Letters to the Editor

The Washington Post

Dear Editor:

International relations is a study of inconsistencies. Romania, Slovakiaand
Serbia, of course, oppose Kosovo's independence on the basis that states
must not be dismembered. Yet these three were the most persistent advocates
and beneficiaries of the dismemberment of Hungary following the First World
War. They opposed plebiscites for the affected populations and instead
grabbed as much territory as they could. Romania, for example, wrested
Transylvania from Hungary, a territory larger than that retained by Hungary.
Suddenly, over 1,704,852 ethnic Hungarians found themselves under Romanian
rule. The situation was similar in Slovakia and Yugoslavia.

While Kosovars and other nations of Central and Eastern Europe have
realized their aspirations for self-determination, the Hungarian minorities
are still denied the right of autonomy within existing borders. Romania,
Slovakia and Serbia ought to be in the forefront of granting their Hungarian
historical communities minority rights. Such enlightened and democratic
policies would be consistent with their opposition to external
self-determination.

Sincerely yours,

Frank Koszorus, Jr.

Chairman, International
Relations Committee

American Hungarian
Federation

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