Diplomatic way to the 1951 Geneva
Diplomatic way to the 1951 Geneva

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine how Hungary was able to manage to join to Geneva Convention under these conditions when during that time the only countries within the socialist block that were members were Yugoslavia and China. What sort of role did the Hungarian diplomacy play joining the Convention? What were the pros and cons according to Hungarian leaders? How feasible was it for the Hungarian government to mention the issue of human rights in Romania and the problem of asylum seekers at international forums? I mainly searched for the answers at the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Affairs Department and the Agitation and Propaganda Department of the Hungarian Socialist Labour Party (MSZMP), the offi cial news of the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) and in the Foreign Affairs yearbooks. I also interviewed some of the actors taking part in the events through the different organizations. The study highlights the different levels of negotiations in foreign affairs. Following the admitted failure of the bilateral negotiations, the possibility of communication at international forums was carefully considered, and thus Hungary fi nally arrived at a decision to get in touch with the UNHCR.

• Details
• Contents