News from AHF [see all news]
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News from AHF [see all news] |
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 9/26/2009 - AHF holds its more than 100 years of service celebration... On Saturday, September 26, 2009, the American Hungarian Federation (AHF) celebrated its more than 100 years of service to the Hungarian American community with a magnificent Gala Ball at the Hungarian American Athletic Club in New Brunswick, New Jersey. A capacity crowd of over 250 people from all walks of life, listened to heartrending patriotic recitals, and beautiful renditions of the American, Hungarian and Transylvanian (Szekely) national anthems. A unique collection of Hungarian songs and poems were played throughout the evening. The theme of these wonderful pieces and the evening was, “the future will only be beautiful, if the Magyar nation unites”. Moving congratulatory letters from former Prime Minister Viktor Orban (read here), and from former Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the U.S., Geza Jeszenszky (read here), were read, among others. Six awards for lifetime contributions to the Hungarian and American Hungarian communities were given, including long overdue recognition of Gabor Bodnar, a legend in worldwide Hungarian scouting. Read the press release in English. Read the press release in Hungarian. AHF thanks all who supported us (Orban Thank you- read here and Jeszensky Thank you - read here).
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Events!
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Author Susanna (Zsuzsanna) Lápossy is a Freedom Circle Member of the American Hungarian Federation. Her book, the first part of a trilogy entitled "Life behind the iron curtain" contains lesser-known facts about 20th century Hungary as seen through a middle-class family. [Read more]
7/10/2008 - Contribute or join
online! Site Design & Maintenance: BryanDawson.com |
![AHF urges Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to "publicly and unambiguously express [her] concern relative to the language law that took effect on September 1, 2009 in Slovakia. 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.](images/hillary_clinton.jpg)
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." [
1/12/10 -- AHF 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." 
1/9/10 -- AHF calls upon Vice President Biden to discuss Slovakia's language law with Hungarian Prime Minister Bajnai during the latter's trip to Washington, "with a resolution that Slovakia be urged to repeal this discriminatory law." [
1/9/10 -- The American Hungarian Federation participates in meeting with Ambassador John Beyrle, On January 8, 2010, members of the Central East European Coalition (CEEC) met with Amb. Beyrle, a career Foreign Service Officer and specialist in Russian and Eastern European affairs who currently is Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation. The participants discussed various issues during the more that two hour-long meeting with Amb. Beyrle, including U.S./Russian relations, Russian policies toward Europe, including Central and Eastern Europe, and energy security.
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." [
11/24/09 -- "Elfogadhatatlan a szlovák politika." 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. [
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 the AHF Letter/White House Release. [
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 - 
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." [
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. [
6/30/2009 - Use of Hungarian ILLEGAL in Slovakia... Hungary's Foreign Ministry expressed regret and concern over the amendment to Slovakia's act on its official language approved in parliament on Tuesday. Under the amended act the use of the minority language in official communication would be punishable in towns and villages where the ethnic community makes up less than 20 percent of the total population. [
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. [
6/16/2009 - The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation awards the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom to Hungarian human rights activist Bishop Laszlo Tokes. Bishop Tokes, an ethnic Hungarian, played an important role in the Rumanian Revolution of 1989 that toppled Rumania's communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. [
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 
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.
[
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. [
3/15/2009 - President Obama congratulates Hungary on its National Day and anniversary of its 1848 War of Independence... "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 communities worldwide 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. [
2/20, Budapest, Hungary: AHF is co-sponsoring the First Rajkó Ball at the Magyar Kultúra Alapítvány on Castle Hill [
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To celebrate and commemorate the friendship and shared values between the people of the United States and those of Hungarian descent, the American Hungarian Federation commissioned a bronze bust of Lajos Kossuth and offered it to U.S. Congress.
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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, 
The current selection is Banjin, the latest novel by acclaimed Emmy-nominated cinematographer Andrew Laszlo... One reader wote: "BANJIN picks up more than 200 years after Shogun. The year is 1843. Another shipwreck. A Japanese boy, Masahiro, is blown in storm away from his village to a desolate island, rescued by American whalers and brought to New Bedford, Massachusetts in a voyage that would make Conrad, Melville or Dana proud. There's enough action, intrigue, passion and character development to fill a half-dozen regular novels or Hollywood movies."
The
Zala Springs Resort
AHF Mourns the Loss of the Rev. Imre Bertalan, minister to our community, an inspired voice of unity, and selfless civic and community leader. He was President Emeritus of the American Hungarian Federation, former Chairman of the Board of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, and the founding Board member of the Hungarian American Coalition. [
