OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 248, 22 December 1995

SLOVAK OPPOSITION ON DELAY OF TREATY RATIFICATION. Democratic Union
deputy Milan Knazko, at a press conference on 21 December, criticized
Meciar for not defending the Slovak-Hungarian treaty in the parliament,
commenting that the delay in ratifying the treaty was intended to hide
the conflict within the coalition over the issue. Christian Democratic
Movement (KDH) Chairman Jan Carnogursky pointed out that the treaty was
signed nine months ago, giving Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar sufficient
time to clear up any conflicting interpretations with Hungary. KDH
deputy Frantisek Miklosko said the passage of the controversial language
law in November was probably not sufficient to appease the nationalists
within the coalition. -- Sharon Fisher

HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES BUDGET, MEDIA BILLS. Parliament on 21
December approved the 1996 budget and--following five years of debate
and delay--the media bill on public and private broadcasting, Hungarian
media reported. The budget bill was supported by the two coalition
parties but rejected by the opposition, which said it did not contain
enough reform measures. Provisions of the media bill, which received
greater support, have not yet been publicized. The parliament also
approved state subsidies totaling 4 billion forints ($28.5 million) for
churches. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

HUNGARY'S FERIHEGY AIRPORT WILL NOT BE NATO AIR BASE. Defense Ministry
spokesman Lajos Erdelyi on 20 December denied that a second NATO air
base would be established at Budapest's Ferihegy airport, Hungarian
media reported the next day. He said an erroneous report was released by
AFP the previous day quoting Col. John Martinson of the U.S. Embassy in
Budapest (see OMRI Daily Digest, 20 December 1995). Erdelyi told
Nepszabadsag that air planes carrying military equipment will land at
Budapest airport, but shipments will be forwarded to military bases in
Taszar and Kaposvar, southern Hungary. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave


Elnezest az esetleges kisbetukert, de az eredeti szoveg csupa
nagybetuvel volt irva, amit at kellett cserelnem.

Buchwald Amy

*****************************************************************

date=12/21/95
type=background report
number=5-32037
title=Slovakia / Hungary
byline=Alena Kenclova (not voiced)
dateline=Prague
content=

not voiced

Intro:  The ruling Slovak coalition may need to make more
concessions to nationalists within its own ranks if the Slovak
parliament is to ratify a treaty on good relations next year with
neighbor Hungary.  Alena Kenclova reports from Prague.

Text:  The Slovak parliament failed to vote on the treaty this
week (Wednesday).  After eight-hours of debate, the legislature
agreed to postpone the vote until its next session in January.

Members of prime minister Vladimir Meciar's Movement for a
Democratic Slovakia proposed the postponement when it became
clear nationalist deputies in the coalition would not support the
treaty.

Mr. Meciar and Hungarian prime minister Gyula Horn signed the
bilateral accord during a meeting of European leaders nine-months
ago in Paris.  Hungary ratified the accord in June, but the
treaty is vehemently opposed by the Slovak National Party, a
junior coalition partner.  The party says the treaty could stir
separatist tendencies among the 600-thousand ethnic Hungarians
living in South Slovakia.

Some members of the opposition have called for an official
interpretation of treaty that would answer concerns about
separatism.  Foreign relations committee chairman, Dusan
Slobodnik, is to work out such an interpretation by the next
session of parliament.  Hungary rejects any further talks on the
treaty.

Both Hungary and Slovakia are aware they have to defuse potential
tensions, stemming from historical causes, to be eligible for
European Union and NATO membership.

Slovakia was ruled by Hungary for centuries, until it became part
of Czechoslovakia in 1918.  Since the disintegration of
Czechoslovakia three-years ago, some Slovaks have become
increasingly concerned the Hungarian minority might want
re-unification with Hungary.  Ethnic Hungarians have complained
the Bratislava government suppresses their minority rights.

The postponement of the vote gives prime minister Meciar a few
more weeks to win support for ratification.  But ethnic Hungarian
deputies in the Slovak parliament voice fears he will offer a
trade-off to the nationalists, such as an administrative reform
that would weaken the position of the Hungarian minority.
(Signed)

neb/ak/rae

21-Dec-95 8:32 am est (1332 utc)
nnnn

source: Voice of America