OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 124, 27 June 1995


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SLOVAK PARLIAMENT ON SECRET SERVICE. During its session on 26 June, the
parliament made changes to the Separate Control Organ (OKO) which
oversees the activities of the Slovak Information Service (SIS). Igor
Urban of the ruling Movement for a Democratic Slovakia was appointed OKO
chairman, replacing Ivan Lexa, who in April was named SIS director.
Proposals to widen the membership of the OKO and include representatives
of the opposition were rejected, and the organ continues to have four
members and a chairman, all of whom represent the coalition parties.
Urban told Narodna obroda that he was against opposition proposals to
give each parliamentary caucus representation because he has
"reservations" about having representatives of the Hungarian coalition
serve on the OKO. In May the presentation of a report by OKO, accusing
the president and opposition of using the SIS for their own benefit, led
to a non-binding vote of no-confidence in President Michal Kovac. --
Sharon Fisher, OMRI, Inc.

ROMANIA ACCUSES HUNGARY OF RESURRECTING "HISTORICAL DISPUTE." The
Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a declaration issued on 26 June
and carried by Radio Bucharest, accused the Hungarian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of sponsoring and circulating translations of a tract
that resurrects the "historical dispute" over which nation first settled
in Transylvania. The declaration says the tract revives the claim that
Romanians settled in the region only in the 16th century and adds that
the sponsorship "complicates even more the process of negotiating a
bilateral treaty." The Romanian side has demanded that the Hungarians
withdraw the tract from circulation and places the "whole
responsibility" for "tainting the political climate" between the two
countries on the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hungary rejected
the accusation as "exaggerated, groundless and senseless," pointing out
that the four-page tract is used by Romania as an excuse to attack
Budapest. -- Michael Shafir, OMRI, Inc.

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Steve Kettle

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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
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Tuesday, 27 June 1995
Volume 2, Issue 123


REGIONAL NEWS
-------------

**ROMANIA OBJECTS TO HUNGARIAN HISTORY BOOK**
  Romania has lodged an official protest with Hungary over the
  publication of what Bucharest calls a "revisionist" history
  book.  A Romanian foreign ministry statement says Bucharest
  wants Budapest to withdraw the book "National and Ethnic
  Minorities in Hungary". Romania says it views the book's
  publication by the Hungarian foreign ministry with "deep
  concern". Bucharest says the book states that ethnic Romanians
  settled in the Carpathian basin, which includes Transylvania,
  only after the 16th century. Romanians insist their ancestors
  arrived in the basin 2,500 years ago.  The Romanian foreign
  ministry says publication of the work could pollute the
  atmosphere of bilateral talks on a basic treaty between the
  two countries. Conclusion of the treaty is a precondition for
  both countries' entry into the European Union and NATO.



BUSINESS NEWS
-------------

**HUNGARY TO SET UP NEW TREASURY**
  The Hungarian finance ministry is hoping to save around 320
  million dollars by opening a new treasury department next year
  to take over the management of government debt, thereby
  improving the efficiency of the government's payment
  settlement system. Hungary's debt has until now been managed
  jointly by the National Bank of Hungary and the Ministry of
  Finance.


ANALYSIS
--------

**PRAGUE READY FOR BEIJING'S FIRE OVER TAIWANESE PM'S VISIT**
  By Nancy Marshall

  The visit of Taiwanese Prime Minister Lien Chan to Prague this
  week has brought an unexpectedly fierce reaction from China,
  which sees any international dealings with Taiwan as a threat.
  Beijing is particularly upset that over the past ten days
  Prime Minister Lien has met not only with his Czech
  counterpart Vaclav Klaus but also with President Vaclav Havel.
  Lien also visited Hungary and Austria during a recent
  unofficial visit to the region.  However, these were much
  lower-key affairs than his trip to the Czech Republic.
  President Havel and Prime Minister Lien spoke mainly about
  economic issues, which comes as little surprise since Prague
  is anxious to increase trade with Taipei.  Bilateral trade
  between the two nations now stands at 135 million dollars,
  making the Czech Republic Taiwan's second biggest trading
  partner in the region after Poland.  However, Lien's visit
  might not be as momentous as it appears, in the opinion of
  Christopher Lord, senior research fellow at the Institute of
  International Studies at Charles University in Prague.

  Lord:  The Czech Republic has a liberal policy toward visiting
  politicians.  They aren't going to prevent people from coming
  on political grounds.  If someone wants to make a low profile
  personal visit....it's OK. But as far as I can see it's not  a
  political visit.  The reason it was originally given a low
  profile is that it's not intended to have any diplomatic
  significance and it's hard to see how it could.

  CET:     Lien also visited Austria and  Hungary and these were
  very low profile. Why was the Czech visit so high profile?

  Lord:  It's because of the press.  It's a healthy part of
  political culture that the press brings it to the public's
  attention... it doesn't mean there's anything behind it.

  CET:  Havel's spokesman was open about letting the press know
  what was discussed. Why is Prague willing to risk Beijing's
  wrath?

  Lord:  They'd much rather have a close relation with Taiwan and
  the "U.S." bloc in the world than with the Communist bloc
  represented by Beijing.

  CET: Is Taiwan an important trading partner for the Czech
  Republic?

  Lord: Taiwan is potentially an important trading partner for
  everyone, but it depends on the general function of Taiwanese
  finance and business in the future.  No one knows what that'll
  be.  Taiwan has for many years invested in Hong Kong in
  ventures which have links with the mainland.  There's been a
  semi-official, semi-legal trade.  Hong Kong coming under China
  will change that. I don't think anybody knows what'll happen.


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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.
*****************************************************************