Discussion About Changes In Hungary Planned For CWU

January 28, 2005

Contact: Roxanne Easley (509-963-1454/fax 509-963-1654/e-mail: easleyr@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - An era of democratic reforms is not just underway in the Middle East. Eastern Europe is also experiencing a time of political transformation, notably in Hungary. In the late 1980s, Hungary shifted toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy.

In 1991, after the Soviet Union collapsed, Hungary developed closer ties with Western Europe, joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union on May 1, 2004. Much of the reform can be traced to activism by the "Hungarian Democratic Forum."

Dr. Géza Jeszenszky, a founding member of the forum, will discuss "The Old-New Ally: Hungary and the Transatlantic Link," at CWU Thursday, Feb. 3. The free, public presentation is set for 7 p.m. in Black 150.

Formerly Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the U.S., Jeszenszky is now a professor of history and international relations at the Budapest University of Economics and Public Administration. He is the author of numerous scholarly publications, including "An Outline History of International Relations" and "The Changing Image of Hungary in Britain, 1894-1918."

His presentation is sponsored by the CWU history, political science and foreign languages departments, the office of international studies and programs, Douglas Honors College, office of graduate studies and research, and College of Arts and Humanities.

For more information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-1655, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.