1987. november (125-143. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

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131/1987 (E) 14-th November, 1987

Common Declaration of the Lakitelek Intellectual Meeting Aooears in the "Magyar Nemzet”

In todays edition of the Hungárián daily "Magyar Nemzet”- as part of an interview - the common declaration adopted by Hungárián intellectuals belonging to the so- called populist trend at the Lakitelek Conference on 27th September appears, six weeks had passed before it got publicity. The interview was conducted by Gábor Tóth with Imre Pozsgay, the secretary of the People's Patriotic Front. The interview was especially interesting as it was published scarcely two days after the prime minister Károly Grosz declared,on Hungárián television following a meeting of the Central Committee, that measures should be taken against the expressions of opposition.

It is well known that Imre Pozsgay is alsó a member of the Central Committee.

In the interview entitled "Capilleries of Mutual Understanding" Pozsgay upheld that the right of publuc assembly should nőt be codified in the constitution as an empty declaration bút really exercised by the citizens. He said that the authorities must display enormous tolerance and must understand such occurences which provoke political disapproval. Bút the practise of constitutional rights must be permitted even in such cases. The authorities have only one choice, " to convince and to maintain the direction envisaged by us through debate".

The major part of the interview was concerned with the Lakitelek Conference. Pozsgay declared that the declaration adopted there was "legally correct and came within the framework of the constitution, it stood the test in terms of the consensus bút its political contents included many debatable and contentious elements".

The journalist pointed out that readers do nőt know about the declaration and are therefore mnlikely to debate it. After this Pozsgay handed the text over, it follows:

"More than one hundred and fifty members of Hungárián intellectual life gathered fór a friendly exchange of views in Lakitelek on Sunday 27th September. Imre Pozsgay the secretary of the People's Patriotic Front was invited to the conference. Hungarians are being dragged intő one of the most serious crises in their history. The streng'th of their national movement is breaking down, their self- belief and their bearing are overwhelmed, their cohesive links are tragically loosened and their self-knowledge is appallingly wanting. They are faced with an economic crisis on the brink of collapse. Hungárián ethnicity is afflicted with unpar.allelled disunity, our nation has no Vision of the future which can be reálisad mutually. During the discussion the following subjects were aired: the social-economic crisis shocking the country,democracy, the inadequacy of the political institute system, the overwhelming problems of public morality, cultural life, the worrying symptoms of public education and the problems of our survival. Those present and the speakers who, in the name of sanity and awareness, had looked intő the prospects of the Hungárián population endeavoured to consider the different types of ways out, unavoidable renewal and really influential reforms. Fiiled with a sense of responsibility fór the fate of the country and its people those present thought it necessary and time fór the establishment of structures which serve members of the society and enable them to take part in the forming of mutual agreements as reál partners. After the debates the part-