The Global Ambassador of Hungarian Culture title was awarded at a ceremony in Budapest earlier the year, but Kertész could not attend because of ill health. The recipients of the title, presented for the first time, were cited for their outstanding work promoting Hungarian culture beyond the country's borders and encouraged to continue their efforts. In addition to Kertész, they included Lady Solti, the widow of the great conductor Sir Georg Solti; the painter László Fehér; the conductors Iván Fischer and Zoltán Kocsis; and the folk singer Márta Sebestyén.
Hiller praised Kertész for his novel Fateless, one of the most important works of Holocaust literature, noting that the book is more than just a novel in that it presents an entire philosophy of life. He added that Kertész's works are not only treasures of Hungarian literature, but of world literature.
Fateless is largely based on Kertész's own experiences as a boy during the Holocaust.
Kertész expressed his gratitude for the mandate the title carries with it in a short acknowledgement speech. Afterward, he told the Hungarian News Agency that he would continue his work as before, creating an independent existence for his works. Kertész said it was fortunate that this was in the best interest of Hungarian culture. "We're on a good path," he said.
Kertész won the Nobel Prize in literature in 2002. He lives in Berlin.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
