 4/27/2010 - UPDATE: AHF remains concerned that authorities continue to raise barriers to divide this community... In 2004, AHF, working closely with member the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations (CHACR), worked to publicize the fate of villagers of Szelmenc, the "Village Cut in Two" / "A Kettévágott Falu." In 2005, a year after a successful Congressional briefing, the parties agreed to finally open a border crossing. Important historically and morally to the local Hungarian community, both sides were also optimistic regarding what a border crossing and increased traffic could mean economically. Short-term, both sides of the border experienced much needed development. But the very same Schengen guidelines used to open the border seem to have raised new barriers. The cost for the visa alone (35 Euros), exceeds monthly salaries for most in this, one of the poorest locations in Subcarpathia (Kárpátalja), making crossing the border virtually impossible. In December 2010, DunaTV issued a report entitled "Visa requirements replace barbed wire as barrier to border crossing" / "A szögesdrót helyett most a vízumkényszer választja el a szelmencieket." See the video in Hungarian [ Magyarul]
 Szelmenc:
The Village Cut in Two... Seen here - relatives yelling across
the border which runs through main street.
3/11/2005
- UPDATE - A Huge Victory! Szelmenc
border crossing to open! - A long-awaited border crossing for
the divided village of Szelmenc will soon open according to a recent decision
of the Slovak government. AHF worked with its member and
lead organization in the effort CHACR. CHACR was able to mobilize the
American Hungarian Congressional Caucus and the Hungarian American Community
to urge Slovakia and the Ukiraine to end this cold-war division.
 4/21/2004
- Successful United States Congress Briefing on Szelmenc: Congresswoman
Diane Watson calls for opening border...
The mayors of both sides of Szelmenc, the village divided in two, testified
along with the Ambassadors of Slovakia and the Ukraine, and the President
of the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations before the
Congressional Human Rights Caucus regarding the desperate situation. The
Ambassador of Slovakia committed to finding a solution
to this "nonsensical situation." Ukranian Counselor agrees.
The briefing was held Wednesday, April 21, 2004, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
in the 2255 Rayburn House Office Building and was attended by Congresswoman
Diane Watson (D-CA) and staffers from Congressman Lantos' (D-CA
Human Rights Caucus Co-Chair) and Congressman Wolf's
(R-VA, Human Rights Caucus Co-Chair) offices. The well attended
event included the wife of Congressman Istook (R-OK) along with American
Hungarian Federation 1st Vice President Frank Koszorus, Vice President
Bryan Dawson, Director Atilla Kocsis, Zoltan Bagdy, Frank Kapitan,
and Gabor Olah.
 After
introductions and overview by Tom Lantos staffer Rudolf Rohonyi, the panel
and audience watched a short film entitled, "Szelmenc, the Divided
Village" (see the videos in the top right column on this page)
 "How
did this division happen?" asked Congresswoman Watson. There was
some disagreement as to how the Szelmenc division came to be. Counselor
Scherba from the Ukrainian Embassy remarked that the division was due
to the French and Americans at the Treaty of Versailles. Miklós
Zelei, author, expert on the division of Szelmenc, and key figure
in illuminating the injustice here, explained that was not the case. Under
the Treaty of Versailles,
Szelmenc in whole became part of the newly formed Czechoslovakia in 1920.
The Vienna accord of 1938 granted back some of Hungary's lost territories,
Szelmenc and the lower Carpathians included. In 1945, the Soviet Red Army
occupied the area and tried to push it's border as far west as possible.
Unfortunately for the families of Szelmenc, Stalin made that border through
the middle of main street. To prevent people from seeing each other, the
Soviets built a 20-foot high wood plank fence through the city, a little
"Berlin Wall." Yelling across to family was a criminal offense.
Today, the wood planks are no longer there, and families are "free"
to continue yelling across the border to their loved ones.
 The
Mayors Lajos Toth (Slovak side) and Jozsef Illar (Ukrainian side) both
remarked that they filed official petitions in 2001. Although "exploratory"
committees were established neither side has been able to bring
relief to the families of Szelmenc. The Slovak Ambassador admitted he
only became aware of the problem recently due to the efforts of the Center
for Hungarian American Congressional Relations (CHACR)
and its President Sandor Nagy. Though "committed" to finding
a resolution,  Ambassador
Kocak felt that with Slovak accession to the European Union on May 1st,
the only type of border crossing allowed was a "full, international
border crossing" that would be prohibitively expensive. AHF and CHACR
disagree. CHACR President, Sandor Nagy, remarked that special "minor
crossings" have precedent along the borders ofPoland/Belarus and
Slovenia/Croatia. Locals can be issued resident ID's that would allow
them to cross freely.  Other immediate short term easements could be made
to waive visa fees which can cost a month's pension and are valid for
only two crossings. Counselor Scherba from the Ukrainian Embassy also
called for both sides to resolve the situation and called on the European
Union to accept Ukraine also as an EU member which would also serve to
alleviate the Szelmenc problem.
 This
is a landmark event that illuminates so clearly the injustices of the
Treaty of Versailles (Trianon)
and the present-day humiliation Hungarians face all over their lost territories
in the Carpathian Basin. AHF officials commented rhetorically that "if
the two sides have not had the political will over the past 60 years to
resolve this tragedy, how can anyone be confident that they have the political
will now?" Frank Koszorus, AHF 1st Vice President, was appreciative
of the fact that both the Ukrainian and Slovak governments sent  representatives
to discuss the situation in Szelmenc: "But this was a show of good
faith. We are now more confident that we will be able to work with all
the parties involved to bring closure to a tragic page in human history.
With the continued assistance of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus,
CHACR, the European Union, and the Slovak and Ukrainian governments, we
can deliver for the families of Szelmenc."
 Speaking
to a room full of reporters and a large audience, Congresswoman Watson
found it difficult to believe that such a situation was allowed to continue
and vowed that she and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus will continue
to monitor the issue and will seek European Union support to make Szelmenc
a "model" precedent and eliminate this inhuman separation of
families and loved ones.
 CHACR
President Sandor Nagy emphasized to the Slovak and Ukrainian representatives
that "CHACR and the Hungarian American Community will continue to
monitor the situation and look forward to working you to bring closure
to thi s unfortunate situation." According to CHACR, "Recent
developments on Capitol Hill forecast a major victory for the Hungarian
grassroots campaign to save Szelmenc. Several members of Congress signaled
their agreement to sign a letter to Slovakian Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda,
and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. The letter calls on the heads of
government to facilitate the opening of a border crossing in Szelmenc."
 In
a touching farewell and show of appreciation for Congresswoman Watson's
and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus' efforts, Mayor Illar thanked
the panel and presented Congresswoman Watson with a key to Szelmenc.
Hand-engraved on the beautiful item were the symbols of peace, prosperity,
and freedom of travel. Congresswoman Watson told him she looks forward
to using the key to cross a newly opened border.
- Bryan Dawson, AHF Information
Office
About Szelmenc
 The
Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations (CHACR) and
the AHF are fighting this injustice and relic of Stalin and the cold war...Although
brother and sister have lived in the same village all their lives, Maria
Ivan and her brother, Arpad, have been able to hug each other only twice
in the past 53 years. As a result of a post-World War II treaty, a barbed
wire fence marking borders has divided them, reported the Associated Press.
Szelmenc (called Solontsi in Ukrainian and Velke Slemence in Slovak)
is found near where the Ukrainian, Slovakian and Hungarian borders meet.
After WWII, the Soviets took this part along with half of the village
for themselves. The other half was given to Czechslovakia. With the disintegration
of the Soviet Union, the Soviet part became part of Ukraine. The Soviets
constructed the border at the end of World War II and was typical of the
inner Iron Curtain of the Communist block. The border cut the villages
into half and today one part of Szelmenc belongs to Ukraine and the other
part to Slovakia. The border not only divides buildings and streets, it
also separates people.
The most painful division
Crossing through this border fence is illegal. According to the Ukrainian
Weekly, when the border fence was initially raised in the middle of Szelmenc,
villagers were allowed to cross borders freely to visit family members,
attend church and tend to crops. One day those rights were forbidden and
strict border regulations were enforced.
 Many of the people who were on the wrong side that day have never been
allowed toreunite
with their families. A little girl who was sick with the flu was resting
at her grandmother's house on the Slovak side while her mother worked
in the fields in Ukraine that day. She was never permitted to return to
her parents.
The division is most painful for the families that have been forcefully
separated. Even today, when people on the Slovak side send letters to
the Ukrainian side, most of their letters are returned, stamped "address
unknown."
"I could never bury my family members.”
The nearest boarder crossing is 30 miles away and the cost of travel
documents and traveling is too expensive for most inhabitants.
 Ms. Veres attended her sister’s wedding in 1945. Accordingto
her, everything was fine until the family tried to return home after the
wedding. While they enjoyed the wedding ceremony, Soviet soldiers set
up a barbed wire fence and divided the village. After long negotiations
the family members were able to return to their home but never to go back
to visit their family on the other side of the fence.
Stefan Ignac: “I could never bury my family members.” His grandmother
and mother lived and died on the Slovak side. Since Stefan Ignac lived
on the Ukrainian side, he missed their funerals. He cannot even bring
flowers to their graves.
The Silent Protest
 The
Ukrainian village cannot be found on the map. There is also a major difference
between the two sides of this fence in terms of living conditions. While
the shops in Slovakia are increasingly filled with Western products, people
on the Ukrainian side lack even basic commodities. Similarly to the former
wall between East and West Berlin, the fence dividing Szelmenc is a Cold
War relic. Protesting their division, the inhabitants of the divided village
cut a wooden Szekely gate in half, and erected the parts on each side
of the border on October 28, 2003.
AHF worked with C.H.A.C.R. to resolve
this crucial problem with the help of the U.S. Congress. We organized
a nation wide grassroots
campaign to call on members of Congress to come to the rescue. What
the villagers ask for is a border crossing to end their 60-year old separation.
We are working to convince members of Congress to sign onto a letter to
the governments of Slovakia and Ukraine regarding this issue.
In 2005, the parties agreed to finally open a border crossing. Important historically to the local Hungarian community, both sides were optimistic regarding what a border crossing and increased traffic could mean economically. Short-term, both sides of the border experienced much needed development. Sadly, a December 2010 report by Hungary's Duna TV demonstrated that visa requirements and their associated costs (that can exceed an entire month's wages) have replaced the barbed wire once preventing villagers from meeting.
[<< Back to All AHF News] |
[Watch the Videos!] 
AHF's 100 YEARS
CONGRESSIONAL DISPLAY
(by Bryan Dawson) |
 |
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Carpatho-Ukraine: The Divided Village of Szelmenc |
“I could never bury my family members” - Stefan Ignac, resident
A Most Painful Division... Although brother and sister have lived in the same village all their lives, Maria Ivan and her brother, Arpad, have been able to hug each other only twice in the past 53 years. As a result of a post-World War II treaty, a barbed wire fence marking borders has divided them.
Szelmenc (called Solontsi in Ukrainian and Velke Slemence in Slovak) is found near where the Ukrainian, Slovakian and Hungarian borders meet. After WWII, the Soviets took this part along with half of the village for themselves. The other half was given to Czechslovakia. With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Soviet part became part of Ukraine.
The Soviets constructed the border at the end of World War II. To prevent people from seeing each other, the Soviets built a 20-foot high wood plank fence through the village, a little "Berlin Wall." The border cut the village in half so that one part of Szelmenc nowbelonged to Ukraine and the other to Slovakia. The border not only divided buildings and streets, it also separated people.  Many of the people who were on the wrong side that day were not allowed to reunite with their families, and the only means of communication was yelling across the border.
“I could never bury my family members.” Stefan Ignac's grandmother and mother lived and died on the Slovak side. Since he lived on the Ukrainian side, he missed their funerals. He coudn't even bring flowers to their graves.
 Ending the Painful Divide... AHF worked with its member, the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations (C.H.A.C.R.), who led the effort to illuminate and resolve this problem. Capitalizing on its work establishing the Hungarian American Caucus, C.H.A.C.R. organized a nation-wide grassroots campaign calling on members of the Caucus and others in U.S. Congress to support a border crossing to end the 60-year old separation.
In 2004, the Ambassadors of Slovakia and Ukraine were invited to participate in a meeting on Capitol Hill with members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus where the film, "Szelmenc, the Divided Village" helped shock participants into action.
 In 2005, the parties agreed to finally open a border crossing. Important historically to the local Hungarian community, both sides were optimistic regarding what a border crossing and increased traffic could mean economically. Short-term, both sides of the border experienced much needed development. Sadly, a December 2010 report by Hungary's Duna TV demonstrated that visa requirements and their associated costs (that can exceed an entire month's wages) have replaced the barbed wire once preventing villagers from meeting.
 
Related videos
 |
"Magyarok a pokol tornácán" Szelmenc in 1992 (in Hungarian) [ magyarul] |
 |
"Hosszu Utazas " A Kiss Szelmenci határtkelő megnyitásárol szóló dokumentumfilm. A history of how Szelmenc came to be. Includes the Congressional Briefing on Szelmenc in 2004 (in Hungarian) [ magyarul] |
|
Visa requirements replace barbed wire as barrier to border crossing / "A szögesdrót helyett most a vízumkényszer választja el a szelmencieket"
Szelmenc in 2010
[ Magyarul]
|
AHF's 100 YEARS
ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL DISPLAYS
(by Bryan Dawson:
click on each
image for a larger version)
AHF in the Beginning:
1906 and Budapest's
George Washington Memorial
[read more]
AHF and the "Justice for
Hungary" movement calling
attention to the tragedy of Trianon
[read more]
AHF, Tibor Eckhardt, and
the "Free Hungary Movement"
seeking to extract Hungary
from the Axis sphere
[read more]
AHF Honoring our
Heroes at the Arlington
National Cemetery
[read more]
AHF and the Kossuth
Bust in the US Capitol
[read more]
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Rumania
[read more]
AHF as a watchdog for
human rights in Vojvodina
and the MÁÉRT movement
[read more]
AHF relief efforts during WWII
[Read More]
AHF relief efforts during
the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
[read more]
Join online!
[<< back to all AHF news]
|
