Hungarian American Coalition News, 1999 (8. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1999 / 2. szám
Hungarian American Coalition Hungarian American Coalition and Potomac Foundation Host Gala Dinner in Washington, DC: “Celebrating the Spirit of NATO” As leaders from around the world met for the NATO Summit and celebration of the Alliance’s 50th anniversary, the Hungarian American Coalition and the Potomac Foundation co-hosted a Gala Dinner on Saturday, April 24, 1999, in Washington DC. US President William Clinton and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán served as Honorary Patrons of the event, and Hungarian Ambassador Géza Jeszenszky and US Ambassador Peter Tufo were Honorary Chairmen. The Gala Dinner, “Celebrating the Spirit of NATO,” commemorated both NATO’s founding and the accession of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland to the Alliance. The Gala Dinner, held at the historic Decatur House in Washington DC, was attended by 175 guests. In his letter of greeting President Clinton welcomed Hungary as one of three new partners of the Alliance; reaffirmed that the defense of the security, prosperity, and democratic values of its members remains NATO’s primary mission; and acknowledged the contribution of the Hungarian American Coalition in promoting NATO enlargement both in the US and Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister, Dr. Viktor Orbán, also visited the Gala Dinner on his way to the formal celebration held at the White House. He reminded the audience that it was due to the tragic bloodshed of 1956 that Hungary was finally able to gain its freedom in 1990 and its security in 1999 without spilling a drop of blood. László Hamos, President of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation and Board Member of the Hungarian American Coalition, presented the Coalition’s statement expressing deep concern for the increasing hostility and danger faced by the 360,000 large ethnic Hungarian community in the Serbian province of Voivodina, and urging the US government and our NATO allies to protect this Hungarian community from overt or covert ethnic cleansing. US Ambassador Peter Tufo provided a detailed assessment of Hungary’s place and role in NATO during the present crisis in Kosovo. He praised Hungary for complying with all of NATO's requirements despite Hungary's special situation as the only NATO member that shares a border with Serbia, and is deeply concerned about the safety of the large ethnic Hungarian community in Voivodina. Lt. Gen. Nicholas Kehoe, Inspector General of the Air Force, recalled the insights he gained while participating in the three Hungarian American Coalition NATO conferences held in Hungary in 1997. The leadership of the Coalition expressed its appreciation to corporate and individual Benefactors of the Gala Dinner: The Potomac Foundation, Ilona and Geza Bankuty, The Boeing Company, Edith and John Lauer, MALÉV Hungarian Airlines; and corporate and individual Patrons: Ameritech, Ernst & Young, the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, Drs. Marian and Alfred Toth, Drs. Jeanette and Glenn Brown, Mrs. Nash Whitney Schott, and the William Penn Association. Attendees of the Gala Dinner included Coalition members, members of the Hungarian official delegation to the NATO Summit, members of both the US and Hungarian press, as well as a group from the California Ethnic Leadership Council, comprised of both Hungarian American and Polish American activists. At the end of the evening the Hungarian American Coalition announced a collection to assist the refugees forced to leave Kosovo.
