US Urges Dialogue on Hungary’s Controversial Nazi Occupation Monument

[microrobert]

US Urges Dialogue on Hungary’s Controversial Nazi Occupation Monument

BUDAPEST–The United States Tuesday urged Hungary’s freshly re-elected Prime Minister Viktor Orban to abide by his pledge to re-start dialogue after Easter about the Holocaust Memorial Year, which includes the construction of a controversial memorial aimed at remembering Hungary’s Nazi occupation in 1944.

In late February, Mr. Orban postponed the completion of the memorial to the end of May from the original March 19 deadline. According to various historians, Jewish groups, and German minorities living in Hungary, the memorial is an attempt to whitewash the role some Hungarians’ played in the Holocaust while putting all of the blame on Nazi Germany.

Hungary is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Holocaust this year.

With several Jewish organizations refusing state aid and pulling out of the celebrations in protest against the memorial, the celebration has been “off to a bumpy start,” government spokesman Ferenc Kumin has said on his blog.

In a letter to the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities, or Mazsihisz, Feb. 19, Mr. Orban promised to continue talks after Easter, soon after the parliamentary elections held April 6. Mr. Orban’s Fidesz party won a consecutive second term in power at the polls, also repeating its gain of a two-third majority in the next parliament.

The construction of the monument restarted the day after Fidesz won the elections. Several Jewish, civil and political groups are holding daily demonstrations at the construction site, which is now guarded by police.

“Following the government’s election victory, genuine dialogue would demonstrate the government’s commitment to discussing openly and transparently important issues even with those who may at times disagree with the government position,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

“As a fellow democracy, we continue to urge the government to seek an honest, open, and factual assessment of the Holocaust in Hungary,” the U.S. Embassy said.

“This includes soliciting and considering the opinions of all segments of Hungarian society, and especially those who are rightly most sensitive to the government’s plans during this 70th anniversary year,” it added.

US Urges Dialogue on Hungary?s Controversial Nazi Occupation Monument - Emerging Europe Real Time - WSJ

[Loki]

Whilst I don't think the Hungarian idea is good, the US needs to keep its nose out of other countries' affairs. It has nothing to do with America. Shoo!

[portusaus]

Whilst I don't think the Hungarian idea is good, the US needs to keep its nose out of other countries' affairs. It has nothing to do with America. Shoo!

I find it disgusting that special interest groups in the US expect that all European countries that supposedly had something to do with the 'Holocaust' should be ashamed of their history, and moreover harass them when they do not follow the unwritten rules.