IN FOCUS Free of Charge 25 Years of the Visegrad Cooperation
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
1 st Issue IN FOCUS Free of Charge 25 years of the Visegrad Cooperation V4 – Past and Future Society Culture International Affairs Antall József Knowledge Centre 1 Cover Picture: The Signature of the Founders of the Visegrad Cooperation (From top to bottom: Lech Wałęsa, President of the Republic of Poland; Václav Havel, President of the Czechoslovak Republic; and József Antall, Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary) All rights reserved. Articles to be found in this publication are the intellectual property of the Antall József Knowledge Centre. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 2 3 0 TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1 WELCOME 1 Welcome 5 Welcoming Words from the Publisher 6 Lectori Salutem! 2 V4 – Past and Future 7-8 József Antall, the Initiator of the Visegrad Cooperation 9-11 Room for Improvement – Visegrad 2016+ 12-18 Interviews: V4 Ambassadors 3 Society 19-26 Is there a Visegrad Identity and If Yes Where Do We Find Its Traces? WELCOMING WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER 27-31 Visegrad as Regional Identity 4 Culture DEAR READERS 32-39 Top 5 40-45 Visegrad Cities The Antall József Knowledge Centre is starting a new chapter in its history. In the past six years, the Knowledge Centre has published several books and organised a variety of events 5 International Affairs in the feld of social sciences, with special regard to international relations. Our institutional network has also 46-47 Interview: Veronika Antall-Horváth been expanded: beside our headquarters in Budapest, we now have offces in Pécs, Győr, and Brussels. 48-51 Unity in Diversity (?) - V4 in the EU We hope that additional cities in and outside of our borders will be added to this network in the future. 52-59 V4 Perception on Reforms of the European One of the main goals of the coming years is to establish an internationally-recognised research Migration and Asylum Policy community, which will not only examine current global affairs, but will also be able to present their fndings to the wider international community. 6 Antall József Knowledge Centre The publication of our magazine In Focus, where you may read about our research results and our 60-61 Book Review activities, is an important part of this initiative. 62-65 The Antall József Knowledge Centre 66-67 The Antall József Summer School In Focus will be available in Hungarian and English, in printed and electronic versions as well. 68-71 AJKC Academic Year 2016-2017 I wish the editors and writers of the publication good luck, and you, dear readers, a good read. 72-73 The Publishing Office of the Knowledge Centre 74 Next Issues Péter Antall Responsible Publisher Director of the Antall József Knowledge Centre 4 WELCOME 5 2 V4 – PAST AND FUTURE JÓZSEF ANTALL, THE INITIATOR OF THE VISEGRAD COOPERATION LECTORI SALUTEM! This year, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Visegrad Cooperation; an alliance which There are considerable changes in our world in fact has a 700-year-old history. The frst issue and in our lives. of In Focus therefore provides an overview of Although we could argue about the extent the history of the cooperation and the political, and quality of these changes, it is for the most economic, and social processes of the member part accepted worldwide that the fourth industrial states, as well as underlines future challenges revolution is underway, the resources of our ahead of the four countries. planet and the icecaps are drastically diminishing, The first quarter century of the Cooperation and Europe’s population is ageing, while in Asia is analysed by Dr Géza Jeszenszky, Minister of Three historic kingdoms constitute the core of patrons and backstabbing each other, joined and Africa it is explosively increasing. The role of Foreign Affairs of the Antall government. The Central Europe: the Polish, the Czech (or Bohemian), their forces to fight against threats effectively politics and economy, as well as the relationship ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Hungarian. For their existence and freedom, – were driven by their need of identifying the of their actors is changing, so is that of the individual, and Slovakia, as well as the Hungarian State they had to fght many wars with the Great Powers source of and redressing common problems, family, and society. The ties between the scientific, Secretary for EU Affairs in turn discuss the current surrounding them. The congress held at the perpetual problems as it were. innovative, and profit-oriented enterprises are situation of the V4 Countries. Through the frst issue, Visegrád Palace in 1335, which was perhaps At the beginning of 1990, the democratic politi- starting to have a fresh basis. Each country readers have the opportunity to learn more about the first European summit, already revealed cians of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, who responds to the challenges and dilemmas outlined the most prominent personalities and the cultural that these countries could promote their interests had been actively fghting against Communism, and above differently. We hope that we will be able heritage of the four countries, as well as the most better if acting together. We Hungarians also the freely-elected governments were determined to to introduce many of these solutions in this remarkable places in the region. believed in the captivating motto of the Polish preserve solidarity and advocate coordinated publication. The frst issue of In Focus was compiled by the legions shedding their blood in vain during the or joint actions. In November 1990 when the When launching a magazine, the primary goals colleagues of the Knowledge Centre and the former Napoleonic wars, “For your freedom and for ours,” Paris Charter recording the basic principles of of any editor-in-chief are to determine its main students of the Antall József Summer School, not only in 1848 but also during the revolution of a new Europe after the Cold War was signed, focus and the target audience. The main reason of whose assistance is greatly appreciated. 1956 and the peaceful regime change in 1989. Hungarian Prime Minister József Antall proposed publishing In Focus is to introduce certain countries, Politicians, writers, and authors – who in the past to his Polish and Czech partners that the leading regions, or institutions to readers interested in 200 years have supported the friendship and politicians of the three countries should meet at international relations on the occasion of significant Ádám Kégler cooperation of people living between the Baltic the beginning of the following year in Visegrád. events or anniversaries. The scientifc magazine Editor-in-Chief region and the Adria, between the Germans and In the Solemn Declaration adopted at the summit presents all aspects of the topic selected aiming Deputy Director Russians, instead of seeking world powers as on 15 February 1991, Prime Minister Antall, to spread knowledge. Antall József Knowledge Centre 6 WELCOME V4 – PAST AND FUTURE 7 Czechoslovakian President Václav Havel, and “Visegrad can serve as Polish President Lech Wałęsa stated the common ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT – VISEGRAD 2016+ political and economic ambitions of their countries, a good example for other as well as their intention of reconciling their politics The transition to democracy that reached its peak on the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, a means groups of countries that are from 1989 to 1990 has changed the whole European of Soviet power, and fully taking part in European rivals or even show hostility geopolitical setting. Although the iron curtain integration. The Declaration joyfully stated that disappeared and the division of Europe was “the historic sense of togetherness of our nations towards each other.” over, Central Europe could not help drifting into a and the need for it can from now on freely be power vacuum. Everybody agreed that this power manifested in accordance with the true interests vacuum in the region cannot be maintained in of our people on the highest level of political the long term. While the extension of the NATO will.” Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the Soviet The Visegrad Fund was established in 2000 for was a taboo at that time – actually Washington Union, afterwards accepted the termination its preservation. Its joint programmes realised was thinking about its liquidation1 – the Americans of the Warsaw Pact, an alliance having never with the help of grants are becoming more and were planning to realize a zone of neutral states been approved by the people of the member more popular; creating a sense of belonging from the Balkans to Finland.2 In the view of Hungary, states, on 1 July in Prague. Had the four nations of together in the younger generation. this idea had its own antecedents, since the main the three countries not chosen the path of common The V4 has no separate apparatus; its policies hope of the country in 1956 was to achieve the understanding and joint actions, the three countries are coordinated through the regular meetings of the neutral status. However, this experience proved neighbouring Hungary, having a large number group’s leaders. Visegrad is not a closed group. In the impossibility of the idea to the Hungarian of Hungarians as national minorities, would have many matters including the Eastern Partnership, prime minister – József Antall. As he said: “neutrality easily been tempted to form some sort of a they act jointly with the Baltic and Western Balkan has never been a proclamation made by any coalition against Hungary’s effort to promote states or the fve northern countries. The solidarity country during history, but it was an opportunity, minority rights.