2/24/2006 - Annual Leadership
Conference in Venice, Florida... AHF Members are welcome to join
AHF Leadership to discuss implementing AHF's 2007 program and strategies
aimed at strengthening the Federation in its 100th anniversary year. [read
more]
 12/18/2006
- The American Hungarian Federation Condemns Latest Minority
Rights Violations By Romania: Sanctions Against Hungarian Professors
At Babes-Bolyai University For Promoting Bilingualism. "Although
Romania joined NATO and will be accepted into the EU, the irrefutable
record demonstrates that its laws and practices fail to conform to European
and Western standards relating to human and minority rights. A few examples
of Romania’s less than exemplary record will suffice..." [read
more]
12/1/2006 - Budapest
Needs to Support Legitimate Aspirations of Hungarian Minorities, Not Eliminate
Institutions. The American Hungarian Federation is concerned
that revised policies by Hungary may not be sufficient to protect the
Hungarian minorities living in the Carpathian Basin. The Federation hopes
that other organizations and individuals, especially those who address
minority rights issues, will join the Federation in its expression of
concern. The full text of the Federation's statement, in English and Hungarian
can be viewed below.
- AHF Statement (English) [read
more]
- AMSz Nyilatkozat (Hungarian/Magyarul) [tovább]
 11/17/2006
- AHF Co-President,
Imre Toth attends Washington Premiere of Andrew Vajna's stirring film,
"Freedom's Fury." The Hungarian Embassy hosted the
premier of the documentary film "Freedom's Fury," the story
of the 1956 olympic water polo match between a "free"  Hungary
(the match took place during the revolution) and the Soviet Union which
led to blood in the water. Imre Toth, a filmmaker himself, was asked to
present technical questions from the production crew of Colin Gray and
Megan Aarons (the Sibs.) Imre reports "It was a fantastic experience.
This will be a collector's item for Hungarians for the next 50 years to
come." [read more]
 11/16/2006
- Federation Leaders Meet with White House Official. On
November 16, members of the American Hungarian Federation's leadership,
including its President, Istvan Fedor, and several members of the Federation's
Executive Committee Zoltan Bagdy, Bryan Dawson, Atilla Kocsis, and Frank
Koszorus, Jr. met with Adam Sterling, the newly appointed Director of
Central and Eastern European Affairs of the National Security Council.
The meeting took place in the Executive Office of the White House. [read
more]
 11/5/2006
- American Hungarian Federation Criticized for Speaking
out in Favor of Democracy... The article, “Az
Amerikai Magyar Szövetség botrányos nyilatkozata,”
published in the November 5, 2006 edition of Amerikai Magyar Nepszava
Szabadság ("Népszava") is punctuated with inaccurate,
unsubstantiated and malevolent assertions. Népszava criticized
the Federation for expressing its concern over reports of alleged police
brutality directed against peaceful demonstrators on October 23, 2006
and for supporting an impartial investigation of those allegations.
Amnesty International had issued
a similar statement calling for investigations of alleged excessive use
of force during September demonstrations. [read
more]
Az Amerikai Magyar Népszava Szabadság
(mostantól Népszava) 2006. november 5-én Az Amerikai
Magyar Szövetség botrányos nyilatkozata címmel
pontatlan, megalapozatlan és rosszindulatú kifejezésekkel
terhelt cikket közölt, bírálni próbálva
a Szövetséget, amiért az aggodalmát fejezte
ki az 2006. október 23-án, a békés tüntetokkel
szemben foganatosított, állítólagos rendori
eroszakról érkezo jelentések kapcsán, és
egyúttal támogatta az állítások részrehajlás
nélküli kivizsgálását. [tovább
magyarul]
11/2/2006 - American Hungarian Federation
Expresses Concern Over Excessive Use of Force. On October 31,
2006 the American Hungarian Federation issued a statement concerning the
recent developments relating to demonstrations against the government
of Hungary. The Federation expresses its concern over the excessive
use of force against the demonstrators, and questions the official inaction
concerning the events; it also calls for a thorough and timely investigation
of the police actions. The full text of the statement, in English
and in Hungarian, can be viewed below.
- AHF Statement (English) [read
more]
- AMSz Nyilatkozat (Hungarian/Magyarul) [tovább]
 10/22
- 10/29 - Texas AHF Chapter Grows with successful commemorations
of the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The
University of St. Thomas hosts symposium and photo exhibit and the Hungarian
American Cultural Association hosts commemoration in Houston where Dr.
Robert Ivany is awarded the Col. Commandant Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom,
AHF's highest honor. The same photo exhibit displayed in the state Capitol
in Austin. Dallas Hungarians dedicate the “emlékoszlopok”
("memorial poles" are traditional Transylvanian carved wooden
monuments) in honor of the 1956 Revolution and the 50th year of the Cistercian
Abbey. [read more]
10/25/2006 - AHF President Istvan
Fedor Expresses Thanks to President Bush for His Proclamation About the
1956 Revolution. On this page below, President Bush's October
18 Proclamation honoring the 1956 Revolution is printed. On October 25,
AHF President Istvan Fedor thanked President Bush for his Proclamation
and for his personal involvement in the events commemorating 1956, such
as his address at the Capitol in March of this year, and his visit to
Hungary in June. Read more of Istvan Fedor's letter to President Bush.
[read more]
 10/22/2006
- AHF Chairman, Akos Nagy provides keynote address at 1956
Memorial unveiling at Miami's Kossuth Club. Miami's Hungarian
community commemorated 1956 with a service at the First Hungarian Church
of Christ followed by the unveiling and unveiling of its 1956 Memorial.
The consecration ceremony began with the Ringing of Bell for the martyrs
[read
more]
 10/20/2006
- The American Hungarian Federation Commemorates the 50th
Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolt. The American Hungarian
Federation honored the memory of the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution
of 1956, at a gala dinner at the prestigious Cosmos Club in Washington,
D.C., on October 20th.  Close
to 150 Federation members, American Hungarians, their American friends
and relatives attended the dinner. Seven American Hungarians received
the Federation's "Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom Award" in
recognition of their efforts on behalf of Hungarian causes. [read
more]
 10/18/2006
- President Bush issues a proclamation honoring the 1956
Hungarian Revolution... "The story of Hungarian democracy
represents the triumph of liberty over tyranny. In the fall of 1956, the
Hungarian people demanded change, and tens of thousands of students, workers,
and other citizens bravely marched through the streets to call for freedom.
Though Soviet tanks brutally crushed the Hungarian uprising, the thirst
for freedom lived on, and in 1989 Hungary became the first communist nation
in Europe to make the transition to democracy." [download
the resolution]
 10/16/2006
- AHF Co-President Imre Toth guest speaker at the Goethe
Institute during 1956 film screenings. As part of the 50th Anniversary
of the Hungarian Revolution commemorations, the Goethe-Institut presented
films where each evening’s screenings were followed by a discussion
with an expert. The event screened films by AHF members Klaudia Kovacs
("Torn from the Flag"), Jake Borritt (Budapest to Gettysburg),
Reka Pigniczky ("Journey Home"), Arthur Rasco ("No Greater
Love"), and Steven Fischer ("Freedom Dance"). Other films
included "Szerelem" by renowned director Károly Makk
and BBC documentary footage. [download
the press release]
 10/15/2006
- 1956 Anniversary Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall. New
York City’s Carnegie Hall hosted a Gala Memorial Concert commemorating
the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution organized by the
Coordinating Committee for the Commemoration of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
[read
more]
 10/14/2006
- Eisenhower, Khrushchev, and AHF's own Imre Toth participate in "Cold
War Conversations: The Uprisings and Revolutions of 1956."
The American Hungarian Federation is proud to have co-hosted the event.
The Cold War Museum convened panels of diplomats, officials and historians
to discuss the 1956 Polish and Hungarian uprisings against the Soviets
and Communism. [read more]
 10/8/2006
- AHF Co-President, Imre L. Toth, featured
in US News and World Report on 1956. "Revolution! The Hungarian
uprising 50 years later; how it changed the Cold War" by Alex Kingsbury
is the Special Report in the latest issue of U.S. News and World Report
magazine. This story appears in the October 16, 2006 print edition of
U.S. News & World Report. [see
the article]
 9/20/2006
- Professor Peter Hargitai and the American Hungarian Federation
publish novel about child freedom-fighter, "Daughter of the Revolution."
For 12 days, countless Hungarian teenagers fought in the bloody
Hungarian Revolution against Communist tyranny and overwhelming Soviet
armor. They set up tank barricades, tossed Molotov cocktails, and with
their confiscated Russian submachine guns made a stand on the streets
of Budapest, hoping to hold out until help arrived from the West. But
there was no help. Nobody came to their aid. This is the story of one
such brave freedom fighter-a 14 year-old girl. [order
now]
 9/19/2006
- AHF issues statement in reaction to
political crisis over Gyurcsany "Pinnochio Gate" speech. Peaceful
demonstrations were held worldwide as Hungarians reacted to an aired audiotape
of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany telling members of his ruling Socialist
Party that his government had lied about the state of the country's economy
throughout its two years in office. "We lied throughout the past
one and a half or two years," he said. "We lied in the morning,
we lied in the evening and also at night."
AHF Statement /
Az Amerikai Magyar Szövetség Nyilatkozata
A demokrácia egyik alapelve, hogy a szavazók szavazó
urnákon keresztül gyakorolják a közhatalmat. Ezt
mind a gyozteseknek, mind pedig a veszteseknek tiszteletben kell tartaniuk.
Bár a szólasszabadság, beleértve a békés
tüntetést is, része a demokráciának,
a rendbontás és eroszak nem. De a provokálás
sem. Az érem másik oldala, hogy akik megnyerik a szavazópolgárok
bizalmát, azok tisztességgel, becsültettel és
legjobb tudásukkal szolgálják a nemzet és
az ország érdekeit. Mivel a Gyurcsány-kormány
bevallotta, hogy nemcsak, hogy hazudott, de gazdaságilag is sokat
rontott az ország helyzetén, ezért nyilvánvalóvá
vált, hogy visszaélt azzal a bizalommal, amellyel a választók
felruházták. - ifj. Koszorús Ferenc
Társelnök, Washington, D.C., 2006. Szeptember. 19
[download
the statement (in Hungarian)]
 8/1/2006
- Virginia's Governor Kaine honors the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
Virginia answers AHF's call and joins Texas, Colorado, Ohio, and Maryland
in issuing a proclamation honoring the 1956 fight for freedom. AHF is
pursuing resolutions in all 50 states. How can you help? [read
more]
6/22/2006
- American Hungarian Federation submits Letter to President Bush
Prior to his trip to Budapest. On June 17, 2006, the Federation
submitted a letter to President Bush in connection with his trip to Budapest.
While expressing thanks for the visit and for honoring the 1956 Hungarian
revolution, (the Federation recommended such a
visit last year, but only after Hungarian elections), the letter noted
that “there are Hungarian communities living in states neighboring
Hungary who do not yet fully enjoy the benefits of freedom because of
the discrimination and intolerance they experience solely due to their
nationality.” It suggested how fitting this 50th anniversary year
would be it if it were to be “capped by a commitment by every country
of the region to promote genuine democracy (and stability) by respecting
the minority rights and legitimate aspirations of their respective minorities.”
[download
the entire letter] [read more about AHF's
1956 activities]
 6/16/2006
- AHF outlines key issues in Open Letter/Nyílt
Levél to Hungarian Prime Minister Gyurcsány (in English
and Hungarian). The Federation decided to publish this letter
because it has watched with growing concern how the Medgyessy/Gyurcsany
governments ignored or failed to adequately address several key issues
– economic reforms, support for families, aspirations of Hungarian
minorities in countries neighboring Hungary and voting rights. [read
more in English] [tovább
magyarul]
 6/13/2006
- Yugoslavia: Then and Now. The Washington Times publishes
AHF letter to the editor. "Jeffrey T. Kuhner observes that
Yugoslavia is dead ("Yugoslavia, rest in peace," Commentary,
Thursday). Actually, Yugoslavia was stillborn. Even as it was being cobbled
together as part of post-World War I peacemaking, Croats (and other nationalities)
resented Belgrade's domination..." [read
more] [see more articles in the
news]
6/7/2006 - "Trianon
Binds No One Except Hungarians," AHF
Issues Statement on the 86th Anniversary of the Trianon Tragedy.
 Hungarian
American communities join in protest. AHF's Assoc. President Frank Koszorus,
Jr., writes, "Montenegro’s declaration of independence from
Serbia on June 3, 2006, is but the latest nail in the coffin of the long-crumbling,
outdated and superseded post-World War I peacemaking, including the Treaty
of Trianon. Arguably the most severe of all the post-World War I settlements,
one is struck by how ephemeral the artificial progeny of the ill-conceived
Treaty of Trianon really was." [read
more]
 6/6/2006
- AHF
pursuing resolutions commemorating 1956 in all 50 states! Ohio
and
Colorado follow Texas in adopting the Resolution and congratulate the
American Hungarian Federation on its 100th anniversary. AHF's
1956 Commemoration Committee announced a nationwide effort urging state
houses and governors to adopt resolutions honoring the heroes of the 1956
Hungarian Revolution. Texas became the first state to adopt the resolution.
Ohio and Colorado were next. Special thanks to the Hon. Péter Ujvági,
Ohio State Representative (D) who successfully pushed the resolution through
both state houses and Jeno Megyessy for introducing a joint resolution
that also makes Octbober 23, 2006 "Hungarian Freedom Fighter's Day"
in Colorado! The Houston
Chronicle also published an Op-Ed calling attention to the resolution.
We need your help! AHF is calling on all member organizations
and friends to promote this important effort! How can you
help? [read more]
 5/29/2006
- Successful Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony at Arlington
National Cemetery. About 40 members and guests which included
representatives from NATO, both the US and Hungarian military, Hungarian
American leaders, and representatives from the Hungarian Embassy witnessed
the Memorial Day ceremony. Arlington National is the final resting place
for a number of Hungarian American  Congressional
Medal of Honor recipients. Following the program that included a roll
call in honor of those in present and past military service and a presentation
on Hungarian and American military traditions, the group proceeded on
a walking tour of 8 additional Hungarian American gravesites scattered
throughout the sprawling grounds.
 Bryan
Dawson-Szilagyi, AHF Executive Committee Chair (seen here placing the
AHF commemorative ribbon on the grave of Capt. Akos Szekely who died a
hero's death in Vietnam), wrote, "Most special to me was that our
commemoration had such a unique historical perspective... A perspective
that gave us a deeper understanding of the noble depths of the Hungarian
military tradition - a tradition that so many families carried on and
one we must honor by remembrance...[With the descendants of Gens. Asboth
and Kozlay there with us] We literally touched history - a history across
generations, centuries, and continents..." See additional photos,
information on the Hungarians buried at Arlington National, and highlights
of this very special event >> [read
more]
4/28/2006
- Texas House of Representatives adopts 1956 Resolution
and congratulates the American Hungarian Federation on its 100th anniversary.
AHF's 1956 Commemoration Committee announced a nationwide effort urging
state houses and governors to adopt resolutions honoring the heroes of
the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Texas became the first state to adopt the
resolution. The Houston
Chronicle also published an Op-Ed calling attention to the resolution.
We need your help! AHF is calling on all member organizations
and friends to promote this important effort! How can you
help? [read more]
 4/26/2006
- The American Hungarian Federation announces Memorial
Day Commemoration Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on
May 29, 2006. Representatives from NATO and both the US and Hungarian
military, Hungarian American leaders, and the Ambassador and representatives
from the Hungarian Embassy are expected to attend. Arlington National
is the final resting place for a number of Hungarian American Congressional
Medal of Honor recipients. [read
more]
 4/25/2006
- AHF shows unity and elects new leadership at National
Meeting. The American Hungarian Federation held its National
Convention at the Garfield Hungarian Club in New Jersey on April 22nd.
AHF Members from across the United States met to ensure unity and common
purpose and successfully elected a new leadership to lead the organization
in its Centennial Year. [read
more]
 4/18/2006
- The American Hungarian Federation responds to European
Commissioner Rehn's view that conditions relating to the Hungarian
historical community living in Romania are satisfactory. The letter states,
"More than a decade after the collapse of communism, Romania has
yet to fulfill its promises to its more than 1.5 million strong ethnic
Hungarians." [read more]
 4/10/2006
- The American Hungarian Federation and the Hungarian Scouts
of Washington, DC announce May 20th Gala Fundraiser. Proceeds
of the evening to support a series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary
of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the Hungarian historical communities
living in the countries neighboring Hungary. Honorary Chairs include outstanding
community leaders and Congressmen Tom Lantos, Daniel W. Lipinski, Thaddeus
G. McCotter, and Frank R. Wolf. [read
more and reserve]
 3/26/2006
- AHF of Washington, DC's annual 1848 commemoration.
The Chapel at Wesley Theological Seminary at American University was the
setting for this year's commemoration which featured speeches on Louis
Kossuth and the implications of 1848 on recent Hungarian politics and
ethnic relations in the Carpathian Basin. Speakers included Ambassador
Andras Simonyi, AHF DC President Frank Koszorus, Andras Ferenc Bodor,
and performances by local youth and the Bátori József Hungarian
Scouts [read more]
 3/15/2006
- President Bush Honors Hungary's Contributions to Democracy.
March 15th marks Hungary's National Day and the anniversary of
its historic 1848 democratic revolution led by Louis Kossuth. “I
believe the example of Hungary proves that freedom is universal. I believe
everybody desires to live in freedom,” Bush said. “It's an
example that tyranny can never stamp out the desire to be free.”
Numerous AHF members joined the event chair, Congressman Tom Lantos and
distiguished speakers and guests that included Congressmen Hastert and
Pelosi, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, and Hungarian Ambassador Simonyi.
[read more] With
Video!
 3/1/2006
- The "Butcher of Budapest" - The Washington Post publishes
AHF article on the "Consequences of the Secret Speech."
AHF Assoc. President Frank Koszorus, Jr., wrote the article in reaction
to Anne Applebaum's "Happy Anniversary, Nikita Khrushchev."
"One consequence of the "secret speech" that Ms. Applebaum
didn't mention was the destabilizing impact it had on Soviet-dominated
Central and Eastern Europe." [download
the article] [see more articles
in the news]
 3/1/2006
- Dr. Horváth János Washingtonban: Amerikai
Magyar Szövetség Kitüntetése
A Washington DC környékén élö magyar közösség
nagy érdeklödését kiváltó fórumot
tartott Horváth János a Fidesz -Magyar Polgári Szövetség
országgyulési képviselöjén a Kossuth
Házban 2006. március 1-én. [tovább]
 3/1/2006
- Dr. Horváth János Találkozik az
Amerikai Magyar Szövetséggel
Észak-amerikai körútja washingtoni eseményei
közepette dr. Horváth János - a Fidesz-Magyar Polgári
Szövetség országgyülési képviselöje
- nagy örömmel tett látogatást az Amerikai Magyar
Szövetségnél és találkozott annak Washingtonban
élö tagjaival. [tovább]
 How
Hungarian Citizens Abroad Can Vote: Dr. Janos Horvath's Awareness Campaign.
[Magyarul]
2/18/2006 - Hungarians Abroad voting in
Hungarian Parliamentarian Elections for the first time... Hungarian Parliamentarian
on US Tour to help voters understand the procedures as DEADLINE approaches.
János Horváth, a senior member of the Parliament of Hungary
representing the Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Party, is going to visit several
North American Hungarian communities between February 26 and March 6.
The key purpose of his trip is to underline the significance of the upcoming
general Parliamentary elections to be held in April in Hungary, and to
spread the news to those Hungarians with voting rights that they may cast
their votes at the Hungarian Embassies and Consulates abroad including
those in the US and Canada for the first time if they mail their requests
with the selected location to the appropriate local authorities in Hungary
within the somewhat restrictive statutory deadlines. [read
more]
![US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, sponsors reception in honor of teh 50th Aniiversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution [© Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi, AHF News Service]](images/StateDepartment1956/1956_HungarianRevolution_CondoleezzaRice_2006-02-13_sm.JPG) 2/14/2006
- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosts reception
in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. American Hungarian Federation issues statement. "For 12 days in 1956, the Hungarian people caught a fleeting glimpse
of their independence. Armed with little more than a love of liberty,
the impatient patriots of Hungary rose up against the mighty Soviet empire,"
noted Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a commemoration of the
1956 Revolution at the Department of State's Benjamin Franklin Room on
February 13, 2006. The Federation honors the true heroes of the 1956 Revolution
-- those who were unwilling to compromise and who, against overwhelming
odds and standing alone, made tremendous sacrifices for the cause of freedom,
democracy and independence. [read
more]
 1/28/2006 - AHF Leadership Conference in
Venice, Florida... AHF members met at the Hungarian Christian
Society's Hungarian Club in Venice to discuss AHF 2006/2007 plans, how
to improve coordination at both a local and national level, and events
related to the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. [read
more]
 1/26/2006
- Hungarian Reformed Federation's Washington Branch sponsors
1956 Roundtable Discussion...AHF members joined 1956 Freedom
Fighters and Washington-area Hungarians in a roundtable discussion sponsored
by the Washington Chapter of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of American
(HRFA). Branch Manager, Frank Kapitan (seen here), opened the discussion
and asked participants to share their personal experiences related to
1956 and discuss the lessons learned and implications of the revolution
in today's world. AHF's Zsuzsa Toth transcribed those experiences which can be found by clicking [here]
|
![US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, sponsors reception in honor of teh 50th Aniiversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution [© Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi, AHF News Service]](images/StateDepartment1956/1956_HungarianRevolution_CondoleezzaRice_2006-02-13_lg.JPG)
Sign
up for the AHF mailing list. Your information is not shared!
