President Pal Schmitt affirmed Hungary’s commitment to all Hungarians, wherever they live, speaking in Cleveland on Sunday.
“We will not forgo any Hungarian. As it was declared in the National Avowal of our new Constitution: we promise to preserve the intellectual and spiritual unity of our nation torn apart in the storms of the last century,” Schmitt said at a luncheon the local Hungarian Heritage Society gave in his honour.
He noted that the first law Hungary’s new parliament passed had introduced a fast-track procedure for granting Hungarian citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living abroad. He encouraged those present to take advantage of the opportunity and expressed thanks to those who had already assumed Hungarian citizenship.
The president presented high state honours to three prominent representatives of American Hungarians in recognition of their merits in organising the community and fostering ties with Hungary.
Schmitt is the first Hungarian president to visit Cleveland, a city with 100,000 residents who declared themselves of Hungarian origin in the latest census.
The president laid a wreath on the statue of prominent 19th-century Hungarian statesman Lajos Kossuth.
Following the Cleveland visit, Schmitt will take part in conferences held under the auspices of the United Nations, and address the General Assembly session on Friday.
Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi will arrive in New York early next week.
“the first law Hungary’s new parliament passed had introduced a fast-track procedure for granting Hungarian citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living abroad”
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Granting laws Fidesz has no problem, but the implementation is still way behind
Fidesz promised a normal 3-months period to be approved, but simple stats shows that this time-limit is far from reached
“Fast-track” has obviously another interpretation for Fidesz
If this is part of a pragmatic program of outreach, to get foreign Hungarians and their decsendants a sense of involvement and connection with the homeland- I think it sensible. The “cost” of processing applicants and giving them a shiny new set of “papers” are almost nothing, compared to what this group could contribute in investment and tourism.
Lest anyone should have any doubts, consider the demographics and their implications. According to a wikpedia article, there are about 4,000,000 Hungarian Americans. This number does NOT take into account people of Hungarian descent, who must number into untold tens of millions. A great many of them actively identify with Hungarian ancestry, and believe you me, many of them would love to connect with their heritage.
According to the above source, the first Hungarian to settle in the US was an Ágoston Haraszty, who “came out” in 1840 and started the Buena Vista Vinyards in Sonoma California (smart guy; good business!). Somehow, I doubt he was really the first, but we’ll let it pass. The trickle turned into a torrent with the ’48 ers, who fled the failed uprising under Kossuth. (Subsequent waves of Hungarians were often identified by a year of emigration moniker, like the ’56 ers) The point is there were subsequent waves involving a large scale movement of people. Eight or nine generations of this, and you have many in the US with Hungarian names, or who identify with the heritage.
Offering these people citizenship status raises the very practical questions of what they might be in a position to contribute should they become more closely connected with the motherland. Prospective applicants should be profiled for: how many business owners, what is their net worth, if elderly, how many can leave substantial bequests in a will to Hungarian institutions, especially schools, colleges and charities. How many professionals? How many high skilled people? Once you target the applicant pool selectively and reach out to them successfully, the yields in possible investment and certainly tourism might be very substantial. Others may feel fired up to get actively involved, especially when times of flood and disaster strike. They can contribute both time and money. The more solvent can contribute to venture capital startups, or even purchase Hungarian securities. (The Israeli govt actively targets it’s people worldwide for the sale of govt. bonds)
Whether voting rights should or should not go with such status is a seperate, and sensitive issue. Leaving that question aside, what’s the harm in giving out a piece of paper? It’s just clerical costs that may produce big returns down the line.
Around here, I always write as if somebody in the Hungarian govt. is reading. This is certainly one post I hope they are reading! There is much to think about; as the saying in English goes: “put it in your pipe and smoke it!”
Yes. Tapping into the potential created by the Hungarian diaspora is good thinking.
How do you market this country with a view to attracting the potential investors/investment that will bring new money and fresh ideas to a bankrupt nation?
The 64,000 dollar question…then, once you have the plan – who will implement it?
The Hungarian Tourist Board is farcical and successive governments hinder all progress of any fashion and most projects fail or, hit a brick wall before they’ve even got off the ground.
I have read the articles on pol.hu and realdeal on a daily basis and corruption, inefficiency, and sheer lunacy, prevail most times, whatever the weather or leadership. If you need any further confirmation ask Wolfi about the current shambles with the Flybalaton airport fiasco!
“Cleveland deemed most miserable city in USA” http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/02/18/us-cities-miserable-idUSTRE61H5WN20100218
Is this just a coincidence ?
BTW, tom, I am as stymied by the happenings at FlyBalaton as anyone else – many of our friends ask What’s going on and what will happen next year – we just don’t know …
Dear Tom,
That is why I hoped that what I was saying would be considered by influential people. WE can discuss; THEY have the responsibility!
I hope that this “citizenship” outreach initiative has some practical objectives behind it, such as what I have outlined above. (Otherwise, why do it?) A country that can make fancy overtures to St. Kitts and Nevis and Tonga, ought to be able to court it’s own people abroad! Should they want some tips from me as to how to do that, I would be glad to oblige:
1) Peel AT LEAST 20% off the annual budget of that ridiculous “Media Council”. That would free up a cool $60,000,000 US. (You think those 9 people could get by on the remainder, about $260,000,000 US per annum?!) With that much money, the govt. could hire professional marketing consultants and run good campaigns that focus different people selectively.
2)These foreign Hungarians are not a homogeneous blob. You have to get enough background on them to target them selectively and for different purposes.
3)Figure out what the county needs and then connect with the right groups abroad. To some of them you sell “cotton candy”; “Come to Hungary! Have a good time!” etc. To others you have to say: “We are having problems and we need your expertise and help.” I wouldn’t hesitate to ask, e.g. engineering people, whether working or retired, to consider a summer stint (or longer) and donate their time and expertise in a consulting role. Have that retired or independent civil engineer take a look at our bridges and such! Or involve him with project managment. Same for salesmen, the country lacks for people with this skill. Hungary has to beef up it’s exports. Ditto for business and finance people. “We need your help!”. Others can come and teach english or other languages. Hungarian products can also be targeted to the overseas Hungarians. They are a natural market for exports of consumer items, like wine and food products etc. Just get the right campaign. That’s what pros are for.
4)Finally engage in goal oriented marketing. Target seniors for example, as them to leave a legacy in their wills for Hungarian scholarships, schools and charities. Ask the affluent ones to retire in Hungary. Target others for investments. Others to buy real estate. etc.
You can’t just “spin wheels” and spend money throwing smiley faces all over the world! There has to be a plan and purpose, as well as measurable results: “So many more tourists, so many new investment dollars etc” as a result of these outlays. That’s what marketing pros are for, to help focus your efforts. Sell your strengths, but ask for help where it is really needed. Just don’t do it in the same ad! Duh!
Laszlo nailed the whole idea perfectly. My predecessors came to the U.S. in 1913. They came to America with the intention to someday return back to Hungary. They did not because the opportunities to become more affluent outweighed their homesickness. To this day, we the ancestors are proud of our Magyar heritage. Recently, The William Penn Association, ( A Hungarian-American based insurance/fraternal society with well over 30,000 members) celebrated it’s 125 Anniversary of exisitence. The famous Rajko Orchestra was brought over for a couple of weeks bankrolled by WPA sponsorship. They performed concerts on a daily basis. The crowds numbered in the thousands over the 17 day concert tour. There countless numbers of ethnically minded American-Hungarians supported those wonderful musicians and the businesses that provided the infrastructure to each concerts success. The throngs of concert goers all were middle and upper class and have DISPOSABLE INCOMES. I am one of those persons. If the government of Hungary gave some special Magyar lineage citizenship or recognition, many of us would make the Hungarian Homeland our second place to live. Our financial might would lay much needed support to local communities where we would reside. My forefathers came from Csot, Veszprem Megye. If inroads were laid for easy citizenship, I would consider buying some land and building a small home to live in during certain months in the year. Laszlo is so right. He must not be a politician, his thinking is just too smart. By the way there is a small Hungarian bakery in Cleveland call “FARKAS” He makes kremes, dobos torte and pogasca that would rival the best in Budapest. Any relation Laszlo?
What fast-track procedure? If waiting 4 months for my Hungarian Citizenship and I still have not received it, is “fast-track” I’d hate to be on the “milk-run”.
I am not quite sure who ‘they’ might be but let us at least hope ‘they’ actually exist!
Foreign investors, politicians, government officials, mayors,diplomats, marketing executives, ex pats, etc etc.,
could be the target for FL’s ideas and plans?
The movers and shakers that can get things moving in a harsh economic climate with the firm belief that Hungary is a ‘goer’ with loads of untapped potential. It has and, if ‘they’ could side step the politicians and their useless bureaucracy ‘they’ might have some chance of success.
@Tibor Cseh – “I am one of those persons. If the government of Hungary gave some special Magyar lineage citizenship or recognition, many of us would make the Hungarian Homeland our second place to live. Our financial might would lay much need support to local communities where we would reside.”
You seem to have a strong attachment and pride in your heritage. That’s good, but what’s stopping you from contributing now? I’m just curious.
Hello Tom,
The people in govt proposing this citizenship intiative, along with an earlier proposal to keep a list of foreign Hungarians who want to be identified with the heritage- constitute a “they”. These have official backing. Both issues beg the question of “why” and for what long term purpose. What will they do with this applicant pool? I would go so far as to suggest they have a private investigator run profiles on each and every applicant to these intiatives. You have to find out who is wealthy, as well as those who have useful skills. Once you have that information, it can be turned to gold.
With 60,000,000 US per annum “borrowed” from the “Media Council”, or from any other source for that matter, Hungary could hire the very best marketing and ad agency talent in the world. There are ad people who specialise in “developing nation” clients, running campaigns for any stated purpose, tourism, exports or investment. There are lots of ways to find and target overseas Hungarians.
Our compatriots and descendents run into the untold millions throughout the world, scattered through nations like the US, Canada, Argentina, Australia and many of the countries of europe. Targeting these people for various end purposes makes all the sense in the world to me. The country needs help and business revenues. I know just from whom they could ask it and get a worthwhile response!
Dear Tibor!
I am so glad you posted here and bore personal testimony to the depth of feeling and heritage that Hungarian people can have, in spite of being 3rd generation removed or even more. I’ve met and talked with many people like you! Multiplied by millions the world over who may feel the same way, it would be a goldmine of goodwill and purchasing power the govt. would be crazy to pass up.
The present diffculties that the nation is having aren’t an excuse NOT to do this! On the contrary, the difficulties are all the more reason to DO IT!
PS: No relation; it’s a common name!
I wish to complement you gentlemen. There are some truly good, well meaning and intelligent people on this site and I thoroughly enjoy reading most of the comments. Keep up the good work!