December 30, 1999

The Alliance of Hungarians in Voivoidna (VMSZ) resubmitted its motion to the Voivodina Parliamentary Assembly to create the office of ombudsman for human, civil and minority rights. In his statement, VMSZ faction leader Sándor Egeresi requested that the legislature consider the proposal at its next session—still timely—due to the ongoing violation of rights. [Magyar Szó (Novi Sad/Újvidék), Dec. 30, 1999]

December 29, 1999

Representatives from the Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina (VMSZ) in the Voivodina Provincial Assembly voted against the bill on the 2000 State Budget while most of the opposition boycotted the session. "It is unacceptable that the region receive such a small amount of money," explained VMSZ deputy József Miskolczi. Referring to the bill as "shameful," Miskolczi stressed that "a vote in favor of this budget proposal would have betrayed our constituents." Even so, the bill passed the Assembly. [Magyar Szó (Novi Sad/Újvidék), Dec. 30, 1999]

December 22, 1999

The Council of the Hungarian National Autonomous Community of Muravidék changed its name to Hungarian Self-Government of Muravidék (HSM). In an interview with Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet, President of HSM György Tomka said that the Slovenian authorities have criticized their new name, believed to be more appropriate and simpler. Tomka also pointed out the untenable unemployment rate of the region that has reached 24 percent. A small community to begin with, the 10,000 ethnic Hungarians of the Muravidék region face intensive assimilation despite the extensive rights guaranteed them, added Tomka. [Magyar Nemzet (Budapest), Dec. 22, 1999]

A 15-year-old ethnic Hungarian schoolboy, I. Mikes was beaten up by a man on the No. 1 bus line in Novi Sad/Újvidék for talking Hungarian. Pleas for assistance to the other passengers by the boy's girlfriend—with whom they were discussing a play— went unanswered, reported the boy's mother Vesna Habijan Mikes. Asked about the incident by the Serbian daily Danas, Deputy Director of the local transportation authority, Vukica Cuk, commented that "we totally disapprove of settling of scores on our buses especially in connection with language use." [Danas (Novi Sad/Újvidék), Dec. 27, 1999; Magyar Szó (Novi Sad), Dec. 28, 1999]

December 16, 1999

At a minority conference in Ulcinj, Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina (VMSZ) Deputy Sándor Egeresi criticized the current government's "lack of willingness to engage in open, honest and democratic dialogue with ethnic minority communities." The same is true for the major Serbian democratic opposition parties, Egeresi added. The over 100 minority experts assembled showed great interest in the three-pronged autonomy concept developed by VMSZ. Deputy Mihály Szecsei described the economic problems ethnic Hungarians face including the disparity between the living standards of ethnic Serbs and Hungarians in the province. [Magyar Szó (Novi Sad/Újvidék), Dec. 16, 1999]

December 9, 1999

The Hungarian government will resolve the situation of over 200 ethnic Hungarian asylum seekers from Voivodina, Hungarian Interior Ministry State Secretary László Felkai announced. Some refugees arrived to Hungary as long as eight years ago, Felkai pointed out, adding that the Ministry's efforts aim at integrating the refugees into society, providing them with job opportunities and adequate housing. Hungarian Helsinki Committee President Ferenc Kõszeg pointed out that an amendment to the Law on Foreigners could improve the situation of refugees. [Napi Magyarország (Budapest), Dec. 9, 1999]

December 5, 1999

In an interview with the Hungarian-language daily Magyar Szó, Vice President of the Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina, László Józsa, assessed his 5-day working visit to Washington, D.C. where he met with Members of Congress as well as officials at the White House and State Department [see report of November 29, 1999]. The trip was co-sponsored by the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation. "I informed my partners about ongoing cases of harassment, intimidation and attacks on priests and churches. I also described our efforts with regard to the democratic Serbian opposition," Józsa pointed out. The opposition leader also described some projects supporting the ethnic Hungarian community that would merit U.S. financial assistance. [Magyar Szó (Novi Sad/Újvidék), Dec. 5, 1999]