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AMSz Figyelő / AHF Media Watch

AHF Media Watch is a new, special service for Individual, Patron and Michael Kovats Freedom Circle-level Members of the American Hungarian Federation. It is a hand-picked selection of news articles from across the Carpathian Basin and worldwide in English and Hungarian. Those of you on this list who are not currently members (or with expired memberships) are encouraged to [join and renew]!Please remember: AHF, serving the community since 1906, is an ALL-VOLUNTEER, non-partisan, independent, non-profit charitable and educational organizations - We need your continued support!

Why so many Hungarians across the border? "The greatest catastrophe to have befallen Hungary since the battle of Mohacs in 1526," the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, was extremely harsh on Hungary and unjustifiably one-sided. The resulting "treaty" lost Hungary an unprecedented 2/3 of her territory, and 1/2 of her total population or 1/3 of her ethnic-Hungarian population. Add to this the loss of all her seaports, up to 90% of her vast natural resources, industry, railways, and other infrastructure. Millions of Hungarians saw borders arbitrarily redrawn around them, without plebiscites. After 1000 years as integral parts of Hungary, Transylvania and other parts of Western Hungary, seen here, were ceded to Rumania.[Read more] about the Treaty of Trianon.

Why so many Hungarians across the border? A thousand years of nation building successfully delineated groups based on culture, religion, geography, and other attributes to create the countries with which we are so familiar. While some Western European nations would continue power struggles and princely battles and civil wars, Hungary, founded in 896, was a peaceful multi-ethnic state for over a 1000 years and her borders were virtually unchanged.... Until 1920.

"The greatest catastrophe to have befallen Hungary since the battle of Mohacs in 1526," the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, was extremely harsh on Hungary and unjustifiably one-sided. The resulting "treaty" cost Hungary an unprecedented 2/3 of her territory, and 1/2 of her total population or 1/3 of her ethnic-Hungarian population. Add to this the loss of all her seaports, up to 90% of her vast natural resources, industry, railways, and other infrastructure. Millions of Hungarians saw borders arbitrarily redrawn around them, without plebiscites, ignoring President Wilson's lofty goal of national self-determination. The affects of this dictat are felt strongly today throughout the region. Two of the three newly created countries carved out of Hungarian territory no longer exist. "Slovakia" (Upper Hungary) split with the Czech Republic while "Yugoslavia" suffered from civil war and the ravages of ethnic cleansing. This should never have happened. Hungarian populations continue to decline significantly after forced removals such as the Benes Decrees and other pograms, and continued pressure and discriminative policies such as the 2009 Slovak Language Law, the Slovak Citizenship Act which is being used to strip Hungarians of their citizenship and status, and gerrymandering and other practices in Romania and Serbia.

The United States never ratified this treaty. At the time President Wilson said: “The proposal to dismember Hungary is absurd” and later Sir Winston Churchill said: “Ancient poets and theologians could not imagine such suffering, which Trianon brought to the innocent.” We are sad to report that they were right.

AHF has been an outspoken proponent for Human and Minority Rights and Autonomy for the Hungarian communities living in the Carpathian Basin. The effects of Trianon are still felt strongly today. Read more about AHF's work regarding this tragic event.
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