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I am writing in the hope of correcting the impression given by a member of your staff in his headline article of the January 17-23 issue (Turbulence at airport), concerning the management of Ferihegy Airport.
EU is ?not involved?
I am writing in the hope of correcting the impression given by a member of your staff in his headline article of the January 17-23 issue (Turbulence at airport), concerning the management of Ferihegy Airport.
Whilst Mr Allan showed considerable tenacity and imagination in preparing this article, he showed a regrettable lack of proportion and scant regard for the facts.
The facts are the following
There is no "EU concern" over this case; this is a bilateral matter between Canada and Hungary in which the EU is not involved;
Zoltán Gábor is a staff member of the Delegation, but not a Commission official.
When I was asked this question - inappropriately, to my mind - in a public forum, I suggested he address his question to two members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce who were present.
I hope that you will take steps to ensure that your newspaper regains its enviable record for fair reporting after this lapsus calami.
Jürgen Köppen
Ambassador
Editor?s note: The sub-heading to the article in question read "EU concern at termination of Ferihegy agreement".
This is backed up in the story by a direct quote from Zoltán Gábor, whom we were told was the appropriate person at the EU Delegation to speak on the subject, who told us that "we are concerned there may be issues relating to investor protection or free movement of capital regulations".
Our reporter actually asked Mr Gábor how he should refer to him and was told "Commission official" was appropriate.
While the ambassador is right to say the matter is between Canada and Hungary, the EU pays close attention to issues such as investor protection and free movement of capital regulations and, given that Hungary wishes to join the EU, it seems entirely appropriate to ask the Head of Delegation for a response.
One side alone
We do, however, owe the ambassador an apology. In an article last week (EU entry on target, says new ambassador), we describe him as coming from the Netherlands, when he is, in fact, German. We regret the error.
I have read the letter One-sided addressed to you and published in your newspaper in issue1-2 (January 10-16, 2002) by the Counselor of the Turkish Embassy, Bilgin Atala.
I understand and I give excuse why the Turkish Embassy considers the article with the title Swimming in the same EU tide (issue 49, December 6 - 12, 2001) as one-sided.
It?s a fact that Turkey stands on one side alone regarding the Cyprus problem and that on the other side is the whole international community loyal to the the resolutions of the UN Security Council, decisions of the EU, the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights etc.
I agree with Mr Bilgin Atala that efforts to find a political solution to the Cyprus problem have come to a very sensitive stage and I would like to mentioned that I am very happy that Turkey feels the sensitivity of the matter.
To that direction I commend an article of the worldwide known Turkish leading journalist Mehmet Ali Birand and I agree with him "that Turks have to change the rhetoric they have learned by heart on the Cyprus issue, a rhetoric being repeated for over 50 years".
As regards the legal opinion of Dr Maurice H Mandelson on the eligibility of Cyprus for EU membership, there is a legal opinion on the subject prepared by James Crowford Whehell, Professor of the International Law University of Cambridge and Gerhard Hafner, Professor of the International Law University of Paris-X, on the eligibility of Cyprus to become a member of the European Union, further that once again Turkey insists to think that she is right and the 15 EU states are mistaken.
A letter of the Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN [distributed on November 9, 2001] rejects Mendelson?s opinion.
We the Cypriots, Greek and Turk Cypriots among with Armenians and minority Cypriots, want to live in peace together, without borders within our land, without invasion troops, without restrictions on movement etc.
If Turkey harmonized with the international position regarding the solution of Cyprus, then the Cyprus issue will be solved in one day and all Cypriots would be happy; if not then it is truth that Turkey will stand alone on the one-side as my colleague Bilgin Atala mentioned in his letter.
Antonis Grivas
Charge d?Affaires
Embassy Of The Republic Of Cyprus
Budapest
I love Lucy
I am writing to you in connection with the letter of Lowell Duluth, Critic critique, which was published in The Budapest Sun of January 17-23.
I think I have to defend Lucy Mallows who is attacked by Mr Duluth.
I think the whole letter is very unfair. A lot of people - including myself - really like the film reviews of Lucy Mallows.
The film reviews are funny, entertaining - that is what I am looking for when I read about a film. I want to be entertained and I definitely do not want an essay on the actors. If I want the whole biography of the actors who play in film, I can look on a movie website.
Probably Mr Duluth takes movies much too seriously, that is why he is demanding a film reviewer (with a big "F" and "R") or he just does not have a sense of humour.
I hope that Ms Mallows does not take any notice of the letter and I do not have to read self-important, boring essays on cinema history in The Budapest Sun in the future.
Solymos Ildikó
Reáltanoda utca
Budapest
On-line fan
I moved from Taszár to Bosnia several weeks ago and am really glad that I can still get The Budapest Sun on-line. (I wrote the Pécs article Sauerkraut, statues and more in issue 50, December 13 - 19, 2001).
I enjoy Lucy Mallows?s stories, also some by John Hayes and other writers, very much. I enjoyed the Style stories this week and last and happened to see the Letter to the Editor (Critic critique, issue 3, January 17 - 23, 2002) regarding your recent movie review [of Lord of the Rings].
I am not sure if I actually read that story, as I don?t see too many new movies. But, I did want to say that I do enjoy your restaurant reviews, as well as the various other subjects you cover. I know writers are always subject to criticism and negative critics are more likely to respond. So I just wanted to send you a positive opinion.
Chris Wenk-Harrison
Received via email
Not two-party
With reference to your story about the new Centrum party (Center party aims to bridge divide, issue 4, January 24 - 30, 2002), for reasons of accuracy you could have pointed out that Britain does not have a two party system.
The present UK electoral system may artificially make it look as though there are only two parties, but under the Hungarian system, an election result of 45% (Labour), 30% (Conservative) and 19% (Liberal Democrat) would in no way be described as "two party".
Allan D Forrester
Great Britain
No better
I see that The Budapest Sun?s editorial content has not elevated either with its price or over time after reading the Lucy Mallows reviews of The Fellowship of the Ring (Old hobbits die hard, issue 1 - 2, January 10 - 16, 2002) and the Soho London Café (Tired of London, tired of life, issue 3, January 17 - 23, 2002).
Albert Ray
Budapest
31.01.2002
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