AHF News Archive: 2005
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AHF News Archive: 2005 |
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On behalf of the American Hungarian Federation, Frank Koszorus, Jr., submitted a letter to Secretary Condoleezza Rice, on the eve of her trip to Europe that includes Romania, calling attention to the fact that Romania must continue its reforms relative to its Hungarian minority. The Federation’s letter urges Secretary Rice to raise several issues. [read more]
AHF kicked off a year of events devoted to remembering
the heroes of the 1956 Hungarian
7/14/2005 - VOJVODINA HUNGARIANS CALL FOR LOCAL AUTONOMY. RFE/RFL Newsline: 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] 1/2/2005 - AHF Launches Bookstore on Or search on your own!
(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]
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endorse the content or opinions expressed by its individual members
and member organizations. © American Hungarian Federation®,
All Rights Reserved
12/21/2005
- AHF helps sponsor First Hungarian Christmas in Brooklyn,
New York... Initiated by the weekly newspaper and member organization
The American Hungarian Word / Amerikai Magyar Szo - A Hid, the event will
be held at 12 noon on December 24th at the St. Rosalia Roman Catholic
Church (6301 14th Ave.). After the noon mass, a reception will be held.
A midnight mass is also scheduled. For more details, [
12/17/2005
- Tennessee Hungarians trying to organize. Please
help the Tennessee Hungarian community join forces to preserve Hungarian
American culture in the Volunteer State where Hungarian Americans have
a long history and Col. Géza Mihalóczy became a Civil War
Hero and organized the famed "Lincoln Riflemen." Contact 
12/2/2005
- Resolution in the House of Representatives to recognize
the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution! The American
Hungarian Federation applauds Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) for taking
the initiative to introduce a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary
of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The resolution, H. Res. 479, which enjoys
the broad support of the American Hungarian community and its various
organizations, was referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
[
UPDATE
11/23/2005 - AHF distributes $4,500.00 in Disaster Relief
Funds to Transylvania. The AHF Disaster Relief Fund targets Hungarian
disaster victims, currently those affected by hurricane Katrina and Transylvania
flooding. Overall, the fund has taken in $6,500.00. Earlier this month,
AHF distributed $2000.00 to the Arpadhon (Albany, LA) Hungarian Settlement
Historical Society to help them rebuild. The $4500.00 was sent to the
mayor of Szekelyudvarhely in the heart of the flood-stricken region. [
10/28/2005
- AHF spearheads joint letter expressing deep concern over
the Hungarian Foreign Ministry’s decision to disclose selected statements
taken from classified reports prepared by a former Hungarian
Ambassador to the United States in his official capacity. [
10/24/2005
- Rumanian Senate rejects minority status law. AHF Issues
Statement. Rumanian Senator Paunescu's earlier statement telling
Hungarians to "return to the depths of Asia" on September 29th
(see the 
10/12/2005
- AHF Gala Dinner to Support Hungarian Schools in the
Csango Regions of Transylvania raises $15,000.00. The gala fundraiser
was held on October 8th, 2005 in East Brunswick, New Jersey! More details
are below. [
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! 
1/5/2005
- Hungarians have until September 2005 to formally request
return of confiscated properties in Slovakia under the Benes Decrees. The 1945 Benes Decrees claimed collective World War II responsibility
of Germans and Hungarians living in Czechoslovakia, and deprived them
of their rights, their property and expelled many of them from the country.
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