William Penn Life, 2009 (44. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2009-09-01 / 9. szám
Magyar Matters Hungarian president denied entry into S ovakia BUDAPEST - Slovak-Hungarian relations suffered a serious blow Aug. 21 when the president of Hungary was prevented from paying an unofficial visit to the Slovak town of Komámo where he was invited by the local authorities to help unveil a statue of Hungarian King Stephen I. None of Slovakia's highest state representatives were invited to the ceremony. On Aug. 20 the three highest representatives of the Slovak government, Prime Minister Robert Fico, President Ivan GaSparovic and Speaker of the Parliament Pavol Paska, issued a joint written statement saying that Sólyom was not a welcome guest to Slovakia on Aug. 21 for several reasons, including present tensions between the countries because of Slovakia's new controversial State Language Act and the sensitivity of date of Aug. 21, which is the anniversary day of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by most Warsaw Pact countries in 1968, including troops from Hungary. Then on Aug. 21 Slovak authorities decided to deny entry by Sólyom into Slovakia. Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Ministry was previously informed about the visit and had cooperated with its Hungarian counterpart to arrange the technicalities of the visit. Sólyom did not cross the border and instead convened a press conference on the Hungarian side of the bridge between the Slovak town of Komámo and the Hungarian town of Komárom. He said that the diplomatic note issued by Slovakia to deny him entry was an unprecedented measure in relations between two allies, Slovakia and Hungary. The note denying entry reached Sólyom while he was at the Hungarian-Slovak border. Youngstown Hungarians to host Heritage Day Sept 13 YOUNGSTOWN, OH -- The Youngstown American Hungarian Club will celebrate its annual Hungarian Heritage Day on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the clubhouse, 2219 Donald Ave., Youngstown. The day will feature displays of Hungarian folk art, a Hungarian market, live music and dancing and traditional Hungarian foods. The menu will include goulash, stuffed cabbage, stuffed peppers, chicken, cabbage and noodles, kolbász and sauerkraut, palacsinta, pastries and dobos torta (the famous nine-layer tort). The Cleveland-based band, "The Hungarians," will be performing both American and Hungarian favorites. The celebration begins at 1:00 p.m. and concludes at 6:00 p.m. Admission is $2 per person. There will be plenty of secure parking available. For more information, call the club at 330-799-6112. Magyar Fest WPA joins New Brunswick Hungarians in celebrating their ethnic heritage For many years, the WPA has been a proud supporter of New Brunswick’s annual Hungarian Festival, held the first Saturday of June. Helping to spread the fraternal spirit from this year’s WPA booth at the festival were (front l-r) Elsie Radvany and Sandy Stanko; (rear, l-r) National Director William J. Bero, National Director William S. Vasvar/ and National Vice President-Fraternal Endre Csornán. Each year on festival day, the WPA takes time to honor those who fought for freedom in Hungary and those Hungarian Americans who served our country. Here, Frank J. Radvany, secretary to the WPA Board of Directors, lays a wreath at the Hungarian Revolution memorial. 8 William Penn Life, September 2009
