Washington, October 28 (MTI) – The lobby group for Hungarian affairs in the US Congress has asked President George W. Bush to bring up the issue of minority rights during his meeting with Romanian President Ion Iliescu in Washington on Tuesday.

In a letter sent to the President on Monday, the co-chairs of the group, Democrat Tom Lantos and Republican Ernest Istook, as well as other members, expressed their appreciation for Romania's record in the fight against terrorism and the contribution to military missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. They confirmed their commitment to the expansion of NATO with countries dedicated to democratic reforms, such as Romania.

To further these reforms, the signatories of the letter proposed that the President bring up the issues of corruption and press freedom. They also urge the President to emphasise the speedy, just and full return of the property of minority churches, school education about the Holocaust in Romania, and minority rights including mother-tongue education and local autonomy based on decentralisation.

Lantos, Istook and other members of the Congress group emphasise that the US always considered the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities as a key measure of democracy.

Discussion/Fórum