OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 86, 2 May 1996

NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL ON SLOVAKIA'S POTENTIAL MEMBERSHIP. Javier Solana
said during his 30 April visit to Slovakia that the country is still a
candidate for NATO membership, international media reported. He added
that "the alliance consists of countries that share the values of
democracy, of respect of human rights, [and] of the protection of
minorities," and that Slovakia must uphold these values to become a
member. He told President Kovac that it is too early to "classify"
countries; however, consideration of individual candidates will be
completed at the end of the year. After meeting with Solana, Prime
Minister Vladimir Meciar emphasized that there are no obstacles to
Slovakia's membership. However, visiting Slovakia on 30 April, former
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke warned Meciar that
completing the Slovak-Hungarian treaty's ratification process is an
essential condition for further discussions on Slovakia's NATO
membership. -- Sharon Fisher

HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, GOVERNMENT'S POPULARITY RISE IN POLLS. Gyula
Horn's popularity rose nine points in April while his government's
rating reached its highest point since the introduction of austerity
measures more than a year ago, Hungarian media reported on 2 May. In a
poll conducted by the Sonda-Ipsos agency, Horn rose to 55% from 46% a
month earlier, gaining personal support even from people who said they
would not vote for his Socialist Party. The government as a whole
received a 53.4% rating, up from 51.1% in March. Officials of the
polling organization said the rise in the government's popularity was
likely influenced by the recent change of finance ministers and
antipathy created when the leader of the opposition Smallholders' Party
made a controversial speech in mid-March. -- Steve Kettle

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave