1988. november (277-303. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
l @[Mm£ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 295/1988 (E) 20th November, 1988 YDA Congress Finishes The Hungárián mass média’s silence on the Young Democrats Alliance congress has been broken, unbiased reports were published about it on the Kossuth Rádió pro- gramme "168 Hours", on television news and in the paper Vasárnapi Hirek ("Sunday News"). Yesterday the YDA congress’s session lasted from 9 am until 8 pm and was entirely devoted to a debate on the organisation*s political programme. A revised plán of the programme was distributed at the congress and states the basic princip- les and values of the YDA. The changes that were proposed were concemed chiefly with giving more emphasis to the problems facing the nation and to the particular- ities of East-Central European history. There were alsó proposals to modify the slightly dry list-like quality of the drafts. Yesterday moming the debate was led by István Hegedűs and in the aftemoon by Tamás Deutsch; out of about 600 participants 80-100 wanted to speak and could do so. In the aftemoon session Sándor Szilágyi read out a common statement by the Bajcsy- Zsiliszky Friendship Society, the YDA, the Hungárián Democratic Fórum, the Refugee Gommittee, the Free Democrats Alliance and the Historical Jurisdiction Committee. It condemns and calls illegal the brutal police interference intő a peaceful march in Budapest on November 15th, the anniversary of the Brasov workers action. The Románián refugee group "Románia Libera" expressed its agreement with the statement and other groups can do until tomorrow evening if they wish to jóin it. Today the congress started at 9 am and Tamás Fodor presided. More than 500 took part the máj őrity of them YDA members bút there were alsó somé people from the older generation too. The first point on the agenda in the moming was the question of whether to jóin the Hungárián Youth National Council,.(MI0T). Many different views were raised in the debate: there were those who supported the idea of joining with- out conditions reasoning that the YDA would get greater publicity in this way and that it could exert greater influanceon the programme and operation of MI0T if it was a member from its inception. Others were of the opinion that membership of MI0T could encroach on the independence of the YDA and allow it to be manipulated. Dr István Stumf who is president of MIOT’s organising committee alsó spoke in the debate. MI0T will be formally established this weekend. Finally a vote was taken: the membership decided with a two thirds máj őrity that the YDA will take part in MI0T on the condition that is nőt a top organisation bút a fórum which enables dialógus. They thus proposed to change the name MI0T as it evokes bad memories and associations. Five people were elected to represent the YDA, László Kővár, Ferenc Langmár, Páter Molnár, Zsuzsa Szelányi and Zsolt Bayer. The next point on the agenda was to choose the editor-in-chief of the organisation’s paper the FIDESZ Hirek ("YDA News"). Mihály Szácsényi was elected. Finally a membership fee of 50 forints a month was decided on. The congress continued in the aftemoon presided over by Tamás Tirtsch. The final text of its programme was decided on and seven people were elected onto the new committee - Tamás Deutsch, Gábor Fodor, István Hegedűs, László Kövér, Péter Molnár, Viktor Orbán and Zsolt Rockenbauer. The further six members of the thirteen member committee will be nominated by the YDA council which consists of delegates from the founder groups. Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
