Magyar News, 2001. szeptember-2002. augusztus (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2002-06-01 / 10. szám
(continued from page 1) The music was provided by Continental Orchestra, director Kálmán Magyar. Also for entertainment original Hungarian folk dances were danced by the Ritka Magyar Tánc Csoport under the direction of István Gyékényesi. Two Hungarian flags were presented; one was WWII vintage with a handpainted crest and angels sewn on it. The other was a brand new from Budapest with a hand embroidered crest. During a break in dancing the raffle prizes were given out; a beautiful painting by Dr. István Varga, Bodvin Hungarian wines by Géza Bodnár, and a winter surprise from Silverman’s Farm. It was a good and memorable time specially with the nice showing of the debutantes and their escorts. Come again next year. Photos: Ádámkovics, Réthy, Sörfőző, Balogh Magyar Távirati Iroda Budapest Refugees to and from Hungary The number of people seeking asylum in Hungary rose 22.5 % last year from 7,799 in 2000 to 9,554 in 2001, the Hungarian office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported. Most asylum seekers last year, 4,311 people, came from Afghanistan. Bangladesh and Iraq were the second and the third most numerous nationalities, with 1,514 and 1,014 asylum seekers respectively. The number of asylum seekers across six Central and Eastern European countries - Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia - rose 38 % in 2001. In the past three years, the number of Hungarian asylum seekers showed the third sharpest rise all over the world, beaten only by the rise of Columbian and Mexican asylum seekers, the office said. In 1999, there were 1,532 Hungarian asylum seekers registered in the 29 most Page 2 advanced nations of the world, rising to 2,612 in 2000 and 4,022 in 2001. The vast majority of these wanted to emigrate to Canada. Also, most asylum seekers in Canada last year were Hungarians; most of the 3,812 Hungarians seeking asylum there were gypsies, the UNHCR report said. Hungary Tightens Travel Rules Border guards will be obliged to turn back foreigners attempting to enter Hungary, starting in January, if they do not have a minimum of HUF 15,000, or 30 % of the monthly minimum wage, the daily Népszabadság said. That amount will only entitle a traveller to remain in Hungary for three days. The rule will require proof that the traveller has HUF 5,000 available for each additional day he or she wishes to stay. Any person wishing to stay in Hungary for more than 90 days must have access to twice the amount of the monthly minimum wage per month, which is HUF 100,000/month in 2002. A letter of invitation will be accepted in place of the money, but only if it includes a clause specifying that the host will provide room and board for the guest. Under a current Finance Ministry decree dating back to 1993, arrivals only have to present HUF 1,000. A total of 29,000 foreign residents had to turned back from Hungary's borders in the first nine months of 2001 for failing to meet entry conditions, but fewer than one thousand were denied entry because they lacked the money to cover their stay. This number could jump next year as border guards will not have the discretion to grant exemptions except for humanitarian reasons. Holders of certificates of Hungarian nationality under the benefit law on Hungary's kin-minority will not be exempted either, Népszabadság said. The decree does not specify that the funds must be available in cash. Border guards can accept credit or debit cards and are not mandated to check the actual amount available with the card. But, if they deem it necessary, they will have the authority to ask for a bank statement, or may even oblige the passenger to withdraw the required amount of cash from an ATM on the border. (Courtesy of M.T.I.)
