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MInistry of Foreign Afffairs - 4 April (mind) |
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MInistry of Foreign Afffairs - 5 April (mind) |
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| + - | MInistry of Foreign Afffairs - 7 April (mind) |
VÁLASZ |
Feladó:  (cikkei)
|
N E W S L E T T E R
from the Daily Bulletin of the Hungarian News Agency MTI
distributed by the Department for Press and International Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Hungary
H-1394, Budapest P.O.B. 423.
Telephone: 36 (1) 156-8000
Telefax: 36 (1) 156-3801
No. 70/1995 07 Apri
l 1995
International Conference-Security in Central Europe
April 6 (MTI) - "The great powers are again about to reach agreement
above our heads; Polish experts thus summed up the most pressing
security problems facing Central Europe, and they are right," - said political
scientist Professor Attila Agh when he gave a lecture on the opening day of
an international two-day conference arranged by the Friedrich Ebert
Foundation in Budapest today.
The aim of the conference, entitled "The Security of Central Europe
Today and in the Year 2000", is to allow renowned experts to compare
notes on security policy in the region and to discuss how it may develop in
the future.
In his opening lecture dealing with global challenges, Professor Agh
said that today, at the start of a new world order, we are still the prisoners
of
a model of thinking which leads us to consider as normal a system of
institutions that developed under the former bipolar world order.
With the dissolution of the bipolar world order, new institutions have
developed and managing the new system has become more complex. But,
in spite of appearances to the contrary, a new pattern of order has emerged
rather than the absence of order, he said.
Agh described the bilateral agreements concluded by countries in the
region as the most stable pillar of the Central European security system.
Hungarian Parliamentary Delegation in Vienna
Vienna, April 6 (MTI) - A delegation from all six parties in Hungarian
Parliament held talks with Heinz Fischer, chairman of the Austrian National
Council (house of representatives), on the first day of an official visit here.
It
is headed by Speaker Zoltan Gal.
In the afternoon the delegation attended a plenary session of the
Austrian Parliament.
The first day's visit included a courtesy call on Herbert Schambeck,
deputy speaker of the Federal Council (Upper House), and a meeting with
members of the foreign committee.
On Friday they are to meet Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock, and
before ending their visit they will meet Chancellor Vranitzky.
Then the delegation goes to Burgenland for a meeting with MPs from
the borderline counties.
Hungarian-Austrian Parliamentary Talks in Vienna
Vienna, April 6 (MTI) - Speaker Zoltan Gal, heading a Hungarian
parliamentary delegation to Vienna, today told Heinz Fischer, Austrian
Nationalrat (House of Representatives) President, about Hungary's
keenness to join the European Community.
The basic treaty Hungary signed with Slovakia and the one planned
with Romania are to eliminate conflicts with its neighbours, a condition set
for new applicants by the European Union, Gal said.
Hungary's accession to the EU may improve its ties with Austria, Gal
said. Difficulties emerging in some areas should be resolved by the
ministries concerned, Gal said. He mentioned delays in Hungarian livestock
and meat deliveries since Austria fully joined the EU.
Fischer welcomed the proposals for expanding inter-parliamentary
ties. He said the foreign affairs committees would provide an appropriate
framework for cooperation but a new body may also be needed. He
promised that Austria would support Hungarian efforts to join the EU. As he
put it, Austria has a vested interest in the EU's border lying east, and not
west, of Hungary.
"There are more arguments for expanding the 15-nation Union than
against it," Fischer said.
Keleti on Modernization of Army, Talks in Britain
Budapest, April 6 (MTI) - Hungary will become militarily suitable for
joining NATO in two or three years, Hungarian Defence Minister Gyorgy
Keleti told a press conference today.
The ministry will soon invite tenders for radio and other
telecommunications equipment. And, "although Hungary's jet fighters are
enough to protect our airspace until the end of the century, the army has to
consider buying new aircraft now," Keleti said.
The minister said that staff in the army on contract should go up to
6,000-8,000 in two or three years so that more skilled tasks such as tank-
driving should no longer be done by conscripts.
About his visit to Britain this week, Keleti said, "it is conceivable t
hat
British troops could be trained in Hungary in the near future. A British
delegation is soon to arrive in Hungary to check this out. The ministry now
has to coordinate with municipal councils concerned and the environmental
authorities." Keleti said he had invited a team of Britons to help set up
civilian control over the Hungarian armed forces.
Government Session - Briefing by Spokesman
Budapest, April 6 (MTI) - The Hungarian government met today to
review economic trends in the spirit of its March 12 decision to restore the
country's economic and financial stability, Government Spokesman Elemer
Csak told reporters.
Establishing that the situation justifies taking measures to promote
enterprise and reduce consumption, the government finalized the package
and decided to present it to Parliament tomorrow. In connection with the
package, the government discussed a supplementary budget for this year,
to be put forward to Parliament after minor changes early next week, the
spokesman said.
Hungary needs a supplementary budget because the government"s
austerity package affects the numbers in the original budget law.
Furthermore, the supplementary budget is designed to reduce the deficit of
the central budget by HUF 127 billion, or USD 1.06 billion, so that the ratio
of
the deficit to GDP would fall from 5.4 per cent to 3 per cent, the spokesman
said.
Due to the package, revenues are expected to exceed the original
target by HUF 157 billion. The 8 per cent surcharge import duty introduced
will have a crucial role in this increase. A clampdown on the black economy
is expected to generate HUF 16 billion, and measures to prevent tax
evasion HUF 4 billion. The government wants to cut central expenditure by
HUF 48 billion, Csak said.
Under the supplementary budget, central spending minus debt
repayments will total HUF 1,944,674 million and income HUF 1,788,739
million. Without the package, the deficit would come close to HUF 350
billion, HUF 15 billion up on the 1994 figure, the spokesman said.
The government heard a proposal by Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs
for ratifying the Hungarian-Slovak basic treaty.
The government heard a report on the Hungarian-Slovak expert talks
on technical solutions aimed at providing the Danube and its Mosoni branch
with a sufficient amount of water. Spokesman Csak announced that Prime
Minister Gyula Horn today telephoned his Slovak counterpart Vladimir
Meciar, asking him to help accelerate the talks. The Slovak prime minister
promised to do this.
The government has created the financial conditions for the Council
of Europe to set up a European Youth Centre in Budapest. It is convinced
that the centre will contribute to Hungary's admission to the Euro-Atlantic
organizations. If all goes to plan, the centre will open in Hotel Ifjusag in
September this year, Csak said.
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A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.
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[*][*][*] [*][*][*] [*][*] [*][*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
*****************************************************************
|
| + - | MInistry of Foreign Afffairs - 6 April (mind) |
VÁLASZ |
Feladó:  (cikkei)
|
N E W S L E T T E R
from the Daily Bulletin of the Hungarian News Agency MTI
distributed by the Department for Press and International Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Hungary
H-1394, Budapest P.O.B. 423.
Telephone: 36 (1) 156-8000
Telefax: 36 (1) 156-3801
No. 69/1995 06 Apri
l 1995
Hungarian-Croatian Accord to Protect Minorities
Budapest, April 5 (MTI) - In Osijek today Foreign Minister Laszlo
Kovacs and Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mate
Granic signed an agreement on the protection of ethnic Croatians living in
Hungary and of ethnic Hungarians living in Croatia.
The agreement details the minority rights spelled out in the
Hungarian-Croatian basic treaty (particularly in its article 17), signed on
December 16, 1992.
In accordance with international and European documents, and
domestic legislation in the two countries, the agreement guarantees the
rights of the minorities to preserve their cultural, linguistic and religious
identities, to establish and manage their own educational institutions at all
levels, to use their mother tongue in public and in private, to receive and
impart information in their mother tongue (press, radio and TV), to practise
their own religions and to preserve their memorial sites.
The agreement guarantees the right of minorities to participate in
decisions that affect them, at the national, regional or local level.
Minorities
have freedom of assembly and association in order to preserve their ethnic
and cultural identity.
It gives them the right to maintain free and direct contacts across
frontiers with foreign citizens with whom they share cultural and linguistic
identity and also with public and social institutions of the state in which
those
persons reside.
A separate article speaks of the intention of the parties to the
agreement that with the participation of the international community they will
help refugees including persons belonging to the Hungarian minority to
return to their original places of residence in occupied Croatian territories
in
order to restore the ethnic proportions that prevailed before 1991.
The parties to the agreement will establish an inter-governmental joint
committee to monitor the implementation of the agreement and this
committee will continue the work of the Minority Joint Commission
established in 1991.
Hungary has concluded bilateral basic treaties with 17 countries, and
signed a declaration on minority rights with Ukraine on May 31, 1991, which
Slovenia and Croatia also signed later. Hungary has signed an agreement
on minority rights with Slovenia too. According to the 1991 census close to
25,000 Hungarians live in Croatia, and 100,000 ethnic Croats live in
Hungary.
Hungarian-Croatian Minority Protection Agreement
Osijek, April 5 (MTI) - Foreign ministers Laszlo Kovacs of Hungary
and Mate Granic of Croatia signed a bilateral minority protection agreement
in Osijek today.
In a subsequent joint press conference, Kovacs said the agreement
not only specified principles but also provided a concrete framework for
settling the problems of minorities, including ethnic Hungarians in Croatia.
Kovacs described it as exemplary that representatives of the Croat
minority in Hungary and the Hungarian minority in Croatia had been involved
in codification and would take part in monitoring implementation.
In his capacity as OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kovacs pressed for an
OSCE mission to be set up in the occupied territories of Croatia. The
mission, he said, would help build confidence and create conditions for the
peaceful integration of the said territories.
Hungarian-Slovak Treaty, Foreign Affairs Committee
Budapest, April 5 (MTI) - In a closed session today, the Foreign
Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Parliament discussed the recent
exchange of notes relating to the Hungarian-Slovak basic treaty.
Just before the treaty was signed in Paris on March 20, the Slovaks
attached a note interpreting it. Replying to the note, the Hungarian Foreign
Minister explained that there was no need for interpretations: the treaty
should be implemented rather than interpreted.
The debate that followed a report by Parliamentary State Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Istvan Szent-Ivanyi showed that the opposition would prefer
it if the Slovaks were the first to ratify the treaty, while the governing
parties
would like Hungary to ratify the document as soon as possible.
"Once ratified, the treaty will oblige the Slovak government to settle
the situation of the Hungarian minority," Chairman Matyas Eorsi (Alliance of
Free Democrats) said.
On Thursday the Hungarian Cabinet will discuss when to present the
treaty to Parliament for ratification. Eorsi believes that Parliament could
begin the ratification procedure this month.
Eorsi, who was about to leave for Strasbourg to meet the President of
the Parliamentary Committee and the Secretary-General of the Council of
Europe, said he would ask his partners in Strasbourg about their position on
the exchange of notes.
After the session, Deputy Chairman Gyorgy Csoti (Hungarian
Democratic Forum) said the opposition had asked the government to
consider the position of the three Hungarian parties in Slovakia. "These
parties would think it only right if the two parliaments began the procedure of
ratification at the same time," Csoti said.
Non-Proliferation Treaty, Foreign Affairs Committee
Budapest, April 5 (MTI) - Before the closed session, Deputy State
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Andre Erdos told the Foreign Affairs Committee
of the Hungarian Parliament that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, signed
25 years ago, would expire this year.
An international conference on its prolongation is to start in New York
on April 17. All the 175 signatory states favour prolongation but they
disagree whether the treaty should be prolonged for a definite or an
indefinite period of time, Erdos said.
A group of developing countries support the former option in order to
put pressure on the nuclear powers to conclude their talks on arms control
as soon as possible. Hungary, together with the EU member states and
other developed countries, advocates prolonging the treaty for an indefinite
period of time. Fixing a new deadline would bring about a deterioration in
international relations, lend fresh impetus to the nuclear arms build-up and
hinder countries like Hungary from purchasing nuclear technologies for
peaceful purposes, Erdos said.
At the New York conference, one of the three main committees will
have a Hungarian chairman, the deputy state secretary said. He added that
the Hungarian position to be adopted at the conference would also be
discussed by the Hungarian government.
Defence Minister Delivers Lecture in London
Budapest, April 5 (MTI) - "The preparedness of most Hungarians to
bear the burdens of Euro-Atlantic integration without any reservation is
deeply rooted in their historical and spiritual commitment to Europe,"
Hungarian Defence Minister Gyorgy Keleti said in London today.
Delivering a lecture for the staff of a strategic research institute of
the
British armed forces, Keleti said: "This is why all the six parliamentary
parties
are firmly committed to integration."
The minister said, "Hungary's military reform is aimed at exploiting th
e
opportunities offered by the Partnership for Peace scheme, creating
compatibility between the armed forces of NATO and Hungary, and paving
the way for Hungary's admission to the North Atlantic alliance."
Concluding his official visit to Britain, Keleti returned to Budapest o
n
Wednesday.
*****************************************************************
A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*][*] [*][*][*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
[*][*][*] [*][*][*] [*][*] [*][*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
*****************************************************************
|
| + - | MInistry of Foreign Afffairs - 4 April (mind) |
VÁLASZ |
Feladó:  (cikkei)
|
N E W S L E T T E R
from the Daily Bulletin of the Hungarian News Agency MTI
distributed by the Department for Press and International Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Hungary
H-1394, Budapest P.O.B. 423.
Telephone: 36 (1) 156-8000
Telefax: 36 (1) 156-3801
No. 67/1995 04 Apri
l 1995
Defence Minister in London
London, April 3 (MTI) - In an interview given to MTI after his arrival
in
London on Sunday evening, Hungarian Defence Minister Gyorgy Keleti said
he expected to sign a statement on cooperation with his British counterpart,
Malcolm Rifkind, during his three-day visit to Britain.
The two defence ministers will also cover issues which are important fo
r
Hungary's future membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO).
In addition, the Hungarian minister would like to discuss in detail the
joint Hungarian-British military exercise which is to be held in Hungary in
October, and the possible participation of native English teachers in the
Hungarian Armed Forces' training programme.
The Hungarian minister will present to his host the Defence Ministry's
plans on integrating into NATO.
NATO is expected to have drawn up its basic requirements for
membership by the end of this year. Hungary would like to anticipate this by
presenting its own programme, with which it hopes to satisfy these
requirements.
Keleti hopes to hear the British view on the conflict in former Yugosla
via
and discuss ways of resolving it.
The minister did not confirm the speculation that arose in London last
week that the British armed forces were negotiating with the Hungarian
authorities on the possibility of holding some of their training programmes in
Hungary.
According to diplomatic sources, Great Britain's armed forces are
looking for training areas in Eastern Europe because of environmental
protection considerations and financial reasons, and are supposedly on the
verge of reaching an agreement with the Czech Republic and Poland.
The same sources claim that London initiated similar talks with Hungary
a year ago. Keleti said he had no information on concrete negotiations, adding
that "there would be some possibilities" for the British if they raised the
issue.
The Hungarian minister recalled how satisfied the British had been with the
training facilities provided during last year's Hungarian-British military
exercise
in Hungary.
Hungarian-British Military Talks in London
London, April 3 (MTI) - Hungarian Defence Minister Gyorgy Keleti's visi
t
to Britain began with professional programmes today.
The minister studied the training programme of an elite stand-by unit
stationed at Catterick, 160 kilometres from London, and visited the local
infantry training centre.
Keleti's official programme will begin on Tuesday with talks with
Secretary of State for Defence Malcolm Rifkind and Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Douglas Hogg.
Keleti and Rifkind are scheduled to sign a memorandum on inter-
ministry cooperation.
The minister will also hold talks on the conditions for Hungary to join
NATO, and present to his host the Defence Ministry's plan of action to this
effect.
Cooperation between the Hungarian and British armed forces is already
intensive. Hungarian military students and officers are attending language and
professional training courses in Britain, and the two countries" troops are to
hold their second joint exercise in Hungary this year.
Keleti did not confirm the rumour which arose last week, namely that th
e
two countries are holding talks on the training of British forces in Hungary.
The
minister said he had no information on such negotiations, but added that
"there would be some opportunities" for the British if they raised the issue.
Hungarian Interior Minister's Talks in Germany
Bonn, April 3 (MTI) - Hungarian Interior Minister Gabor Kuncze started
a
three-day series of negotiations in Bonn today.
In Munich Kuncze held talks with Bavarian Interior Minister Gunther
Beckstein and Minister of European Affairs Erwin Huber, and visited the Audi
AG headquarters in Ingolstadt.
On Tuesday the minister will hold talks in Baden-Wurttemberg and on
Wednesday in Rhineland-Palatinate. The talks will focus on cooperation
between the authorities of Hungary and the German Lander.
In Mainz Kuncze is to sign an agreement between the interior ministries
of Hungary and Rhineland-Palatinate. With Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg,
Hungary has already concluded similar agreements.
Welfare Minister Appointed
Budapest, April 3 (MTI) - President Arpad Goncz, at the
recommendation of the Prime Minister, has appointed Gyorgy Szabo to the
post of welfare minister, effective from April 3, 1995, the president's press
office announced on Monday.
Szabo succeeds Pal Kovacs, who resigned after the government
announced its austerity measures on March 12.
Gyorgy Szabo was born in Miskolc on August 12, 1947.
He graduated from Budapest's Karl Marx University of Economics in
1972.
He graduated from the faculty of political sociology at the College of
Politics in 1987.
From 1972 to 1975 he worked for Szolnok County Council (Central
Hungary) and from 1975 worked for Borsod County Council (N Hungary). He
was the chairman of the council from July 1989 to the autumn of 1990.
On December 18, 1990 he became the chairman of the general
assembly of Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen County, and was re-elected in 1994.
In the 1990 general election he won a seat in Parliament on the
Hungarian Socialist Party's list for Borsod Country, but - after becoming the
head of the county's general assembly - he gave up his seat in Parliament in
early 1991.
In the 1994 elections he was elected MP for the town of Szerencs, and
has been the deputy chairman of the local council since September 1994.
From 1976 to 1989 he was a member of the Hungarian Socialist
Workers' Party, and in 1989 he joined the Hungarian Socialist Party.
Szabo is married and has two sons. His wife is an economist and
sociologist.
Hungary-U.S. Trade Conference
Budapest, April 3 (MTI) - A four-day conference entitled "Trade 2000"
began in Budapest's Hotel Marriott on Monday. The aim of the conference is
to improve economic, commercial and investment contacts between the United
States and Hungary.
In his opening address, Hungarian Minister of Industry and Trade
Laszlo Pal outlined the present situation of the Hungarian economy.
In 1994 industrial output increased by 9 per cent compared with the
previous year, he said. Agricultural production was 4 per cent higher and
exports 20 per cent up on 1993. Foreign direct investment increased by 27 per
cent in 1994 compared with 1993, and productivity has grown by 22 per cent
in the last two years.
Pal said Hungary was pleased with the development of Hungarian-US.
links, adding that so far the Americans have been the biggest investors in
Hungary.
Just recently, General Motors announced its intention to invest a furth
er
USD 250 million in Hungary. Trade between the two countries amounted to
USD 870 million last year.
The conference will continue at ITD Hungary on Tuesday, where
business leaders from Hungarian and American companies will meet.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the participants will meet in Debrecen (E
Hungary) and in Miskolc (N Hungary), respectively, with the pharmaceutical
industry and environmental protection on the agendas.
Hungarian-Slovenian Minority Committee to Be Formed
Lendava, April 3 (MTI) - A nine-member delegation headed by
Hungarian State Secretary Csaba Tabajdi left for Ljubljana today to attend the
founding session of the Hungarian-Slovenian joint committee for national
minorities. The delegation is composed of representatives of the ministries of
foreign affairs, culture and the interior, the Office for National and Ethnic
Minorities, the municipal authorities of Vas and Zala counties, and the
Slovenian community of Raba valley.
The Slovenian delegation, including representatives of the Hungarian
community of the Mura region, is led by Foreign State Secretary Peter Vencelj.
En route to Ljubljana, the delegation had a stopover in Lendava, the
centre of the Mura region, to meet representatives of the local Hungarian
community and reporters.
"In the founding session, we will survey the implementation of the two
countries" minority protection agreement and determine our further common
tasks, placing special attention on the opening of new border stations and the
economic and cultural situation of Slovenians in Hungary and Hungarians in
Slovenia," Tabajdi said.
The state secretary announced that the two countries would prolong
their educational agreement within six weeks.
Goncz Holds Talks with Kuwaiti Amir
Kuwait City, April 3 (MTI) - Hungarian President Arpad Goncz, currently
in Kuwait City on an official visit, held talks of limited attendance with his
host,
Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber as-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, today.
The two heads of state pressed for developing relations in all fields o
f
life, including inter-ministry and inter-parliamentary links, and confirmed
their
countries' intention to bring common actions into the international fore.
Hungary promotes, with all possible means, the elimination of the
consequences of the Iraqi aggression, and Kuwait's efforts to preserve its
sovereignty, Goncz said. He also confirmed Hungary's readiness to take part
in the reconstruction of Kuwait.
The Hungarian president emphasized the need for restoring economic
ties and raising them to at least the pre-war level. Goncz recalled that
Hungary
may up its deliveries of food, consumer articles, vehicles, machinery, heavy-
current equipment and farm products to Kuwait, and indicated that the Kuwaiti
companies would have a good chance of taking part in privatization and the
development of the infrastructure in Hungary.
The Amir expressed support for the development of bilateral relations.
He said that Kuwait's state-owned companies would survey the potential fields
of cooperation and investment opportunities in Hungary.
Goncz's Economic Talks in Kuwait
Kuwait City, April 3 (MTI) - "The Kuwaiti ministers I met are open to t
he
Hungarian offers, and assign a strategic role to Hungary in their international
investment plans," Hungarian President Arpad Goncz concluded after his talks
with the ministers of defence, oil and finance, the latter being also chairman
of
the Kuwaiti Investment Authority. Goncz also met the chief director of the USD
6 billion Kuwaiti Investment Fund.
The president, the finance minister and the chief director agreed with
the proposal for forming a Hungarian-Kuwaiti joint committee, which would set
up a profit-oriented Hungarian-Kuwaiti investment fund in charge of joint
investment projects. In the first half of this year, Chief Director Badr al-
Homaide is to visit Hungary to negotiate the details and select the projects.
Meeting Minister of Oil Abd al-Mohsin Mudaej al-Mudaej, President
Goncz welcomed the expansion of Kuwaiti investment in Hungary, and
proposed that Kuwait take part in the privatization of Mol Rt. He indicated
that
Hungarian companies would be willing to play a role in Kuwaiti oil industry
projects and place appropriate offers for exploration, reconstruction, and the
construction and maintenance of pipelines.
On Monday, in the presence of President Goncz, the general manager
of Transelektro Rt. and the Kuwaiti Minister of Energy Management signed a
USD 80 million contract, under which the Hungarian company will construct a
transformer sub-station and reconstruct another one for USD 52 million, and
build a long-distance electric line.
Concluding his visit to Kuwait and his seven-day trip to the Gulf regio
n,
Goncz is to return to Budapest on Tuesday.
Before his departure, he will visit an electric sub-station in the dese
rt
which was built by Transelektro, and hold a press conference.
The president's special plane will land at Budapest's Ferihegy Airport
on Tuesday afternoon.
Central Bank Figures on Hungary's Debts
Budapest, April 3 (MTI) - On December 31, 1994 Hungary's gross
foreign debt totalled USD 28.5 billion, USD 4 billion more than a year earlier,
the latest report of the National Bank of Hungary (NBH) says. The weakening
of the dollar against other currencies accounted for a USD 2.3 billion
increase.
(The bulk of Hungarian debts is in yen and German mark.)
Shares within the gross foreign debt are divided as follows: NBH with
USD 20.2 billion, the government with USD 2.3 billion, and commercial banks
and companies with the rest. Last year the proportion of the central bank and
the government within the gross foreign debt decreased by 4 percentage
points.
At the end of last year the central bank's reserves amounted to USD 6.8
billion, and Hungary's outstanding debts to USD 9.6 billion. As a result, the
net
foreign debt stood at USD 18.9 billion, USD 4 billion more than a year earlier.
*****************************************************************
A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*][*] [*][*][*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
[*][*][*] [*][*][*] [*][*] [*][*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
*****************************************************************
|
| + - | MInistry of Foreign Afffairs - 5 April (mind) |
VÁLASZ |
Feladó:  (cikkei)
|
N E W S L E T T E R
from the Daily Bulletin of the Hungarian News Agency MTI
distributed by the Department for Press and International Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Hungary
H-1394, Budapest P.O.B. 423.
Telephone: 36 (1) 156-8000
Telefax: 36 (1) 156-3801
No. 68/1995 05 Apri
l 1995
Foreign Ministry Spokesman's Press Briefing
Budapest, April 4 (MTI) - The Hungarian and the Croatian foreign
ministers, Laszlo Kovacs and Mate Granic will sign a bilateral agreement on
the protection of ethnic minorities, in Osijek on Wednesday.
On April 10th, in Luxembourg, Kovacs will attend the meeting of the
foreign ministers of the member states of the European Union and the Central
and East European associate member countries. They are expected to
discuss a so-called White Book designed to help those awaiting admission
and promote regional cooperation.
Parliamentary state secretary Istvan Szent-Ivanyi - Hungarian co-
chairman of the Hungarian-Bavarian Intergovernmental Joint Commission - will
hold talks with the executives of large Bavarian companies operating in
Hungary, Foreign Ministry spokesman Gabor Szentivanyi told reporters today.
As regards the Hungarian-Croatian agreement on the protection of
ethnic minorities, the spokesman recalled that contacts between the two
countries are problem free. A basic treaty was signed in December 1992, and
Croatia has also signed a Hungarian-Ukrainian declaration on the protection of
minorities.
Wednesday's agreement will set out in detail the minority rights outlin
ed
in the basic treaty.
The spokesman said this would be the first time that an agreement on
the protection of minorities had been concluded with Croatia, which provides a
home to fewer Hungarians than the number of ethnic Croats who live in
Hungary.
In Croatia - according to 1991 data - there are 25,000 ethnic
Hungarians, while the number of ethnic Croats living in Hungary is estimated
at nearly 100,000.
State secretary Szent-Ivanyi and the executives of large Bavarian
companies will compare notes on the local experiences gained by these
companies, and discuss ways of developing Hungarian-Bavarian economic
cooperation.
The spokesman recalled that the Hungarian government ascribes great
importance to furthering ties with individual German provinces. The excellent
Hungarian-Bavarian relations have historical traditions.
The spokesman officially announced that in March the North Koreans
had informed the Hungarian Foreign Ministry in a verbal note that they would
be closing their embassy in Budapest before the end of March. The North
Koreans mentioned financial considerations as being the cause of the closure.
Hungary regretted the decision but could understand it and was not
planning to take any countermeasures, he said.
Szentivanyi announced that Hungarian-Romanian negotiations on a
basic treaty would probably resume at expert level after Easter.
Commenting on a statement released by the Romanian presidential
spokesman, carried in Tuesday's papers, that it was not an urgent matter for
Bucharest to sign a basic treaty, Szentivanyi said that it was not urgent for
Budapest either, adding that Hungary wishes to develop its relationship with
Romania comprehensively, in line with European norms, and a basic treaty
could be part of this.
He also recalled that Romania had described recommendation 1201
passed by the Council of Europe as "un-European" 18 months after it had
undertaken, before its admission to the Council of Europe, to apply it.
He said Budapest simply could not understand what the Romanians
meant by such language as "minorities struggling for primitive forms of
autonomy".
In answer to a question on the Hungarian-Slovak basic treaty, he said
the Slovaks were disseminating the document worldwide along with their one-
sided interpretation of it.
Budapest's position continues to be that the text, as signed and agreed
,
is in force, and one should not try to interpret it.
A date for its ratification by Parliament will probably be discussed wh
en
the Cabinet meets on Thursday.
Major progress has been made in Hungarian-Saudi relations, the
spokesman said in answer to another question, and the establishment of
diplomatic missions could soon be on the agenda of both countries. In view of
the importance of Saudia Arabia, Hungary wishes to have an ambassador
there, he said.
Defence Minister in London
London, April 4 (MTI) - On Monday, the first day of his official visit
to
Great Britain, Hungarian Defence Minister Gyorgy Keleti went to see a high
technology training centre.
In an interview given to MTI after his return to London late in the
evening, Keleti said that in the future there could be a role for computer
simulators in the training programmes of the Hungarian armed forces.
In the course of Monday's study-tour, Keleti visited a British stand-by
unit which will be deployed in United Nations peacekeeping operations shortly.
The Hungarian armed forces have set up a similar unit and the government
will shortly be given a report listing those places where it could be deployed.
Bosnia is not on the list, said Keleti, and he added that the Defence Ministry
is
cooperating closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this matter.
In answer to the question whether the Hungarian government has
received any formal request to take part in peacekeeping activities, the
minister said countries which aspired to membership of NATO felt obliged to
participate in such missions.
On Tuesday, Keleti will be received by his host, British Defence Minist
er
Malcolm Rifkind, as well as by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Douglas Hogg.
Keleti and Rifkind are expected to sign a memorandum which draws up the
modalities of future cooperation between the Hungarian and British armed
forces.
On Wednesday, the Hungarian minister will give a lecture on security
issues at a strategic research institute operated by the British armed forces,
and will return to Hungary when his official programme has ended.
Defence Minister's Talks in London
London, April 4 (MTI) - Hungarian Defence Minister Gyorgy Keleti and
British Secretary of State for Defence Malcolm Rifkind signed a memorandum
on defence cooperation in London today.
Keleti, who is paying an official visit to Britain, told Hungarian jour
nalists
tonight that the memorandum followed a similar document signed in Budapest
three years ago.
In the memorandum, the two sides reinforced their commitment to
continuing defence cooperation, for instance in language training and the
framework of the peace partnership scheme.
Keleti said his negotiating partners welcomed that the austerity packag
e
announced by the Hungarian government some weeks ago envisaged no cuts
in the funds laid aside for the scheme.
Meeting Rifkind and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Douglas Hogg,
Keleti proposed that a British team should examine the Hungarian Defence
Ministry from the point of view of civilian control over the armed forces, an
institution dating back to centuries in Britain. The team should study the
structural set-up and personnel of the ministry and compile a report, he said.
Keleti offered that the British Ministry of Defence should examine the
possibility of training British units on Hungarian sites. An expert team is
soon to
come to Budapest for this purpose, he said.
Asked whether the training of British units in Hungary may provoke
protest from Hungarian environmentalists, Keleti told MTI that the sites
concerned are unsuitable for any other purpose.
MTI learned from diplomatic sources some weeks before Keleti's visit
that the British Ministry of Defence was looking for training sites in Eastern
Europe and had come close to agreements with the Czech Republic and
Poland. On arriving in London, Keleti did not confirm that such talks were
under way with Hungary, too, but added that "there would be some
opportunities" for the British if they raised the issue.
Goncz Concludes Middle East Visit
Kuwait City/Budapest, April 4 (MTI) - "My negotiations in the United Ar
ab
Emirates and Kuwait were characterized by an identity of political views and
mutual economic interest," Hungarian President Arpad Goncz told reporters in
Kuwait City today.
The president spoke in detail about his negotiations with the Amir of
Kuwait, the Crown Prince and his ministers, and the possibilities for Kuwaiti
involvement in privatization in Hungary, and opportunities for Hungarian
companies in Kuwait.
On Tuesday morning the president inaugurated an electric substation,
situated in the desert 70 kilometres from the capital, which was rebuilt by the
Hungarian company Transelektro.
After his seven-day trip to the Gulf region, President Goncz returned t
o
Budapest this afternoon.
Ukraine to Return Hungarian Art Treasures
Kiev, April 4 (MTI) - Hungarian Minister of Culture and Education Gabor
Fodor signed cultural, educational and scientific agreements in Kiev today.
The four agreements encourage educational and scientific institutions t
o
establish direct contacts, and provide for negotiations on the return of
Hungarian cultural property.
Fodor told MTI his talks and the readiness displayed by Ukraine to
return Hungarian art treasures, carried off in World War II and after the war,
represented a breakthrough.
The Hungarian government does not dispose of a complete list of the
property in question, but after today's talks the Ukrainians signalled that
they
would have concrete information when they attend the first session of a joint
commission in Budapest in the autumn.
Tuesday's agreement has been preceded by two years of preparatory
work. The Ukrainians hesitated for a long time before they finally decided to
accept the Hungarian proposals.
EU Foreign Ministers to Meet Eastern Counterparts
Brussels, April 4 (MTI) - The EU recommendations on the legal
harmonization of economic regulations and regional cooperation between East
European associate members will feature high on the agenda of the
Luxembourg meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU countries and the six
associate members, including Hungary, on April 10, Hungarian Deputy State
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Istvan Pataki told MTI on Tuesday.
Pataki attended a preparatory meeting for the political directors of th
e
foreign ministries concerned in Brussels today.
The EU delegations attending Tuesday's meeting praised the efforts
Hungary had made in Chechnya as OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
In Luxembourg, the ministers will discuss the situation in Russia and
former Yugoslavia and the development of a new system of security in Europe.
Pataki confirmed today that Budapest would continue to observe the UN
sanctions imposed on Serbia. He added that, in view of the unfavourable
economic consequences of the embargo, Hungary has a vested interest in
participating in the future reconstruction of the war-torn region.
Hungarian-Slovenian Talks on Minorities
Ljubljana, April 4 (MTI) - The Hungarian-Slovenian joint committee for
national minorities held its founding session in Ljubljana on Monday and
Tuesday with Csaba Tabajdi, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Hungarian
Prime Minister's Office, and Peter Vencelj, Slovenian State Secretary of
Foreign Affairs, in the chair.
The committee was set up under a bilateral minority protection
agreement signed in 1992.
The two sides exchanged views on international efforts to protect
minorities, reviewed the situation of ethnic minorities in Hungary and
Slovenia,
and reported on measures aimed at enforcing their rights.
Tabajdi and Vencelj agreed that the situation of ethnic Slovenians in
Hungary and ethnic Hungarians in Slovenia fully complied with the European
standards, and both governments had made genuine efforts to assert the
minorities' rights and fulfil their just demands.
The state secretaries confirmed that ethnic minorities formed a link
between the two countries and made a genuine contribution to the
development of bilateral and regional cooperation.
The two sides approved recommendations, calling upon their
governments to take some concrete measures with regard to the life of
minorities. They considered it highly important for the national minorities to
receive education and exercise their religion in their mother tongue, cross the
border freely, and foster their culture and the spread of information in their
mother tongue.
In a protocol, the two sides agreed that the joint committee would meet
twice a year. The next session will be held in Budapest in the last quarter of
1994.
Tabajdi met Foreign Minister Zuran Thaler to survey political relations
between the two countries.
Contract Signed on Construction of Ferihegy 2B
Budapest, April 4, 1995 (MTI-ECONEWS) - Representatives of the Air
Transport and Airport Commission (ATAC) and of Airport Development
Corporation (ADC), which is owned by the Canadian-registered Huang-
Danczkay Properties, on Friday signed a general contract on the construction
of the USD 100 million Ferihegy 2B airport terminal and on its joint operation,
Jozsef Farkas, head of ATAC's investment department told Econews on
Monday. Hungarian sub-contractors will carry out 62 per cent of the
construction work. The USD 100 million cost of construction will be covered
partly from ADC's own resources and partly from bank loans.
The construction project will be supervised jointly by ADC and ATAC.
The planning stage will be six months and construction is scheduled to be
completed in two years' time. The Canadian Commercial Cooperation has
provided guarantees that the project is completed on time and on budget.
During the period of joint operation, ADC will be fully responsible for the
running of the terminal, Farkas said.
It is planned that ADC will set up a limited company within six months
and that ATAC will join this company when the terminal is opened.
When the construction of the terminal is completed, it will become the
property of the state through ATAC. The period for which the jointly-owned
limited company will operate Ferihegy 2B will be 12 years provided that a fixed
but undisclosed internal rate of return is reached in this period.
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A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.
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Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
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|
| + - | MInistry of Foreign Afffairs - 3 April (mind) |
VÁLASZ |
Feladó:  (cikkei)
|
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Sajnos a Kulugyminiszterium a hirkozlemenyeket nem naponta,
hanem nagyobb idokozonkent, nagyobb mennyisegbe tovabbitja.
Igy elnezest kerek a rendszertelen es az oriasi terje-
delmu tovabbterjesztesert, ami valojaban nem az en hibam.
A 26 kozlemenybol allo anyagot, egy-egy hetre feldaraboltam.
Ket tovabbi reszt a holnapi Mozaikba hagytam.
Buchwald Amy
***********************************************************
N E W S L E T T E R
from the Daily Bulletin of the Hungarian News Agency MTI
distributed by the Department for Press and International Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Hungary
H-1394, Budapest P.O.B. 423.
Telephone: 36 (1) 156-8000
Telefax: 36 (1) 156-3801
No. 66/1995 03 Apri
l 1995
OSCE Council Meets in Prague - Laszlo Kovacs
Prague, March 31 (MTI) - The Council of the Organization for Security a
nd
Cooperation in Europe is holding a debate on Friday, the second and last day of
its
session in Prague, on Europe's security model for the 21st century. On
Thursday, the
Council discussed a briefing given by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the
Hungarian
foreign minister, on the most important current conflicts in Europe and the
OSCE's
role in their resolution.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs, in an interview given to Hung
arian
journalists, said Hungary's position regarding the new European security model
was
that "it should be built on already existing organizations - with no super- or
subordination - and at the same time assurances should be given that their
(these
organizations") activities intertwine. The future security structure should
express the
fact that security is comprised not only of military elements, but also of
political,
economic and humanitarian, as well as human and minority rights ones. Lastly,
it is
important that it (the new model) be able to adjust to the swiftly changing
conditions in
Europe..."
Discussing tasks facing the OSCE, the minister said "in this regard it
is the
particular advantage of the OSCE, as a truly all-European organization, in the
face of
other organizations, that nobody can regard its action as an interference. This
is
evident in the way Russia accepts the role played by the OSCE in seeking a
solution
to the Chechen crisis, and the establishment of a permanent OSCE mission in
Grozny."
Kovacs did not rule out the assumption that Hungary, as chairman-in-off
ice,
would play a role, commensurate with its potential, in the planned
peace-keeping
mission of the OSCE in Karabakh.
He then said that he had heard positive views during informal conversat
ions
conducted with diplomats at the Prague session about the signing of the
Hungarian-
Slovak basic treaty, which is "clearly acknowledged as a major diplomatic
success for
Hungary.
In connection with talks on concluding a Hungarian-Romanian basic treat
y, he
said it was not a positive sign that the Romanian Senate had just adopted a law
contrary to European norms, banning the use of the symbols and national anthem
of
other nations.
"I think that some international pressure will be brought to bear on
Bucharest,
lest this decision by the Senate be adopted as a law," said Kovacs.
OSCE on European Security Model in 21st Century
Prague, March 31 (MTI) - The session of the Senior Council of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) opened a debate on
working out the European security model for the 21st century, in Prague on
Friday, the
second and closing day of its session.
Ambassador Istvan Gyarmati of Hungary, the Chairman of the Senior Counc
il,
was able to inform journalists only about the main trends of the initial debate
because
Friday's session was not aimed at passing any resolutions in the issue.
"All the same, I believe we agreed in several basic principles as regar
ds to
how the debate over the European security model should be held. One such basic
principle was that security is not merely a military issue. Other, extremely
important
factors, for instance, the ensurance of minority rights, are just as important
in the
creation of this," Gyarmati said.
"Another issue in which the participants agreed was that the OSCE can o
nly
serve as the means for the concrete states to express their legitimate
interests and
should help to clarify how these can be coordinated," he added.
Gyarmati said participants also agreed that the future of the European
security
organizations, for instance, NATO, the European Union or the Council of Europe
should be clarified by the organizations themselves. The OSCE can only sum up
these results, and can help create the cooperation of these institutions.
Goncz: Hungary to Open Consulate General in Dubai
Abu-Dhabi, April 1 (MTI) - President Arpad Goncz and his retinue arrive
d in
Dubai, the last leg of their official tour of the Middle East on Saturday.
President Goncz told his host Sheik Hamdan, deputy to the ruler, at the
ir
first
meeting that Hungary was ready to develop bilateral relations that looked back
on a
nearly 20-year past.
He announced that Hungary intended to raise its trade mission to the ra
nk of
consulate general.
Some 70 to 80 per cent of Hungary's exports bound for the United Arab
Emirates go to Dubai, and a consulate general could open up further
possibilities for
boosting Hungarian exports.
President Goncz also proposed that trade and investment consultants vis
it
Budapest and seek the most appropriate products and services by selecting from
the
"counter rather than from catalogues".
Later Saturday President Goncz visited the chamber of commerce and
industry where he met members of its presidium and local businessmen.
President Goncz Holds Press Conference in Dubai
Abu-Dhabi, April 1 (MTI) - The philosophy of the two countries is pract
ically
identical: we are advocates of peaceful solutions, we strive to preserve the
equilibrium
and we are open towards all parts of the world. That is why we have visited the
United
Arab Emirates among the countries of the Arab world, said President Arpad Goncz
when he addressed an international press conference at the end of his official
visit to
the United Arab Emirates.
President Goncz said economic links between the two countries have
regrettably dropped in recent years but one of the aims of his visit is to
restore or in
fact multiply trade between the two countries.
He mentioned an agreement under which a delegation from an investment
company in Abu Dhabi would pay a visit to Hungary within a month to study
investment opportunities.
In this connection he mentioned the privatization of the oil industry a
nd the
energy sector, and investment opportunities inherent in banks and tourism.
Meanwhile Ferenc Somogyi, administrative state secretary at the Foreign
Ministry, said in answer to a question posed by a Saudia Arabian journalist
that the
permanent UN missions of the two countries were working to finalize the text
and
within a few days Hungary and Saudi Arabia would establish diplomatic relations
in
the form of an exchange of notes.
President Goncz proceeds to Kuwait on Sunday where he will stay until n
ext
Tuesday.
President Goncz in Kuwait City Talks
Kuwait City, April 2 (MTI) - It is in the interest of both countries to
revive
links
that temporarily lessened due to the Gulf war, said President Arpad Goncz
during
talks he held with Crown Prince Sheik Saad el-Abduallah es-Salem as-Sabah,
Prime
Minister of Kuwait, and Sheik Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sabah
el-
Ahmed el-Djabir as-Sabah, after his arrival today.
Presidential spokesman Andras Farago told reporters that the prime mini
ster
and his deputy expressed thanks to President Goncz for the Hungarian help that
was
offered during the Iraqi invasion and in putting out the ensuing fires.
President Goncz raised concrete economic issues, outlining the choice o
f
goods and services offered by the Hungarian industry and agriculture.
President Goncz also brought up privatization in Hungary, and proposed
that
Kuwaiti investment experts familiarize themselves with the investment
opportunities.
The crown prince and prime minister promised to shortly send an economi
c
delegation to Budapest to map up areas of privatization they might find
interesting.
The spokesman said the foreign minister told President Goncz that on so
me
issues the two countries should represent a coordinated position at
international
forums including the assertion of UN resolutions regarding Iraq and the issue
of
releasing Kuwaiti prisoners of war as soon as possible.
President Goncz told both his negotiating partners that he considered i
t
useful
if Kuwait contributed to supporting Arab culture and language teaching in
Hungary and
to preserving Islamic relics.
Parliamentary Delegation Off to Indonesia
Budapest, April 1 (MTI) - Maria Korodi, Deputy Speaker of Parliament (A
lliance
of Free Democrats) and MP Katalin Ilona Azodi (Hungarian Socialist Party) today
left
on a two-week visit to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam at the invitation of the
parliamentary speakers of the three Indochinese countries.
The delegation, accompanied by a group of Hungarian businessmen, will h
old
negotiations with senior officials in the parliaments and political and
economic
communities of the three countries.
The Hungarian MPs will be met in Laos by Samane Vignaket, speaker of th
e
National Assembly, Khambou Sounixay, deputy speaker of parliament, and in
Cambodia by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, first prime minister, and Chea Sim,
speaker
of Parliament, and Foreign Minister Ung Huot.
In Vietnam the delegation will be met by Nong Duc Manh, Foreign Ministe
r
Nguyen Manh Cam, Minister of Technical, Scientific and Environmental Protection
Dang Huu, as well as the foreign affairs and legal committees of the Vietnamese
parliament.
Minister of the Interior for Germany
Budapest, April 2 (MTI) - Defence Minister Gabor Kuncze flew to Germany
on
Sunday for a three-day official visit.
Kuncze will have talks with the provincial ministers of the interior in
Bavaria,
Baden-Wurttenberg and Rhein-Pfalz, and meet Erwin Teufel, prime minister of the
province of Baden-Wurttenberg.
In Rhine-Pfalz Kuncze is due to sign an agreement on cooperation betwee
n
the two ministries of the interior. Such agreements have been concluded with
the
other two provinces where the main topic will cover the assessment of those
accords.
Defence Minister Keleti in London
London, April 2 (MTI) - Defence Minister Gyorgy Keleti arrived in Londo
n
tonight for a three-day official visit at the invitation of his British
counterpart Malcolm
Rifkind.
Lajos Fur was the last Hungarian defence minister to pay a visit to Bri
tain in
March 1991.
Keleti starts his official programme on Monday with a visit to a combat
unit
of
the British armed forces in the provinces.
Keleti will be received by Rifkind later in the week for talks on devel
oping
bilateral economic contacts.
MTI learnt from diplomatic sources that future links between NATO and
Hungary would not form a separate subject of discussion.
Keleti is also due to meet Minister of State Douglas Hogg.
The Hungarian defence minister is expected to give a lecture on securit
y
policy
before experts at the Strategic Research Institute on Wednesday.
Parliament to Hold Special Summer Session
Budapest, April 2 (MTI) - The Hungarian Parliament will not end its wor
k on
June 15 when the spring session ends, as MPs are expected to hold more sessions
in
July, Speaker Zoltan Gal said late Saturday in Veszprem, western Hungary.
He was talking to newsmen after Sed TV network of Veszprem had taped an
interview.
He said the special session was vital for passing 19 law amendments in
order
to implement the government's stabilization programme.
Legislation vital for stabilization will have to be treated in a partic
ular
way, he
said, since at "normal rate" the endorsement of the bills would take many
months, and
in order to effect the changes this year, the amendments would have to be
passed in
this parliamentary cycle.
Gal added that it was the right of the government to make an appropriat
e
selection among the bills to be submitted to Parliament.
Parliament - Programme, Penalizing Absenteeism
Budapest, March 31 (MTI) - Parliament will stage a day dedicated to pol
itical
debate on Wednesday, April 12, of the government's programme of economic
stabilization, said Agnes Maczo Nagy, deputy speaker of Parliament, at a press
briefing today.
MPs will have yet another chance to expound their views on law and orde
r,
and later (on a day not yet determined) on questions of integration into
Europe.
The House Committee approved a six-party proposal pertaining to the ord
er of
verifying absences by MPs. Accordingly major regulations will be introduced in
order
to penalize regular and unverified absenteeism by MPs.
If an MP should stay away from sessions when resolutions are passed wit
hout
verification in a number exceeding one third of the sessions, he or she will
face
consequences.
In the first move the head of the parliamentary group of the party will
make a
statement on whether to verify the absence, and in the second stage the speaker
of
Parliament will assess this proposal.
Under the regulation passed with consensus, the monthly salary of MPs
staying away without verification will be reduced in proportion to the extent
of
absence.
Maczo Nagy also said that the present Parliament from its inaugural ses
sion of
last June 28 till the end of the year passed 50 laws (19 new rules and 31
amendments
of laws) and 44 parliamentary resolutions.
The balance for this year so far includes 22 laws (10 new ones and 12
amendments) and 41 parliamentary resolutions.
Speaker of Parliament To Leave for Strasbourg and Vienna
Budapest, March 31 (MTI) - Zoltan Gal, Speaker of Parliament, will pay
a visit
to Strasbourg on April 4, at the invitation of Haensch Klaus, speaker of the
European
Assembly, to attend a meeting of the speakers of parliaments in Central and
East
European countries.
This is the first time that Klaus has invited the speakers of parliamen
ts of
the
countries with associate memberships for a joint meeting.
The official programme is to be held on April 5 when the speakers will
attend
a
plenary session of the European Assembly and subsequently meet its speaker.
Afterwards a joint press conference is to be held in the European Palac
e,
Parliament's Press Office told MTI today.
On Thursday, April 6, Gal will head a six-party parliamentary delegatio
n to
Austria at the invitation of Heinz Fischer, speaker of the Austrian National
Assembly.
Hungarian-Slovenian Border Traffic: Crisis Management Programme
Nagykanizsa, March 31 (MTI) - The leaders of the Hungarian and the
Slovenian customs and border guards held consultations today - on the basis of
an
agreement to handle crisis situations signed a month ago - in an effort to ease
the
snarls-up at the international border station of Redics-Hosszufalu (Dolga Vas).
As a result, the Slovenian side will hold a plant health service round
the
clock,
collect and direct empty trucks in a separate lane, and guarantee to let
through at
least 10 cargo shipments an hour.
In line with measures taken by the Hungarian side, passenger cars with
Slovene and Hungarian license plates will be sent to the border station of
Pince-
Tornyiszentmiklos, while passenger cars with other license plates as well motor
coaches to the border station of Hodos-Bajansenye.
The border station at Tornyiszentmiklos will be open from 8 am to 8 pm
daily,
except for April 1, when it will be open from 6 am.
Traffic control on the Hungarian side has been organized - due to restr
ictions
imposed on freight traffic in Slovenia, on Sunday and holidays, a measure which
went
into effect on March 24, and is in effect throughout the year.
Due to the current blockade of Slovenian trucks, a four to five kilomet
er long
line of trucks blocks the Redics side of the border, and is being reduced very
slowly
despite the fact that the Hungarian authorities on Friday allowed five times as
many
trucks to pass through than their Slovenian colleagues.
Truck drivers need to wait 30 hours at Redics today.
American Aid to Hungarian Army
Budapest, March 31 (MTI) - Under the terms of the cabinet decision on
Thursday, Hungary will accept an American offer of aid valued at USD 6.25
million, to
promote renewal of the army's flight-control center, Minister of Defence Gyorgy
Keleti
said at his press conference in Nyiregyhaza (E Hungary) on Friday.
The minister said the government had approved a concept related to the
renewal and submitted by the Ministry, which refers to the development of
Hungarian
military airspace monitoring and control. The long-term modernization serves to
make
the Hungarian Army compatible with NATO, as well as the eventual unified
airspace
control and direction.
Keleti also said the Ministry's leaders will hold talks with the Trade
Union
of
Army Workers on Saturday, to coordinate the staff cuts made necessary in view
of the
government's restrictive measures. This implies the dismissal of several
thousand
army public employees, the precise number depends on the talks on Saturday. The
cuts will be implemented in the second half of the year.
The Minister confirmed that the Hungarian Army will receive military te
chnical
means valued at USD 300 million this year, in return for the Russian debt owed
Hungary. The means will be used to improve the battle preparedness of ground
forces, and to replace the 25-30-year-old armoured transport vehicles.
Keleti also said the Hungarian Army can count on assistance from the Ph
are
programme of the European Union for the English-language training of
conscripts.
The Army would mainly like to enroll conscripts who wish to remain in the Army,
as
professionals.
In conclusion, the Minister said the military training of the 167-membe
r U.N.
unit has been completed. The government will designate their task, with the
Ministry
of Defence proposing Nagorno-Karabakh or Cyprus as service areas for the unit.
Croatian Minority Elects National Self-Government
Budapest, April 1 (MTI) - The Croatian minority in Hungary, numbering 8
0,000
to 90,000, today elected a national self-government. Before the vote, the
participants
were greeted by Gabor Kis Gellert, chairman of Parliament's Human Rights,
Minority
and Religious Committee.
231 out of the 267 electors showed up for the vote, staged at Budapest'
s New
City Hall. They elected a chairman, a three member vote counting commission,
and
set up a 50- member general meeting.
Once the results were known, Janos Wolfart, chairman of the Office for
National and Ethnic Minorities and Naco Zelic, consul at the Budapest embassy
for
the Republic of Croatia, welcomed the national self-government of the Croatian
minority.
On the strength of a preliminary agreement, the self-government will el
ect
executives and officials at its first meeting.
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A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*][*] [*][*][*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
[*][*][*] [*][*][*] [*][*] [*][*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
[*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*] [*]
Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
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