Hungarian Heritage Review, 1989 (18. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1989-02-01 / 2. szám
Pateltitß ^Bufrapest LESS GUNS, MORE BUTTER? In the wake of Mikhail S. Gorbachev announced prior to thefinal session of the 27-month long, European Security Conference held recently in Vienna and what was reported during and after this meeting, the people of Hungary, for the most part, are looking forward to the withdrawal of Soviet troops and arms from Hungary, as well as reductions in the defense budget, in the hope that it will result in "more butter". The national economy being in the shape that it is, many Hungarians have to work from 14 to 16 hours a day holding down several jobs in order to make ends meet. The Government, of course, is doing everything it can to improve economic conditions, including reaching out to the West for financial, trade and business ties. While the returns so far from this direction appear promising it seems that economic conditions may not be uplifted to the satisfaction of the Hungarian people until trade-ties with the European Economic Community (EEC) will be brought on line. When and if this occurs, there will be big changes in Hungary. POPULATION DECLINE Hungarian demographers predict that, by the year 2000, the population of Hungary will decrease by about 200,000 to a net total of about 10.4-million. This statistical prediction is based upon high mortality and low birth rates. Life expectancy for women, for example, is 72 years and for men 65 years, one of the lowest in Europe. The low birth rate is attributed to the reluctance of married women to bear children because of the unstable economic condition, while young married couples find it extremely difficult to find suitable housing. While the Government does have in place a "Population Policy" providing for increased family allowances and preferential loans for home-builders, it has not proved to be eff ective in reversing the decline in population. The access to housing is so limited, for example, that the Communist Youth Union (KISZ) recently staged nationwide demonstrations to call attention to the problem. In response, the Government promised to introduce a "comprehensive concept of housing" by April 1989. For the short-term, the demand is so great that it is not likely this measure will solve the housing shortage. POPE TO VISIT HUNGARY In compliance with a request submitted by the Hungarian Bench of Catholic Bishops, an invitation to visit Hungary was sent to Pope Paul II by Bruno F. Straub, the head of the Presidential Council of the Hungarian Government. It was accepted and, in his letter of acceptance, the Pope expressed the hope that his visit would help to improve relations between Hungary and the Vatican and, at the same time, would provide him with the opportunity to strengthen the Catholic faithful. No date has been set as yet for his visit, but more than likely he will visit Hungary during the joint Budapest-Vienna World’s Fair. THE HUNGARIAN SPRING FESTIVAL Budapest will again play host to thousands of visitors from all over the world during its 1989 Spring Festival scheduled from March 17-26, and the city has prepared a program of activities which caters to every kind of interest: from concerts at the Academy of Music, the Budapest Convention Center, the Hungarian State Opera House, the Pest Concert Hall, the Matthias Church, the Evangelical Church, the Reformed Church, the Synagogue, the Congress Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Musicology, and the Bartók Memorial House to ballets, operettas, theatrical performances,folklore programs, exhibitions, sports events, programs for young people and children, and much more. There will also be similar programs offered in Sopron and Szentendre. The "Budapest Spring Festival" is an annual, worldwide-showcase for Hungarian culture spotlighting what is meant by "Hungarian Heritage". JOINT HUNGARIAN-AMERICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY Puski-Corvin, the well-known book publishers and sellers of New York City, have entered into a joint publishing venture with four firms in Hungary. Called the "Puski Publishing House", the new company will be based in Budapest. AMERICANS IN BUDAPEST Two prominent Americans recently visited Hungary: Thomas Kean, the Governor of the State of New Jersey, whose son is studying in Budapest, and Maureen Reagan, the daughter of the former President of the United States Ronald Reagan. FAUST’S CELLAR The Hotel Budapest Hilton has opened up an age-old cellar under the building where Dominicans kept their wine 750 years ago. It’s been turned into the Faust Wine Museum, which also serves choice wines and champagnes, including rare vintages bearing the Holy Crown of St. Stephen on the cobwebbed labels. 6 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW FEBRUARY 1989
