• AHF History
• AHF Amazon Store
• Events & Cultural News
• AHF Member News
• Featured Books & Articles
• In Memoriam
• Corporate Sponsors
• Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians

12/19/2017 - On December 19, 2017,  representatives of the American Hungarian Federation (AHF) met with U.S. Congressman Andy Harris, co-chair of the Hungarian Congressional Caucus, and his legislative director, Timothy Daniels, Esq. to discuss matters of mutual interest to AHF and the Caucus.

The discussion focused on AHF's recent letter to Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell objecting to a funding proposal by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of $700,000 of U.S. taxpayers money to private groups in Hungary to establish a media resource to counter what the State Department contends is one-sided press coverage of Hungary's government and policies. Congressman Harris agreed with AHF's concerns that the funding proposal is unwarranted and inappropriate and will also look into the matter [read Congressman Harris' letter to Secretary of State Tillerson].  Congressman Harris, who is of Hungarian descent, is a long time friend and ally of the Federation.

AHF representatives attending the meeting  were Paul Kamenar AHF's General Counsel and member of AHF's International Relations Committee (IRC), and Dr. Imre Nemeth, AHF Vice-President and member of IRC.

Join and Support Us Online!

[<< Back to All AHF News]

Related Articles

12/06/2017 - AHF writes letter to US Department of State to express its deep concern over the its Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor's (DRL) intent to take active measures to intervene in Hungary's political environment. AHF, founded 110 years ago, has long supported positive bilateral relations between the United States and Hungary as a means of advancing U.S. strategic interests in Central and Eastern Europe and feels such public criticism jeopardizes those interests.
[read more]

01/24/2017 - AHF submits letter to President Trump on improving American-Hungarian relations and urging his Administration to adopt a new approach to our bilateral relations with Hungary. The letter noted, "misunderstandings have resulted in flawed and self-defeating policies that tend to foster disillusionment with the U.S. among Hungarians and thereby damage U.S. strategic interests."
[read more]

02/08/2017 - AHF continues its outreach to the new administration, submits letter to Secretary of State Tillerson urging the United States to adopt a new approach to bilateral relations with Hungary. The letter urges the administration to "advance U.S. strategic interests and goals in the region as well as promote American values and hold out its accomplishments in a manner that will inspire positive reforms, including the treatment of Hungarian minorities in Hungary’s neighboring countries. [read more]

10/10/14 - AHF submits letter to President Obama: "...although we believe that vigilance is necessary to preclude backsliding when it comes to democracy, we are justifiably puzzled and deeply concerned that you lumped Hungary in with Egypt and some of the worst dictatorships of the world in assessing the state of civil society freedoms. We... respectfully call upon you to retract that part of your statement that unjustifiably places Hungary in the same category with Egypt and other such repressive countries. Doing so would help alleviate the concern, confusion and disbelief found in our community about the United States views of Hungary, a democratic ally. It would also serve to advance the goals of the United States in the region." [read more]

10/22/14 - AHF submits letter to US Asst. Secretary of State Victoria Nuland: "The appearance of selective enforcement and the use of anti-corruption measuresas a “big gun” for political purposes that are unrelated to corruption, coupled with the other issues noted in this letter merely befuddle and alienate the Hungarian people and undermine U.S. goals...Corruption cannot, must not be tolerated. It needs to be eradicated wherever found. If not halted, it will undermine democracy and the free market system. We, therefore, support U.S. anti-corruption initiatives. However, in order to be effective, selective prosecution should be meticulously avoided." [read more]

5/18/2016 - AHF and PAC address Bill Clinton's Hungary remarks: The Presidents of the American Hungarian Federation and the Polish American Congress issue a joint statement objecting to the collective characterization by former President Bill Clinton of the Hungarian and Polish people as tired of democracy and desirous of “authoritarian dictatorship.”
[read more]

1/20/2015 - Politics.hu publishes Op-Ed by AHF President, Frank Koszorus, "What is the endgame for U.S.-Hungarian relations? "In a Tweet on January 12, 2015, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Andre Goodfriend quoted Stephen I, the first king of Hungary (975–1038), who urged his son Emeric to welcome foreigners.The Tweet...clearly made in response to the Hungarian Prime Minister's recent policy statement... that Hungary and Europeshould, with the exception of political asylum, curb economic immigration.
[read more]

02/06/2012 - American Hungarian Federation slams "unmerited criticism directed at Hungary." The Federation said opposition forces were waging “a political campaign to negate the voting public’s clear and overwhelming choice of [the centre-right] government in the 2010 internationally recognized free and fair elections. The Federation’s concern is not with the legitimate political debate surrounding any changes to the constitution but rather with the insinuations that the process itself was somehow not democratic," its statement said. [read more]

5/9/2014 - AHF Submits Letter to Secretary of State John Kerry expressing concern that the US Embassy's public (as opposed to private) statement about Hungary's history concerning the treacherous year of 1944 may have the unintended consequence of alienating Hungarians at a time when NATO needs to be unified and resolute in confronting the challenges posed by Ukraine and Russia. [more]

1/11/2011 - MTI "Objektív véleményalkotásra szólít fel az Amerikai Magyar Szövetség médiaügyben." [tovább]

01/04/11 - AHF Issues its First Statement on Hungarian Media Law: "A Rush to Judgment: The Reaction to the Hungarian Media Law." [more]

1/12/2011 - AMSZ: "a negatív sajtójelentések hamis képet festenek Magyarországról" [tovább]

01/04/11 - Hungarian Media Law: In view of all the critical media play, moderate weekly Heti Válasz broadens discussion on Hungarian media law by adding another perspective. The Hungarian National Media and Infocommunications Authority releases English version of Media Law. It is available for download. [read more]

1/11/2013 - AHF again responds to Senator Ben Cardin, Co-Chair of the US Helsinki Commission. In his December 20, 2012 statement, the Senator was unfairly critical of Hungary. "...we are concerned that (1) your assertions concerning Hungary omit relevant facts; and (2) your statement fails to raise the discrimination and intolerant policies toward ethnic Hungarians in some of the countries bordering Hungary. The statement therefore leaves the impression... of bias, which could result in cynicism toward the Helsinki Commission and its valuable and necessary work." [read more]