| |
|
||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
AHF is kicking off a year of events devoted to remembering the heroes of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. We will be awarding our Kovats Mihaly Medal of Freedom to Congressmen and private-sector Hungarian-Americans for their lifetime achievements and support of freedom and democracy. Those donating at least $56.00 receive the mini-documentary on the 1956 Revolution shown here produced by AHF and member filmmakers Imre and Zsuzsa Toth. [read more]
VOJVODINA HUNGARIANS CALL FOR LOCAL AUTONOMY. The League of Vojvodina Hungarians announced in Szabadka (Subotica) on 13 July a proposed amendment to the Serbian Constitution that will allow local self-government and a high degree of autonomy in areas where ethnic minorities constitute the bulk of the population, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. [read more]
6/13/2005 - Two Transylvanian boys attacked on June 2nd, 2005, for "speaking Hungarian" in Marosvasarhely (Tirgu-Mures). Tirgu-Mures, home to Rumanian radical politcian George Funar, has long been known for violent Rumanian nationalism and anti-Hungarianism. [read more]
The United States House of Representatives passed a resolution on May 23, urging the “Government of Romania to recognize its responsibilities to provide equitable, prompt and fair restitution to all religious communities for property confiscated by the former Communist government. . . .” [read more]
5/11/2005 - The Washington Times publishes AHF Letter to the Editor - "Mr. Bush, who did not mince words in Riga, should make another highly symbolic gesture to underscore his message that the freedom of small nations should not be expendable." [read more]
“We applaud Representatives Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Tom Tancredo (R-CO) for their leadership on an issue that goes to the very heart of democracy, rule of law and minority rights in Romania – the return of religious properties illegally confiscated by the former Communist government,” noted Frank Koszorus, Jr. “This has been a long process, beginning with statements in 2002 by Representatives Lantos, Tancredo and Robert Matsui urging the prompt and fair restitution of properties by Romania and Slovakia and continuing in 2004 when Representative Tancredo introduced a similar resolution that was cosponsored by 15 Members,” he added. [download the resolution] here or on the right under "Related Downloads. The resolution is available online at www.congress.gov. Select "by bill" and enter "H.Res. 191" HOW CAN YOU HELP? [read more] [join us!].
Those interested in viewing the controversial film that was banned by
the Rumanian AND the Hungarian governments, can now view the film on the
Web. Directed by the renowned Gábor Koltay and with internationally
respected historians such as Nemeskürti and Raffai, the film has
and will continue to spark critical debate. AHF encourages open debate
on Trianon
and encourages all to review the film - unfortunately this site offers
the film in Hungarian only. [Go
to film]
AHF applauds such language and hopes these words can be made policy for ethnic Hungarian communities struggling for survival. Related Story: NGO CALLS FOR ACTION ON KOSOVA'S INDEPENDENCE... The International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a 40-page report released in Prishtina, Belgrade, and Brussels on 24 January that "either 2005 will see the start of a final status solution that consolidates peace and development, or Kosovo may return to conflict and generate regional instability." AHF is also calling for international attention on the Vojvodina province in Serbia-Montenegro where anti-Hungarian violence continues. [more]
(AP) Six members of a Hungarian family were brutally killed in adjoining homes in a northern Serbian town on the border with Hungary, radio B-92 reported Wednesday. The bodies were found Tuesday in the family's adjoining homes in the town of Horgos, after neighbors noticed the houses were unusually quiet. A local court judge, Snjezana Lekovic, confirmed the killing, but police gave no official statement on the case. Horgos lies in Serbia's northern Vojvodina province that has recently seen a rise in attacks against the region's minority ethnic Hungarians. [More]
Fifteen organizations from Europe, North America, and Latin America met January 5-6, 2005 in Szabadka/Subotica (Vajdaság/Vojvodina, Serbia-Montenegro) to join forces to.....[more in English and Hungarian]
The "Szabad Ujsag" weekly has published a list of those lands, which were taken away during the Benes programs. The original owners or its children, grandchildren etc may recover these expropriated lands and properties, if they can prove their ownership and relationships to the original owner. The validated documents have to be shown to the proper authorities. One catch is that it has to be proven before September 1 of 2005. [more]
|
To sign up for our eNewsletter, contact bryan.dawson@webenetics.com. AHF does not share your private information.
Coming Soon!
Subscribe to RFE/RL Newsline, 1/2/2005 -
AHF Launches Bookstore on
Or search on your own!
In the last six months, non-Serbs, including members of Vojvodina’s 300,000-strong Hungarian minority, have been harassed and assaulted and their cemeteries and churches have been desecrated in a wave of physical violence, vandalism and anti-Semitism. [download full article] or [read more] about Serbian intimidation of Hungarians in Vojvodina
Residents in the province's capital, Novi Sad (Ujvidek), were woken by drunken mobs over Serbian New Year on January 13-14 shouting, "Hey Serbs let's butcher the Croats! Hey Serbs, let's butcher the Hungarians!" In recent developments, Serbs riot and set historic landmarks on fire and spray graffiti saying "We Will Kill Hungarians." [read more]
4/21/2004 - Successful
United States Congress Briefing on Szelmenc: Congresswoman
Diane Watson calls for opening border...
10/9/2004 - AHF General Meeting held in New Brunswick on October 9, 2004. AHF sent out an invitation and press release inviting all members and prospective members to join AHF and participate. [read more][join] Contribute or join online!
|
9/10/2005 - BY INVITATION ONLY:
AHF
establishes Disaster Relief Fund to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Hungarian communities have been part
of the Gulf Region for a century. HELP member organizations
like the Louisiana Hungarians headed by Dr. Stephen Gargatz and Julia
Bika (thankfully, both are safe). 100% of proceeds go to victims and programs
supporting the rebuilding and relief effort. - 
8/30/2005
- HAND GRENADE THROWN AT HOME OF SERBIA'S HUNGARIAN MINORITY LEADER...Unknown
persons hurled a hand grenade at the Subotica home of Jozsef Kasza (Jozef
Kasa), who heads the League of Vojvodina Hungarians, in the early hours
of 30 August, the private Beta news agency reported. [
7/28/2005
- AHF and member organizations spearhead letter urging
president Bush to visit Budapest for commemoration of 1956 Hungarian revolution...The
letter sent to President Bush suggested that the President consider traveling
to Budapest next year to participate in commemoration of the 50th anniversary
of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. The document was signed by AHF National,
AHF of Washington, D.C., the William Penn Association, the Hungarian Reformed
Federation, the Hungarian Club of Colorado, and Eva Szorenyi of the Freedom
Fighter's Federation. [
6/28/2005
- www.hungary1956.com goes
LIVE! The American Hungarian Federation is sponsoring the Hungary
1956 Portal as part of its goals to coordinate and assist member
organizations across the country as it continues plans for kicking off
a year of events leading up to October 2006. The 1956 Portal will serve
as a central information resource for all things 1956 as our community
prepares for this important milestone. The 1956 Portal includes photos
as well as audio and video files! [See 
6/7/2005
- Trianon turns 85! Demonstrations in NY, Toronto
and elsewhere...
5/28/2005
- Hungarian Scout's Association competition a great success.
The "cserkészek" held their annual competition this year
in upper New York's Sik Sandor Boyscout Park. The Hungarian Association
of Cleveland under Dr. Nadas Gyula (AHF Member and President Emeritus)
donated $75,000 to help build a complex at the Sik Sandor Park.
5/23/2005
- AHF's 1956 Commemoration Committee meets at
its Washington, DC Headquarters at the National Press Building to continue
to work on plans for kicking off a year of events leading up to the 50th
Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Highlights include a Congressional
Commemoration in October 2005 and the "Bank Ban" at Carnegie
Hall with Placido Domingo...
3/11/2005
- AHF
Meets Rumanian President Basescu and urges him to Support Restoration
of Church Properties to Hungarian Minority - Rumanian President
Traian Basescu kicked off a two-day visit to Washington Tuesday (8 March),
with the aim of strengthening the US-Rumanian strategic partnership at
the political, military and economic levels. [
3/10/2005
- AHF and its Washington DC Chapter, set
to commemorate the 1848 Freedom Fight on March 12th at American University's
Wesley Theological Seminary, Oxnam Chapel. Controversial ethnic
Hungarian political figure Jeno Szasz to address the audience. He will
discuss issues ranging from church property restitution and anti-Hungarian
policies, to the lack of Hungarian-language educational opportunities
in Transylvania. The program includes a piano recital, Kossuth poems and
song, and a presentation by Hungarian Scouts. All
are invited. 2 pm, 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D.C.
3/3/2005
- The
President of the Assembly of European Regions, Riccardo Illy, called on
the Serbian government to guarantee the autonomy of Vojvodina.
Autonomy for
Vojvodina was the hot topic during conference on Regionalism in Novi Sad.
[
3/3/2005
- US
State Department's Bureau
of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Releases Country
Report on Human Rights Practices - 2004: Serbia and Montenegro:
"there
was an upsurge in vandalism and violence against minority ethnic and religious
groups in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina.... The targets were
mainly ethnic Hungarians and ethnic Croats--the two largest minorities
in Vojvodina." [
2/5/2005
- Banned Trianon Documentary makes it's
way to the Internet for download and viewing!
12/23/2004
- AHF sponsors "Congressional Hungarian American Caucus
Staffer Appreciation Day" on Capitol Hill. The Center for
Hungarian American Congressional Relations (
11/24/2004
- AHF issues call ("felhivas") to Hungarians
to vote "YES" on dual-citizenship for Hungarians beyond the
borders. "If someone desires Hungarian citizenship, we should
be pleased as our number has grown by at least one in a Carpathian Basin
where our numbers are in decline. But this is a referendum for which there
was no need. We shouldn't divide "within-borders" from "outside-border"
Hungarians, nor prevent a Hungarian stuck behind borders that were changed
around him from claiming his citizenship." Click to download the
"Felhivas" [
10/30/2004
- AHF
Releases Statement on Vojvodina Violence: VOJVODINA:
“Drop dead Hungarians”
10/7/2004
- "Torn from the Flag," is a new documentary
film about the significant international consequences and participants
of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. AHF is proud to join six-time
Oscar-nominee Tony Curtis and Oscar-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond
in their support of this production. Help
us! [
10/2/2004
- "Magyar Park" relocation effort in Erie PA
making progress. The park, founded by AHF member Frank Juhasz,
commemorating the 1956 revolution is being moved to a larger area and
is schedule to be unveiled in time for the 48th anniversary of the Hungarian
Revolution on October 23rd 2004. [
8/9/2004
- The American Hungarian Federation supporting scholarships to needy
Hungarian minority students from 4 countries...AHF Member Bela J.
Bognar founded the Hungarian Scholarship Fund (HSF) to finance the educational
needs of needy students of Hungarian descent in Hungary and former Hungarian
lands. In 2003, support for the HSF has grown to over $12,500.00. Help
AHF support this worthwhile cause. [
7/20/2004
- Hungarian flags fly again in Upper Hungary / Slovakia...
The American Hungarian Federation donated 6 Hungarian flags to the Slovakian
Chapter of the World Federation of Hungarians. For years, Hungarian churches
were not able to fly the Hungarian colors. Churches in Garamkövesd; Ebed,
just accross the Danube by Esztergom; Ekecs in the Csallóköz; and Kassa
(Kosice) where the The Church of the Hungarian Holy Cross (Nagymagyar
Szt. Kereszt Katolikus Templom) serves seven communities. MORE
flags are needed... PLEASE donate!
[
Updated
5/12/2004 - Hungarians Fear Renewed Ethnic Cleansing: Serbs
step up intimidation of Hungarians in Vojvodina...Minority communities
in Serbia's former Hungarian southern province of Vojvodina (Vajdasag)
are feeling the heat after recent stunning gains by Serbian ultra-nationalists
raised fears of a return to the ethnic violence of the 1990s.
Szelmenc:
The Village Cut in Two...Seen here - relatives yelling across
the border which runs through main street. Slovak and Ukranian border
guards prevent them from meeting.
See
the Video in 
3/29/2004
- Supporting NATO Expansion and Minority Rights... AHF 1st Vice President
Frank Koszorus joins US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and
gives speech on NATO expansion on Capitol Hill re-iterating concerns over
protection of Hungarians and other minorities in Rumania and the Carpathian
Basin. [
3/15/2004
- Celebrating Hungary's National Day...The American Hungarian Federation
celebrates March 15th, Hungary's National Day commemorating the 1848 democratic
revolution headed by Louis Kossuth. AHF's Vice President Frank Koszorus
and Louis Segesvary deliver poignant speeches on the life and impact of
Kossuth, only the second foreign leader to address a joint session of
Congress. [
10/21/2004
[Updated 11/04/2004]
- Former Prime Minister Viktor Orban visits Cleveland to
help commemorate the 1956 Hungarian Revolution... The United
Hungarian Societies in Cleveland has invited former Prime Minister Viktor
Orban for two days of meetings with AHF and other Hungarian-American community
leaders and multi-denominational clergy culminating in a commemoration
of the 48th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in which thousands
died and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee. [
Sign
up for the AHF mailing list.