum in Belgrade.
Pásztor warmly thanked everyone who participated in the project and the Post of Serbia for their cooperation and contribution to the memory of one of the most significant figures of the Hungarian national myth, his poetry and his role in the Hungarian struggle for freedom in 1848-49, which is commemorated throughout Vojvodina with the GET MOVING! PETOFI! slogan, within the Vojvodina program cycle "Petőfi 200" organized by "VM4K", from January 1, 2023 to March 15, 2024.
Pásztor said that generations of Hungarians are growing up on the life example and work of Sándor Petőfi, his patriotism, revolutionism, advocacy for freedom and respect among people, and that the values he represents are even more significant today than in some more peaceful times.
"First of all, I would like to thank the Director Zoran Đorđević for his long-term friendship and for today's promotion in a nationally respectable institution, the PTT Museum, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The postage stamp Sándor Petőfi will contribute to that celebration and is worthy of that task," Pásztor said. He added that the stamp is a "special gem" and "unprecedented", since this is the first time that the name of Sándor Petőfi is written in the Hungarian language in the philately of another country.
"We prepared the philatelic issue in honour of the leading poet of Hungarian romanticism, among the greatest in all of Europe, whom we still read together today and celebrate his contribution to the Hungarian revolution, dedicated to developing our excellent ties and cooperation with the Hungarian people. It is just one of the results of the establishment of exceptional relations between the two countries, for which Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are responsible. The issue symbolizes and will continue to bear witness to the excellent relations, coexistence and friendship of the two peoples", said Zoran Đorđević.
Đorđević presented Pásztor with a gift issue of a special commemorative postage stamp.
The commemorative philatelic issue "200 years since the birth of Sándor Petőfi" contains a commemorative block on which the central motif is a portrait of Sándor Petőfi, a first day cover and a commemorative stamp. It was published in professional cooperation with the Centre for Education, Research and Culture of Vojvodina Hungarians (VM4K); Ltd. Magyar Szó Kft, and Forum Printing House. The artistic realization of the issue is the work of Boban Savić, MA, Academic Painter, and the Creator of stamps for the Post Serbia.
The ceremony was also attended by a delegation of the Workers' Council of the Post of Slovenia, which is on a working visit to the Post of Serbia.