Missionary Day - M a r 0 5 FRENCH POLYNESIA
French Polynesia observes annual celebration of Missionary Day every 5th of March. The holiday marks the celebration of the first missionaries who entered the shore of the French Colonial Island or ‘Arrivée de l’Evangile’ in French in 1797.
History The entire French Polynesian islands were not es-
tablished until 1889 when it was put under French administration as its legal protectorate. The whole islands sprawling for about 5.2 million square kilometres is located in the eastern South Pacific which is almost the size of Europe excluding the Eurasia. There are only around 250,000 people who currently inhabit the island. Various evidences proves that the island was inhabited by the first Polynesians back in AD 300, specifically the Marquesas Islands, and AD 800 at the Society Islands. Several Europeans came into the islands including Portuguese explorer sailing for the Spanish crown, Ferdinand Magellan. Magellan first sailed to the Island on 1521 passing through Pukapuka, Jakob Roggeveen (Bora Bora) in 1772, Samuel Wallis in 1767, including the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1768 and James Cook in 1769. Spanish priests were among the first Christian missionaries who came in the French Polynesia’s shores; particularly the island of Tahiti in 1774 but permanent settlement of missionaries did not happen until 1797 by the ministers of the London Missionary Society. The declaration of France protectorate status on the island gave way to the missionary practice in the island in 1842. The momentous event culminating to allowing missionary work in the region is now widely celebrated as Missionary Day in French Polynesia.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES
During the holiday, various events and cultural shows are held in the street particularly the traditional re-enactment of the arrival of the first missionaries in the island in 1797 at the Willy Bambridge Stadium complex in Papeete, in Tahiti, as well as on Afareaitu in Moorea. Concerts and various stage shows are free for public to enjoy.
Customs Chiefs Day VANUATU - M a r 0 5
In Vanuatu’s calendar of events, Chief’s Day is celebrated annually every 5th of March. The country observes the holiday to recognize the power on chieftains or locally known as ‘Jifs’ on matters concerning politics, economy, judiciary, among others.
History
Vanuatu is an Island nation spread across the South Pacific Ocean just east of Northern Australia. This archipelago, of volcanic origin, was inhabited by Melanesian people, a region south of Vanuatu, before the Islands were occupied by the Europeans in 1880, particularly by the French and British, and claimed the archipelago under a British-French ‘condominium’ status as allowed by the International law. The condominium status allowed sharing of powers by the two countries. The two European superpowers called the country the ‘New Hebrides.’ The continued sharing of power over the region continued until a call for liberation in 1970 eventually brought independence to the country in 1980. Chieftainship is still a popular figure in Vanuatu although the government is formed around parliamentary democracy backed up by a constitution. ‘Malvatu Mauri’ is the lead National Council of Chiefs in the country with a leader elected by the representatives of the district council of chiefs. The primary purpose of this council is to feed the prevailing government with guide or direction that touch base on the interest of the ni-Vanuatu language and culture. The chiefs in each village are highly regarded to have authority on all matters of Vanuatu life. They form the smallest political unit of Vanuatu society and are the most influential in the clan. To recognize the Jifs in their critical role in the country’s political system and in Vanuatu’s way of life, the Custom Chief’s Day was proclaimed to be celebrated every 5th of March yearly in 1977.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES
Lavish feast is done in each village in celebrating the Custom Chief’s Day. Each village hold their own festivity during the holiday including cultural shows and programs in public entertainment centres. Organized sports activities and matches are also held. Public entertainments such as carnivals are also available during the holiday.
Independence Day GHANA - M a r 0 6
Ghana is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The word Ghana means "Warrior King" and is derived from the ancient Ghana Empire. Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient predominantly Akan kingdoms, including the inland Ashanti Empire, the Akwamu, the Akyem, the Bonoman, the Denkyira, and the Fante among others. Non-Akan states created by the Ga and Ewe also existed as did states by the Gonja, Dagomba and others. Prior to contact with Europeans trade between the Akan and various African states flourished due to Akan's gold wealth. Trade with European states began after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British established the Gold Coast Crown colony in 1874 over parts but not all of the country. The Gold Coast achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, becoming the second sub-Saharan African nation to do so, after Liberia who had gained independence over a century before on 26 July 1847. The name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana, which once extended throughout much of west Africa. Ghana is a member of the United Nations, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, and an associate member of La Francophonie. Ghana is the third largest producer of cocoa in the world after Indonesia and Ghana is also home to Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world by surface area. The economy of Ghana has been listed as The World's Fastest Growing Economy in 2011 with an economic growth of about 20.146% for the year 2011 in economic research led by Economy Watch with data coming from the IMF's tracker of GDP Growth in constant prices in the national currency.
Etymology
The word Ghana means Warrior King and was the title accorded to the kings of the medieval West African Ghana Empire. Geographically, the Ghana Empire was approximately 500 miles (800 km) north and west of modern Ghana, and it ruled territories in the area of the Sénégal River and east towards the Niger River, in modern Senegal, Mauritania and Mali. Ghana was adopted as the legal name for the Gold Coast combined with British Togoland upon gaining autonomy on 6 March 1957.
World Day of Prayer Worldwide - M a r 0 6
The World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian laywomen’s initiative. It is run under the motto “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action,” and is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March. The movement aims to bring together women of various races, cultures and traditions in a yearly common Day of Prayer, as well as in closer fellowship, understanding and action throughout the year.
When Mary Ellen James called for a day of prayer in 1887, she was not planning a great worldwide movement, destined to become the largest ecumenical movement in the world organised and led by women. She was simply reacting, as a Christian, to the society in which she lived. The wife of a Presbyterian minister in New York and the mother of seven children, Mary Ellen was aware of the problems faced by many women around her, particularly new immigrants to America - the awful slums with their poverty, unemployment, poor housing, lack of health or educational facilities. Something had to be done. Two years later, two Baptists called together a Day of Prayer for the World Mission. The Day of Prayer initiated by these two women expanded to neighboring countries, then on to Europe and other continents. Since 1927 the day is known as Women’s World Day of Prayer.
Aims
Through the World Day of Prayer, women are encouraged to become aware of the other countries and cultures and no longer live in isolation. They are also encouraged take up the burdens of other people, to sympathize with the problems of other countries and cultures and pray with and for them. They are further encouraged to become aware of their talents and use them in the service of society. The World Day of Prayer aims to demonstrate that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence in the world.
Program Every year, worship service focuses on a different country and a specific theme. World Day of Prayer National/Re-
gional Committees of that country prepare the order of worship on these themes to be used on the next World Day of Prayer. On the first Friday of March, then, in services all over the world that country becomes the focus of prayer and understanding. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, women worldwide learn how their sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the biblical passages in their context. They learn of the concerns and needs of those women and to empathize and feel in solidarity with them.
USL excludes coalition with RMDSZ tion with RMDSZ in the event of the USL leading the government. However, he added, that USL leaders will decide collectively.
2012: the year of Hungarian kindergartens beyond the borders nities beyond the borders was adopted last November. She said that educational institutions were the most responsible bodies for emerging generations to become active in Hungarcommunities. Targeting ian Hungarian kindergarten enrolment is the first undertaking by the Hungarian government in this regard, since children are the most receptive at this age, pointed out Ms. Répás. She added that it is of crucial importance to preventing any hindrances to passing on the native language. The Government has set aside 100 million
forints for the programme. Presenting the details of the events, Ms. Répás said that they wish to make national traditions and Hungarian kindergartens’ pedagocial methods attractive and adaptive not only for kindergaren teachers, but also for parents. In this framework educators and folk musicians will visit Carpathian Basin regions beyond the borders to jointly carry out action plans for the developement of Hungarian kindergartens.
Dual citizens cannot vote in parliamentary elections (PR) Notices have been delivered to voters on the polling stations and timing of parliamentary elections on 10 March. Dual citizens have not received any information, though they intend to cast their ballots, as reported to the press. The Hungarian Press Agency (MTI) asked Foreign Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda whether Slovakia had a law that could lead to depriving Slovak citizens of their voting rights because they had acquired citizenship of an-
other state as well. ‘If Hungary amends its non-European, uncivilised Citizenship Act there will be no such problems,’ said Mr. Dzurinda, reacting to the fact that several Hungarians who have publicly declared dual citizenship have not received notice of the elections. The Slovak Ministry of the Interior has not responded to the same question sent by MTI. László Gubík, who was first to announce that he had obtained Hungarian citizenship (in August 2011), has still not
received any reply from the police to his letter of 4 January, in which he said that he was not willing to surrender his Slovak personal ID card until an explicit and legally binding decision was made on his case. Another dual citizen, Ilonka Tamás, has presented a petition to the Strasbourgbased European Court of Human Rights. The centenarian teacher and her daughter have submitted their requests with the legal assistance of the Hungarian Dignity Council.
Hungarian Parliament ratifies Croatia EU accession treaty (PR) On 13 February Parliament ratified Croatia's European Union accession treaty. Minister of Foreign Affairs János Martonyi presented the treaty, which was signed in Brussels on 9 December, and it was approved by 334 votes in favour and 5 abstentions (MPs of the radical nationalist Jobbik party). ‘The Croatian accession is of historical relevance both for Hungary and the region – a milestone
in Europe’s unification conveying the message that continuing Europe’s enlargement serves to strengthen it,’ said Mr. Martonyi in his speech before the legislature. As a Member State, and during its EU presidency, Hungary has consistently guided the accession process of its southern neighbour. Closing the accession negotiations with Croatia was a marked success for the Hungarian EU presi-
dency. The fact that Hungary is the second state to approve the accession treaty is a clear signal of Huncommitment to EU gary’s enlargement and strategic partnership. Croatia will become the 28th EU member from July 2013 if the treaty is ratified by all Member States.
Hungarian ambassador to the United States to visit Atlanta (PR) As further evidence of the growing connections between Georgia and Hungary, His Excellency György Szapáry, Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, made his first trip to Atlanta on 17 and 18 February. John E. Parkerson, Jr., honorary consul of Hungary for the South eastern United States, president of the World Trade Center Atlanta (WTC), and director of International Programs for Clayton State University, had been working closely with the embassy in Washington to arrange meetings for the Ambassador, including "Hungary Day in Georgia" proclamations from the State of Georgia. To preserve their rich culture, the Hungarian community of Georgia started a new tradition in 2010 with the Hungarian Carnival Ball, or
‘Farsang’. This year, the Hungarian Community Church of Georgia, the Honorary Consulate of Hungary in Southeast U.S., and the Hungarian Meetup Group in Atlanta organized the Third Hungarian Ball on 18 February. The Georgia House of Representatives declared 18 February as an official Hungary Day in Georgia. The Ambassador opened the Hungarian Ball as guest of honour; and guests enjoyed folk dance performance, live music, traditional Farsang performances, socializing, and raffles. The Hungarian Ball also served as a fundraising function for the colorful Hungarian cultural activities and educational programs. ‘With the proclamation of the Hungary Day, the State of Georgia sends a clear message to Hungarians and
non-Hungarians alike that everybody can play an integral role in the life and community of Georgia,’ said Mr. Parkerson. ‘It is a special privilege to accept the invitation to serve as a main patron of the Third Annual Hungarian Ball, or Farsang. Georgia is home to a remarkable Hungarian community that, with this third Farsang, continues a now well-established Georgia tradition’, he added. Mr. Parkerson also noted that Clayton State and Kennesaw State University students will be taking an MBA international business study trip to Hungary and Austria from 2 to 11 March 2012. All but two days of that trip are in Hungary, and two of the days in Hungary
Ministerial decree protects Házsongárd cemetery (PR) Hunor Kelemen, Minister of Culture and National Heritage in the Romanian government, confirmed protection by ministerial decree of the
graves in the Házsongárd/ Hajongrad cemetery, which are declared to be individual memorials. This is the highest level of protection for the almost
four hundred-year-old cemetery, with its 394 graves, in the Transylvanian city of Kolozsvár/ Cluj.
The first person to be officially removed from the Slovak residency register (PR) The first official notice has been delivered in Slovakia to a dual citizen stating that he had
been removed from the residency register. Gyula Kassai, a reformed minister, received this notice, in
ary 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. In August 1910, an International Women's Conference was organized to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen. Inspired in part by the American socialists, German Socialist Luise Zietz proposed the establishment of an annual 'International Woman's Day' (singular) and was seconded by Clara Zetkin, although no date was specified at that conference. Delegates (100 women from 17 countries) agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights, including suffrage, for women. The following year, on 18 March, 1911, IWD was marked for the first time, by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire alone, there were 300 demonstrations In Vienna, women paraded on the Ringstrasse and carried banners honouring the martyrs of the Paris Commune. Women demanded that women be given the right to vote and to hold public office. They also protested against employment sex discrimination. Americans continued to celebrate National Women's Day on the last Sunday in February. In 1913 Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February (by Julian calendar then used in Russia). In 1917 demonstrations marking International Women's Day in St.Petersburg on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8 March on theGregorian calendar) initiated the February Revolution. Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in the Soviet Union, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSRPresidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Fatherland during the Great Patriotic War, in their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, and also marking the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples, and the struggle for peace. But still, women's day must be celebrated as are other holidays." From its official adoption in Russia following the Soviet Revolution in 1917 the holiday was predominantly celebrated in communist and socialist countries. It was celebrated by the communists in China from 1922, and by Spanish communists from 1936. After the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949 the state council proclaimed on December 23 that March 8 would be made an official holiday with women in China given a half-day off. In the West, International Women's Day was first observed as a popular event after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace.
In modern culture The day is an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso,Cambodia, China (for
women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia (for women only), Madagascar (for women only), Moldova,Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia. In some countries, such as Cameroon, Croatia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria the day is not a public holiday, but is widely observed nonetheless. On this day it is customary for men to give the women in their lives – mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, colleagues, etc. – flowers and small gifts. In some countries (such as Bulgaria and Romania) it is also observed as an equivalent of Mother's Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. In Armenia, after the collapse of the Soviet Union celebrations of IWD were abandoned. Instead, April 7 was introduced as state holiday of ‘Beauty and Motherhood’. The new holiday immediately became popular among Armenians, as it commemorates one of the main holidays of the Armenian Church, the Annunciation. However, people still kept celebrating IWD on March 8 as well. Public discussion held on the topic of two ‘Women’s Days’ in Armenia resulted in the recognition of the so called ‘Women’s Month’ which is the period between March 8 and April 7. In Italy, to celebrate the day, men give yellow mimosas to women.Yellow mimosas and chocolate are also one of the most common March 8 presents in Russia and Albania. In many countries, such as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria,Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova,Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, the custom of giving women flowers still prevails. Women also sometimes get gifts from their employers. Schoolchildren often bring gifts for their teachers, too. In countries like Portugal groups of women usually celebrate on the night of 8 March in "women-only" dinners and parties. In Pakistan working women in formal and informal sectors celebrate International Women's Day every year to commemorate their ongoing struggle for due rights, despite facing many cultural and religious restrictions. Some women working for change in society use IWM to help the movement for women's rights. In Poland, for instance, every IWD includes large feminist demonstrations in major cities. In 1975, which was designated as International Women’s Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to, and began sponsoring, International Women's Day. The 2005 Congress (conference) of the British Trades Union Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for IWD to be designated a public holiday in the United Kingdom. Since 2005, IWD has been celebrated in Montevideo, either on the principal street, 18 de Julio, or alternatively through one of its neighbourhoods. The event has attracted much publicity due to a group of female drummers, La Melaza, who have performed each year. Today, many events are held by women's groups around the world. The UK-based marketing company Aurora hosts a free worldwide register of IWD local events so that women and the media can learn about local activity. Many governments and organizations around the world support IWD. 70% of those living in poverty are women, Oxfam GB encourages women to Get Together on International Women's Day and fundraise to support Oxfam projects, which change the lives of women around the world. Thousands of people hold events for Oxfam on International Women's Day, join the celebration by visiting the website and registering your event! - International Women's Day, what better excuse to Get Together!
Controversies
In some cases International Women's Day has led to questionable practices that discriminated against men. For example Tower Hamlets Council closed off one of its libraries to all males to "celebrate" the occasion, forcing them to travel elsewhere, going as far as even banning male staff from the premises. In Communist Czechoslovakia, huge Soviet-style celebrations were held annually. After the fall of Communism, the holiday, generally considered to be one of the major symbols of the old regime, fell into obscurity. International Women's Day was re-established as an official "important day" by the Parliament of the Czech Republic only recently, on the proposal of the Social Democrats and Communists. This has provoked some controversy as a large part of the public as well as the political right see the holiday as a relic of the nation's Communist past. In 2008, the Christian conservative Czechoslovak People's Party's deputies unsuccessfully proposed the abolition of the holiday. However, some non-government organizations consider the official recognition of International Women's Day as an important reminder of women's role in the society. International Women's Day sparked violence in Tehran, Iran on March 4, 2007, when police beat hundreds of men and women who were planning a rally. Police arrested dozens of women and some were released after several days of solitary Female members of the Australian confinement and interrogation. Shadi Sadr Mahbubeh Abbas- Builders Labourers Federation march gholizadeh and several more community activists were re- on International Women's Day 1975 in leased on March 19, 2007, ending a fifteen day hunger strike.
factories had staged a protest on 8 March 1857 in New York City. The story alleged that garment workers were protesting against very poor working conditions and low wages and were attacked and dispersed by police. It was claimed that this event led to a rally in commemoration of its 50th anniversary in 1907. Temma Kaplan explains that "neither event seems to have taken place, but many Europeans think March 8, 1907 inaugurated International Women's Day." Speculating about the origins of this 1857 legend, Liliane Kandel and Françoise Picq suggested it was likely that (in recent times) some felt it opportune to detach International Women's Day from its basis in Soviet history and ascribe to it a more "international" origin which could be painted as more ancient than Bolshevism and more spontaneous than a decision of Congress or the initiative of those women affiliated to the Party.
Baron Bliss Day BELIZE - M a r 0 9
Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, commonly known as Baron Bliss (16 February 1869 – 9 March 1926), was a British-born traveller who willed some two million U.S. dollars to a trust fund for the benefit of the citizens of what was then the colony of British Honduras, now Belize. The Bliss Institute (a performing arts centre that was previously a museum, research centre and library in Belize City) was part of the benefits from this endowment, as were the city's Bliss Lighthouse (where Bliss's tomb is located), the Bliss School of Nursing and various other medical facilities around the country. Belize celebrates Baron Bliss Day each March 9 in his honour. Bliss's early personal history as well as the origin of his "Baron" title is uncertain. He styled himself "Fourth Baron Bliss of the Kingdom of Portugal"; there is some speculation that the original Portuguese title was Barão de Barreto. He was born into a wealthy Suffolk family and was rumoured to have been disinherited for keeping a hansom cab waiting. He subsequently made a substantial fortune speculating in petroleum shares. Unfortunately, he contracted polio and decided to travel the world in a luxury yacht. After spells in the Bahamas, Trinidad and Jamaica, he arrived in Belize harbour, where he found a climate which suited him. He was extremely fond of the local people, and despite the fact that because of his physical infirmity he never set foot on Belizean soil, he bequeathed the bulk of his fortune for the benefit of the people of British Honduras.
Harriet Tubman Day US - M a r 1 0
Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Harriet Ross; 1820 – March 10, 1913) was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War. After escaping from slavery, into which she was born, she made thirteen missions to rescue more than 70 slaves using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. She later helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era struggled for women's suffrage. As a child in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman was beaten by masters to whom she was hired out. Early in her life, she suffered a head wound when hit by a heavy metal weight. The injury caused disabling seizures, narcoleptic attacks, headaches, and powerful visionary and dream activity, which occurred throughout her life. A devout Christian, Tubman ascribed the visions and vivid dreams to revelations from God. In 1849, Tubman escaped to Philadelphia, then immediately returned to Maryland to rescue her family. Slowly, one group at a time, she brought relatives out of the state, and eventually guided dozens of other slaves to freedom. Traveling by night, Tubman (or "Moses", as she was called) "never lost a passenger". Large rewards were offered for the return of many of the fugitive slaves, but no one then knew that Tubman was the one helping them. When the Southern-dominated Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, requiring law officials in free states to aid efforts to recapture slaves, she helped guide fugitives farther north into Canada, where slavery was prohibited. When the American Civil War began, Tubman worked for the Union Army, first as a cook and nurse, and then as an armed scout and spy. The first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, she guided the Combahee River Raid, which liberated more than 700 slaves in South Carolina. After the war, she retired to the family home in Auburn, New York, where she cared for her aging parents. She became active in the women's suffrage movement in New York until illness overtook her. Near the end of her life, she lived in a home for elderly African-Americans that she had helped found years earlier.
Thousands of Transylvanian Hungarians may lose language rights in Romania
History The Women's World Day of Prayer started in the USA in 1884.
(PR) Deputy State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad Zsuzsanna Répás announced ’2012: the year of Hungarian kindergartens beyond the borders’ in a press conference held on 16 February at the House of Hungarians with the particapation of nursery-school children. The one-year-long programme of events embraces the ongoing promotion of Hungarian kindergartens in the Hungarian-populated regions of the Carpathian Basin. Ms. Répás said that the strategy devoted to the support of preserving Hungarian commu-
History The first national Women's Day was observed on 28 Febru-
Sydney
day Ghana since the Bronze Age. However, until the 11th century, the majority of modern Ghana's area was largely unoccupied. Although the area of present-day Ghana has experienced many population movements, the major ethnic groups in Ghana today were firmly settled by the 16th century. By the early 11th century, the Akan were firmly established in a state called Bonoman, for which the Brong-Ahafo Region region is named. The Mole-Dagbane as well as the Mossi states were well established by the 16th century, with the Gonja state being established by the 17th Century. From the 13th century, numerous groups emerged from what is believed to 16th – 17th Century Akanhave been the Bonoman area, to create several Akan States, mainly based on Terracotta gold trading. These states included Denkyira, Akwamu, and Akyem. By the 19th century, most of modern Ghanaian territory was included in the Empire of Ashanti, one of the most influential states in sub-Saharan Africa prior to colonial rule. The Ashanti government operated first as a loose network, and eventually as a centralized kingdom with an advanced, highly specialized bureaucracy centred inKumasi. It is said that at its peak, the Asantehene could field 500,000 troops, and it had some degree of military influence over all of its neighbours. Early European contact by the Portuguese, who came to Ghana in the 15th century, focused on the extensive availability of gold. The Portuguese first landed at a coastal city inhabited by the Fante nation-state, and named the place Elmina. In 1481, King John II of Portugal commissioned Diogo d'Azambuja to build Elmina Castle, which was completed in 3 years. The Portuguese aim was to trade for Akan gold. By 1598, the Dutch had joined them, building forts at Komeda and Kormantsi. In 1617, they captured the Olnini Castle from the Portuguese, and Axim in 1642 (Fort St Anthony). Other European traders had joined in by the mid17th century, largely English, Danes and Swedes. English merchants, impressed with the gold resources in the area, named it the Gold Coast, while French merchants, impressed with the trinkets worn by the coastal people, named the area to the west "Côte d'Ivoire", or Ivory Coast. More than thirty forts and castles were built by the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Spanish merchants. The Gold Coast was known for centuries as 'The White Man's Grave', because many of the Europeans who went there died of malaria and other tropical diseases. After the Dutch withdrew in 1874, Britain made the Gold Coast a protectorate. Following conquest by the British in 1896 until independence in March 1957, the territory of modern Ghana, excluding the Volta Region (British Togoland), was known as the Gold Coast. Many wars occurred between the colonial powers and the various nation-states in the area, including the 1806 Ashanti-Fante War, and the continuous struggle by the Ashanti against the British in many wars. The Ashanti defeated the British a few times, but eventually lost with the Ashanti-British War in the early 1900s. Even under colonial rule, the chiefs and people often resisted the policies of the British; however, moves toward decolonization intensified after World War II. In 1947, the newly formed United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) called for "self-government within the shortest possible time."After rioting increased in 1948, the members of the United Gold Coast Convention were arrested, including future prime minister and president Kwame Nkrumah. Later, Nkrumah formed his own party, the Convention People's Party (CPP) with the motto "self government now." He began a 'Positive Action' campaign and gained the support of rural and working class people. He was again imprisoned for being the leader of a party that caused boycotts, strikes and other forms of civil disobedience. After winning a majority in the Legislative Assembly in 1952, Nkrumah was released and appointed leader of government business. After further negotiations with Britain, on 6 March 1957 at 12 a.m. Nkrumah declared Ghana "free forever". The Flag of Ghana, consisting of the colours red, gold, green, and the black star, became the new flag in 1957. Designed by, Theodosia Salome Okoh, the red represents the blood that was shed towards independence, the gold represents the mineral wealth of Ghana, the green symbolises the rich agriculture, and the black star is the symbol of African emancipation. Formed from the merger of the Gold Coast and British (formerly German) Togoland by a United Nations sponsored plebiscite in 1956, Ghana became the second sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence in 1957 after Liberia who had gained its independence over a century before on 26 July 1847. Kwame Nkrumah, first prime minister, and then president of the modern Ghanaian state, as an anti-colonial leader, sought a united Africa that would not drift into neo-colonialism. He was the first African head of state to promote Pan-Africanism, an idea he came into contact with during his studies at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (United States), at the time when Marcus Garvey was becoming famous for his "Back to Africa Movement." He merged the teachings of Garvey and the African-American scholar W. E. B. Du Bois into the formation of the modern day Ghana. Ghana's principles of freedom and justice, equity and free education for all, irrespective of ethnic background, religion or creed, borrow from Nkrumah's implementation of Pan-Africanism. Although his goal of African unity was never realised, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as he is now known, played an instrumental part in the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, which was succeeded in 2002 by the African Union. His achievements were recognised by Ghanaians during his centenary birthday celebrations, and the day was instituted as a public holiday. Dr. Nkrumah's government was subsequently overthrown by the military while he was abroad in February 1966. Former Central Intelligence Agency employee John Stockwell alleges that the CIA had an effective hand in forcing the coup. A series of subsequent coups from 1966 to 1981 ended with the ascension to power of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings in 1981. These changes resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981, and the banning of political parties. The economy suffered a severe decline soon after, and many Ghanaians migrated to other countries. Kwame Darko negotiated a structural adjustment plan with the International Monetary Fund, changing many old economic policies, and the economy began to recover. A new constitution restoring multiparty politics was promulgated in 1992; Rawlings was elected as president then, and again in 1996. The Constitution of 1992 prohibited him from running for a third term, so his party, the National Democratic Congress, chose his Vice President, John Atta Mills, to run against the opposition parties. Winning the 2000 elections, John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party was sworn into office as president in January 2001, and beat Mills again in 2004, thus also Independence Arch, Ghana serving two terms as president. In 2009, John Atta Mills took office as President of Ghana with a difference of about 40,000 votes (0.46%) between his party, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party, marking the second time that power had been transferred from one legitimately elected leader to another, and securing Ghana's status as a stable democracy. In 2011, John Atta Mills won the NDC congress when he ran against Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings for the National Democratic Congress flagbearership. He won by 2,771 votes, representing 96.9% of the total votes cast.
ing the coalition’ unless the conditions included in the government protocol are met. National Liberal Party (PNL) president and co-president of the Social-Liberal Union (USL) Crin Antonescu ruled out forming a coali-
International Women's Day (IWD), originally is called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet bloc. In many regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.
Apocrypha A popular apocryphal story which surfaced in French Communist circles claimed that women from clothing and textile
History There is archaeological evidence showing that humans have lived in present-
(PR) Political vice-president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) László Borbély (UDMR) stated a week ago in Marosvásárhely/Targu Mures, that there was always ‘the option of leav-
International Women's Day Worldwide - M a r 0 8
which Slovak authorities state that he is a foreign person with no adobe in Slovakia.
(PR) If the published results of the Romanian census correspond to the final data, ten or twenty thousand Hungarians in four or five Transylvanian towns and nearly a dozen villages will be deprived of their minority and language rights, pointed out www.nyelvijogok.ro. There are three larger regions: Szeklerland; compact communities in border regions; and scattered communities of mixed ethnic composition. Nearly one third of the Romanian Hungarian population lives in each of these. The preliminary results of last autumn’s census in Romania reveal a decline of 2.6 million in the overall Romanian population: from 21.68 million in 2002 to 19.04 million today. There is a similar downward trend in the Hungarian community: 194,000 fewer
Hungarians live in Romania compared to the 2002 census (in which 1,432,000 people declared themselves to be Hungarian). Although the Hungarian minority is also declining in real terms, it stands at 6.5 per cent of the total, compared to 6.6 per cent ten years ago. According to Balázs Kapitány, scientific secretary at the Central Statistical Office of Hungary (KSH), macroeconomic processes causing migration are part of the reason for the decline. Over the last decade some 100,000 Hungarians have left Romania. Natural population shrinkage and intergenerational assimilation resulting from mixed marriages account for the other half of the decrease. From the mid-2000s the massive exodus of Hungarians has decreased consider-
ably, and a slight reverse trend has occurred. The western labour market opened its gates to Romanian citizens after the country’s EU accession. Based on Eurostat statistics, in 2009 two million Romanians lived in EU Member States – mostly in Spain and Italy. Mr. Kapitány said that the 2011 census reveals favourable trends in Szeklerland and the Partium region, but the opposite is the case in Central and Southern Transylvania: in the latter region there has been a fall of 30-35 per cent in the Hungarian population. He added that the demographic situation in Southern Transylvania shows the most alarming picture; there is no replacement in this region because of the high number of inter-ethnic marriages.
MKP nears the parliamentary threshold (PR) President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens visited Slovakia and met József Berényi, leader of the Hungarian Coalition Party (MKP). Mr. Martens underlined how extremely important it is that the MKP is represented in the next parliament. The party is also playing a cooperation role, not only in the Hungarian community of Slovakia, but also for good relations between the two countries, said Mr. Martens. He added that the MKP had the full confidence of the EPP. The sudden slide in voter support for the SDKÚ party has continued, most
probably caused by the accusations in the “Gorilla affair”. With the latest poll by the MVK agency puts the party’s support well below the 5 per cent threshold needed to get into Parliament. The MVK poll attributes just 4.3 per cent of the vote to the party of Foreign Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda and Prime Minister Iveta Radičová, which would mean that the main centre-right party would fail to be represented in Parliament. The poll also assigns just 3.6 per cent of the vote to the nationalist party of Jan Slota (SNS), while the Christian democratic KDH would get 12.7 per cent, Ivan Matović’s Ordinary People
party would get 7 per cent, the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) 6.1 per cent, and the Hungarian-Slovakian Most-Híd party 5.9%. Robert Fico’s Smer-SD party still enjoys strong and loyal support in all the opinion polls, with the MVK agency assigning it 40.6 per cent. The poll put the Hungarian Coalition Party (MKP) at 4.7 per cent - close to the parliamentary threshold. The poll was conducted with 1,128 respondents between 7 and 12 February. Both the Hungarian Coalition Party and Most-Híd officially launched their election campaigns on 18 February.
Good neighbours for a common future (PR) The Szabadka-based Etnolife Association and the Kids Smile Foundation in Hungary have jointly won 101,227 euros from the Hungary-Serbia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme. Four hundred primary school children (200 from Serbia and 200 from Hungary) will be able to take part in joint programmes organised in Szabadka/Subotica, Palics/Palic and the Róka-farm in
Szeged, and Ópusztaszer and a farm around Szeged (arts and crafts, sports tournaments, visits to major cultural facilities). Their project aims to preserve, develop and introduce to each other traditions, arts, nature and national values. Through developing children’s knowledge they seek to create prejudice-free crossborder co-operation based on positive thinking, and to reveal to children
that the border separating them is merely a physical one, despite which many things links them together. This is in line with the EU's efforts to eliminate frontiers. Hungarian children in Vajdaság are also included in the project, thus enabling them to get to know their own ethnic culture and history.
Dual citizenship in the Czech Republic (PR) Citizenship regulations in the Czech Republic have been changed recently. The Czech Ministry of the Interior has announced that the state allows dual citizenship without restriction for those Czech citizens who voluntary apply for foreign citizenship. Under an intergovernmental treaty concluded at the end of the nineties, dual citizenship is already an established fact in Czech-Slovakian relations. Czech emigrants and their descendants should not renounce their citizenship to acquire
Czech citizenship, and they are even not required to have a permanent residency in the Czech Republic. Stanislav Kázecky, special envoy of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Czechs living abroad said that the new regulation had a positive reception among Czechs abroad. ‘Many had not left the country by choice, and their Czech citizenship was taken away. Therefore, the opportunity of regaining the citizenship of their home country is of strong moral and emotional importance and solid-
ifies their links to the Czech Republic’, said Mr. Kázecky. Based on Foreign Ministry estimates about two million Czech live outside the borders. Authorities claim that interest in Czech citizenship was mainly shown from the United States and Canada. The wording of the draft legislative act enabling dual citizenship will be argued out in March in the legislative parliamentary committee. The interior ministry sets out the entering into force of the act in January 2014.
Statements issued by Hungarian American organisations (PR) The Hungarian American Coalition (HAC), an umbrella-organisation representing a considerable majority of Hungarians in the United States, has voiced its concern in a subsequent statement issued on 17 February over criticism of the Hungarian government in the mainstream US and European media. The statement entitled ’Give Hungary a chance’ urges for the blunting of the tone of harsh criticism in the international media, since charges are exaggerated and often unfounded. The HAC said that the Orbán government had been ‘falsely depicted as anti-democratic and dictatorial’. ‘These accusations have exacerbated the already serious economic crisis in the country, where the Government has a two-thirds majority in Parliament and has devoted itself to the accomplishment of the democratic transition,’ states the Coalition. (http://www.hacusa.org/en/news/stat
ement-by-the-hungarian-americancoalition) The American Hungarian Federation, established in 1906, also defends Hungary against criticism. “Hungary has recently been harshly and often unfairly criticised,” the President of the American Hungarian Federation (AHF) said on 20 February, in a letter briefing the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs ahead of its delegation's visit to Hungary this week. Chairman Ferenc Koszorús said in the letter that the AHF believes that much of the criticism Hungary has received was either politically motivated or ”not evenhanded or based on facts but on generalisations and speculation”. He cited a new law on religions, which has been criticised as being too restrictive, as an example. He said parts of the law had been annulled by Hungary's Constitutional Court last December. Lawmakers are set to extend the law to
officially recognise additional religions to the original 14, which incidentally is the same as the number of official religions recognised in neighbouring Austria, added Mr. Koszorús. Although the U.S. State Department’s report on religious freedom had raised objections to the “only” 14 officially recognised churches in Austria, it did not state that democracy was at risk in the country. The AHF, which has supported constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Hungary over recent decades, asked Dan Burton, the head of the delegation and of the European subcommittee of the US House Committee, to consider the federation's testimony on these issues before its upcoming visit to Hungary. (http://www.americanhungarianfederation.org/news_slovakia_CODEL_ 2012.html)
Hungarian folk dancers at the Brazil carnival (PR) Hungarian folk dancers gave a joint performance with members of the Samba School at a Brazilian carnival on 17 February in São Paulo. Brazil’s largest city has a population of twenty million, of which 100,000 are Hungarians. In honour of them, four thousand samba dancers danced in red-white-and-green costumes before Ash Wednesday as part of a campaign promoting Hun-
gary in South America. The two-day carnival also captured the spirit of Hungarian history. The ’Rosas de ouro’ samba school chose the theme of mediaeval Hungary, with dancers in historical Hungarian costumes and a huge Hungarian coat of arms. The theme was ’Hungria, o reino dos justus’: ’Hungary is the kingdom of the just’. However, in Portuguese it should have been rather ’Hungria, o
reino dos justos’. One letter was changed to match the name of the Brazilian entrepreneur Roberto Justus, who backed the samba club. The showman of Hungarian descent said that the São Paulo carnival always precedes the more famous Rio carnival, but it is just as sensational as the latter.
The declaration of the Roundtable of Hungarians in Slovakia (PR) The Roundtable of Hungarians in Slovakia welcomes the letter by Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, sent to Rudolf Chmel, Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights and National Minorities. The reason for the declaration of 10 February was that Mr. Rudolf Chmel had only outlined his plans and concepts for the future but the Slovak Government had
failed to formulate any specific measures regarding the problems raised, argued the R o u n d t a b l e (http://www.kerekasztal.org/20 12/02/megoldatlan-nyelvijogok-avagy-thomas-hammarberg-levelenek-utoeletehez/). The Human Rights Commissioner sharply criticised the major elements of the amendment to the Slovak State Language Act (2009, Fico government) during his visit
last September, as well as the amendments completed by the Radičová government in 2011. The Roundtable calls upon the Slovak Government and the National Council of the Slovak Republic to enact measures necessary to correct the deficiencies, and assures its cooperation in the formulation of these measures.
HUNGARY Hungary not to lose a penny of cohesion support: PM (Online Mar 02, 2012) Hungary will not lose any penny of its convergence or cohesion fund next support Prime year, Minister Viktor Orban told a press conference after the EU's summit on Friday. The European Commission in proposed February the suspension of million 495 euros of Cohesion Fund allofor cations Hungary for 2013 because of the country's failure to address its excessive deficit. Although on March 13 Ecofin will approve the proposal, by that time the finance ministers would have before them Hungary's adjustments to correct the situation, he said, adding that the European Commission had already received information about the adjustments. Hungary does not need to organise any coalition to support its cause as the European Commission's objections are of a technical nature and can be settled in half a year, he said. Orban noted that Hungary's fundamentals were good, with only seven member states having lower deficits
this year and next than Hungary. Orban added that the country's high degree of internal stability gives it an advantage over other member states from the point of view of making structural adjustments. The government's choice of tools for putting Hungary on the right course could be a matter of debates but it is indisputable that the country is on the right course, he said. He said the mood at the summit had been positive as the ECB's recent policy of offering low interest rate loans was suitable to reaffirm trust. From among the political issues discussed by the summit, Orban mentioned that Serbia had received the status of EU candidate member and
soon would start accession talks. Hungary welcomes that Serbia has bemore come committed to enforcing mirights nority and pursued a predictable policy in this field, he said. Orban said it was under his proposal that the summit's conclusions concerning the "Arab Spring" been had amended with the need to protect Christian communities in the region. In a statement released on Friday, two deputies of the European People's Party urged the European Commission to be careful concerning the proposed freezing of funds. Dutch Christian Democrat Lambert van Nistelrooij and Hungary's Tamas Deutsch warned that the fund-freeze would set a precedent of depriving some regions of crucially important development funding. Van Nistelrooij added that a fundfreeze should only be resorted to in the very last case. Deutsch said that threatening a member state with sanctions increases Euro-skepticism and society's mistrust for European institutions.
President Schmitt meets Hungarian leader from Slovenia (PR) On 20 February President Pál Schmitt received Ferenc Horváth, head of the Muravidék/Prekmurje National Community of Hungarian Local Governments (MMNÖK), for talks on cooperation between Hungarians in Slovenia and Slovenes in Hungary. The cooperation agreement, to be signed in March at a ceremony attended by Mr. Schmitt, will contribute
to strengthening the communities' national identity and ties to their mother countries, Mr. Horváth said at the meeting. Mr. Schmitt spoke highly of the activities of the Hungarian community in Slovenia – estimated at between 8,000 and 10,000 – and said that his presence at the ceremony would confirm that "every Hungarian is equally important to Hungary". Under
the planned agreement, the national minority communities of the two countries will support each other's schools, museums and other institutions, and will jointly apply for European Union funds. Mr. Schmitt is scheduled to visit the Slovenian community and Hungarians in Slovenia together with his Slovenian counterpart Danilo Türk in early March.
Hungary govt to reduce budget deficit by measures worth 0.4pc of GDP, says official (Online Feb 29, 2012) Hungary is committed to keeping its budget deficit below 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the level set by the European Union, Zoltan Csefalvay, state secretary at the economic ministry, told a committee of European Parliament on Wednesday. Early in February the Hungarian government informed the European Commission in a letter about new economic adjustment measures aimed at keeping the deficit down. The measures worth a 0.4-percent deficit cut would secure that Hungary meets the required deficit target, in view of the Commission's own forecast of a budget deficit of 3.25 per-
cent of GDP in Hungary this year, Csefalvay said. Csefalvay said he hoped the Commission would find proof that the Hungarian government's measures are adequate steps for controlling the deficit. The European Commission last week proposed to freeze cohesion funding to Hungary in 2013 due to the country's failure of addressing its excessive budget deficit. On the subject of Hungary's pending talks with the International Monetary Fund and the EU on a financial safety net, Csefalvay said talks could start as soon as the EC had finished assessing Hungary's response to the
questioned contained in infringement procedures launched against it. He told the committee it was the interest of all sides to start and conclude talks as soon as possible. He said he trusted that Hungary's responses to measures the EC had called for as conditions to talks would be satisfactory. He said that Hungary's request to the IMF and the EU is for a precautionary deal, which is not to do with the country's liquidity. He added that the deal would serve the purpose of stabilising the currency exchange rate and reducing yields.
Minister of Foreign Affairs received U.S. Congressional Delegation (Online Feb 29, 2012) Minister of Foreign Affairs János Martonyi received a Congressional Delegation from the United States led by Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana February 24, 2012. U.S. Congressmen regularly visit their European allies: the current delegation visited Paris, Brussels, and Bratislava before coming to Budapest. The Minister informed the delegation – consisting of Republican and Democratic lawmakers – about the political and economic processes in
Hungary and the course of the governmental decisions, with particular regards to the current legislative questions in Hungary. János Martonyi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguard freedom of religion and freedom of press; the independence of the judiciary; as well as the system of checks and balances. The Congressmen emphasized the commitment of the United States towards the stability of Europe as a whole. They appreciated the anti-cor-
ruption measures of the government in particular compared to the former times. Besides congratulating to the majority of the government in the Parliament, the Congressmen stressed the importance of the involvement of the opposition in the legislative process. János Martonyi highlighted in his reply the government’s readiness to cooperate with the opposition on the adoption of further cardinal laws by the Parliament.
Food Industry Research and Development Proves Itself in Practice (Online Feb 29, 2012) "The food industry has also received the att e n t i o n appropriate to its strategic significance within the work of the government" – said State Secretary Endre Kardeván at the opening of the EUREKA Chairmanship Conference held at the Ministry of Rural Development. The topic chosen for the Endre Kardeván meeting by the European organisation set up to further research was innovation in the food industry. The EUREKA organisation for cooperation in industrial research was founded in 1985 by 18 countries; today, its membership includes 40 states and the European Union. The organisation seeks out both state and private resources to support research and development. Hungary is the current rotating president of EUREKA from July 1 2011, to June 30 2012. The Hungarian food industry will only
be competitive and will only be able to increase its role on both local and export markets, if it intensifies its innovative activities, its research and development" – pinpointed State Secretary for Food Chain Control Supervision and Agricultural Administration Endre Kardeván. One of the main goals of the National Rural Strategy is the reinforcement of practice-orientated Hungarian agricultural research and development, the support of innovation in the agricultural and food economies, to increase the
competitiveness of producers, and the restructuring of the professional consultancy and training system. The State Secretary added – "An innovative solution may only be justified if it remains not just at the research and development level, but also stands its ground on the market and returns a profit. For this reason, support and encouragement must be given to both basic research, and applied research that can be employed in practice." "New technology is usually expensive, so cooperation and the joint financing of costs and expenses is of great importance. Acquiring a market requires innovation advantage throughout the current Hungarian food sector." – stressed Endre Kardeván.
Our Common Freedom Can Create Welfare (Online Feb 28, 2012) We have to live a free life unencumbered with fear and hatred, and so we have to remember too” – Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende stressed at a commemoration that was held to mark the memorial day of the victims of communism and the 10th anniversary of the House of Terror Museum in Bu- Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende dapest on Febhere to stand up for this mission in a ruary 25. “The victims of communism are of all dignified, disciplined and elevating atmosphere, just as those 400,000 stripes, as there are around one hundred million of them around the people in the peace march did some weeks ago, demonstrating in support world”, Csaba Hende underlined in his speech. “What can find a way to of the hurt dignity of the Hungarian nation. our hearts? The stories that place human beings in the center, stories about the brave who were broken, devilified, and stroyed buried” – the M i n i s t e r stressed. Csaba Hende pointed out that year by year, on this memorial day we have to tell these true stories to our daughters and without sons anger and fondness. “Truth makes us free and will not ever let them lose their freedom. This is the mission of the House of Csaba Hende said that the building Terror” – the Minister of Defence on Andrássy St. 60 symbolizes nasaid. He reminded those present of tional self-surrender too, all the the fact that ten years to this day an henchmen who represented foreign unexpectedly large crowd gathered interests at all times, betraying everything that was Hungarian with pleas-
ure to promote their own and comtheir rades’ welfare. He noted that on several occasions, the Hungarian nation said a defand inite democratic “no” to the communist and traitors their reign of terror. In 1945, 1956 1947, and 1990 we sent the same self-assured to message whole the world: we do not want the dictates or governors of foreign powers. “Nobody can make a decision about us instead of us, because it is only freedom experienced with a sense of responsibility that can create order, cooperation and respect for human dignity. Only freedom can create welfare: the common freedom of us all”, the Minister said. “Now we put fear and habehind tred bars, because we do not want for them to have any place in our lives. But we will not forget them.”, Csaba Hende quoted these words from a speech delivered by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in 2002. He stressed that we have to live a free life unencumbered with fear and hatred, and so we have to remember too. “Let us remember! God bless the Hungarians!” – the Minister of Defence closed his speech.
Model programme to provide a lifeline to those living in extreme poverty (Online Feb 28, 2012) The Government is launching a comprehensive programme equalling HUF 410 million (approx. EUR 1.41 million), aimed at helping families in extreme poverty. The first model programme is to start in the provincial town of Szolnok. To implement the programme, the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice signed a cooperation agreement with the National Roma Selfgovernment, a local training and research institute, the Municipality of Szolnok, the town's Roma Minority Self-Government, and the Centre for Social Services of the Szolnok Subregional Association. The programme is linked to the National Social Inclusion Strategy (also submitted to the European Union), which lays the foundations for a new approach to integration. Unlike inclu-
sion programmes launched before (which usually ended in failure), emphasis is placed on improving the housing conditions of people living in extreme poverty, organising social and community programmes, promoting employment, supporting return to the labour market, and organising remedial and competency-building training courses. The programme also aims at promoting sustainable lifestyles suited to local conditions. The objective is to create a broad community of interest in the participating towns which involves as many stakeholders as possible by the end of the programme on 30 June 2012. ’Settlement-type social work‘ will take place, which means that the specialists coming to the towns will get involved in the everyday life of local communities and, after a trusting re-
lationship has been established, they will include participants in the social integration programme. A key element of the programme is the improvement of housing conditions, including the reconstruction of a hundred family houses – twelve of them in the first round – combined with training in building skills. Six hundred people will be able to participate in training courses and employment within the model programme. The programme will be launched in eight areas, at the following locations: Ózd (Velencetelep, and Hétes-telep); Szolnok and Tiszaroff (Motor Street); small villages in Baranya County (Komló and the surroundings of Vajszló); and Nyíregyháza (Huszár-telep, Eastern housing estate).
Zoltán Kovács in Paris – On the crisis of the euro-zone (Online Mar 01, 2012) Zoltán Kovács, Minister of State for Government Communication, took part in a roundtable discussion on the subject of the eurozone crisis at the Paris office of the European Commission. The title of the event was ‘The euro crisis, the new European treaty, Europe – what do new members of the European Union think about these issues?’ It was organised by Club Grande Europe as part of a series of press events for French and European journalists, running from 27 to 29 February. Those invited included Danuta Hübner, EU Commissioner and former Polish Minister for European Affairs and Estonian Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of the Committee for European and Economic Affairs. Mr Kovács said that as representatives of the Central and Eastern European region, last year Hungary and Poland played an important role in the handling of the economic crisis during their presidencies of the European Union. They did this with determination and professionalism, and made their complete commitment to
Europe absolutely clear. He said that the Hungarian government had approached the crisis in a completely new and comprehensive manner. Though it is true that Hungary was more severely affected by the crisis than other EU countries, this was largely because of the situation it had inherited. Hungary had to deal with the types of problems that most European countries will only face in the future. As examples of the Hungarian approach, he mentioned the 360 new laws passed in the last eighteen months and the constitutional and structural changes in the transformation of pension reform, job creation and education. ‘Hungary has been affected both by the financial and economic crisis which hit Europe and also by those particular problems rooted in Hungary’s history which it has had to overcome,’said Mr Kovács. He said that the results of this approach can already be felt in Hungary. He said that in the last eighteen months the Hungarian government has been systematically eliminating
the structures which have continually generated government debt and increased the budget deficit in the past. Strict fiscal policy alone cannot reverse this process, however. It is also vital to ensure the stimulation of economic growth and a higher level of employment. A combination of these three elements can be utilised in every country, taking into consideration local circumstances. With regard to the future of Europe, the Minister of State said that the strength of the European Union has always been diversity and continuous change, and the system of institutions must follow this dynamic towards a successful outcome. In his opinion, the Europe-wide solutions will not be sufficient until we have jointly clarified our approach to the crisis, which he described as a complex of financial, economic and structural elements which point to a paradigm shift in perceptions. ‘Our stance is that Europe should not be inert and unresponsive but should be capable of making rapid and forwardthinking decisions,’ he said.
Response to the comprehensive report of the Commissioner for HR of the Council of EU (Online Mar 01, 2012) Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, welcomes as a positive development that Hungary has made its legislation concerning assembly more stringent in order to regulate and sanction unlawful demonstrations designed to create fear. The report also acknowledges that the European Roma Framework Strategy was conceived under the coordination of the Hungarian Government. Hungary was the first Member State to complete and submit to the European Commission its own inclusion strategy, the National Social Integration Strategy. According to Zoltán Balog, State Secretary for Social Inclusion, life for the Roma in Hungary is indeed hard at present, as is life for non-Roma Hungarians, given the simple fact that the economic crisis affects everyone. The State Secretary pointed out that the Government had recently launched a programme worth HUF 5 billion (EUR 17,250) which was designed to help the most disadvantaged, both Roma and nonRoma Hungarians, to break out of the situation they had been compelled to live in to date.
The strategy also contains a threeyear action plan (for the years 2012 to 2014) with specific integration programmes with deadlines, the appointed responsible members of government and allocated resources. By virtue of the EU and local funds allocated for the purposes of the action plan, we shall have spent some HUF 200 billion for the implementation of integration and inclusion tasks in Hungary by the end of 2014. The State Secretary highlighted that while no government was able to offer a full and comprehensive solution to all the problems that may emerge, the events that had taken place during the previous government had not re-occurred in the past two years in Hungary, such as for instance, the Roma killings, demonstrations designed to provoke fear or the estate programmes doomed to utter failure. The fact that there have been no atrocities committed against the Roma in Hungary in the past two years is not merely the result of the introduction of more stringent rules in the assembly legislation but is also a consequence of the firm action taken by the police in both directions. One direction represents the type of crime that is most typical of those living in
extreme poverty and is often manifested in ethnic conflicts. The other course of action represents the measures taken against those who wish to hold the Roma in Hungary collectively responsible for the hopeless situation that is still characteristic of the countryside in Hungary. The programmes launched by the Government and the National Social Integration Strategy have reached local Roma leaders who may, in their own communities, give hope to those who have the desire to break out of the difficult situation they are in. They are therefore not interested in generating conflicts but in managing conflicts and seizing their newly-found opportunities. This is another reason why there is peace in Hungary today between Roma and non-Roma Hungarians, a few local conflicts apart. The role of the National Roma Government as a mediator is key in guiding the Roma in Hungary towards the path of cooperation. The State Secretariat is working hard to convince the majority that cooperation is a worthwhile goal for all and a far more beneficial solution for everyone than the generation of conflicts.
Statement of the MFA on the North-Korean moratorium (Online Mar 02, 2012) On 29 February the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced a moratorium on test launching of long-range missiles, nuclear test and on uraniumenrichment. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea also
agreed on the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s inspectors to verify the moratorium on uranium-enrichment. Hungary considers the consistent and verifiable execution of the taken obligations as an important issue that
is essential for the maintenance of peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and supports the resumption of the Six-Party Talks, which aims nuclear disarmament.
Romanian Minister of Education visits MOGYE (PR) Last week’s events sparked new controversies in the case of the Medical and Pharmacological University of Mureş Marosvásárhely/Târgu (MOGYE). On 17 February, Romanian Minister for Education Cătălin Baba visited the leadership of MOGYE to inquire about the situation as it has developed recently. Rector of the university Constantin Copotoiu informed the minister that the university lacked the sufficient number of Hungarian teachers needed to create a Hungarian Department. The new Education Act introduced in February 2011 guarantees the creation of
faculties and colleges using the language of education at multicultural universities. The Romanian majority Senate of the University claimed earlier last year that the newly-adopted charter was not at variance with current national laws and measures, adding that the ministry’s request on adherence to the obligation to establish Hungarian institutions in accordance with the University’s multicultural character could not be accomplished. Against this background, preparations for electing the rector of the university were in progress, even though the institution does not possess a valid charter. András
Király, Romanian State Secretary for Education, noted earlier that none of the institutional changes will be legitimate until the university has a legally binding charter. In light of this fact, the rector declared that MOGYE had launched litigation against the Education Ministry, adding that the case might end up before an international court if they believed that the Government was violating university autonomy. The Senate did not comply with the minister’s request to postpone election of the rector either.