Magyar News, 2002. szeptember-2003. augusztus (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2003-01-01 / 5. szám
Knocking on the door of the White House Outside of the White House a group of people gathered for a demonstration. It was organized by Paul Gerencsér from Texas and Robert Imreh. Top: The signs prepared for the demonstration tells a story about how Rumania treats the Hungarian minorities. Center: Frank Kapitány unfolds the Hungarian flag, and joins the demonstrators. Bottom: Tamás De Kun is joined by willing teenagers, who are happy participating in a worthy cause. We received these photos from Col. Richard Németh from Virginia. He was also one of the demonstrators. Celeste Wallander recently wrote an article in the Foreign Affairs Magazine under the title "NATO's Price: Shape Up or Ship Out". This is of interest to the Hungarians because it warns of the NATO’s growing alliance and of the dangers hidden in an uncontrolled expansion. It points to the potential inefficiency that may result in embracing countries, which do not have their affairs in order, or do not satisfy NATO standards. Although in the past NATO survived serious, even unruly "disagreements" among members like Greece and Turkey. The disagreement was far greater than ordinary "rule-breaking behavior", it is still important to require potential members to accept and live up to NATO's principles and "rules" so that strife among members does not weaken the organization. In her article Wallender targets Hungary as not living up to its commitments, and blames the former (Orbán) government for falling short of NATO standards. She contends that if the elections went "the other way", then"... Under current NATO rules, Europe would be stuck with a regime that, among other threats, claims the right to speak for Hungarian minorities living in neighboring countries, in direct violation of the commitments Hungary made to join NATO in 1999." This attack reveals her prejudices and the weakness in her argument. But the article is peppered with other instances of inaccuracies, unsubstantiated accusations and insinuations. It is obviously partial toward the current Hungarian government. She has a right to her opinion, and she is certainly not alone in that, but she does not have a right to present distortions and misrepresentations as a factual portrayal of Hungary's role in the alliance. It is disturbing, that her insinuations and unfair generalizations extend beyond a critique of the previous government and tend to extend a blanket condemnation of Hungary. The issue of governmental promises ought to be examined in relation of the timetable of the entire accession process. Many who were familiar with the issues in NATO Enlargement of 1999 will remember that the negotiations went on for years. For example, I recall using the material released by Foreign Minister László Kovács' (of the Horn government) office in 1997. It is unlikely, that all the promises and negotiations were made in the last eight months of 1998 (i.e. during the first months of the Orbán Government from May 1998). If I remember correctly, the final votes were taken by the Alliance member states in February of 1999. She seems to attribute positive changes to the current Medgyessy administration. Does she base these on something more than sympathy toward the current Socialist government? Then she ought to substantiate her statement by verifiable facts. The Hungarian state took a very active role in Bosnia, even before it became a full fledged member of NATO. (See "Magyarok az IFOR-ban, SFOR-ban" Hungarians in the IFOR and SFOR, Zrínyi Publishing, Budapest). It is documented that the Hungarian Corps of Engineers rebuilt over 80 bridges (!!!) in Bosnia making roads and railroads operable again. My son, who served in Bosnia in the SFOR intelligence for about eight months, was very impressed (and told me others were also) by the engineering know-how and speedy efficiency these military construction units demonstrated. Just consult with engineers (as to technical expertise and enormity of financial value), and with economists to approximate the worth in infrastructure provided in such assistance. According to NATO reports Hungary also provided the "staging and logistic and overall support of IFOR/SFOR-forces, FWDs of the Command of USAREUR in Taszár of the 21. Theatre Support Page 2
