January 21, 1998 Political Representation

Serbian President Milan Milutiinovic began consultations with the representatives of parties in the Serbian Parliament . Following the meetings, Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina (VMSz) President József Kasza said that they would first like to becaome familiar with the government program before taking a position on participation in the government. [News Mirror - DAHR MTI Press Service, (Budapest), Jan. 21, 1998]

January 10, 1998 Media

Hungarian-language television in Yugoslavia celebrates its 30th anniversary today in Novi Sad/Újvidék.. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Jan. 12, 1997]

January 8, 1998 Political Representation

István Ispánovics, Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina parliamentary representative and a vice president of the Serbian Parliament told reporters today that his party would reconsider its position and participate in a governing coalition if the government made the concerns of the Hungarian community in Voivodina part of its program. Alliance leaders are scheduled to meet with President Slobodan Milosevics in mid—January to discuss the minority’s situation. [News Mirror - DAHR MTI Press Service, (Budapest), Jan. 8, 1998]

December 15

Representatives of ethnic Hungarian organizations in Croatia have decided to form the Council of Hungarian Organizations in order to enhance cooperation among various Hungarian organizations. The Council will use the Internet to rally membership. (MTI, (Budapest), Dec. 15, 1997)

December 13-14 Human Contacts

At Lake Palic (Palics), Voivodina, a conference of the representatives of ethnic Hungarian youth organizations in the Carpathian Region was organized by the Voivodina Youth Forum (VIFÓ). The creation of a East Central European tourist network to enable young ethnic Hungarians to travel and become acquainted was decided. (MTI, (Budapest), Dec. 15, 1997)

December 8, 1997 Political Representation

The New York Times reported that, for the third time, Serbian elections are invalid since none of the seven presidential candidates obtained the required 50 percent of the vote. Due to initial projections, governing Socialist Party’s candidate Milan Milutovics received 42 percent of the vote ahead militant nationalist Vojislav Seselj with 30 percent of the ballot. The third candidate, Vuk Draskovics, garnished enough vote to ensure another round. [The New York Times, Dec. 8, 1997)

December 6 Education

The elementary school in Kopaci/Kopács, Croatia was re-opened for the first time since the war. Funds were provided by Eqilibri, a French humanitarian organization and training for ethnic Hungarian teachers was organized in Osijek (Eszék) by the Alliance of Hungarian Teachers in Croatia. (Magyar Nemzet, (Budapest), Dec. 6, 1997 )

December 2, 1997 Political Representation

If the Serbian Parliament adopts the four faction agreement reached then one of the Parliament’s Deputy Speaker will be an ethnic Hungarian MP, from the Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina. The Alliance has said it will fill the position on condition that President Slobodan Milosevics responds to a months-old letter requesting a meeting to discuss minority issues. [Magyar Hírlap, (Budapest) Dec 3, 1997]

November 1997

November 21, 1997 Communities

Beli Manastir/Pélmonostor Deputy Mayor Spiro Lazinica told a Belgrade paper that in the past few days 50 Serbian families have moved from the Croatian Baranja/Baranya region to Voivodina and en masse migration is expected unless ethnic Serbians receive dual citizenship, that is, both Croatian and Serbian. (Magyar Hírlap, (Budapest), Nov. 21, 1997)

November 20, 1997 International Affairs

Hungarian State Secretary for Minority Affairs Csaba Tabajdi and Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Josip Paro signed a protocol following the third session of the Hungarian-Croatian Joint Committee held in Zagreb. The protocol aims to improve the minority situation in both countries and contains about fifty concrete proposals as well as evaluation of the current situation. ``. . . [now] nothing can hinder the Hungarian ethnic community from enjoying its human and minority rights,`` said Paro. (MTI, (Budapest), Nov. 19, 1997)

November 19, 1997 Culture/Education

Following Hungarian Prime Minister Gyula Horn and Croatian Prime Minister Zlako Matesa’s Budapest meeting, Horn stated ``Although we understand the difficulties ,we note with regret that the situation of the Hungarian minority is not satisfactory, its members do not receive the necessary aid and assistance to rebuild their demolished homes, and there are many problems in the cultural arena as well.’’ Matesa conceded that his government is not pleased either with the pace of construction of the Hungarian Educational Center is Osijek/Eszék. ( Magyar Nemzet, (Budapest), Nov. 20, 1997 )

November 19, 1997 Communities

The Serbian Helsinki Committee asked the Serbian government in its latest report on the situation of ethnic Hungarians in Voivodina to take immediately steps to prevent changing the ethnic composition of the region. According to the report the gravest problem is the organized settlement of Serb refugees into areas heavily populated by Hungarians and Croatians. The Committee also calls for the establishment of a minority ombudsman for the improved protection of minority rights. 35-38,000 ethnic Hungarians have fled Voivodina since 1991 due in part to the civil war but also because of the pressure brought upon them by nationalistic forces, the Serbian Radical Party being the most prominent factor. (Magyar Hírlap, (Budapest), Nov. 19, 1997 )

November 17, 1997 Political Representation

The Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina has endorsed Serbian Resurgent Movement leader Vuk Draskovics for president of Serbia in the upcoming December elections in exchange for a public declaration on resolving minority issues democratically, specifically, ethnic Hungarian needs in Voivodina. [Magyar Hirlap, (Budapest), Nov. 17, 1997]

November 10, 1997 International Affairs

European Union foreign ministers criticized the Belgrade leadership for not fulfilling its commitment to democratic reforms, human rights, and the protection of minorities as well as all other requirements established by the Dayton Peace Accord. No decision was made reached on extending trade benefits to the country. [DAHR News Monitor, (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Nov. 11, 1997]

September 12, 1997 Under-representation

President of the Executive Committee of Voivodina, Bosko Perosevic`s decision not to allow ethnic Hungarian elected representatives from the local governments of Szabadka/Subotica, Senta/Zenta and Kanjiza/Kanizsa to participate in the Euro-Region Conference on Economic Cooperation has been condemned by Subotica/Szabadka Local Government Representative Mihály Szecsei and Kanjiza/Kanizsa Mayor István Bacskulin. ( Új Magyarország, (Budapest), Sep. 12, 1997 )

August 13, 1997 Political Representation

VMDK President Sándor Pál has confirmed that his party is going to have a presidential nominee for the upcoming September elections instead of supporting other opposition candidates. ( Magyar Hírlap, (Budapest), Aug. 13, 1997 )

August 12, 1997 Political Representation

VMSZ President József Kasza has announced that his party and the Voivodina Coalition have reached an agreement on combining forces for the upcoming September 21 elections and are currently negotiating with the Croatian Party of Voivodina. ( MTI, (Budapest), Aug. 12, 1997 )

August 8, 1997 International Affairs

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke and Robert Gelbart are meeting today in Belgrade with VMSZ President József Kasza and Yugoslav Parliament MP László Józsa to discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections. ( MTI, (Budapest), Aug. 8, 1997 )

August 4, 1997 Political Representation

The Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina (VMSZ) and the Democratic Community of Hungarians in Voivodina (VMDK) did not reach an agreement on joint candidates for the upcoming Serbian elections. ( Új Magyarország, (Budapest), Aug. 4, 1997 )

May 26, 1997 Political Representation

The two organizations representing the interests of the Hungarian Minority -- the VMSz (Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina) and the VMDK (Democratic Community of Hungarians in Voivodina) have agreed to mount joint candidates for the Serbian parliamentary election scheduled at the end of the year. [Magyar Nemzet and Új Magyarország, (Budapest), May 26, 1997]

May 26, 1997 Official Campaign

VMSz President József Kasza has protested the new Local Administration Bill which, if passed, will create a two-tier council system at the local level — one for Serbians and Montenegrins and another one for minorities — diminishing the minorities’ status to below even that of second-class class citizens in their own country. [Magyar Nemzet and Új Magyarország, (Budapest), May 26, 1997]

May 12, 1997 Communities

Several mixed or predominately Hungarian-inhabited towns in Voivodina continue to suffer from the influx of refugees from Eastern Slavonia and Southern Baranja, especially since they receive no financial assistance from Belgrade. With 25,000 new arrivals, every fourth person in Sombor/Zombor is a refugee. In Bezdan, refugees have moved into the 70 "available" houses. The Hungarian village of Svilojevo/Szilágyi, whose original population was 1,000, has received an additional 800 persons. In Telecska, refugees have purchased all available 100 houses. [Magyar Hírlap, (Budapest), May 12 1997]

May 8, 1997 Human Contacts

President Franjo Tudjman has assured the UN Administrator Jacques Klein that ethnic Serbs of Eastern Slavonia will be able to obtain dual, that is, Yugoslav citizenship. [Magyar Hírlap, (Budapest), May 8 1997]

May 7, 1997 Communities

Jure Radic, the Croatian Minister responsible for the reintegration of the Danube area, announced in Osijek/Eszék that the once Hungarian-inhabited communities of Bilje/Bellye, Laslovo/Szentlászló and Korog/Kórogy will enjoy preference with plans to rebuild 2,000 houses in Baranja by the end of September. [Népszabadság, (Budapest), May 7, 1997]

April 7, 1997 Political Representation

For the first time, ethnic Hungarians have mounted their own candidates, individually and independently, in local elections to be held April 13, standing a good chance in four Southern Baranja districts. [Duna TV, (Budapest), Apr. 7, 1997]

March 26, 1997 Intimidation/Terror

According to the latest, verified statistics, 1,534 people are still reported missing in the Vukovár-Szerémség area, where exhumation of mass graves has begun and bodies have been successfully identified. [Új Magyarország, (Budapest), Mar. 26, 1997]

March 11, 1997 Intimidation/Terror

During the early morning hours, a bomb exploded outside the court building in Novi Sad/Újvidék, possibly in connection with the continuing trial of Dragoslav Bogan, film director and commander of the White Eagles paramilitary organization. No injuries were reported. [Magyar Nemzet, (Budapest), Mar. 12, 1997]

February 21, 1997 Political Representation

The Hungarian Democratic Party of Voivodina was created today in Srborban/Szenttamás by 145 delegates, who elected former Democratic Community of Hungarians in Voivodina (VMDK) President András Ágoston as President, and Béla Csorba and Csaba Sepsey as Vice Presidents. [Magyar Nemzet (Budapest), Feb. 22, 1997]

February 18, 1997

In an attempt to regulate the safety of the region’s ethnic Serbian population, the Croatian government will soon declare a general amnesty in the regions of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Szerémség, and will make public the names of the area’s war criminals. [Népszabadság, (Budapest), Feb. 18, 1997]

A decision by the Serbian Ministry of Justice today found parliamentary representative Sándor Páll to be the legitimate president of the Democratic Community of Hungarians in Voivodina (VMDK). [Magyar Hírlap, (Budapest), Feb. 21, 1997]

February 11, 1997
In a vote of 128 to 2, the Serbian Parliament adopted a bill which accepts the OSCE delegation’s findings as final concerning the November 1996 election results contested in certain districts. [Népszava (Budapest), Feb. 12, 1997]

February 10, 1997 Intimidation/Terror
An ethnic Hungarian member of the federal Parliament, Lajos Balla (Alliance of Hungarians in Voivodina, VMSZ), was summoned to appear before the Belgrade Military Court today on charges of undermining Yugoslavia’s military and defense strength — presumably a reference to Mr. Balla's conscientious objector status during the war of 1991-92. [Népszava (Budapest), Feb. 11, 1997]

February 8, 1997 Education
József Kasza and Sándor Páll, ethnic Hungarian Members of Parliament asked for a meeting with the Serbian leader to discuss the situation of minority-language education, including the government's 1994 withdrawal of much-needed amendments to the 1992 Education Law; failure to adopt an adequate curriculum for minority students; chronic shortage of textbooks; and consistently incorrect spelling of student names on official documents. [Magyar Nemzet, (Budapest), Feb. 8, 1997]