The presidency of the Democratic Community of Hungarians in Vojvodina (DCHV) has carefully deliberated the correlation between the proposed Treaties between the Republic of Hungary and its neighbours pertaining to the permanence of the existing international borders, and the implications of the treaties to the vital interests of all the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin.

1. A democratic perspective of resolving the national trauma caused by the Treaty of Trianon is of utmost importance to all of us. Therefore, Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin must strive that the Republic of Hungary becomes a member of European Union as soon as possible. On the other hand, all Hungarians must persist that the Hungarians living outside the present borders of Hungary achieve their proposed autonomy. These two objectives must be maintained concurrently, but depending on the existing political realities, the membership of the Republic of Hungary into the European Union might take precedent over the attainment of autonomy of Hungarians living outside Hungary. The full resolution of the trauma caused by the Treaty of Trianon however, could be resolved only, if both of the above conditions are met.

2. The proposed Treaties are adequate means of securing the stability of the existing international borders in return for certain guaranties on the part of the neighbouring countries. Nevertheless, such treaties by themselves will not solve the vital problems of the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin. The completely open and unresolved question of Hungarian minorities presents itself as a common problem to all. Due to the inevitable differences, the scope of this regional problem is such, that an equitable solution could be forged only by the participation of all the four countries concerned, possibly with the assistance of the international community in form of mediation. The question of regionality presents itself as an imminent safety concern for the Hungarians living outside the borders of the present day Hungary. Due to the fact that these minorities have attained the status of political entities, they are themselves interested in attaining autonomy. The mere interest in itself is not a political factor. When this interest manifests itself in a politically relevant form, it does become a political factor, and the question of minorities as a whole, as well as each minority in its respective host country becomes a security concern.

As the result of their political activities, the minorities have attained the status of collective political entity. Depending on the existing political climate, they strive to find solutions to the open and unresolved questions of their sustenance and political status. Their struggle in itself is a political factor to be taken into account.

3. If the fact of signing of the above Treaties presents itself on the international scene as the prerequisite for the Republic of Hungary into the member of the European Union, these treaties should be signed. However this must not be a conclusive issue.

The Hungarian government and the legitimate representatives of the minority political organizations must undertake the task of jointly depicting the autonomy proposals of the Hungarian minorities, as the only viable solution to the completely open and unresolved question of the Hungarian minorities in the region.

The clauses of the proposed Treaties reaffirming the recognition of the existing international borders will eradicate the concerns of implied Hungarian territorial claims, which was for the most part exploited for propaganda purposes. With the impediment of the Treaty of Trianon resolved, the joint position of the Hungarian government and the legitimate Hungarian minority organizations, may contribute to the political integration of Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin, as well as advance the quality of political processes in general.

Dated at Ada, October 4, 1994

The Presidency of the DCHV