NATO Expansion and Minority Rights
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NATO Expansion and Minority Rights |
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Advocacy focused on three issues: (1) the rapid expansion of NATO to include Hungary; (2) the importance of ensuring that minority rights not be ignored during the accession period and beyond; and (3) the rejection of a policy that would grant Russia a “veto” in NATO matters. It was also asserted that NATO must neither deviate from its core function of protecting members from outside aggression nor treat its new members, including Hungary, differently when they join the alliance. Finally, because the Committee’s chair believed that the enlargement of NATO was in the interest of the United States and all Hungarians, it cautioned against the expansion process being used to favor partisan political interests in Hungary during the national elections in the spring/summer of 1998. [download the report]
The White House Event. President George W. Bush welcomed seven new nations to the NATO alliance at a South Lawn ceremony. The prime ministers of the new members and of three aspirant nations as well as senior government officials, including Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, General Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and congressional leaders attended the ceremony. The President’s remarks can be found on the White House’s website. The Gala Reception.
Later that evening, a gala reception organized by the embassies
“in cooperation” with the Central East European Coalition was held at
the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The
heads of state of the “Vilnius 10” countries, along with other delegation
members and a representative from each CEEC member joined Secretary Rumsfeld
on the marble staircase in the grand hall of the Corcoran Gallery. Regina Narusis of the Lithuanian American Community was the
master of ceremonies. Secretary
Rumsfeld delivered the keynote address and Mr. Koszorus spoke on behalf
of the CEEC. His remarks
focused on the role the CEEC played for over ten years in advocating enlargement
to include every country that both wanted to join NATO and satisfied the
alliance’s membership criteria.
Mr. Koszorus concluded by noting that, 10/27/2003 - AHF and CHACR Urging Congress to Include Minority Rights as a basis for Rumanian accession to NATO...The U.S. Senate passed a resolution on October 27, 2003 on the occasion of Rumanian president Iliescu’s visit to Washington. The Senate expressed its appreciation for the “strong and vibrant relations between the United States and Romania.” The resolution also recognized “ the steps the Government of Romania has taken and continues to take in economic, political, and social reforms, including reforms to improve protections of the rights of minorities.” In the House of Representatives, however, members of the Hungarian American congressional caucus echoed the concerns of the Hungarian American community when submitting a letter to President Bush on the eve of his meeting with President Iliescu. Two Co-Chairs and other Members of the Hungarian American Caucus -- Tom Lantos (D-CA), Ernest J. Istook (R-OK), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) -- urged President Bush to raise a number of concerns with President Iliescu. These concerns focused on corruption, freedom of the press, independent judiciary and the rule of law issues in Rumania. In addition, the Representatives urged the quick, fair and complete restitution of hurch properties, the safeguarding of the rights of Rumania's large historic Hungarian community and education about the Holocaust. They concluded by expressing their "conviction that we in the United States consider treatment of religious and ethnic minorities an important measure of democracy." The letter to President Bush underscores the significance of the Hungarian Caucus. In light of the Senate resolution, the letter of the caucus Members represents the only official statement from the U.S. government that expressed concerns and issues close to the heart of the Hungarian American community. In addition, AHF-DC further contributed to the debate about the need for Rumania to implement democratic reforms and respect the rights of the Hungarian community. In addition to minority rights per se, AHF-DC's submission also raised questions concerning fundamental rights and the rule of law since they relate directly to how a society treats its religious and national minorities. See memorandum in the download section on the right.
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