Dear Excellency!

The Meeting of the Executive of the DCHV on December 19th and 20th, 1993 has deliberated the recent rendering of the Balladur-Proposal regarding the expected Pact on Stability in Europe and it has concluded the following:

- the Proposal fails to address the completely unresolved and open question of the ethnic Hungarians of Voivodina,

- the principles of the collective rights of minorities have been removed from the proposal,

- the legitimate representatives of the minorities are denied the opportunity of direct participation in the decision making process,

- there are no provisions for intermediary countries of the European Union for direct participation in talks between the affected countries as the need would arise.

In essence, this latest version of the Proposal is contrary to the most basic interests of Hungarians as a nation.

The changes in the Proposal were designed to enhance the prospect of a speedy acceptance of Hungary into the European Union. In return however, Hungary has to renounce the protection of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin. What is the appropriate thing to do in this dilemma?

The historic responsibility to make the right decision is shared by the Hungarian Government, the political parties in Hungary, as well as by the legitimate representatives of the Hungarian minorities.

We are aware that this decision is not an easy one. It is unclear at this point, weather or not the acceptance of this document will secure the actual acceptance of Hungary into the European Union, or this commitment will merely create the preconditions for a prospective membership.

In our opinion, the acceptance of the Proposal for the Pact on Stability in Europe in its present form is not the best interest of all the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin. The acceptance of the Proposal would entrap the Hungarian minorities, because their aspirations for local autonomy would constitute purely an internal matter of their host country. There are no guaranties that by abiding to the latest conditions of the proposal Hungary will only fulfil the final conditions for its acceptance into the European Union, since it is unlikely that the ethnic Hungarians will abandon their quest for self government in the neighbouring countries, and this will in fact maintain the volatile political situation in the region. This in turn, might slow down the process of European integration of the affected countries.

The assessment of this situation requires a solution that will provide a balance between the interests of all Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin, and the long term interest of an all encompassing Europe. By now it is obvious that the development of market economy in this part of Europe is impossible without the viable solution of the unresolved and open minority problems that persist in the region.

Your Excellency!

I am confident that we as politicians are capable of finding the right solution leading to the European Integration. This is why I am asking You to lead and coordinate the efforts aimed at finding the appropriate solution in this matter.

With respect, András Ágoston, President, DCHV