 5/10/2013 - The American Hungarian Federation, which has called for the exoneration of Count Janos Esterhazy (the only member of the Slovak Parliament in 1942 who voted against expelling the Jews, he was convicted on trumped up charges and died in a communist prison), publishes documents that attest to his principled stand and actions to save Jews during World War II and protect the Hungarian minority in Slovakia. The documentation includes letters from Simon Wiesenthal, Yad Veshem, and Dr. Magda Ádám, a well-known Hungarian historian who lost her parents at Auschwitz and has worked to clear Esterházy’s name.
It is regrettable when contemporary politics driven by totalitarian ideology attempts to revise, ignore or obliterate historical facts. Such shameful falsification of history is what is happening in the case of Janos Esterhazy, a principled anti-fascist who saved Jewish lives during the Second World War and championed the rights of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia. [read more]
 4/26/2013 - AHF leaders meet with senior staff of the Helsinki Commission on April 25, 2013. AHF, represented by President Frank Koszorus, Jr., and Dr. Louis Segesvary, policy adviser and member of the Federation's International Relations Committee, raised a number of issues relating to the promotion of tolerant societies and respect for the rights of national, ethnic and religious minorities, including the Hungarian minorities living in Central and Eastern Europe, as a necessary means to strengthen democracy in multi-ethnic countries. [read more]
 3/25/2013 - The American Hungarian Federation supports the Smithsonian Institution, Balassi Institute and the Hungarian Embassy in promoting the 2013 Smithsonian Folk Life Festival featuring "Hungarian Heritage - Roots to Revival."  AHF Executive Committee commits to $10,000.00 seed money toward the $100,000.00 needed for the building of the Hungarian Pavilion and grounds. AHF calls for volunteers and support! [read more]
3/19/2013 -- United States Helsinki Commission holds Hearing entitled, "The Trajectory of Democracy – Why Hungary Matters" to "examine Hungary’s constitutional changes with a particular view to the independence of the judiciary, present-day Hungary’s relationship to its Holocaust-era past, and the implications of Hungary’s sweeping legal changes for civil society, including an independent media and religious organizations."... AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FEDERATION ISSUES STATEMENT. [read more]
  3/19/2013 - Deathtoll rises as Violence against Hungarians continues in Serbia. AHF continues to be deeply concerned with anti-Hungarian attitudes and the lack of progress toward acceptance of diversity and the re-establishment of autonomy for the Vojvodina province. Recent attacks in the early part of 2013 include the severe beating of two teens in Temerin in January, one of whom required surgery to save his eyesight. In February in Szabadka (Subotica), 5 teens were severely attacked, for speaking Hungarian. These violent acts have repeated across the province.
[see this HirTV documentary (in Hungarian)]
 3/10/2013 -- AHF and Members of the Community show Support for Autonomy of Rumania's ethnic-Hungarian community... Carrying the Szekely Flag and a sign that read "Autonomy for Szekelyland," the group marched around the White House in Washington, DC, and raised awareness of the situation facing the ethnic-Hungarian community in Rumania. Numerous demonstrations were held in Europe and in North America. [read more]
 3/09/2013 - AHF commemorates Hungarian National Day and the 1848 War of Independence. The commemoration emphasized the relavance of Kossuth and the historic fight for democracy to today, Hungary's revered history of standing up for freedom and liberty against great odds, and the serious human and minority rights challenges facing ethnic-Hungarian communities throughout the Carpathian basin. [read more]
 2/27/2013 - AHF Launches Special Service for for Individual, Patron and Michael Kovats Freedom Circle-level Members of the American Hungarian Federation. AHF Media Watch (AMSz Figyelő) is a hand-picked selection of news articles from across the Carpathian Basin and worldwide in English and Hungarian. See the archive! To sign up, become a member! [tovább] [read more]
 2/27/2013 - Watch the podcast of Subcommittee Hearing: Anti-Semitism: A Growing Threat to All Faiths. Tamás Fellegi, Ph.D., Managing Partner of
EuroAtlantic Solutions
(Former Minister of National Development Government of Hungary) represented Hungary on the distinguished panel. [See the timeline of remarks and read more]
 1/17/2013 - AHF meets with State Secretary Bence Retvari who was representing a Hungarian delegation visiting the United States at the invitation of the US Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Program. Mr. Rétvari is Minister of State for Public Administration and Justice. He is a Member of Parliament for the KDNP (Christian Democrats) a part of the ruling coalition. A number of topics of interest to the community, such as good American / Hungarian relations and minority rights, were discussed at the afternoon session. The delegation is scheduled for numerous visits across the country.
 1/11/2013 - AHF again responds to Senator Ben Cardin, Co-Chair of the US Helsinki Commission. In his December 20, 2012 statement, the Senator was unfairly critical of Hungary. "...we are concerned that (1) your assertions concerning Hungary omit relevant facts; and (2) your statement fails to raise the discrimination and intolerant policies toward ethnic Hungarians in some of the countries bordering Hungary. The statement therefore leaves the impression... of bias, which could result in cynicism toward the Helsinki Commission and its valuable and necessary work." [read more]
 12/12/2012 - Hungarian Scholarship Fund (HSF) / Magyar Ösztöndíjalap surpasses $400,000.00. AHF's Hungarian American Education and Cultural Preservation Fund (Amerikai Magyar Oktatási és Kultúrális Alap (AMOKA) supports the HSF. Founded by AHF Board Member, Prof. Bela Bognar, the HSF supports students who are economically disadvantaged and live in Hungary and in the lands lost at the Treaty of Trianon which cost Hungary 2/3 of her territory, 1/3 of her ethnic-Hungarian population and vast natural resources. [read more and HELP!]
 11/28/2012 - AHF Members React to Anti-Semitic Statement by a Hungarian far-right politician urging the government to draw up lists of Jews who pose a "national security risk." AHF applauds the government for promptly condemning the statement and speaking out against "extremist, racist, anti-Semitic voices of any kind."
 The statement sent to appears in full in Hungarian:
[read more]
 11/15/2012 - Putting principle over politics, a cross-section of the Hungarian American community issued a statement regarding unwarranted attacks against former Hungarian Ambassador to the United States Geza Jeszenszky: "We the undersigned are not only familiar with the writings of Geza Jeszenszky but have known him for years and spent many hours in his company. In his public statements and private conversations we have never heard him expressing racist views of any kind, not even subtle or light-hearted comments that some people allow themselves after hours in Hungary as well as in the United States. To the contrary, he has been a model professor and public servant espousing nondiscrimination and diversity as indispensable in a democracy.." [read more]
 10/23/2012 - AHF Issues Statement on the 56th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution entitled, "The Hungarian 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight:
A Nation of Heroes." 1956 was not the first time in Hungary’s thousand year history that the Hungarian nation -- the people -- stood up for liberty, independence and democracy. One just needs to remember the Revolution of 1848 when Hungarians rose up against Hapsburg oppression and with Lajos Kossuth at the helm championed freedom and democracy. Or one can recall July 1944 when a Hungarian armored division blocked the deportation of more than 200,000 Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary. Or one can point to 1945 when despite Soviet occupation, Hungarians resoundingly rejected the Communist Party and elected the Smallholders Party. [read more]
 10/19/2012 - Commemorating the 56th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Gov. George Pataki were guests of honor at the "56 at 56" Gala Dinner sponsored by the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, D.C. marking the 56th anniversary of Hungary 1956. Additional speakers included Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi and Hungarian-American 5-time world champion and two-time Gold Medal winner Susan (Zsuzsanna) Francia who won in rowing at both Beijing and London. Hungarian Ambassador Szapary welcomed guests and made a surprise announcement: The Hungarian Government will seed the Victims of Communism museum with a $1 million donation. [read more]
 10/5/2012 - "'The Diplomats' Pursue Rock-And-Roll Outreach." NPR's Metro Connection, hosted by Rebecca Sheir, featured the Hungarian Embassy's Rock Band. Bryan Dawson, AHF's Executive Chairman, sings for the group.  Rebeca and her popular NPR program has recently been exploring unique ways diplomacy works.The bandmembers shared their experiences with communism and the suppression of creative freedom. [read more] and listen to the radio program!
 [READ THE FINAL OLYMPIC UPDATE]
London 2012 saw Hungary repeat its historic Olympic excellence.
2012 Official Medal Count: 17
(8 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze)
Hungary #8 in total Gold Medals!
(Not including medals by Hungarians competing for other countries)
As of 2012, Hungary Ranks 8th in Gold Medals! More than Russia, Australia and Japan! Hungary also Ranks 8th Overall! More than China, more than Russia! [read more] on Bryan Dawson's "Nobel Prize Winners and Famous Hungarians."
 8/21/2012 - AHF sends letter to Romanian Ambassador and Chairmen of the US Helsinki Commission regarding the Szekely-Miko Case: AHF is "deeply concerned that the prosecution of former state secretary Attila Marko, Silviu Vlim and Tamas Marosan in connection with the restitution to the Reformed Diocese of Transylvania of the Szekely Miko Evangelical Reformed College (“MEC”) in Sfantu-Gheorghe, Romania was not justified. It only serves to further stall, and in this instance reverse, the lawful restitution of church properties and discriminate against Romania’s Hungarian minority... [read more]
 8/31/2012 - Amerikai magyarok is tiltakoznak a Mikó Kollégium ügyében: „A magyar kisebbség érthető okok miatt nem csupán egy restitúciós problémát lát a sepsiszentgyörgyi Mikó Kollégium ügyében, hanem egy közösség elleni célirányos tevékenységet, az intolerancia, diszkrimináció megnyilvánulását. A bigottság, az intolerancia a demokráciában hívő emberek meggyalázása, és sérti a nyugati értékeket, normákat” [tovább]
 22.08.2012 - Indokolatlannak tartja a sepsiszentgyörgyi Székely Mikó Kollégium restitúciója ügyében érintett személyek elleni bűnvádi eljárást az Amerikai Magyar Szövetség (AMSZ). Tízezres nagyságrendben várnak tüntetőket Sepsiszentgyörgyre a Székely Mikó Kollégium visszaállamosítása elleni tüntetésre szeptember elsején. [tovább]
 7/17/2012 - AHF releases statement, "Romania: Reversing Lawful Church Property Restitution,
Through Criminal Prosecution." AHF is deeply concerned that the prosecution of former state secretary Attila Marko, Silviu Vlim and Tamas Marosan in connection with the restitution to the Reformed Diocese of Transylvania of the Szekely Miko Evangelical Reformed College (“MEC”) is a baseless and blatant attempt by the authorities to further stall and reverse the lawful restitution of church properties seized by the communists. [read more]
17.07.2012 - Aggódik az Amerikai Magyar Szövetség a Székely Mikó Kollégium ügye miatt. [tovább]
18.07.2012 - Mikó ügy: tisztességes és gyors restitúciót akar az Amerikai Magyar Szövetség [tovább]
 6/8/2012 - Hungarian Review publishes article, "The Soldier Who Saved the Lives of Budapest's Jews: Col. Ferenc Koszorus." The courageous intervention of Col. Ferenc Koszorus and his loyal First Armored Division on July 6, 1944 blocked the deportation of the more than 250,000 Jews of Budapest. In paying tribute to Col. Koszorus, former Congressman Tom Lantos, a survivor of the Holocaust, noted that the Koszorus intervention "permitted... Wallenberg, who arrived in Budapest on July 9, 1944, to coordinate his successful and effective rescue mission." [read more]
 5/29/2012 - AHF participates in drafting CEEC Policy Brief on minority rights and NATO expansion and issues multiple action alerts including: Supporting S. 2177, the NATO Enhancement Act, introduced by Sen. Richard Lugar to encourage
further enlargement of NATO and to deepen U.S. strategic partnerships with NATO allies. [read more]
 5/22/2012 - AHF Co-President Gyula Balogh joins US Ambassador Kounalakis in laying wreath on the 200th Anniversary of the Death of Col. Commandant Michael Kovats de Fabricy. US Ambassador to Hungary, Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, spoke at the May 11th event, held in Col. Kovats' birthplace, Karcag. Kovats is considered a Founding Father of the US Cavalry who gave his life in the American War for Independence
while leading the Continental Army cavalry he had trained in Hungarian
hussar tactics against a British siege of Charleston. [read more]
 5/12/2012 - AHF's AMOKA program Donates Laptops to Zalabér Elementary School. Erika Fedor, AHF Social Committee Chair, presented the laptops to Albert Kiss, principal of the Zalaber Middle School. The donation is part of the "Classrooms of Tomorrow" project that bridges Hungarian students in Zalaber with American counterparts at McIntosh Middle School in Sarasota, Florida. The program's objective is to have students in Hungary work directly on scientific and agricultural topics with their US counterparts via teleconferencing. [read more]
 5/11/2012 - Budapest conference to mark 90th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Hungary and the US. The conference, co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Budapest, was opened by Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Bay Fang. Lecturers at the May 9th conference included US political scientist Prof. Andrew Ludanyi, member of the AHF International Affairs Committee, as well as Katrina Lantos Swett, president and CEO of the Tom Lantos Institute.
The conference was concluded with speeches by Hungarian Ambassador to the US Gyorgy Szapary and US Ambassador to Hungary Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis. [read more]
 4/20/2012 - The 7th Annual Hungarian Charity Ball raises funds for worthy causes... The American Hungarian Federation and the
Hungarian Scouts of Washington sponsored the Jótékonysági Est (Benefit Event) to support its programs and, this year, a very unique educational program promoting scholarly exchange between middle-school students in Sarasota, Florida, and Zalaber in Hungary. This year's event was held in the Ballroom of the Sheraton Premier in Tyson's Corner. [read more]
 4/16/2012 - Raoul Wallenberg Remembered on Capitol Hill. U.S. Congressman Harris recalls Col. Ferenc Koszorus, Sr., Hero of the Holocaust. AHF honors the millions of lives lost and the untold suffering caused by Nazism and Communism. Hungarian Deputy State Secretary Gergely Prőhle, Members of Congress, the Lantos family, Embassies, AHF representatives, and friends of Hungary gathered in the Capitol to pay tribute to Wallenberg.
[read more]
 3/11/2012 - AHF commemorates Hungarian National Day and the 1848 War of Independence. The commemoration emphasized Hungary's revered history of standing up for freedom and liberty against great odds, including in 1848 – 1849, and urged that this history not be defamed through political expediency. Each year, speakers focus on the significance of the 1848 revolution and how its ideals and goals relate to today's Hungary. Bryan Dawson, AHF Executive Chairman, delivered the 2012 Keynote Address entitled, "Novus Scotus Viator: A Case for a Kossuth-style Worldview in 2012." [read more]
 3/5/2012 - AHF has Follow-Up Capitol Hill Meeting on Recent Congressional Trip to Hungary and Slovakia. Prior to the delegation’s trip the Federation submitted background information on Hungary and Slovakia to the CODEL. “At a time when there is considerable misinformation being disseminated about Hungary and so little known about the discrimination against the Hungarian minority in Slovakia, we believe such fact-finding missions are most useful, welcome and greatly appreciated,” said Mr. Koszorus. [read more]
 2/17/2012 - AHF briefs top professional staff advisor to Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia on the eve of congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Hungary and Slovakia. The Federation submitted a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member along with significant background materials on Hungary andSlovakia and called their attention to recent harsh and often politically motivated and unfair criticism of Hungary and the anti-Hungarian attitudes, policies and practices in Slovakia [read more] and join the discussion on Politics.hu!
 1/24/2012 - AHF reacts to what it sees as politically motivated, unfair, unmerited, biased criticism of Hungary. "While democratic institution building should be encouraged and debated, it should be done based on facts, and in a fair, unbiased and evenhanded manner [it must be] bereft of partisanship (or even the appearance of partisanship) and undertaken solely in furtherance of promoting Western values, not political expediency." [read more]
 12/14/2011 - UPDATE: The Case of Ilonka Tamas. The latest outrage from Slovakia: a 99-year-old teacher loses her citizenship. Ilonka Tamás was born in 1912 when Rimaszombat was part of Hungary. She brought up generations of children and received the “Komenský” medal and the Gold Medal of the Slovak Republic for her pedagogical achievements. She merely wanted to regain her Hungarian citizenship but is now a "person without a registered address." AHF submits follow up letter to the U.S. Helsinki Commission. [read more]
 12/02/2011 - Slovakia strips citizenship to ethnic Hungarian minorties who assert their right to dual citizenship in violation of their own Constitution. AHF submits a statement to the US Congress Helsinki Commission: "Intolerance and discrimination targeting any group based on ethnicity, nationality or religion is not acceptable... The most recent anti-Hungarian incident involves Slovakia stripping Oliver Boldoghy of his Slovak citizenship after becoming a dual citizen. This decision is not only contrary to American and European practices, it violates the Slovak constitution, which provides that “no one must be deprived of the citizenship of the Slovak Republic against his will.” [read more]
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