1987. Különkiadvány, 1987.10.01 / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

- Helping the minorities requires a common national strategy, vhich cannot be devised surreptitiously.- Hov tbe minority issue is handled vili baaically influence Hungary'a relations vitb tbe neighboring countries.- Suppresaion of the minority problem clouda our national aelf-perception, could change our justifiable concern to blind fury, and could easily lead to vhere compassion degenerates intő collective hysteria that lends itself readily to manipulation.

Regarding tbe State'a attitűdé to the minority issue, tbe pover structure bears a beavy burden of blame.

When tbe sovietization of East Europe vas completed in 1948, tbe minority issue became a taboo. The government of eacb country received a free bánd over tbe minorities on its territory. Fór Rákosi and bis associates,

Hungárián minorities living beyond our borders did nőt ezist.

After 1956, Kadar and hÍ6 associates accepted a Bhameful role in the campaign against tbe Hungárián minorities in the neighboring countries, by loudly spreading tbe accusation tbat tbe revolution bad raised territorial claimB, and by openly approving of tbe campaign that Románia launched against Hungárián intellectuals charged vitb irredentism.

In the early 1970's, the leadership strived to suppress the efforts to recognize Hungárián culture in the neighboring countries as a part of universal Hungárián culture. From the mid-1970's on, it stubbornly resisted the pressure to piacé on tbe agenda the vor6ening situation of the Hungárián minorities.

Only in tbe 1980's did tbe leadership yield to tbe mounting pressure of public opinion and begin to take at least occasional steps to halt tbe deterioration. And only recently has the leadership reacbed tbe point of adopting a public standpoint.

At tbe [Helsinki] reviev conferences in Ottava and Vienna, tbe Hungárián delegation cosponsored a proposal that tbe rights of national minorities be included in tbe humán rights enjoying internetional protection. In one or tvo statements, re6ponsible political leaders mentioned the grievances of tbe Hungárián minoritieB (particularly those of tbe Hungárián minority in Románia). A Research Institute of Hungarology ha6 been establisbed in Budapest, to coordinate tbe study of East European bistory and culture, including the history and culture of tbe entire Hungárián people. After lengtby procraetinat ion, the monograph "Erdély Története" [History of Transylvania] has finally been published, etc.

Tbese steps are velcome, bút only as tbe first steps. A turnaround is needed alsó in tbe policy on the Hungárián minorities beyond our borders, just a6 in domestic policy. We need clarified basic principles, a carefully tbought out strategy and established procedures, nőt campaigns.

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