Posted by Frank Koszorus, Jr. to the Hungarian Lobby list, February 18, 1997.

An extremely worthwhile project. As someone who has addressed the issue of collective rights (in and out of government), however, I would be most interested in the basis for the statement: we stand a good chance that American support for COLLECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS will become an integral part of American foreign policy.

Unfortunately, the contrary is the case as the foreign policy establishment, including the White House, State Department and the Helsinki Commission, unequivocally rejects the concept of collective or group rights. The relevant Congressional committees and subcommittees are not even involved in the debate. Moreover, I am not certain I understand the term “collective human rights.” It would be more precise to speak in terms of “collective or group rights” or even “minority rights.” May I refer the readership to the article I co-authored with Csaba K. Zoltani, “Group Rights Defuse Tensions,” The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Summer/Fall 1996.

I do not write to discourage. The initiative to educate and involve others in the task of urging Washington to modify its views on this timely issue is commendable. Rather, I believe that an efficacious lobbying effort requires rigorous analysis of the whys and wherefores of policy formulation, a realistic appraisal of actual policies and an appropriate strategy to respond to the same.