Amerikai Magyar Szó, 2004. július-december (58-102. évfolyam, 160-183. szám)
2004-11-12 / 179. szám
20 MAGYAR SZÓ —A HÍD melléklet: CHACR 2004. NOVEMBER 12. New intem join CHACR At the beginning of September, three young interns come to the CHACR All the volunteers started the work bard far the Hungarian interests on Capital Hill Agnes Nemeth, who is attending the Eötvös Lóránd Law School in the major of law' and political sciences, became a Legislative Assistant at the lobby organization. She is working on the issues related to the Hungarian American Churches and lobbying for the free visa. She likes Hungary and is proud to be a Hungarian. That is why she came here to Washington D.C. and do this internship at the CHACR. She also enjoys doing it and hopes that it will be as useful as interesting. The recently graduated medical doctor, Emilia Gaal, one of our new interns, is the contact member between the American media and our organization. She graduated this September at the Faculty of Medicine at the Semmelweis University. She got entered to neurology residency to the Neurology Clinic of the Semmelweis University'. You can ask that with this background how did she end up at the Center for the Hungarian American Congressional Relations? Besides medical school she attended another school, called Mathias Corvinus Collegium, w'here she studied International Affairs for 4 years, due to her interest in diplomacy. She got to know Sándor Nagy and his Congressional Center when she was rotating at Buffalo University' as a medical student, after winning the scholarship of the Hungarian- American Medical Association. At the CHACR she works as a Legislative Assistant as well and her duty -as already mentioned - is to keep in touch with the American press, and keep them well informed about the questions of the Hungarian community. In her future she still plans to attend a postgraduate school to study health- policy and health-management, while it really interests her, and she believes that w'ell educated health-managers are really needed in Hungary. Ágota Grundtner is studying Communication and Tourism in Hungary. She is majoring in Media Studies and Public Relation. Beside school she is interested in international relations and social activities. She came to the CHACR for establishing her knowledge and gaining professional experiences, at the Congressional Center she works as a Press Assistant. She also considers working for Hungarian interests an important task. All the experiences that she acquired at the University made her believe that the media could be the key to manage the Hungarian interests in the United States. All of them are w’orking with all their heart for Hungarian community to be helpful while they are in Washington D.C. The Hungarian American community has found a new ally in Congresswoman Diane Watson of the 33rd Congressional District in Los Angeles. Representative Watson has been serving her constituents since 2001. Her work on Capitol Hill reflects her lifelong commitment to helping the underprivileged. She holds an M.A. in School Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a PhD in Educational Administration from the Claremont Graduate School. Her lifetime commitment to education stems from her involvement in the Los Angeles public schools where she worked as an elementary school teacher and school psychologist. She has lectured at both California State Universities at Los Angeles and Long Beach. In 1975, Congresswoman Watson became the first African-American woman to serve on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. The year 1978 marked her joining the California State Senate and in 1998 she served as the United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. As a congresswoman, she has been an advocate of the issues close to the heart of the Hungarian-American community. “I am pleased to be a member of the congressional Hungarian-American Caucus. Hungarian American play a significant I Diane Watson: best friend of Hungarians on Capitol Hill THE CONGRESSWOMEN role in the life of greater Los Angeles and are an important part of my 33 rd congressional district. I look forward to working with Congressman Tom Lantos, as well as other member of Congress, in furthering the needs of and issues championed by the Hungarian American community,” she recently stated. Last year, she joined other members of Congress in creating a Hungarian ■ The Hungarian American Caucus's new system THE PAPRIKA RATING CHACR inaugurates its unique “Paprika Rating” system for the Hungarian American Caucus. Hungarian Americans can now track how their representatives perform when it comes to Hungarian American issues. CHACR established the Hungarian American Caucus just over a year ago. In the last twelve months, the Caucus has grown to 25 members, which has tackled several Hungarian American issues. Most notably, the Hungarian American Caucus members along with the Congressional Human Rights Caucus sent letters to the Prime Minister of Slovakia and the President of Ukraine, urging them to open a border crossing in the divided village of Szel- menc. This action led to briefing, which was chaired by Congresswoman Diane Watson on Capitol Hill that promised the future opening of a crossing. In June and July, the Hungarian American Caucus collected thirteen signatures for a letter sent to Prime Minister of Serbia Vojislav Kostunica, addressing the concern of the U.S. Congress regarding the rise in anti- Hungarian violence in Vojvodina (Vajdasag). This too led to a successful briefing on Capitol Hill, which was co-chaired by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY). “We feel that it is important that Hungarian Americans know how their elected officials are addressing their concerns,” said Sándor A. Nagy, President of CHACR. The “Paprika Rating” gives a Red Paprika to those members who joined the Caucus, signed a letter, or co-sponsored a resolution. A Golden Paprika is awarded to those members who make time in their busy schedules to co-chair a briefing, as did Congresswoman Watson, Congressman Kucinich, and Congressman Engel. The system also provides detailed information on the congress members, their address, phone and background information. This fall will be an intense political season. There are numerous primaries and close elections coming up for members of the Caucus. CHACR believes that the “Paprika Rating” will help Hungarian Americans see how their representatives have responded to their concerns. American Caucus. Congresswoman Watson’s leadership was invaluable to helping the divided village of Szelmenc. The ethnic Hungarian village, Szelmenc, was cut in two between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia in 1944 (today Ukraine and Slovakia), dividing families and friends by barbed wire fence and guard towers. The villagers have been hoping to open a border crossing in the village for 60 years - without prevail. Led by CHACR the Hungarian American community organized a nation wide grassroots campaign to help the village. The community asked Diane Watson for help. The congresswoman signed letters to President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister of Slovakia Mikulás Dzurinda, urging them to open a border crossing in the divided village. After this letter, Rep. Watson chaired the briefing where the mayors of the village, in addition to Slovakia’s ambassador and a delegate of Ukraine testified. Representative Watson sent an another letter to the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, asking him to allow the opening of a border crossing in Szelmenc. As a result, Ukraine and Slovakia agreed to open a permanent border crossing. This spring, Diane Watson has also signed a letter to Vojislav Kostunica, the Prime Minister of Serbia, expressing concern regarding the rise of anti- Hungarian violence in Vojvodina. No wonder, Hungarian Americans feel that they found a new best friend in Diane Watson. PRO-SERBIAN RESOLUTION TO BE STOPPED The Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations (CHACR) is forging an alliance of Hungarian, Croat and Albanian American lobbyists to stop H. Res. 726 that uncritically praises Serbia and Montenegro. The resolution was sponsored by Republican congressman Doug Bereuter, a former vice-chair of the House Intelligence Committee, in addition to two Democrats and a Republican representative. Leaders of CHACR and the National Federation of Croatian Americans have met earlier to come up with a strategy to stop the resolution even before it reaches the Europe subcommittee of the House International Relations committee. According to CHACR’s president, Sándor A. Nag)', the language of the resolution would reflect an unconditional U.S. support for Serbia, which would be contrary to reality. “Although it is important that the United States expresses support for the democratic forces of Serbia, this resolution would send the wrong message”- said Nag}', adding that threatening with cutting US aid to Serbia is ill-conceived as well. “We would certainly welcome a stable and democratic Serbia that secures the safety and rights of its minorities. However, in light of the unchecked violence against ethnic Hungarians, Croatians and others, Serbia is yet to show that it deserves such expression of praise from Congress’’ added Nagy. Diane Watson j
