Martyr's Day Lebanon, Syria - M a y 0 6
Syria shares the celebration of Martyr’s Day with Lebanon on the 6th of May every year. The holiday commemorates the death of both Syria and Lebanon’s nationalists during the occupation by the Ottoman Empire. The nationalists were executed on May 6, 1916 in Marjeh Square (Damascus, Syria) and Burj Square (Beirut, Lebanon) respectively by the Ottoman Young Turk Ahmed Djemal or more commonly known as Jamal Pasha.
History
Syria has been under the control of the Ottoman Empire since the latter part of the 15th century until the downfall of the latter on May 1916. The march towards Syrian independence was long and bloody. The earlier part of the 20th century saw the birth of Syrian intellectuals who heavily campaigned for the independence of Syria from the Ottoman rule. The clandestine conferences and meetings they had with other intellectuals in Paris, France were made known to the Turks. As a result, Sultan Abdul Hamid ordered the arrest of these Arab leaders and forced to renounce their nationalist ideals and plans towards a democratic and independent Syria. However, the nationalists bravely stood by their resolve and bravely faced their destiny so that in May 6, 1916, all of them were executed by hanging in Damascus and Beirut. The nationalists executed were Shukri al-Assali, Omar al-Jazairi, Rushdi al-Shamaa, Abdelhamid al-Zahrawi, Shafiq al-Muayyad, and. Abdel Wahab al-Englizi. Their martyrdom has created strong international ties between the Syria and Lebanon since then.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES
Leaders of Syria and Lebanon celebrate this day by visiting the war memorial in Damascus, Syria, particularly the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier a memorial tomb dedicated to the Syrian soldiers who perished in the war against the Ottoman Empire. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was built in 1994 shape like a dome with an arch right above it. The monument is famous for the five large paintings displayed along the hall which depicts the five heroic battles fought in the history of Arab nations namely: Battle of Yarmouk, Battle of Sultan Yacoub, Battle of Mount Hermon, Battle of Maysaloun, and the Battle of Hattin. The government of Syria may hold a luncheon or banquet for the children or relatives of the martyrs as a way of paying respects to the bravery of martyrs. Public speeches coming from local government officials delivered in behalf of the president are held every year in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus.
Samuel K. Doe Day Liberia - M a y 0 6
Samuel Kanyon Doe (May 6, 1951 – September 9, 1990) was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previously served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history. Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland Liberia. The Krahn are a minority ethnic group but part of the large majority of the Liberian population that are of indigenous descent. These groups faced economic and political domination by the Americo-Liberian elites, who were descended from free-born and formerly enslaved blacks from America who founded Liberia in 1847. Under Doe, Liberian ports were opened to Canadian, Chinese and European ships, which brought in considerable foreign investment from foreign shipping firms and earned Liberia a reputation as a tax haven. Doe attempted to legitimize his regime with a new constitution in 1984 and elections in 1985. However, opposition to his rule only increased, especially after the 1985 elections which were declared to be fraudulent by the U.S. and other foreign observers. In the late 1980s, as fiscal austerity took hold in the United States and the threat of Communism declined with the waning of the Cold War, the U.S. became disenchanted with entrenched corruption in Doe's government and began cutting off critical foreign aid to Doe. This, combined with the popular anger generated by Doe's favoritism toward his native Krahn tribe, placed him in a very precarious position. A civil war began in December 1989, when rebels intent on toppling Doe entered Liberia. Doe's forces were defeated, and in September 1990 he was captured, tortured, and killed.
Hidirellez Festival Turkey - M a y 0 6
When looked at antiquity (ancient times) in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran, Greece and even in countries surrounding the Mediterranean it has been seen that rituals and celebrations had been performed in the name of some Gods in relation with arrival of spring or summer. Documents showing that one of the oldest of these rituals had been performed in Ur city of Mesopotamia by the end of III. Thousand B.C.. The said ritual had been performed at the end of Winter in the name of “Tammuz” representing stimulating power of Euphrates (Fırat) and Tigris (Dicle) irrigating Mesopotamia plain. Upon arrival of Spring revival of nature and prosperity and abundance and productivity had been celebrated by festivals in the name of the God called “Dumuzi”. It has been known that culture of “Tammuz” had been transferred to the ancient Greece and Anatolia via Hebrew over Syria and Egypt. Arrival of Spring or Summer which means revival of Nature and its starting to live again is an important event in the life of human being in every corner of the World. A widespread belief in connection with tradition of “Hıdırellez” is performance of a celebration for commemoration of the date on which “Hızır” and “İlyas” came together. The day of “Hıdırellez” has been generally celebrated on May 6th. In some regions May 5th has been accepted as the day of Festival and May 6th as the day of “Hıdırellez” and ceremonies have been arranged accordingly. The day of “Hıdırellez” (Ruz-ı Hızır) has been considered as the beginning of Summer in the Public Calendar. According to the Public Calendar among Turks one year has been divided into two sections. The period from the day of “Hıdırellez” (May 6th) to November 8th is 186 days and mentioned under the name of “Hızır Days”. This period has been named as the Summer season. The second period extending from November 8th to May 6th is the Winter season and named as “Days of November”, lasting 179 days. Traditions, beliefs, ceremonies established around “Hıdırellez” have been confused generally with “Sultan Nevruz” and other traditions and ceremonies performed for meeting the Spring. Because Spring Festivals have been concentrated on several important days. In this connection it is possible to see whole of “Hıdırellez” or other Spring ceremonies in the course of celebration of any one of them. In Turkish communities both in Anatolia and out of Anatolia with the approach of “Hıdırellez” assorted preparations have been made. Houses have been thoroughly cleaned up, household effects, kitchenware, clothes have been cleaned from top to toe. These works have been performed in order to have “Hızır” (A.S.) visit the house. On the other hand on “Hıdırellez” day lamb or kid, assortment of dishes have been cooked, and in the mean time preparation of a lot of food has been completed. In some regions there are some people who meet “Hıdırellez” by fasting (oruç) one day before the day of “Hıdırellez”. Upon completion of all preparations people go to the nearest picnic places full of trees and having spring and try to pass the day of “Hıdırellez” happily with various plays, entertainments. Places where “Hıdırellez” has been celebrated are generally watery and green areas. In conformity with the tradition there are picnic places called “Hıdırlık” at various regions of Anatolia. At these regions such customs as visiting tombs of great religious leaders, vowing or tying a piece of cloth at such places as graveyard, tomb of a holy person (saint), etc. which have been considered sacred places by indigenous people have also been exercised. Of course the most important ceremony exercised in “Hıdırellez” is the “play of wish”. It has been exercised in order that young girls become lucky, determine their fortune. According to regions the play has different names: drawing lots of wish, fortune pot, lucky, prosperity, etc. The play has been performed as follows: water brought in a pitcher is poured in a pot. Everybody throws a sign into the pot holding water. Such signs may be also sweet basil, mint, “mantuvar” flower in addition to usually ring, earring, etc. The pot is covered with a cloth on the eve of “Hıdırellez” and placed under a rosewood. A lock is put on the pot and locked as a custom. On the other day girls coming together again take the pot under rosewood. Lock is opened and one of them starts to draw lots. In the mean time folk songs are sung. Each folk song is accepted for the fate of the girl whose sign is drawn. This play goes on until the last sign is drawn. In folk songs which have been sung during performance of the play such themes as hope, joy, firmness, love, affection, tenderness, goodness, brotherhood, living abroad, patriotism, etc have been treated. One of the widespread beliefs concerning the day of “Hıdırellez” has shown itself in the tradition of making yoghurt. On the day of “Hıdırellez” yoghurt is made without using ferment. If it becomes yoghurt it is believed that “Hızır” visited home.
National Nurses Day U.S. - M a y 0 6
National Nurses Day, also known as National RN Recognition Day, is always celebrated on May 6thand opens National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, the birth date of Florence Nightingale. National Nurses Week is one of the nation's largest health care events, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurses make and educating the public about the significant work they perform. The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports and encourages National Nurses Week through state and district nurses associations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions. The week-long celebration is designed to accommodate the variety of schedules nurses are required to work. Activities during National Nurses Week typically include banquets and recognition dinners, state and city proclamations, continuing education seminars, and other community events. Nurses are typically honored with gifts, dinners, and flowers by friends and family members, coworkers such as doctors and administrators, and patients who want to show their appreciation. The history of Nurses Day can be traced back to 1953 when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made, but the following year National Nurses Week was observed from October 11 – 16, marking the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. In 1974, President Nixon proclaimed a "National Nurse Week." In 1981, a resolution was initiated by nurses in New Mexico to have May 6th declared "National Recognition Day for Nurses." This proposal was promoted by the ANA Board of Directors and in 1982, with a joint resolution, the United States Congress designated May 6th to be "National Recognition Day for Nurses." The proposal was signed by President Reagan, making May 6 the official "National Recognition Day for Nurses." It was later expanded by the ANA Board of Directors in 1990 to a week-long celebration (May 6-12) known as "National Nurses Week." National Student Nurses Day is celebrated each year on May 8th. At the request of the National Student Nurses Association, the ANA Board of Directors designated May 8th as National Student Nurses Day beginning in 1998. And as of 2003, the ANA has declared that National School NurseDay is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12th of each year. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates this day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses' Day Kit which includes educational and public information materials for use by nurses everywhere. The ICN has celebrated International Nurses Day since 1965.
V-E Day International - M a y 0 8
Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) commemorates May 8, 1945 (in commonwealth countries; May 7,1945), the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not until May 9, 1945. On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, President of Germany Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France, and ratified on 8 May in Berlin, Germany.
Celebrations In the United Kingdom, more than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part
of the war. In the UK, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall toBuckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime MinisterWinston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace before the cheering crowds. PrincessElizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander anonymously among the crowds and take part in the celebrations. In the United States, President Harry Truman, who turned 61 that day, dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April. Flags remained at half-mast for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period. Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day." Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and especially in New York City'sTimes Square. Victory celebrations in Canada were marred by the Halifax Riot.
Soviet Victory Day:
As the Soviet Union was to the east of Germany it was May 9 Moscow Time when German military surrender became effective, which is why Eastern European countries like Russia and former Soviet republics commemorate Victory Day on May 9 instead of May 8.
May 8 United as public holiday Kingdom - 1995 May Day Bank Holiday was moved from 1 May to 8 May to commemorate the •
50th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War. The former East Germany as Tag der Befreiung (Day of Liberation), a public holiday from 1950 to 1966 • and in 1985. Between 1975 and 1990, as Tag des Sieges (Victory Day (May 9)). The German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, since 2002, a commemorative day as Tag der Be• freiung vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the 2nd World War). France as Victoire 1945 • Slovakia as Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom (Victory over Fascism Day) • Czech Republic as Den vítězství or Den osvobození (Day of Liberation) • Norway as "Frigjøringsdagen" (Liberation Day) • Denmark (May 5) as "Befrielsen" (The Liberation) • The Netherlands (May 5) as "Bevrijdingsdag" (Liberation Day) • Ukraine (9 May) Victory Day •
Red Cross Day Worldwide - M a y 0 8
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, sex,religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The movement consists of several distinct organizations that are legally independent from each other, but are united within the movement through common basic principles, objectives, symbols, statutes and governing organs. The movement's parts are: • The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland, by Henry Dunant. Its 25-member committee has a unique authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. The ICRC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions (in 1917, 1944 and 1963). • The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was founded in 1919 and today it coordinates activities between the 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies within the Movement. On an international level, the Federation leads and organizes, in close cooperation with the National Societies, relief assistance missions responding to large-scale emergencies. The International Federation Secretariat is based inGeneva, Switzerland. In 1963, the Federation (then known as the League of Red Cross Societies) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the ICRC. • National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in nearly every country in the world. Currently 186 National Societies are recognized by the ICRC and admitted as full members of the Federation. Each entity works in its home country according to the principles of international humanitarian law and the statutes of the international Movement. Depending on their specific circumstances and capacities, National Societies can take on additional humanitarian tasks that are not directly defined by international humanitarian law or the mandates of the international Movement. In many countries, they are tightly linked to the respective national health care system by providing emergency medical services.
Victory Day International - M a y 0 9
Victory Day or 9 May marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (also known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union and most post-Soviet states). It was first inaugurated in the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the surrender document late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May, by Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin. Though the official inauguration happened in 1945 (which means it has been celebrated since 1946), the holiday became a non-labour day only in 1965 and only in some of the countries. In communist East Germany, a Sovietstyle "Victory Day" on 9 May was an official holiday from 1975 until the end of the republic in 1990. Prior to that, "Liberation Day" was celebrated on 8 May, between 1950 and 1966, and again on the 40th anniversary in 1985. Since 2002, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has observed a commemoration day known as the "Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War". In 1988, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Victory Day ceased to be observed in Uzbekistan, but was partially restored in 1999 as Memorial/Remembrance Day. After their separation from the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries now commemorate the end of WWII on 8 May, the Victory in Europe Day. But many people in Baltic countries still gather to celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May.
History
Two separate capitulation events took place at the time. First, the capitulation to the Allied nations inReims was signed on 7 May 1945, effective 23:01 CET 8 May. This date is commonly referred to as the V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) in most western European countries. The other World War II victory day, the V-J day (Victory in Japan Day) is commemorated in August, and is of considerably lesser significance in Europe. However, the Soviet Union's only representative in Reims was General Ivan Susloparov, the Military Liaison Mission Commander. General Susloparov's scope of authority was not entirely clear, and he had no means of immediate contact with the Kremlin, but nevertheless decided to sign for the Soviet side. Susloparov was caught off guard; he had no instructions from Moscow. But if he did not sign, he risked a German surrender without Soviet participation. However, he noted that it could be replaced with a new version in the future. Joseph Stalin was later displeased by these events, believing that the German surrender should have been accepted only by the envoy of the USSR Supreme command and signed only in Berlin and insisted the Reims protocol be considered preliminary, with the main ceremony to be held in Berlin, where Marshal Zhukov was at the time, as the latter recounts in his memoirs: “[Quoting Stalin:] Today, in Reims, Germans signed the preliminary act on an unconditional surrender. The main contribution, however, was done by Soviet people and not by the Allies, therefore the capitulation must be signed in front of the Supreme Command of all countries of the anti-Hitlercoalition, and not only in front of the Supreme Command of Allied Forces. Moreover, I disagree that the surrender was not signed in Berlin, which was the center of Nazi aggression. We agreed with the Allies to consider the Reims protocol as preliminary.” Therefore, another ceremony was organized in a surviving manor in the outskirts of Berlin late on 8 May, when it was already 9 May in Moscow due to the difference in time zones. Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel submitted the capitulation of the Wehrmacht to Marshal Georgy Zhukov in the Soviet Army headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial Moscow Victory Parade was held in the Soviet capital on 24 June 1945 (four years and two days after the beginning of Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union).
Countries in which 9 May is celebrated:
Armenia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; Azerbaijan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; Belarus has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considered it non-labor in the past; Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism and considers it a non-working day. British Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey were not liberated from German occupation until 9 May 1945, and Sark on 10 May 1945, and celebrate those dates as their Liberation Days. Georgia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; German Democratic Republic recognised Tag des Sieges (Victory Day) on 9 May as a public holiday between 1975 and the end of the republic in 1990. Earlier, the Tag der Befreiung(Day of liberation) was celebrated on 8 May as a public holiday, from 1950 to 1966, and on the 40th anniversary in 1985. Germany does not officially recognise 9 May as a holiday. However, celebrations continue to take place in some areas of the former German Democratic Republic. Also, on 8 May, the German state of MecklenburgVorpommern since 2002 has recognised a commemorative dayTag der Befreiung vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War). Israel has officially recognised 9 May since 2000. Kazakhstan has officially recognised 9 May since 1947. It's a non-working day. The holiday is sometimes celebrated in connection with other national holidays on 10 and 11 May. Kyrgyzstan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; Moldova has officially recognised 9 May since 1951; Russia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working); Serbia celebrates 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism but it's a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including Serbian army, Minister of Defense and the President. Tajikistan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; Turkmenistan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; Ukraine has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working); Uzbekistan has officially recognised 9 May from 1946 until 1988. Starting 1999, the holiday was restored as "Memorial/Remembrance Day;. Yugoslavia officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism as an all-state non-working holiday. Russophone populations in many world countries celebrate the holiday regardless of its local status. Many Russian communities in United States and Canada, also for example in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania organize public gatherings and even parades on this day. In Europe, some multi language broadcasting television chains translate the "Victory speech" of the Russian president and the parade on Red Square.
London Victory Day London is a ceremonial event held annually since 2007 in London on 9 May in commemoration of the
Arctic Convoys 1941-1945 and the victory in the Second World War. It is part of the wider commemoration of 9 May Victory Day, marking the German surrender to theSoviet Union. A ceremony is held aboard the cruiser HMS Belfast, moored on the Thames. The event serves as a reunion day for British and Russian veterans of the Arctic Convoys with members of the British Royal Family present. Other participants include the Russian Ambassador, ambassadors of other FSU countries, and other British and Russian dignitaries.
Constitution Day Micronesia - M a y 1 0
The Federated State of Micronesia, or simply, Micronesia, celebrates the founding of its constitution on May 10, 1979 on the same date every year. The celebration, called Constitution Day, is considered as a national holiday in Micronesia and used to commemorate the founding of the country’s first constitution and effort of the people who allotted their time and energy in the development of the supreme law of the land. The Federated States of Micronesia is an island nation comprising four administrative divisions: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Military defense is provided by the United States.
History Micronesia march to independ-
ence started when people from Kusaie, Yap, Ponape, and Truk (Micronesia’s four states), adopted a constitution in 1979. The Micronesian Constitutional Convention made the draft of the constitution in 1975 only to be adopted four years later. In 1986, independence was finally achieved although people voted for a free association with the United States surrounded by the terms and conditions as listed in the Compact of Free Association as agreed by the two states.
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES The president of Micronesia delivers his message to his people as the country marks the celebration of the founding
of its constitution. As always, the president will call for national unity and solidarity among people from the many islands that constitute the Federated State of Micronesia and the great strides Micronesians have made in society. There is no significant celebration in the street during this day but families consider this day as a rest day where they could take their children to nearby parks or shopping malls to relax or unwind.
Lupus Day Worldwide - M a y 1 0
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates auto antibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. Every day, more than 5 million people worldwide struggle with the often debilitating health consequences of lupus, a potentially fatal autoimmune disease capable of damaging virtually any part of the body, including the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.
History World Lupus Day began with a Proclamation 8 years ago by an
international steering committee representing lupus organizations from 13 different nations when they met in Eaton, United Kingdom to organize the first observance of World Lupus Day. The Proclamation is a call to action for governments around the world to increase their financial support for lupus research, awareness and patient services. The Proclamation reflects the emerging issues that people with lupus around the world must face every day. The Proclamation serves to give a single voice to all individuals affected by this devastating and debilitating chronic disease.
Nurses Day Worldwide - May 12
International Nurses week (IND) is celebrated around the world every 6–12 May, to mark the contributions nurses make to society.
Background The International Council
of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day since 1965. In 1953 Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, had proposed that President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaim a "Nurses Day," but he did not approve it. In January 1974, the decision was made to celebrate the day on 12 May as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing. Each year, ICN prepares and distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit. The kit contains educational and public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere. In 1999 the British public sector union UNISON voted to ask the ICN to transfer this day to another date, saying Nightingale did not represent modern nursing. As of 1998, 8 May was designated as annual National Student Nurses Day. As of 2003, the Wednesday within National Nurses Week, between 6 and 12 May, is National School Nurse Day.
Themes 1988 - Safe Motherhood
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1989 - School Health 1990 - Nurses and Environment 1991 - Mental Health - Nurses in Action 1992 - Healthy Aging 1993 - Quality, costs and Nursing 1994 - Healthy Families for Healthy Nation 1995 - Women's Health: Nurses Pave the Way 1996 - Better Health through Nursing Research 1997 - Healthy Young People = A Brighter Future 1998 - Partnership for Community Health 1999 - Celebrating Nursing's Past, claiming the future 2000 - Nurses - Always there for you 2001 - Nurses, Always There for You: United Against Violence 2002 - Nurses Always There for You: Caring for Families 2003 - Nurses: Fighting AIDS stigma, working for all 2004 - Nurses: Working with the Poor; Against Poverty 2005 - Nurses for Patients Safety: Targeting counterfeit medicines and substandard medication 2006 - Safe staffing saves lives 2007 - Positive practice environments: Quality workplaces = quality patient care 2008 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care 2009 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Care Innovations 2010 - Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care. 2011 - Closing The Gap: Increasing Access and Equity. 2012 - Closing The Gap: From Evidence to Action.
Nursing week
The U.S. and Canada celebrate their National Nursing Week each year from 9 to 15 May each year. It was established in the U.S. by President Richard Nixon in 1974. The Canadian Minister of Health instituted National Nursing Week in Canada in 1985.
Establishment of Hungarian-Saudi Trade House and Joint Venture is the Target (Online 02 May) sector, among for Minister the best in the Rural Developworld. Sándor ment S á n d o r and Fazekas Fazekas noted Minister for Agrithat his Saudi culture Fahad counterpart has bin Abdulrahespecially recBalghuman ommended the naim discussed Saudi Investthe establishment Development of a Hunment Agency, garian-Saudi also which holding during deals in foreign their meetings in investments. on Budapest The Hungarian The Monday. Minister added joint venture, set that to further up with state improvethe participation, ment of relawould deal with tions, Hungary cattle breeding, wishes to esplant cultivation Fahad bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim and Sándor Fazekas tablish a trading poultry (photo: Ernő Horváth) and Howhouse. breeding. ever, he noted of joint projects in the fields of both Hungarian-Saudi co-operation may bioenergy and feed production. His that the working out and running of be significantly developed after talks Saudi colleague added that Saudi concrete co-operative ventures would between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Arabia is a country with little fresh be the task of the two countries' busiand King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin water, and so has an interest in nessmen. Abdel-Aziz last year created a sound broadening agricultural co-operation Fahad bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim political basis for such improvement. with Hungary. He indicated that Saudi invited Sándor Fazekas to visit Saudi With reference to the discussions, agriculture is counting on utilizing the Arabia, an invitation which was corSándor Fazekas stated that he sees results of the Hungarian agriculture dially accepted with thanks. opportunities for the commencement
Italian Senior Enlisted Leader at the Helicopter Base (Online 02 May) Chief master sergeant Diego Cagnazzo, senior enlisted leader of the Italian Armed Forces, has paid an official visit to the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base. He was accompanied by csm Istvan Kriston, and csm Laszlo Toth, command sergeant majors of the HDF and HDF JFC, respectively. The visitors were (photo: Dóra Téglás) welcomed by ations Battalion, which was followed lieutenant colonel Laszlo Nagy, by the guests looking at the air assets Deputy Chief of Base Staff. operating on base, and a presentaThe event started with the introduc- tion of the equipment used by the lattion of the base, the HDF 25/88th ter two units. During the subsequent Light Infantry Battalion and the HDF live firing exercise, the true potential 34th Laszlo Bercsenyi Special Oper- of the small arms introduced before
was aptly demonstrated. After a tour of Szolnok Aviation Museum, the honoured guest gave a talk on the training of Italian NCOs, and, during the informal conversation that followed, emphasised the importance of international cooperation and learning more about each other. He added that, in many ways, they can facilitate participation in international exercises, conducted on and almost daily basis, and smoother completion of tasks stemming from sharing in multinational mission obligations, ccmsgt Istvan Zsolt Tigyi of the 86th HDF SZHB informed us.
C hine s e D e put y Pr im e Minis t e r pa y s a v is it t o B uda pe s t (Online 02 May) there are welland Hungary ecodefined signed China n o m i c agreeseven programmes The ments. also regarded agreements as feasible and were signed on viable by memTuesday in the bers of the busiParliament e s s n Building in the community and of presence the whether Hungarian Hungarian priPrime Minister vate economy Orbán Viktor is able to presChinese and proent Deputy Premier grammes which Li Keqiang. are worth fiMinister for Nanancing from a tional Economy Chinese-HunMaGyörgy garian developtolcsy and the ment fund. Vice-President Orbán Viktor of the China Demade also velopment Bank Li Ko-csiang, Viktor Orbán (photo: Károly Árvai) mention of the an signed fact that he had agreement on received an inthe planned utilfrom vitation isation of a deChinese Prevelopment mier Wen Jiworth facility abao at last one billion euros week’s Polandto be provided Central-Euby the bank. rope-China An agreement economic also was forum held in by reached Warsaw, and MaGyörgy he would pay a tolcsy and the visit to Beijing Vice-President for the reinof Huawei reforcement of bigarding the conlateral relations struction of a before the end European logisof this year. tic centre in The Prime MinHungary for the ister stressed Chinese corpoChina regards ration manufacHungary as a t u r i n g Li Ko-csiang, Viktor Orbán (photo: Károly Árvai) stable country telecommunicawhich has qualmust also consistently embark on and ified work force and whose economic tions network equipment. The Ministry for National Economy bring to successful fruition a policy of growth once again reached and entered into a cooperation agreement opening towards the East. The Prime slightly exceeded the European worth some EUR 10 million with the Minister said China is important for Union’s average. He added, China corporation ZTE with respect to a Eu- Hungary in the light of the wisdom of also deems Hungary stable from a firopean regional network manage- the proverb of „why stand on one foot nancial point of view because while centre project to be when we have two”. He added, „if its state debt is around 80 per cent, ment implemented in Hungary by the Chi- there is a strong wind in the world Hungary has strong financial ties not economy”, those who stand on one only with the European Union and the nese telecommunication company. MÁV, the Hungarian railway company foot may easily fall, and Hungary IMF but also with the Chinese and therefore stand on both its feet other emerging markets which lend must and the Chinese railway company also concluded a cooperation agree- and must, in addition to maintaining the country a high degree of stability. alliances in Western Europe, also The Prime Minister highlighted that a its ment on the promotion of the fast railway line project that connects the pursue a consistent policy in opening breakthrough was achieved in Chithe East. towards Liszt Ferenc International Airport with nese-Hungarian relations in June last We must stand on two feet both for year when the Chinese Prime MinisBudapest’s Keleti Railway Station. A memorandum of understanding the purposes of financial, develop- ter paid a visit to Budapest after more was signed for the purpose of pro- ment policy and investment policy cri- than twenty years. He said Hungary moting cooperation between SME teria and from the respect of political has consistently pursued a policy of businesses, and the Ministry of Rural friends and political allies, the Prime opening towards the East ever since Development and the Ministry of Agri- Minister said, adding that, with the 2010, one of the key players of which culture of the People’s Republic of visit of the Chinese delegation, we is China, and the Chinese have a firm China entered into an agreement for took an important step towards en- Central-Europe policy as part of the establishment of a Hungarian- hancing Hungary’s economic and fi- which they established bilateral relaChinese scientific and technological nancial security. tions with the states they consider imViktor Orbán said in connection with portant, amongst which Hungarian centre. Li Keqiang arrived in Budapest for a the one-billion-euro facility that this is relations are some of the most protwo-day official visit on Monday. He only a fraction of the money that has found. had talks with Deputy Prime Minister been made available for the develop- The Prime Minister pointed out the and Minister of Public Administration ment of the Hungarian economy. He strategic cooperation of the two counand Justice Tibor Navracsics and said the Chinese are of the opinion tries has also been extended to busiSpeaker of the House László Kövér. that if we use the one billion euros for ness, development policy and A Chinese-Hungarian business forum sensible and reasonable pro- finances, in addition to culture and was also held in conjunction with the grammes, further funds will be made science, and the parties are now available which, if not unlimited, will working on the development of coopvisit of the Chinese Deputy Premier. According to Viktor Orbán, Hungary be „well in excess of Hungary’s eration between civil societies. The and China look upon one another as wildest dreams”. He stressed, in ac- two countries will therefore receive strategic allies; in addition to its al- tual fact, Hungarian developments hundreds of scholarship students in liances in Western Europe, Hungary today are not restricted by financial order to reinforce economic relations. constraints; the question is whether
Miklós Szócska represented Hungary at the Informal Meeting of EU Health Ministers (Online 02 May) “Smart Health – Better Lives: Moving Innovation ahead in Europe” was the motto of the Informal Meeting of EU Health Ministers, hosted by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Horsens, on 23-24 April 2011. Hungary was represented at the meeting by Dr. Miklós Szócska MD, Minister of State for Health, Ministry of National Resources. Health Ministers exchanged views on how to further strengthen the European health technology sector. Enhancing innovation in health care can bring about multiple benefits for European patients, societies, economies by bringing better and more effective care and treatment, improving working conditions in the health care sector, promoting better use of available resources and contributing to the financial sustainability of the health system. Furthermore, the development of the technological industry contributes to the improvement of competitiveness and economic growth. The key question for health ministers is how to create more favourable conditions for innovation in the health sector in a way that the main guiding principle should always be to serve the interest of patients, and at the same time ensure the effective utilisation of resources. “Management of Chronic Diseases: Promoting Patient empowerment in Europe” was the other high priority question discussed by Ministers. Chronic diseases impose an enormous burden for the individual, the families and the whole society, already now. By today, it has become widely accepted that informed, active patients can essentially contribute to meeting health challenges. The combined application of shared-care and self-care, based on the co-operation of the patient, the family and health care workers can play an especially important role in caring for chronic diseases. However, today’s societies and health care systems are not yet prepared for shaping this close cooperation among patients and health experts, this paradigm shift is still at an initial phase. The Ministers exchanged views on Member States’
experiences, achievements to be shared, barriers or issues not tackled in the processes of empowering patients for their conscious, active participation, as well as on how these processes could be supported through the co-operation of Member States. Ministers visited the Regional Hospital in Horsens, where e-health and telemedicine solutions enhance the information flow among doctors, nurses and patients, allowing for the more effective treatment of patients. There is great potential in the development and spread of electronic health services all across Europe and in Hungary – said Dr. Szócska in an interview following the informal ministerial meeting. Dr. Szócska emphasised that Ministers discussed issues related to the safety of medical devices, also in view of the PIP breast implants that recently caused serious problems in several EU Member States. Ministers agreed that, in order to avoid similar situations, the relevant union legislation shall be amended to ensure an even more rigorous control of medical devices. Until establishing the legal and procedural conditions to the safe manufacturing of medical devices, a more effective early warning system shall be operated. The transformation, modernisation of health services is an issue high on the European agenda. Similarly to Hungary, in other countries as well, health policy thinking is focused on capacity planning and control, effective patient pathways and the care for elderly patients. The main theme of the meeting was innovation and electronic health services. Dr. Szócska emphasised that electronic health should not be viewed as an information technology system, but as a chance for further developing the health care system. E-prescription was one of the issues raised. It is already used in several countries and its introduction is in the preparatory phase in Hungary, in line with measures foreseen by the Széll Kálmán Plan 2.0. Other solutions touched upon in the discussions and being only planned in other countries
are already applied in Hungary, such as for example the electronic access of Hungarian family doctors to all publicly financed health services data received by their patients. Ministers agreed that technology development supporting the care for the elderly should be enhanced at union level and it should be supported by major investments in the next 5-10 years. Dr. Szócska mentioned that for example the establishment of remote control services might receive essential resources in the future to enhance home care for the elderly. Ministers discussed issues related to the significance of health technology assessment (HTA) in view of their efficiency and cost efficiency and agreed on the importance of union level co-operation and sharing of experiences among HTA institutions in Member States, including the relevant Hungarian institution. The possibility of a HTA system based on a joint European data base was also raised. In his contribution, Dr. Szócska raised that the oversized administration and bureaucracy of European research and development might contribute to its competitiveness weaknesses, a view that was shared by other Ministers. Dr. Szócska also mentioned problems related to the major differences in the levels of fees received in European projects by researchers coming from different Member States, mentioning that the fair solution would be to receive the same remuneration for the same performance. The second day of the ministerial meeting on Tuesday was devoted to the question of how patients and patient organisations can be better involved in care, to empower patients to be able to take more responsibilities in their recovery. Dr. Szócska said that Hungary has already laid the foundations for that. The National Patient Forum has recently been estabcomprising patient lished, organisations and being involved in the different processes representing patient needs and interests.
Foreign Minister János Martonyi’s speech at the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (PR) János Martonyi gave a speech at the 19th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on 27 April 2012. The Foreign Minister of Hungary outlined the directions and the results of the search for solutions to the economic and financial problems in the European Union. The EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is organised in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei on 2627 April 2012. The joint session of the two organisations is chaired by High Representative Catherine Ashton from the side of the EU and by Mohamed Bolkiah, Bruneian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade from the side of the ASEAN. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Cambodia, the state currently chairing the Asian organisation provided information on the political and economic processes in the Southeast Asian region. High Representative Catherine Ashton introduced the economic processes and the results of crisis management in Europe. Reacting to the speech of the Head of the European External Action Serv-
ice, János Martonyi also highlighted the directions and the results of the search for solutions to the economic and financial problems in the EU. He emphasised that the European Union and the euro zone do not constitute part of the problem, but part of the solution regarding the global economic crisis. The institutional structure and the legal system of the EU with a history of more than half a century can largely contribute to the strengthening of global governance and legislation; this is the special mission and responsibility of the European integration. If we join this all to the results of the ASEAN as a regional integration, the cooperation of the two organisations can significantly promote global governance and the establishment of universal norms, which can open up new ways to prevent and manage global financial and economic crises in the future. At the same time, he emphasised that the competitiveness of an EU Member State does not depend on whether it is has joint the euro zone or not, which is supported by the economic growth and improved foreign trade numbers of several non-euro-zone countries in the
EU. Mr Martonyi underlined the importance of the establishment of the economic union as well. He also called attention to the fact that the gradual development of the political union is a precondition for the economic union. Addressing the same issue, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle gave a speech with similar content on behalf of Germany. The Foreign Minister of Hungary was granted an audience with Sultan Hassan-al Bolkiah, the monarch of Brunei. János Martonyi had bilateral discussions with Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei and Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN on 26 April 2012. The head of Hungarian diplomacy called his negotiating partners’ attention to the ASEAN-Hungary Business Conference to be organised in Budapest in the autumn of 2012. János Martonyi will give a further speech at the meeting in Brunei, requesting the member states of both organisations to support the DanubeMekong cooperation initiative.
Twenty thousand for dual citizenship (PR) The collection of signatures launched by civil organisations and members of the Via Nova ICS Hungarian youth organisation to make dual citizenship possible once again has been closed. The collection of signatures started on the first of September last year. Olivér Boldoghy, stripped of his citizenship, a member of the petition committee said, they will turn to the Ministry of Interior with the approximately 20 000 signatures gathered. While the Ministry of Interior has no obligation of any kind in connection with the petition, the ac-
tivist hopes that signatures of this magnitude may put some social pressure on the decision-makers concerned. He added, if legislators also take account of other recommendations in the course of the announced amendment of the citizenship law, for instance, that not only those should be allowed to be dual citizens who have permanent residence in the given country but also those who study or have a business there, it was well worth gathering the signatures. The amendment of the citizenship law will be amongst the first items of
legislation to be presented to Parliament, Minister of Interior Robert Kaliňák announced recently. In the meantime, the individuals concerned also await the decision of the Constitutional Court in response to the initiative of Most-Híd party. If this pronounces that the 2010 Slovak citizenship law is unconstitutional, the injured parties should be given back their forfeited Slovak citizenship, Gábor Gál, initiator of the submission believes.
Zs olt Se m jé n: e duc a tion is k e y in t he c ount r y ’s na t ion s t r a t e gy (PR) Under the leadership of István Pásztor, the Alliance of Hungarians in Vajdaság (VMSZ) proved it is able to represent the interests of the Hungarian community living in Vajdaság and also the interests of the whole of Vajdaság, Zsolt Semjén, Deputy Prime Minister for nation policy said on 23 April in Szabadka. VMSZ has a major share in making the establishment of the Hungarian National Council possible, which also represents the realisation of a kind of cultural autonomy, the politician said. The Hungarian National council was set up first in 2002 and functions since 2009 as a legitimate elected body of the province.
The Deputy Prime Minister also attended the press conference where it was officially announced that the Óbuda University will launch an engineering-IT teacher training master’s degree course at the Szabadka Hungarian Language Teacher Training Faculty (MTTK). In connection with this, he stated that education is key in the policy strategy for Hungarians, and it may ensure the survival of a community if its members are in possession of marketable skills. The politician said the Hungarian State, together with the Hungarian National Council and institutions of higher education, will ensure by launching a
scholarship scheme that no one should be left out of training for financial reasons. István Pásztor, President of VMSZ stressed education creates the basis for the advancement of the Hungarian community in Vajdaság not only for the advancement of the individual but also because this is the way we may make up for the loss suffered in the midnineties when the most productive part of the community’s intelligentsia left their native land, the politician said.
Va j d a s á g H u n g a r i a n C i v i l Strategy (PR) The Vajdaság Hungarian Civil Strategy is now complete. The strategy determining a course for the next six years was prepared with the active participation of players from the civil sector. The strategy was developed by the Civil Consultation Board of the National Council of the Hungarian Ethnic Minority (MNT), which will
be presented for a debate and will be approved at the next meeting of MNT. Specific action plans will only be drafted after this. Tamás Korhecz, President of MNT said he feels that, as far as community building is concerned, the Hungarian community in Vojvodina is today in the best possible condition. István Pásztor, Presi-
dent of VMSZ drew attention to the process of strategic planning in his speech as they have to date created strategies related to education, communication and culture, have embarked on the development of a sports and youth strategy and are now about to create a civil strategy.
Holocaust remembrance month at Hungarian diplomatic representations in the US (PR) Diplomatic representations in the United States (Washington, New York, Los Angeles) commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Swedish diplomat, Raoul Wallenberg, who saved the lives of masses of Jews in Budapest during the Holocaust, with various programmes. On the occasion of the anniversary, the Hungarian Government declared 2012 Wallenberg Memorial Year. This initiative is closely linked to the memorial day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust in Hungary. Jews were first locked into ghettos on 16 April 1944 in Transcarpathia, in the former territory of Hungary. In just a few months, hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews from the provinces were killed in concentration camps. According to the decision of Hungarian Parliament adopted in the
year 2000, the memorial day of the victims of the Holocaust in Hungary is held on 16 April every year as of 2001. Gergely Prőhle, Deputy State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived in the United States on 15 April 2012, and conducted bilateral negotiations during his visit with his US counterparts at the State Department, including Tomicah Tillemann, Senior Advisor for Civil Society to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gergely Prőhle also delivered a lecture on Hungary’s democratic transition at Yale University’s conference entitled „The New Europe”. As part of the remembrance month, Ambassador György Szapáry laid a wreath at the Wallenberg bust at the seat of the US Congress, the Capitol in Washington on 16 April in the company of
Annette Lantos, Chair of the Lantos Foundation (wife of Late Tom Lantos, former member of the US House of Representatives saved by the Swedish diplomat) and several US congressmen. The patrons of the event in New York were Károly Dán, Hungarian Consul General in New York, Ido Aharoni, Acting Consul General at the Consulate General of Israel in New York and rabbi Arthur Schneier. The memorial event was attended by George Pataki, former Governor of New York and Rachel Bernheim, Chairwoman of The Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States. Ambassador Balázs Bokor, Consul General in Los Angeles attended the commemorative service held in the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust.
Regional interests are a priority for VMSZ President István Pásztor (PR) The Partner Consulting Agency conducted an opinion poll in the light of the national, provincial and local elections to be held in Serbia on 6 May. The (coalition organised around) the Serbian Progressive Party continues to lead with 29.7 % of the votes, (the coalition of) the Democratic Party would obtain 25.1 % of the votes, while third place would be obtained by (the coalition of) the Serbian Socialist Party with 13.2 %. The alliance United Regions of Serbia may reckon with 6.7 % of the votes, while the coalition Change may hope to obtain a 7.3 % share. The Democratic Party of Serbia would only just exceed the parliamentary threshold with 5.2 %. The new-comer „Dveri” may acquire 2.9 % of the votes. On 4 April 2012, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) set up a temporary representation in Belgrade in order to monitor the parliamentary elections to be held on 6 May. In the early presidential elections, also to be held
on 6 May, the Alliance of Hungarians in Vajdaság (VMSZ), too, will nominate a candidate, István Pásztor. The party’s leadership is aware that the candidate of VMSZ will not qualify for the second round. They are convinced, however, that they have to take part in the first round and gather one hundred thousand votes. The votes obtained will represent a negotiating position for VMSZ in the subsequent coalition talks and will also justify the election programme represented by them. 12,963 signatures were gathered in three days for Pásztor’s nomination. Pásztor remarked, he is the only candidate from Vojvodina for whom regional interests are a priority in the elections. “For this reason, I expect to obtain a large number of votes also from the non-Hungarian-speaking population of Vojvodina”, Pásztor stressed. The Vojvodina politician would like to find a “common denominator” with the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Boris Tadić in respect of the priorities that matter most to VMSZ, and the sup-
port to be provided by the Hungarians in the second round of the presidential elections, too, will depend on the outcome of these negotiations. As a guest of VMSZ, Zsuzsanna Répás, Deputy State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad, visited church institutions in North-Bácska last week. The Deputy State Secretary said in Martonos that she would like to visit as many Hungarian communities in Vojvodina as possible and to gather personal experiences. The presidential candidate of the Serbian Progressive Party established three and a half years ago, Tomislav Nikolić also visited Zenta and Magyarkanizsa as part of his campaign. According to the party president, minorities must take part in the Serbian government. 31% of Serbian electors would vote for Boris Tadic, while 27% would cast their votes for opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic in the first round of the presidential elections according to the survey of the International Republican Institute (IRI).
HUNGARY Pa r lia m e nt e le c te d J a nos A de r a s t he ne x t pr e s ide nt of H unga r y 02 (Online May) Ader, 52, who will be the 5th president of the republic the since change of political system in 1989/90, upon called Hungarians in his acceptance to speech show one another respect even if they disagree. is my "It earnest belief that we Hungarians will be able to prove Photo: Gergely Botár our vitality only if we are able to discuss our problems, gently on occasion, fiercely on other occasions and if need be, but always maintaining our respect for one another," he said. also He stressed the importance of upholding Hungary's new constitution, which took effect on Jan. 1 this year. "As president János Áder (photo: Gergely Botár) of Hungary I see in each other what unites us, as will spare no efforts to fulfil my share understanding one another will enof that responsibility as stipulated in rich us all," he said. After being the Basic Law. Likewise, I am sure elected Ader took his oath of office that all of you expect me to avail my- and signed the oath documents. He self fully of both my constitutional then was congratulated on by Prime rights and obligations," he said. Minister Viktor Orban, Parliamentary "Our Basic Law declares that Hun- Speaker Laszlo Kover, Deputy PM gary is an independent and demo- Zsolt Semjen and four parliamentary cratic republic governed by the Rule group leaders. He then proceeded to of Law. It is based on universal shake hands with his predecessor human values and our national tradi- Pal Schmitt, former Prime Ministers tions. I am convinced that our new Peter Boross and Peter Medgyessy Basic Law outlines the right track and Jozsef Palinkas, the president of and the right framework for us to al- the Hungarian Academy of Sciways find the right answers as a po- ences. litical nation to the basic questions Before the election of the new head and challenges of the 21st century." of state, Sándor Lezsák, Deputy Ader, nominated by the ruling Speaker of Parliament and acting al- Speaker, gave an account of the caFidesz-Christian-Democratic liance, received 262 votes in favour reer of János Áder, nominee for in a secret ballot. President of the Republic. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Mr. Lezsák described how Mr. Áder’s Wednesday that parliament had life has taken him from a small made the best possible decision by provincial town in Hungary to the Euelecting Ader. Describing him as an ropean Parliament, and now to can"anchor", Orban told journalists the didacy for presidency of Hungary. He decision had been the best one for described Mr. Áder as a straightforthe task of "setting in motion and sta- ward man of humble origins, which bilising" the constitution. have provided him with the moral "We know the president, we respect foundations for a life in public service him and think highly of him ..." he as an MP, Speaker of the House and said. MEP, among other roles. He deIn his speech Ader also said he scribed him as well-versed in the would reach out to all sections of so- complexity of legislature, and no ciety and to Hungarians around the stranger to hard work. world. While still a law student in Budapest, "Let me reach out to believers and to the death of his father meant that at non-believers alike, and ask them to times he had to take on night work to
pay for his studies. In the opposition roundtable negotiations of he 1989 gained his reputation for determination and straightforwardness. At the same time, Lezsák Mr. Mr. praised Áder for his openness and willingness to take part in debate, whilst always doing his utmost to uphold the values and principles he expounds. Lezsák Mr. gave a brief of summary the prospective president’s political career. Mr. Áder took part in the historic meeting in the Hungarian settlement of in Lakitelek 1987, at which the first opposition party was formed, and he had an important role in the formulation of the democratic electoral system at the Opposition and National Roundtable talks in 1989. He became an MP for Fidesz in 1990, and took part in the work of the Parliamentary Constitutional Legislative and Justice Committee. From 1998 to 2002 he was Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, during which time Hungary joined NATO and underwent the most important phase of preparations for accession to the European Union. He was elected to the European Parliament in 2009, and became Vice Chairman of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the Parliament. He has played an important role in the European People’s Party’s representation in the European Parliament. Orban nominated the Fidesz MEP for the post on April 16 after Pal Schmitt resigned in the wake of a plagiarism scandal. Ader will take up his post on May 10. He has sixty days to relinquish his post as an MEP. A total of 307 lawmakers registered to vote and 302 votes cast were valid. Forty lawmakers voted against Ader, who will hold office until 2017. The opposition Socialist and LMP parties and lawmakers belonging to the Democratic Coalition party did not participate in the vote. Jobbik MPs voted against. Full text of the speech of new president János Áder can be found in the attachment.
Viktor Orbán had talks in Kazakhstan 04 (Online The May) Hungarian Prime Minister paid a two-day visit to Kazakhstan where he spoke of the importance Hungary of toopening wards the East at the plenary meeting held with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov on Friday in Astana. According to VikOrbán, tor there is significant demand for the development of economic relations between Hungary and Kazakhstan. On the part of Hungary, fifty firms from the fields of agriculture, the food industry, pharmaceutical industry, medical and bio-technology, the construction, vehicle and machine industries and the energy sector, deemed it important to send their representatives to the meeting in order to reinforce personal relations with their existing or prospective Kazakh partners. One of the reasons for this particular interest is that opening towards the East is a key priority in the Hungarian Cabinet’s new foreign economic strategy, in which Kazakhstan plays a prominent role. Hungary may be Kazakhstan’s partner in the modernisation and development of the Kazakh economy. Political relations between the two countries are balanced, there are no unresolved issues; consequently, we may turn our full attention to the improvement of economic relations, the Hungarian Prime Minister said. Viktor Orbán said Hungary greatly appreciates the performance that Kazakhstan has rendered in the past twenty years, as a result of which it is now an important, leading state in the region and will remain so also in the long run. Before the press conference, the representatives of the two countries signed several bilateral agreements, including a joint manifesto of the two governments, a document on the mutual exchange of taxation information, a declaration of intent regarding cooperation in health care and an agreement between the chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries on the establishment of a business council. The Kazakh Prime Minister wel-
comed the intention that Hungary wishes to join the European countries which have strategic cooperation agreements with Kazakhstan, Viktor Orbán highlighted in connection with the agreements now concluded, and added that he proposed the establishment of joint ventures and a monetary fund that is designed to promote the operation of these. The Prime Minister also made mention of the role played by MOL in Kazakhstan, including the fact that the Hungarian oil industry company successfully cooperates with Kazakh companies. At the same time, he requested his Kazakh counterpart to provide further opportunities for MOL in his country. Prime Minister Karim Massimov, invited to pay a visit to Hungary, stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation at the meeting. He said he and Viktor Orbán also discussed the situation of the European Union and Central Europe at their morning meeting. At the press conference, the Kazakh leader expressed his hope that the Hungarian Government’s efforts to open towards the East will be successful. He said he hoped that the educational, agricultural and construction industry agreements concluded would yield tangible results within the shortest possible time. Viktor Orbán said Hungary has, in the past twenty years, implemented a successful process of western integration, and now adopts the policy of opening towards the East in response to the shift in the centre of gravity in the world economy. Therefore, the visit of a Hungarian governmental and business delegation to Kazakhstan has been long overdue. Hungary wishes to adjust to the changes in the global economy by virtue of its policy of opening towards
the East, in counwhich tries like Kazawill khstan greatly gain in significance, the Prime Minister stressed. said Orbán did Hungary not only have a change of governments two ago. years Hungary also underwent a of change mentality, and this is the main source of its disputes with the European The Union. Hungarian people understood early on what leaders in the EU are reluctant to accept; we cannot go on living the way we did before. Hungarians understood that Europe had strayed onto the wrong path, and experienced to their detriment that Hungary had suffered particularly greatly as a result of this temporary loss of orientation. The Government has experienced in the past two years that people in the emerging and successful eastern countries very clearly understand Hungary’s aspirations, goals and new direction. They understand that, instead of illusions, dogmas and ideologies, we wish to build our economy on genuine foundations, on the foundations of genuine and tangible values. Those will mainly succeed in the competition currently taking place in the world economy who recognise its true nature, the Hungarian Prime Minister said. This competition is, in fact, the competition of cooperations. A company, a country, a region may well be strong; however, if they fail to recognise in good time the type of cooperation that will enable them to best use their own strength, others may surpass them with ease. Europe’s serious crisis today demonstrates only too well what happens if a strong player fails to follow the pace of the new competition, turns inwards and expends an immeasurable amount of energy to resolve problems of its own making, instead of attempting to gain ground in the new competition of unparalleled complexity by seeking out new cooperations and brave new solutions. In closing his two-day visit to Kazakhstan, Viktor Orbán also met with President Nursultan Kazakh Nazarbayev.
Attack Helicopter Mentors to Stay On in Afghanistan 03 (Online May) With the governmental No. decree 11 2 6 / 2 0 1 2 the (25/04), government of Hungary exthe tended mandate of the HDF Mi-35 Air Mentor Team (AMT), which now runs until 1 September The 2012. HDF AMT is with tasked the training Air Afghan in Force Afghanistan. In 2010, Hungary undertook the Mi-35 Air Mentor Team (AMT) mission in Afghanistan for two years. The airmen of the HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base deployed to Kabul in April 2010. Each rotation of the 12-man contingent is required to do a four-month tour of duty in the Asian country. Working in cooperation with US and
Czech soldiers, the HFD AMT is tasked with providing classroom instruction and on-the-job flying training for the attack helicopter crews of the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and aviation unit maintenance (AVUM) for the helicopters of the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC), as well as with mentoring the aircraft
maintainers. The HDF Mi-35 AMT performs instructhe tional-mentoring activities the within NATO Training – Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A). NATO forces are deployed in country the under a UN Security Council mandate. in ISAF Afghanistan is NATO’s top priority mission. Over the recent the period, government of Hungary brought training and mentoring into focus in its new offers for contribution, in accordance with NATO’s priorities. Our main objective is to train and mentor the Afghan National Army so that the government of Afghanistan be able to maintain security in the country on its own.
Zoltán Kovács’s lecture on stereotypes with an impact on country image (Online 04 May) At the 1st Country Image Conference held at the Budapest Corvinus University on Thursday, Zoltán Kovács, Minister of State for Government Communication at the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice delivered a lecture in which he said the development of the country’s image is an integral process which is the totality of the actions, thoughts and attitudes of every Hungarian citizen. The image others may have of Hungary also has an external element; that which foreigners think about us, and this must be thoroughly assessed with meticulous work. Objective assessment, free from emotions, is essential; we must know what people in Western Europe and around the world think about us, and must, at the same time, redefine what we think about ourselves, he said.
In his opinion, the “Hungarian identity” is currently being redefined; the past two years have guided this process of re-definition in a healthy and appropriate direction. At the same time, we must heed the fact that, for instance, the Finns pay attention to this on an ongoing basis. He underlined, self-evaluation that is key to identity must be taken care of continuously as this is the only way “to have a healthy image of ourselves and to define correctly who we actually are and what we want from ourselves”. He pointed out, the country’s image fundamentally rests on stereotypes; positive impressions and negative prejudices. We must be aware of the nature of these as they have existed for decades or even centuries, and some of the opinions that rest on these cannot be changed. In demonstration of these stereo-
types, the Minister of State cited the image formed of Central Europe, on the basis of which it is a region “struggling with a deficit of democracy”. This is a “deep-rooted conviction” that is, as we can see only too clearly, being used conveniently in the Transatlantic region and in Western Europe under the present circumstances. “We must guide people’s attention to the details that prove there is no room for double standards. We must refuse being measured and judged in such a system of stereotypes”, the Minister of State said. According to the Minister of State, every Hungarian citizen is responsible for the development of the country’s image; all of us, from the inhabitants of a small locality all the way to the President of the Republic, form the image that others have of our country.
Lor r ie s t o pa y r oa d toll in a ne w s y s te m f r om ne x t y e a r (Online 04 May) On its commencement planned for the summer of 2013, lorries will mandatorily join the system of electronic road toll charged on the basis of the distance travelled. Simultaneously with adoption, measures will be taken to offset public road forwarders’ increasing burdens. Passenger cars and buses will remain subject to the current Eurovignette (E-vignette) system. Conversion will be voluntary for these vehicles at the earliest half a year after adoption of the new system. Thus, ad-hoc users may make considerable savings compared to the E-vignette system. Those who regularly travel long distances will be allowed to capitalise on flat rate. The Government has decided the duties related to the introduction and the fundamental operating framework of the system of electronic road tolls charged on the basis of the distance travelled. In this solution, extensively applied all over Europe, users contribute to road maintenance costs in proportion to use. More balanced charges on goods traffic may offset at least a part of the road damages and the environment
pollution caused. The adoption of the e-toll will reduce the competitive disadvantage of railways due to the line toll charged. Lower shipping costs will also increase the competitiveness of local and domestic goods and services. Electronic toll collection is planned to start on 1 July 2013 on clearways and the main roads of the national public road network outside communities, charged for lorries above 3.5 t permitted mass.The vehicles can travel on the toll road sections without gates and stopping, upon installation of an on-board device. The distance travelled and the authorisation is checked electronically. The actually applicable rates will be set after updating the previously elaborated toll policy principles and following consultation with the concerned institutions of the European Union. Six months after the adoption of the e-toll, a discount system will be put in place for frequent users. In compliance with the European Union’s applicable regulation, discounts may not exceed 13 percent. Public procurement for the purchase of the devices required for the instal-
lation and operation of the toll collection system as well as consultancy will start in the framework of summary proceedings in the first half of this year. Similarly to the E-vignette system, the toll collection function may be played by the State Motorway Management Co. Ltd. by legislative appointment. The State Motorway Management Co. Ltd. will finance the equipment purchase from a loan and repay it from the tolls collected. According to preliminary calculations and the international experiences, this investment repays within a few years. The maximum toll revenue may amount to ten times the costs in the first decade.The additional funds must be reinvested in the entire transport sectors, primarily in the toll road sections, followed by the other parts of the public road network. In the feasible order, it can be used for maintaining the existing infrastructure, and the availability fees of motorway sections built and operated in PPP projects, followed by new projects (e.g. own contributions to project implemented with financing from the European Union).
C ha nge of Minis t e r s a t t he M inis t r y of N a t iona l R e s our c e s (Online 03 May) Viktor Orbán requested Zoltán Balog, Minister of State for Social Inclusion to head the Ministry of National Resources, after Minister for National Resources Miklós Réthelyi tendered his resignation. The Prime Minister acknowledged with regret that he was unable to induce the departing cabinet member to extend their initial two-year agreement concluded at the time of the establishment of the Government. The Ministry of National Resources covers the areas of education, culture, health care and social issues. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accepted the resignation tendered on
Wednesday and thanked the departing minister for the great work Miklós Réthelyi has performed in the past two years as a member of the Hungarian Government. The departing minister is of the opinion that he has accomplished the tasks he was entrusted with, however, as he wrote, leadership of the ministry will in the future require a person who is actively involved in day-to-day politics. According to Réthelyi, the past two years have proven that the established mode of operation that covers a number of areas has come up to expectations also in practice. As he put it, with the passage of these
stormy times, the ministry will be capable of managing complex tasks such as health preservation, the fight against drug abuse and the family as a core value. In his answer, the Prime Minister stated it is obvious that, after the 2010 elections, the areas most in need of change, novel thinking, creative logic and leadership wisdom were all transferred to the ministry headed by Miklós Réthelyi. “Hungarian society’s intellectual, cultural and value reforms are closely linked to your two-year ministership”, Viktor Orbán said.
Hungary condemns the terrorist attack in Kabul (Online 02 May) Taliban groups committed a terrorist attack May 2, 2012 in the neighborhood of Kabul in an area where international organizations and representations of Western agencies are located. The suicide bombing caused the death of six persons. Hungarian nationals
were not injured or killed in the blast according to the sources of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The colleagues of the Hungarian Embassy in Kabul, the military and civilian personnel of the Hungarian ISAF mission are safe and secure. The Government of Hungary most
firmly condemns all violent acts and regards them as unjustifiable. Hungary’s commitment to the reinforcement of peace and security in Afghanistan and to the reconstruction of the country will not be influenced by such and similar terrorist actions.
Govt communications state secy calls Freedom House report about Hungary groundless, biased (Online 02 May) The just released report by Freedom House on media freedom concerning Hungary is “utterly groundless” and “extremely biased”, Zoltan Kovacs, the state secretary in charge of government communications, told MTI in a statement on Tuesday. In its global media freedom report for 2011 the Washington-based independent NGO downgraded Hungary to the "partly free" category. The report described the case of Hungary extremely unusual in the index’s history, being a country with a longstanding free status which then performs a 13-point decline within two years. Freedom House said the reason for Hungary's downgrade was the concerted efforts by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s conservative government to seize control over the legal and regulatory framework for
media. In the report FH said that Hungary, whose score deteriorated sharply in 2010, was downgraded "to reflect the ongoing erosion of press freedom under Prime Minister Viktor Orban." "This was seen in the establishment of the National Agency for Data Protection, which will restrict access to information; evidence of a politically motivated licensing procedure that resulted in a critical radio station losing its frequencies; increased reports of censorship and self-censorship, especially at the public broadcasters; and worsening economic conditions for independent media entrepreneurship," it said. Kovacs in his statement said that the "US-based organisation has failed to produce a report free of partisan intent and narrow political judgement – and formulates its opinion in the form of a self-fulfilling hypocritical
prophecy." He said that the "document in its present form is an accompaniment to a consistent campaign in recent months, the sole intent of which has been to discredit the Hungarian government and is a perfect illustration of the use of double standards." "Apart from examples drawn from a hysterical and hypocritical campaign against Hungary the argumentation of the Freedom House report is missing real evidence and uses bewildering reasoning. The bias shown is astonishing for an organisation which claims to champion objectivity and justice," Kovacs said in the statement. FH gave Hungary's media a score of 36 for 2011 as against 23 a year before. Countries falling into the category between 0-30 have free press, from 31-60 they score partly free, according to FH's methodology.
Foreign Affairs and Legal Committee of Hungarian Standing Conference met (PR) Zsolt Németh, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Legal Committee of the Hungarian Standing Conference said at a press conference after the body’s meeting held in Budapest on 26 April that Hungary’s foreign affairs and policy for Hungarian communities abroad must focus on strategic solutions, and added “we should not be thinking in terms of ad hoc political compromises but must create autonomy in a wide sense for Hungarians living beyond the borders”. According to Zsolt Németh, census data from the neighbouring countries indicate a dramatic reduction in Hungarian communities beyond the borders. The drastic fall in the number of Hungarians living in
the Carpathian Basin may be stopped through the reinforcement of the institutions established for them and the attainment of autonomy. The State Secretary also drew attention to the fact that elections had been held or were being held in the neighbouring countries in 2011-2012. He added after the elections in Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia, elections in Romania, Ukraine and Serbia are yet to be held. He stressed in the context of the elections that Hungary’s policy for Hungarian communities abroad supports a “unified Hungarian stance” on the part of Hungarians living beyond the borders organised on a national basis. Zsuzsanna Répás, Deputy State Secretary for Hungarian Communi-
ties Abroad stated Hungary’s policy strategy for Hungarian communities abroad identifies a comprehensive goal; namely that Hungarian communities beyond the borders, too, may be growing communities, both in numbers, economically, spiritually and in a legal sense, and how the Hungarian Government may be able to help them to achieve this goal. Zsuzsanna Répás also said a legal aid service in the Carpathian Basin is being launched this year, by virtue of which a network will be created in the region which may help with the legal protection and the extension of the rights of Hungarian citizens and communities beyond the borders.
Without Borders! programme is also open to secondary school students (PR) In addition to primary schools and vocational schools, as of this year, secondary schools may also take part in the Without Borders! study trip programme, Deputy State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad, Zsuzsanna Répás announced on 24 April, on the orientation day held in Budapest regarding the Without Borders! programme. The purpose of the Without
Borders! school trip programme is to ensure that all pupils and students in Hungary visit a Hungarian community beyond the borders at least once during the course of their studies, thereby sharing the experience of belonging together. The Without Borders! programme was announced in three categories, as part of which aid is available for the trips of Hungarian pupils and students abroad and the
cooperation of vocational and secondary schools in Hungary and abroad. It was also stated that last year almost 15 thousand pupils and students had the opportunity to join the programme, and this year, too, students may go on study trips abroad in the same number. An amount of five hundred million forints has been allocated for this purpose in the central budget.
Ungureanu Cabinet toppled (PR) The Bucharest Cabinet inaugurated just two months ago was compelled to tender its resignation last Friday in the wake of the parliamentary vote on 27 April on the motion of no confidence submitted by the social-liberal opposition alliance (USL) on 17 April. The motion entitled “A government that is open to blackmail must be removed. Never this way!” attacked the establishment, by virtue of a Government Decree, of the Hungarian Faculty of the Marosvásárhely University of Medicine and Pharmacology (MOGYE), which the opposition viewed as the result of blackmail
on the part of RMDSZ, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania. 235 legislators voted for the motion of no confidence, four more than was necessary for toppling Mihai Razvan Ungureanu’s government. On the evening of the vote, head of state Traian Basescu requested Victor Ponta, President of the Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD) to establish a government after consultations with the parliamentary parties. According to Victor Ponta, there is no reason why the country should wait another six months amidst the eco-
nomic and social crisis until the November elections; USL is ready to govern and accepts the responsibility involved. The new Premier identified 15 measures prior to his appointment as Prime Minister. One of their most important plans is to prevent the establishment of MOGYE’s Hungarian Faculty. RMDSZ Member of Parliament for Kovászna County, András Édler even held out the prospect of street demonstrations for the event that the new government should alter MOGYE's status.
Status report before local elections (PR) Local elections will be held in Romania on 10 June when mayors and local municipality board members are elected in all localities and the chairs and members of county councils are elected on a county level. At present, three Hungarian political organisations are competing for Hungarian votes; while there will be no cooperation amongst these on a national level, there are local agreements in some cases. RMDSZ will put forward 9492 candidates in total in all counties and localities inhabited by Hungarians, will have candidates for the post of county council chair in 13 counties and its candidates will run for 317 mayoral posts. The People’s Party of Hungarians in Transylvania (EMNP) and the Hungarian Civic Party (MPP) qualifying as opposition to RMDSZ will both propose substantially fewer candidates and in many cases support one another’s candidates. In
Kolozs County and in Kolozsvár, for instance, the two political formations entered into local coalitions, while amongst the towns of Szeklerland, EMNP supports MPP’s candidate for mayor in Gyergyószentmiklós. In Marosvásárhely, EMNP will not present a candidate but will not support the candidate of either RMDSZ or MPP. In Nagyvárad, only RMDSZ and EMNP will run for the mayoral post, while in Szatmárnémeti only the current RMDSZ town leader has to date announced his candidacy. Sepsiszentgyörgy is the only locality where EMNP supports the candidate of RMDSZ; the current leader of the locality will only be challenged by the candidate put forward by MPP. In Csíkszereda and Székelyudvarhely, RMDSZ and EMNP will present candidates, while in Kézdivásárhely all three formations have nominated mayoral candidates. In departure from the rules in force previously, at
the elections mayors will be elected in a single round, and therefore the candidate obtaining the largest number of votes will win the post. As a result, Hungarian candidates in localities with a slight Romanian majority, too, may have a chance to win, however, only if there is a single Hungarian candidate. Therefore, this may be the situation in Marosvásárhely and Szatmárnémeti, from among the larger cities. However, in the former there is more than one candidate, while in the latter only RMDSZ has proposed a candidate to date. Also in the case of the post of the chair of the Maros county council, the lack of cooperation jeopardises the victory of the Hungarian candidate. Here both RMDSZ and MPP have put forward candidates; EMNP has not yet decided whether to support either.
Diaspora tourism movement amongst Hungarians living in Austria (PR) The representation of Magyar Turizmus Zrt. in Austria will launch a diaspora tourism movement for Hungarians and Austrians of Hungarian origin living in Austria. The patron of the movement is Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén responsible for Hungarian communities abroad. According to the tourism marketing organisation, in spite of the general economic recession, the number of Austrians coming to Hungary has been continuously and dynamically in-
creasing ever since 2008; however, this trend can hardly be sustained with the current promotional tools. Therefore, the essence of the tourism movement is that Hungarians living in Austria and Austrians with Hungarian sentiments should play a catalyst role to this end. According to the data of the latest, 2001 census in Austria, there are forty-three officially registered associations with Hungarian ties and eleven Hungarian-speaking church communities in Austria. Based
on estimates, the total number of Austrian Hungarians may be somewhere between sixty and one hundred thousand; at the same time, if we also consider Austrians with pro-Hungarian sentiments and Hungarians working in Austria, this figure may reach several hundred thousand. This unique initiative promoted under the slogan “RotWeiss-Rot in Ungarn” in reference to the colours of the Austrian flag will be launched in Vienna on 10 May 2012.