AHF News Archive 2008 - 2010

2/16/2009 - AHF urges OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to increase pressure on Slovakia to repeal oppressive language law. "The language law is the latest manifestation of the Slovak government’s intolerance toward its Hungarian minority. Not surprisingly, the Slovak National Party (“SNS”) is a member of the ruling coalition.  Its chairman Jan Slota is known for his xenophobia:  “Hungarians are the cancer of the Slovak nation, without delay we need to remove them from the body of the nation.” [read more]

2/3/2009 - AHF urges Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to "publicly and unambiguously express [her] concern relative to the Slovak language law. By curtailing or eliminating the use of minority languages from the public sphere, that discriminatory law threatens the Hungarian minority’s culture and infringes on fundamental freedoms." [read more]

1/12/10 -- The American Hungarian Federation urged Vice President Biden to discuss policies with his "Romanian interlocutors that they should adopt to strengthen Romania's democratic institutions and respect the rights of its Hungarian minority" during his trip to Romania. Frank Koszorus, Jr., co-president and chairman of the Federation's International Relations Committee reports, "We understand that issues relating to the Hungarian minority were raised." [Read more]

1/5/10 -- Kati Marton Interviewed on the PBS Newshour - Margaret Warner interviewed author Kati Marton about her latest book, “Enemies of the People” in which she describes the arrest of her parents, journalists Ilona and Endre Marton during the Cold War period in Budapest. In preparation for the book, she researched the Hungarian secret police files on her family. To view the interview, click here. Buy her book on AHF's Amazon Store!

11/27/09 -- American Hungarian Federation and others express their concern about sweeping statements made by Ambassador in interview concerning Hungary. The Washington Times publishes Federation's letter and former Foreign Service Officer pens letter to the Ambassador. "[The Ambassador is] ignoring an exceedingly complex social problem that not even the government has been able to address effectively. While discussing prejudice, he also could have referred to the intolerance toward the Hungarian minorities throughout the region." Read more.

11/24/09 --The American Hungarian Federation's call for greater cooperation among Hungarian American organizations in raising the ill-advised and discriminatory Slovak language law published in Heti Valasz.  The same letter questions conclusions about various foreign policy issues made in an earlier interview.  Read more.

11/06/2009 -- 20th Anniverary of the Fall of the Berlin wall - 1989 - 2009! American Hungarian Federation calls on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to recognize the significant role Hungary played in the fall of the Berlin Wall and the demise of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. Read more. AHF Letter/White House Release. Read More

10/24/2009 -- Federation thanks Press Secretary for statement on the 53rd anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and raises fact that not all Hungarians in the region enjoy the full benefits of democracy, referring to the discriminatory language law in Slovakia and the failure of Romania to restore the Hungarian Babes/Bolyai University in Cluj/Kolozsvar or grant the Szeklerland autonomy. Read More - AHF Letter / Press Secretary's statement

10/19/2009 - Former Hungarian Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States Geza Jeszenszky Writes Article entitled, "Magyar lobby Amerikában?" about the American Hungarian Federation and Other Hungarian American Organizations. "Koszorús Ferenc washingtoni ügyvéd, az 1944-es Horthy- és zsidóellenes puccskísérletet meghiúsító Koszorús ezredes fia, kiváló szakember a kongresszusi kapcsolatok, a politikai lobbizás tekintetében is, ő a legpatinásabb amerikai magyar szervezet, a több mint száz éves Amerikai Magyar Szövetség társelnöke. A közelmúltban az alábbi helyzetképet adta a magyar érdekek amerikai érvényesítésével kapcsolatban." Read More

9/26/2009 -

8/28/09 - Federation Participates in Meeting with Foreign Policy Advisors.. Washington, DC – On Wednesday, August 26, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), an assembly of 18 ethnic organizations representing the communities of Central and East European descent, met with Obama Administration foreign policy officials. [read more]

6/30/2009 - Federation supports Hungarian Prime Minister visit after general elections and formation of new government... AHF Delivers Letter to President Obama... the Federation believes that an invitation to Mr. Bajnai at this time would be ill-advised and would not serve the best interests of either country – as would such a visit scheduled at a more appropriate time. Federation suggests that other Hungarian American organizations endorse the letter. [read more]

6/29/2009 - Ethnic purges of local government services in Rumania... The UNPO (Unrepresented Peoples Organization) calls attention to purges of Hungarian civil service officers from local administration, including areas where Hungarians make up more the 85% of the population. The American Hungarian Federation urges the Rumanian government to adopt policies that end discrimination along ethnic lines, take steps to increase local autonomy, and strengthen inter-ethnic relations. [read more]

6/4/2009 - The 89th Anniversary of Hungary's Dismemberment... AHF Remembers Trianon. The statement reads, "Trianon is not a relic of the past to be ignored.  As several recent publications astutely suggest, Trianon, as part of a blunder of a massive scale, had far-reaching consequences that are still with us today and continue to affect both the lives of the Hungarian historical communities found in states neighboring Hungary and the region." [read more]

5/22/2009 - Globális egyesülés – A Kárpát-medencei egység után jövőre megalakul a Református Világközösség / "Global Unity:" Hungarian Reformed Churches Unite... On May 22, 2009 the Reformed Churches in the Carpathian Basin expressed their unity by accepting a common constitution. This is an tremendously symbolic action uniting Hungarian communities throughout the Carpathian Basin for the first time since Trianon. On a related note, the Budapest – Pannonhalma Magtár Művészeti Alapítvány is publishing a new leather-bound edition of the Vizsoly Bible with an accompanying DVD. [read more]

4/25/2009 - The American Hungarian Federation Participates in White House Meeting... On April 24, 2009, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) met with Jeffrey M. Hovenier, Director for Central and Eastern Europe, National Security Council, and Katherine M. Helgerson, Director for Southeast European Affairs, National Security Council. [read more]

5/16/2009 - INVITATION: Saturday, May 16, 2009! The Annual Hungarian May Ball / Májusi Magyar Bál... The American Hungarian Federation and The Hungarian Scouts of Washington cordially invite you to the annual Hungarian May Ball. The two organizations will donate part of the proceeds from the Ball to support the work of the Budapest based Juvenile Cancer Foundation to build an Oncology Treatment Center for Children in Hungary. [read more]
A Bál jövedelmének egy részét mindkét szervezet a Budapesten létrehozott Gyermekrák Alapítvány munkájának támogatására kívánja fordítani, amelynek célja egy Gyermekonkológiai Gyógyító Központ felépítése Magyarországon. [tovább]

4/2/2009 - American Hungarian Federation Actively Participates in Congressional Policy Reception in Honor of NATO and its Enlargement sponsored by the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC). AHF Co-President, Frank Koszorus, Jr., outlined the accomplishments of the CEEC. 2009 marked the 10th anniversary of Hungary's accession to the alliance. [read more]

3/24/2009 - As part of the Holocaust Memorial Month, the Embassy of Hungary is sponsoring the Carl Lutz and the Legendary Glass House in Budapest traveling exhibit in Washington, DC. The Carl Lutz Foundation, Hungarian American Coalition, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, Mensch International Foundation and the Embassies of Switzerland and Israel are co-sponsors. The Federation believes it would be appropriate that the Embassy of Hungary, as a representative of all Hungarians, expand such exhibits to include Hungarian heroes of the Holocaust. [download the statement]

3/29/2009 - The American HungarianFederation Co-Sponsors “Treasures and Highlights of Hungary’s Millenary Heritage” Exhibits... The first of three exhibits, “Treasures and Highlights of Hungary’s Millenary Heritage,” opened on March 28, 2009 at the Kossuth House in Washington, D.C. The three exhibits can be viewed in April and May, July and August,and October and November of 2009. [read more]

3/30/2009 - Hungarian Prime Minisiter Gyurcsány Resigns - President Solyom favors early elections (Sólyom: Az előre hozott választás a legjobb megoldás) Budapest (MTI)...Reacting to Prime Minister Gyurcsany's resignation amid the deepening economic crisis in Hungary: "Only early elections can give Hungary a chance to have a stable government..." he said. [download Solyom's interview with MTI]
or [Gyurcsány Ferenc lemondása - videó]

New Prime Minister Nominee Gordon Bajnai says, "It will Hurt" "Fájni Fog" - Minden embert érinteni fog és fájdalmas lesz..." Bajnai Gordon, az MSZP és az SZDSZ közös kormányfőjelöltje. [Bajnai Gordon Sajtónyilatkozata- videó]

3/15/2009 - President Obama congratulates Hungary on its National Day and anniversary of its 1848 War of Liberation... "Today we honor the courageous Hungarians who set their country on the path to freedom.The legacy of the revolution continues to inspire as Hungarians advocate for freedom's cause," he said. The American Hungarian Federation of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., joined Hungarian American communitiesworldwide and presented a program commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-1849. Speakers noted the significance of the revolution and how its ideals and goals relate to the political climate in today's Hungary. [read more, download the speeches and President Obama's letter]

2/6/2009 - The American Hungarian Federation Attends Reception Celebrating The Visa Waiver Program... On February 3, the Embassies of Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Malta and South Korea hosted a reception at the Hart Senate Office Building to celebrate the enlargement of the Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”).  The ambassadors of each country, including Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, greeted the guests. [read more]

11/23/08 - AHF Submits Letter Regarding Intolerance in Slovakia -- On November 21, 2008, the American Hungarian Federation submitted a letter to Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis who was visiting Washington, D.C.  The Federation's letter raised concern over the intolerant and discriminatory policies and practices aimed at Slovakia's Hungarian minority. [read more]

11/10/2008 - Csanádi emléktábla Révai Miklósnak - Október 26-án, vasárnap, avatták fel Nagycsanádon Révai Miklós kegyesrendi pap, egyetemi tanár és költő, a magyar nyelv és irodalom nagy tudósa emléktábláját. Az emléktábla állítás kezdeményezője Velcsov Margit nagyszentmiklósi magyartanár, aki a Washingtoni Amerikai Magyar Szövetség anyagi támogatásával készíttette el a márványtáblát, valamint a Telbisz Mária vezette Révai Miklós Egyesület. [tovább]

11/6/2008 - AHF Submitted Questionnaire to Presidential Candidates -- The Federation submitted identical questionnaires to Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain on a strictly non-partisan basis. Barack Obama responds to Hungarian American Community acknowledging need to "continue strengthening democratic institutions throughout Central and Eastern Europe....[and] build respect for human and minority rights in that region and throughout the world." Hungary's press reacts.[Read More]

11/4/08 - The American Hungarian Federation participates in CSIS conference as a General Sponsor.  On October 2, 2008, the Center for Strategic and International Studies ("CSIS") sponsored a conference, "New Allies and the New Administration: Priorities for U.S.-CEE Relations." The event examined "the strategic relationship between the United States and Central Eastern European states (CEE) with the purpose of generating concrete policy recommendations for the incoming U.S. administration." [read more]

10/24/2008 - The American Hungarian Federation Participates in White House Briefing and Ceremony for NATO Accession Protocols for Croatia and Albania... During a briefing at the White House on Friday, October 24, President George W. Bush thanked leaders from the Central and East European Coalition (the “CEEC”) for their support of NATO enlargement. The briefing preceded a ceremony in which President Bush signed NATO Accession Protocols for Croatia and Albania. Frank Koszorus, Jr. and Zoltan Bagdy, co-presidents of the American Hungarian Federation (the “Federation”) – an active member of the CEEC – attended both events. [read more]

10/17/2008 - President Bush Announces Hungary's Inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program...AHF leaders attend ceremony on Hungary’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.  “I’m pleased to stand with the representatives of seven countries – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea – that have met the requirements to be admitted to the United States Visa Waiver Program,” said President Bush at the October 17, 2008 White House Rose Garden ceremony.  [read more]

9/11/2008 - American Hungarian Federation Participates in Meeting with White House Officials on Crisis in Georgia... The American Hungarian Federation (“Federation”) along with other members of the Central and East European Coalition (“CEEC”) met on September 9, 2008 at the White House with officials from the National Security Council (“NSC”) to discuss the crisis in Georgia and related matters, including U.S. engagement in Central and Eastern Europe, NATO enlargement, aid to Georgia and other aid packages to the region and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. [read more]

9/7/2008 - September 6 Memorial Service for Reverend Dr. Imre Bertalan in Washington...The Reverend Dr. Imre Bertalan, past president and chairman of the American Hungarian Federation, died July 10, 2008 at Schenectady, New York, from complications of cancer, at age 90.  At the time of his death, he was the pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Washington, D.C.  [read more]

8/15/2008 - American Hungarian Federation believes Hungary should accede to the joint declaration on the situation in Georgia signed by the presidents of the Baltic States and Poland; Federation also participates in CEEC press conference and demonstration in Washington, DC. Hungarians remember all too vividly the Soviet intervention in Hungary. AHF issues statement. [read more in English ] [tovább magyarul]

7/25/2008 - American Hungarian Federation Participates in CEEC Meeting with Senator Schumer: Discusses Russia "Hegemony" statement... The American Hungarian Federation and other members of the Central East European Coalition (CEEC) met with Senator Charles Schumer (D–NY) this week. The purpose of the meeting was to seek clarification of statements contained in Senator Schumer’s June 3rd Wall Street Journal article that were susceptible to the interpretation that he condoned Russian designs on Central and Eastern Europe. [read more]

6/30/2008 - American Hungarian Federation Participates In “Hungarian Americans Together” Conference... On June 26-27, 2008, the American Hungarian Federation (AHF) participated in a conference titled “Hungarian Americans Together,” held at Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The focus of the conference was the future health and security of domestic Hungarian organization. [read more]

6/19/2008 - American Hungarian Federation Helps Plan and Participates in Successful CEEC Congressional Policy Discussion on Central and Eastern Europe... the Central and Eastern European Coalition (CEEC) sponsored a foreign policy roundtable discussion and reception on Capitol Hill.  The purpose of the discussion was to analyze issues of interest to the members of the CEEC, including U.S. relations with Russia, enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and energy policies impacting the region. [read more]

6/12/2008 - Victims of Communism Memorial 1st Anniversary... Former California Congressman Tom Lantos was awarded the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom (posthumously) during the ceremony. The ceremony marked the first anniversary of the dedication of the memorial. AHF is proud to support the foundation. AHF's October 2007 Congressional Reception in honor of its 100th anniversary began with a wreath laying at the memorial. [read more]

6/12/2008 - Tom Lantos, who died in February of esophageal cancer, will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. A native of Budapest and the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress Tom Lantios was recognized for his work on human rights. During his 27 years in the House, he co-founded and led the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and used his longtime perch on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which he chaired starting in 2007, to put pressure on repressive regimes worldwide. He supported many AHF efforts. [read more]

6/11/2008 - Sen. Schumer suggests return of Russia's hegemony in Central and East Europe... AHF (and Central and East European Coalition) sends letter and calls on community to express its concern. On June 3, 2008, Senator Schumer (D-NY) published an article in The Wall Street Journal entitled "Russia Can Be Part of the Answer on Iran." In this article, Sen. Schumer suggests that stronger economic sanctions would help deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The effectiveness of the sanctions, according to Sen. Schumer, will require Russia's cooperation. [read more] and get involved!

6/4/2008 - The 88th Anniversary of Trianon. AHF issues Statement entitled, "Overdue Autonomy for Minority Hungarians! Time to Bury Trianon and Resurrect Democracy." The European order imposed after World War I and then re-imposed following the Second World War collapsed almost within months at the end of the Cold War. One ethnic group after another throughout the region seized the opportunity to realize their own objectives to exercise external self-determination, even as some of them denied internal self-determination to their Hungarian co-nationals.  For example, after Slovakia broke away from Prague’s perceived dominance in the peaceful divorce of 1992, it wasted little time to gerrymander the country’s historic administrative division in 1996 so as to eliminate most of the districts which had a Hungarian majority population. [read more]

3/24/2008 - Hungary and the United States Sign Visa Waiver Agreement... On Monday, March 17, 2008, Hungary, Slovakia and Lithuania signed a Visa Waiver Program memorandum of understanding with the United States.  This agreement is intended to pave the way to help the three countries qualify for visa waiver free travel to the United States later this year. Washington Times publishes AHF Letter to the Editor. [read more]

3/5/2008 - American Hungarian Federation Raises Issue of Vojvodina Hungarians With Senator Senator Clinton’s Foreign Policy Advisor, Ron Asmus...On March 3 representatives of the 19 member organizations of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) spoke via conference call with Dr. Ron Asmus, foreign policy adviser to Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign. The discussion, which was a follow-up to a meeting with Secretary Madeline Albright and Senator Clinton's Campaign National Security Director, Lee Feinstein held last week. [read more]

3/5/2008 - American Hungarian Federation Participates in Meetings With Senator Obama’s and Senator Clinton’s Foreign Policy Advisors...The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) and the American Hungarian Federation (AHF), discussed a number of policy issues with both candidates' top advisors. [read more]

3/1/2008 - Zoltan Bagdy writes in support of national self-determination in reaction to February 19 Anne Applebaum article: "... it is doubly puzzling why she now seems to be ringing the alarm-bell about other ethnic groups seeking their own self-determination. Why not the Basques?  Her list doesn’t even mention the Kurds, so I will add it myself:  Why not the Kurds?  Don’t they deserve self-determination?  There are 2 million ethnic Hungarians living outside of Hungary, they are not allowed to use their native language, their cultural and educational opportunities are constrained. Aren’t they entitled to their freedom?" [read more]

2/29/2008 - As Kosovo gains independence, AHF calls attention to the largest minority in the region: The Hungarians in the former Yugoslavia and within the Carpathian Basin. The recent independence of Kosovo and resulting violence deeply concerns the Federation. In a Letter to the Editor, AHF's Geza Cseri writes: "What is also bothersome and surprising is that there is no overall analysis of minority rights in Central Europe, which is crucial to the peace of the region as well as the whole of Europe. [read more]

2/21/2008 - AHF monitoring developments in Kosovo and calls for autonomy for historic Hungarian minorities in Vojvodina and elsewhere in the Carpathian Basin. With independence of Kosovo and the potential for additional violence, the Federation is concerned over the lack of international attention to the Hungarian minority in the former Yugoslavia. "While Kosovars and other nations of Central and Eastern Europe have realized their aspirations for self-determination, the Hungarian minorities are still denied the right of autonomy within existing borders." [read more]

[ > Go to 2007]
[ > Go to 2006]
[ > Go to 2005]
[ > Go to 2004]

The American Hungarian Federation in the News. See the articles by AHF and its members published in the domestic and international press.
[click here]

• AHF Census Alert / Népszámlálás
• 2010 February
• 2009 - May-June
• 2009 - April
• 2009 - March
• 2008 - November
• 2008 - June
• 2008 - April 9: Action Alert - Benes Decrees. CLOSED
• 2008 - April 01
• 2007 - October 5: Invitation to Congressional Reception Wreath Laying, and Award Ceremony Honoring 1956 and AHF's 100th Anniversary
• 2007 - September 24: Invitation/Meghivó - Remembering the Darr Mine Disaster / Darr Bányaszerencsétlenség Megemlékezésére
• 2007 - September 13
• 2007 - July 2
• 2007 - June 4: Remember Trianon
• 2007 - May 21: Memorial Day Commemoration
• 2007 - April 24
• 2007 - March 14, ACTION ALERT
  Congressional "Friends of Hungary"
• 2007 - February 14
• 2006 - December 29
• 2006 - September 28
• 2006 - June 17
• 2006 - May 08
• 2006 - May 5, Invitations
• 2006 - February 22
• 2006 - January 12
• 2005 - December 21 - Year End
• 2005 - December 07 - Action Alert CLOSED
• 2005 - December 05 - Action Alert
• 2005 - December 04
• 2005 - November 03
• 2005 - October 21
• 2005 - October 4th - Invitations to 1956 Congressional Reception, Csango Ball, and 1956 Memorial Dedication
• 2005 - September 2 - AHF Action Alert: Disaster Relief Funds: Transylvania Floods and Hurricane Katrina
• 2005 - August 01
• 2005 - July 01
• 2005 - June 10
• 2005 - May 24 - AHF Action Alert: UPDATE 2
• 2005 - April 22 - AHF Action Alert: UPDATE 1
• 2005 - April 22nd - AHF Action Alert
• 2005 - April 8
• 2005 - March 11
• 2005 - February 4
• 2005 - January 21
• 2005 - January 11
• 2004 - December 30
• 2004 - November 05
• 2004 - January 23

The American Hungarian Federation turned 100 - Join and help us represent the interests of our community! The American Hungarian Federation (AHF), was founded in 1906 in Cleveland, Ohio. Among the oldest ethnic organizations in the US, AHF was established as an association of Hungarian societies, institutions and churches to "defend the interest of Americans of Hungarian origin in the United States." The American Hungarian Federation strives to unite the American Hungarian community through work that supports common goals. AHF is a national, non-partisan, independent umbrella organization representing the interests of the Hungarian American community. [more about us] [join now]

Sign up for the AHF mailing list. Your information is not shared!

Contribute or join online!