The Guardian of Liberty - Nemzetőr, 1989 (12. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1989-07-01 / 4. szám

BI-MONTHLY B 20435 V THE GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY (NEMZETŐR) Vol. XXXIII JULY-AUGUST 1989 Everyone has the right to freedom of thooght, conscience and religion* Article 18 Oniversal Declaration of Human Rights A Democratic Hungary Promised L eading reform-minded members of Hungary’s ruling Communist party — formally named the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party (HSWP) — have promised to allow the full restoration of democracy — lost four decades ago when Stalin­­era Communists forcibly gained power. In an Austrian television interview on August 15, Rezső Nyers, the Chairman (leader) of the HSWP since June, mentioned the possibility of the Communists going into opposition if defeated in multi-party elections due to be held on June 8, 1990, at the latest. Asked whether the HSWP would accept any opposition role, he said: “It is conceivable, but it is very questionable whether it would be in the country’s interests.” Nyers, who was speaking shortly after the Com­munists had lost heavily in four by-elections, estimated that the HSWP would gain more than a third of the vote in the coming nationwide elections, the first multi-party ones since 1947. He aded that a coalition government with the Communists as a minor partner might be accept­able to Moscow, and, if the circumstances were right, the Soviet authorities might even recognise a Western-type democratic system in Hungary. But, he continued, “Eastern Europe’s political situa­tion is in no way mature enough for Hungary to become a country with Austria’s sort of status, to become neutral.” Nyers gave a similar interview to Hungarian television on July 30 after he and the HSWP General Secretary, Károly Grósz, had returned from Moscow after what the Budapest media de­scribed as a two-day “official friendly working visit” at the invitation of the Soviet Communist Party’s Central Committee. Asked about President Gorbachev’s views on Hungary’s proposed political future, Nyers said that “the multi-party system did not excite him; he accepts it.” Nor was he “irritated'' by it. However, the economic situation, both in Hun­gary and the USSR, made the Soviet leader anxious. “For him the greatest worry is restoring order, invigorating the Soviet market, improving supplies, particularly food, to the consumer... Similarly, our economic situation also concerns him. The HSWP and its uncertain position made him anxious, but now, with the HSWP starting to find its feet, this anxiety is lessening.” On August 3, after visiting the Hungarian- Soviet Friendship Society in Budapest, Grósz told journalists that the Moscow talks showed that the Hungarian and Soviet Communist parties consider­ed it “an historical necessity to renew socialism.” Describing the two parties as being “on common terms“ regarding “all fundamental questions,” he added: “The Soviet leadership understands Hun­gary’s efforts to conduct an open foreign policy and to expand its relations with the West, and also to achieve more efficient co-operation with the socialist countries” [those of the Soviet-led Comecon — Council for Mutual Economic As­sistance]. In an interview published by the West German newspaper Bild am Sonntag on July 27, Hun­gary’s Prime Minister, Miklós Németh, said that his government had already worked out a draft law for free and democratic elections. There would be no quota of seats reserved for the HSWP, as there was for the Communist in the June elec­tions in Poland. “We want a multi-party system; we want pluralism.” Németh added that a new Constitution, now being drafted, would break finally with Stalinism and with the leading role of the Communist party. It would guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms. Hungary’s system up till now “has shown some results, but not many.” Nemeth implicitly exposed the falsity of Com­munism’s claims to represent “the people” when he said “Those for whom the existing system is advantageous are naturally resisting . . . Many of­ficials have privileges and do not want to give them up without a struggle." He added that those who resisted official policy “will not any more be liquidated or thrown into prison as used to hap­pen.” The Party leadership was just as variegated as the Party and the population. There could not be total certainty that no reversal of reform would take place, but “we are doing a lot to prevent that happening. The most important guarantee of that is the people. The people would not allow a retreat. My government too is a guarantee; it is no longer an extended arm of the Party, but an independent centre of power.” (Continued on page 2) Hungarian Parliament-building in Budapest on the banks of Danube. IN THIS ISSUE A Democratic Hungary Promised 1-2 Reform Movement ’Unstoppable’ (ECFH-Declaration) 3 Romania: Mother Floats to Freedom 4 How Communists Cheer and Boo: "Military-Industrial Complex..." 5 Colonel Deplores KGB Excesses 6 NKVD Files: Wallenberg Mystery... 7 Vatican-Warsaw Relations Restored 8 New Zealand Gives Spy Warning 9 USSR: War Veterans Derided... 10 Eastern Europe 40 Years ago 11 Youth Festival Delegates Assaulted 12

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