Hungarian American Coalition News, 2002 (11. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
2002 / 2. szám
The Dzurinda-led coalition did not support the HCP proposal for an amendment to the Constitution to modify in the Preamble of the Constitution the words "We, the Slovak nation..." with "We, the Citizens of Slovakia..." The former is openly nationalistic, the latter is all-inclusive, implying the minorities are also state-forming entities; they did not honor the commitment to establish a Hungarian teacher-training college in Nitra; in the Act on Use of Minority Languages, they did not support the HCP-proposed 10% population threshold for determining minority language use, and voted for 20% instead; and, they failed to make significant progress in the important question of the transfer of “unclaimed lands” into the ownership of local self-governments. But it was the abrupt about-face last summer of its Slovak coalition partners that stunned the Hungarian Coalition Party, and almost caused it to leave the governing coalition. In Parliamentary discussions of the longneeded public administration reform not only were all HCP proposals rejected, but the Slovak coalition parties turned on HCP and teamed up with the opposition to adopt the system of eight regional self-governments, originally proposed by Meciar in 1996. Thus, instead of reform there was a step backward, preventing the creation of a region where Hungarians could be proportionally represented and practice their right in the decision-making on the local level. Slovakia is at the crossroads of an important decision in the September elections: Will the voices of intolerance prevail by voting once again for authoritarian nationalist, Vladimir Meciar, whose 30% popularity points to a very real danger of his return to power? Or will Slovaks vote for a reform agenda of several moderate political forces (including the Hungarian Coalition Party) that could form a democratic governing coalition? We are deeply concerned, that at present, U.S. policymakers are so focused on the potential danger of Meciar's reelection, that little attention is being paid to those unresolved issues of the ethnic Hungarian community that could pose serious obstacles to Slovakia's development as a fully democratic society. Because of Slovakia's strong desire to gain NATO membership, a historic opportunity exists today for the United States to express strong, unequivocal support of the moderate political forces in Slovakia, such as the Hungarian Coalition Party, and to speak out against the nationalistic rhetoric of those in Slovakia who intend to block meaningful reform on every minority issue. Edith K. Lauer Statement of László Hámos, President of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation at a Hearing on The Future of NATO and Enlargement before the Subcommittee on Europe, International Relations Committee, April 17, 2002 NATO ENLARGEMENT: THOROUGH EXAMINATION NEEDED Will Romania and Slovakia Fulfill Expectations? Mr. Chairman, the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation (HHRF) was formed 26 years ago to articulate the human rights concerns of 1.6 million Hungarian-Americans. The purpose of the organization is to promote the cultural, linguistic and religious rights of Hungarian minorities living in countries surrounding Hungary. After 1989, HHRF was an early and vocal proponent of NATO enlargement to include those countries in Central and Eastern Europe which met the criteria of institutionalized human rights reforms, including full protection of the rights of national minorities. During the first round of expansion, the breadth and depth of domestic reforms achieved by the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in establishing functioning, sustained democracies was the primary focus. It is important that the United States not make a superficial and premature decision. It is HHRF’s firm opinion that it is in the interest of NATO, Romania and Slovakia, and the sizeable Hungarians minorities in these two countries for Romania and Slovakia to be fully integrated into the trans-Atlantic alliance. Admission, however, should occur only based upon performance and compliance with the culture of democracy, a sustained, demonstrated commitment to the common values which NATO members share. Ambassador Nicholas Burns, U.S. envoy to NATO, recently described “two tests” for the enlargement of NATO (Financial Times, April 3, 2002): “Will the new members strengthen the alliance rather than weaken it? And can we be assured each new member is fundamentally committed to democracy and will achieve political stability?” Unfortunately, 12 years after the fall of communism, numerous serious human and minority rights abuses—a linchpin of true democracy—remain in these countries to be rectified. The following brief overview represents ongoing, significant inadequacies in redressing the legacy of communism as regards the 600,000 and 2 million-3 • Hungarian American Coalition • July 2002
