Highlights of the Hungarian American Coalition's Advocacy Efforts for NATO Expansion: 1994-1999

Milwaukee, WI – President Clinton invited the leaders of Central and East Europe’s American ethnic communities to meet in Milwaukee, WI. Vice President Gore delivered President Clinton’s speech on the U.S. initiative, Partnership for Peace, the first step toward the eastern expansion of NATO eventually leading to membership for the Visegrád countries. Several leaders of the Hungarian American Coalition attended, anticipating discussions on NATO expansion. When the administration surprised participants by proposing Partnership for Peace as a preliminary step, the Polish American Congress and HAC expressed their disappointment about postponing NATO membership and accommodating Russian concerns.

NATO established requirements to be considered for membership, including: democratic governance, civilian control of military and peaceful relations with neighbors.

A preparatory meeting took place with key administration officials. Alexis Herman, Director, Office of Public Liaison, served as moderator. Those who addressed questions from the ethnic organization leaders include Ron Brown, Secretary of Commerce; Richard  Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs; Daniel Fried, Director of Central and Eastern European Affairs, National Security Council; Nicholas Burns, Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian Affairs; Donald Blinken, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary; and Alfred Moses, U.S. Ambassador to Romania. 

The U.S. House of Representatives removed the Russian “veto” in the amendment of NATO enlargement, to H.R. 7. 

A logistical base opened in Taszár, Hungary, supporting U.S. military operations in Bosnia, making it NATO’s first military base in a former Warsaw Pact country.

HAC leaders joined the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) – made up of 18 national grassroots organizations representing over 22 million Americans of Central and East European heritage – to meet President Clinton to discuss U.S. national security interests. The group focused on the issue of NATO’s acceptance of new members and the importance of well targeted and foreign assistance in advancing U.S. interests.

HAC Representatives met with James Holmes, Coordinator for Eastern European Assistance at the State Department, for a conference. Coalition representatives included Anne Bader, Frank Koszorús, Jr., Edith K. Lauer, George Pogan, and Zsolt Szekeres. Also in attendance were David L. Cowles, Office of European Country Affairs, Bureau for Europe and New Independent States, and Michael Hurley, Office of the Coordinator for East European Assistant. The Coalition urged the State Department officials to better utilize the expertise, knowledge and contacts of groups such as the Coalition in delivering foreign assistance programs. 

A bill to initiate NATO expansion cleared a major legislative hurdle when the House International Relations Committee overwhelmingly approved H.R. 3564, the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996. CEEC and HAC played a major role in providing input for the legislation. The bill stated that Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic should be eligible for additional assistance of sixty million dollars. 

Representatives of CEEC and 16 HAC members met with Samuel R. Berger, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to discuss the Clinton Administration’s position on NATO expansion and its vision relating to the overall security for the region. Daniel Fried, Senior Director for East Central Europe at the National Security Council also attended meeting at the White House. HAC representatives included: Kathleen Avvakumovits, Anne Bader, Rev Imre Bertalan, László Böjtös, Frank Dobos, György Dózsa, Róbert Gábor, László Hámos, Frank Kapitan, Frank Koszorús, Jr., Péter Kurz, Edith K. Lauer, András Ludányi, Daniel McDonald, Eugene Megyesy and Julius Várallyay.

Budapest, Hungary - HAC began to organize a series of 3 conferences in Hungary entitled: “Hungary in an Expanded NATO: Benefits and Responsibilities - an Open Discussion with the Hungarian People.” When public funds that had been pledged were suddenly withdrawn, HAC was able to raise funds from The German Marshall Fund, the Ronald Lauder Foundation, Malév Hungarian Airlines, the U.S. Mission in Budapest, and the Hungarian Atlantic Forum.

Coalition members participated in a conference entitled, “Security and Stability in Central and Eastern Europe: A Vital U.S. Interest,” sponsored by CEEC. In addition to Senator McConnell, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee, other conference participants included Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Among the more than 150 attendees were U.S. government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the media, and CEEC representatives, including HAC members: Edith K. Lauer, Anne C. Bader and Kláry Hefty. 

President Clinton announced that the United States would favor issuing invitations for NATO membership to three countries: Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The White House initiated a conference call with representatives of CEEC, including HAC, to brief them NATO enlargement. Mr. Daniel Fried, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director, National Security Council; Jeremy D. Rosner, Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State for NATO Enlargement Ratification; and Marilyn DiGiacobbe, Special Assistant to the President for Public Liaison, participated in the telephone conference. 

The White House sponsored a breakfast to bid farewell to Daniel Fried and Marilyn DiGiacobbe and welcome Steven Flanagan and Christine Stanek. Ethnic and community leaders were invited to the event held in the White House dining room. HAC was represented by Edith K. Lauer, Anne C. Bader and Frank Koszorús, Jr. 

On behalf of the Coalition, Frank Koszorús, Jr., testified before the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations. He expressed the Coalition’s “unequivocal” support for the enlargement of the Alliance to include Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. They welcome NATO membership because “…they recall how their quest for independence was brutally crushed by Soviet tanks in 1956 because Hungary was on the wrong side of Stalin’s dividing line.”

Debrecen, Hungary – A full-day conference was held at the historic Reformed College in Debrecen. Mayor József Hevessy held a reception at City Hall to formally open the conference. U.S. Ambassador Donald Blinken reviewed steps Hungary had already taken to begin to fulfill NATO membership requirements. 

Across Hungary, 50% of the population voted, with 85% supporting NATO membership for Hungary. It was a significant result, as American opponents of NATO expansion would have been able to use defeat in Hungary as an effective argument in the U.S. Senate. 

President Clinton transmitted the protocols of accession to the Senate, along with the report prepared by Secretary Albright. HAC representatives Edith K. Lauer, Rev Bertalan and Frank Koszorús, Jr. attended the ceremony in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the State Department. 

“Forging a new NATO in the 21st century will help fulfill the commitment and the struggle that many of you in this room engaged in over the last 50 years,” said President Clinton at a White House ceremony during which he called on the Senate to promptly ratify NATO expansion. The Hungarian American Coalition attended the Ceremony.

The White House – Hungarian American Coalition Attends Rose Garden Ceremony on May 22 with President Clinton, granting U.S. approval for admitting Hungary to NATO. He declared, “We come to this day, thanks to many acts of courage…the sacrifices by those who raised freedom’s banner in Budapest in 1956.” HAC representatives included: László Hámos, Anne C. Bader, Frank Koszorús, Jr. and Frank Kapitan.

Representatives of the 19-member NATO nations stand for a group photograph during the commemorative ceremony of the 50th anniversary of NATO held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium (AWMA), Washington, D.C., USA on April 23, 1999.