From: KADAR@BINAH.CC.BRANDEIS.EDU
Newsgroups: soc.culture.magyar
Subject: AGORA-SCMPOST RFE/RL Daily Report (excerpts) 13-21 JAN
Date: 24 Jan 1993 12:34:01 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

Here are some bits of old news from RFE-RL; I hope to resume regular posting 
from now on.    / Zoli, recovering from the winter break interruptions ;-(
 
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Subject: RFE/RL Daily Report 13 JAN, 1993
 
HUNGARIAN PLACE NAMES FORBIDDEN IN VOJVODINA. The use of Hungarian
place names will no longer be allowed on the air on Novi Sad Radio
and TV, Radio Budapest reported on 12 January. The head of Novi
Sad Radio and TV told employees that under the new rump Yugoslav
language law geographical and official names may only be given in
Serbian. Edith Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.
 
HUNGARY ON VISEGRAD GROUPING. Reacting to Czech Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus's recent statement on the "artificial" nature of the
grouping, Hungarian Foreign Ministry spokesman Janos Herman
recalled that the goal of the Visegrad Triangle was to promote the
integration of Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Hungary into Europe.
Herman said that "until now Budapest felt that the [grouping] was
a valuable tool [to achieve this goal] , but it is now difficult
to predict how this cooperation will evolve in the future," MTI
reports. He stressed, however, that Hungary was ready to "update"
its cooperation within the group. Edith Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.
 
HUNGARIAN SALARIES. According to data published by the Central
Statistical Office, the average Hungarian gross monthly salary at
firms employing more than 50 persons is 25,795 forint (about
$310), Radio Budapest and MTI report. Those working in the
financial field earn the most at more than 40,600 forint. Salaries
are the lowest in the textile industry--16,293 forint. Edith
Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.
 
Subject: RFE/RL Daily Report 14 JAN, 1993
 
MEDIA WAR DIVIDES HUNGARIAN JOURNALISTS. On 13 January the
presidium of the National Federation of Hungarian Journalists
issued a statement protesting government encroachments on the
independence of radio and TV, MTI reports. The federation, which
was controlled by the communist party until 1988, charges that
preparations for a personnel purge have already begun. The
Federation of Hungarian Journalists, a postcommunist journalists'
association that is ideologically close to the government, reacted
by declaring that two years after the multiparty elections the
radio and TV continue to misinform the public and that "a change
of regime" in these areas is needed. The federation greeted the
resignations of the media chiefs as "an encouraging first step"
toward objective reporting.  Edith Oltay , RFE/RL, Inc.
 
ROMANIAN NATIONALISTS URGE BAN ON ETHNIC HUNGARIAN PARTY. In a
statement broadcast by 

ultranationalist Party of Romanian National Unity (PRNU) urged
authorities to ban the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania
(HDFR), a party representing the country's ethnic Hungarian
minority. The HDFR is expected to start a three-day congress in
Brasov on 15 January. The PRNU statement, signed by its
controversial chairman, Cluj Mayor Gheorghe Funar, accuses
participants in the planned congress of seeking "to achieve
territorial autonomy and tear Romania apart." HDFR leader Geza
Domokos rejected the accusations as a diversion meant to shift
public attention from Romania's current problems.  Dan Ionescu,
RFE/RL, Inc.
 
UNEMPLOYMENT IN 
nistry of Labor and reported by MTI 663,000 people were out
of work at the end of 1992, which corresponds to an unemployment
rate of 12,2%. This is a significant increase over 1990 and 1991,
when the number stood at 80,000 and 406,000, respectively. Only
450,000 persons are receiving unemployment benefits, and as of 1
January the jobless are entitled to benefits only for 12 months.
Previously benefits were paid for 24 and 18 months. Unemployed no
longer entitled to benefits will be able to apply to the local
governments for social aid. The Ministry predicts that the number
of unemployed will continue to climb reaching 900,000 by the end
of this year.  Edith Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.
 
Subject: RFE/RL Daily Report 15 JAN, 1993
 
NO COMPROMISE ON GABCIKOVO. Dominik Kocinger, a Slovak government
commissioner for the Gabcikovo Hydroelectric Plant project, told
journalists after a meeting of Slovak, Hungarian, and European
Community experts in Bratislava on 14 January that the views of
the Slovakia and Hungary are still at variance. CTK reports
Kocinger as saying that Hungarian and Slovak sides have raised
different demands with regard to the future of the project.
Kocinger also said that "if it does not make sense," the Slovak
delegation will not attend the next round of talks, scheduled to
take place in Brussels next week.  Jiri Pehe, RFE/RL, Inc.
 
ROMANIA'S ETHNIC HUNGARIANS HOLD CONGRESS. A three-day congress of
the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania (HDFR) opens on 15
January in Brasov amidst growing concern among Romanian
politicians over possible demands for territorial autonomy from
the country's large Hungarian minority. Local media report that a
radical HDFR wing, which is pressing for autonomy, is likely to
take over the party's leadership at the congress. In an interview
with Radio Bucharest on 14 January, Geza Domokos, the moderate
HDFR chairman, announced his intention to step down. Romanian
political leaders are urging the HDFR to show restraint and avoid
raising thorny issues like autonomy claims.  Dan Ionescu , RFE/RL,
Inc.
 
Subject: RFE/RL Daily Report 19 JAN, 1993
 
HUNGARIAN DEMOCRATIC FORUM PREPARES FOR CONGRESS. The 16-member
"strategic work group" of the Hungarian Democratic Forum,
comprising members of the national presidium and steering committee
as well as the government, is preparing materials for discussion at
the upcoming national congress, MTI reported on 18 January. The
subjects include party strategy in 1993 and 1994, the HDF's three
wings, European integration, carrying out the change of regime, and
social problems. Minister of Industry and Trade Ivan Szabo said
that the HDF seeks to change its image at home and abroad and make
clear that it is a moderate middle-of-the-road party. HDF presidium
member Istvan Csurka and several county party organizations
criticized plans to begin the congress with leadership elections if
candidates are given no chance to present their programs. Csurka
said that such a procedure would turn the elections into "a mere
formality" and ensure the reelection of current chairman Prime
Minister Jozsef Antall.  Csurka said that this is the reason he
withdrew his candidacy for the post of chairman, and warned of the
"danger of political rigidity" if the congress reelects Antall in a
show of solidarity without prior debate.  Edith Oltay,, RFE/RL,
Inc.
 
HUNGARIAN-ROMANIAN TALKS.  Returning from a trip to Romania where
he attended the national congress of the Hungarian Democratic
Federation of Romania, State Secretary Gyula Kodolanyi termed his
talks with Romanian government and opposition figures "very
successful," according to MTI of 18 January. Kodolanyi expressed
satisfaction that Romanian government figures have agreed to meet
with Geza Entz, the head of the Office for Hungarians Abroad,.  who
has until now been treated in a rather hostile manner in government
circles.  Kodolanyi said that the Romanian side is also interested
in improving Hungarian-Romanian relations and suggested that a new
round of official talks begin. Edith Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.
 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 13:27:03 +0100
 
MELESCANU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RELATIONS WITH HUNGARY. On 20 January
Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu told an RFE/RL
correspondent in Bucharest that he believed relations with Hungary
are "on the threshold of rapid improvement." Melescanu said that
his assessment is based on new and positive developments in
negotiations with Hungarian Foreign Minister Geza Jeszenszky. He
also said that he was gratified by the progress in negotiations
for a basic bilateral treaty between Hungary and Romania, but
added that formal recognition of Romania's present border with
Hungary was necessary for completion of that treaty.  Dan Ionescu,
RFE/RL, Inc.
 
HUNGARIAN INTERIOR MINISTER CALLS FOR STRONGER EXECUTIVE.  On 20
January Minister of the Interior Peter Boross told a conference
evaluating his ministry's work that the country's internal
transformation and geopolitical situation require "a state with
the capacity to act and that is capable of protecting the
citizens," MTI reports. He called for a reform of public
administration that would increase executive authority while at
the same time avoiding the dangers of centralization.  Boross
stressed that public administration plays an important role in
preserving political stability and should be free of party
political influences.  Edith Oltay, RFE/RL, Inc.
 
The RFE/RL Daily Report is produced by the RFE/RL Research
Institute (a division of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc.)
with the assistance of the RFE/RL News and Current Affairs
Division (NCA). The report is available by electronic mail
via LISTSERV (RFERL-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU), on the
Sovset' computer bulletin board, by fax, and by postal mail.
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