From: FEKETE@bcvms.bc.edu (Zoli Fekete)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.magyar
Subject: AGORA-SCMPOST RFE/RL reports (excerpts)
Date: 4 Sep 1992 08:19:16 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
Reply-To: fekete@bcvms.bc.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

HUNGARIAN OFFICIALS ON GABCIKOVO. Prime Minister Jozsef Antall has
categorically denied that his government ever suggested to the
Slovak government that the Gabcikovo plant could be opened even if
Hungary stopped building its section of the Danube project.
According to Radio Budapest, Antall was replying to a statement by
Vladimir Meciar, who said that such an offer had earlier been made
to Czechoslovakia by Hungary.  Minister without Portfolio Ferenc
Madl, in a interview in the 2 September issue of Magyar hirlap,
noted Czechoslovakia's contradictory statements regarding the
Gabcikovo dam, namely that it is ready to bring the issue before
the International Court of Justice in the Hague and will soon
divert the Danube. Should Czechoslovakia proceed, Madl said,
Hungary will ask the ICJ to require its northern neighbor to
suspend work. The contentious issue is sure to come up again when
Antall meets with Meciar in Budapest on 9 September. Since a year
of bilateral talks have brought no progress, Hungary hopes both
countries will agree to apply jointly to the ICJ, Madl said.
(Judith Pataki & Alfred Reisch)
 
GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON THE HUNGARIAN POLITICAL SCENE.  In
connection with the political tensions after the appearance of a
critical political essay by Hungarian Democratic Forum vice
president Istvan Csurka, the government adopted a statement during
its 3 September session, local media report. The statement
condemns political hysteria and increasingly harsh rhetoric in
domestic public life.  In a reference to President Arpad Goncz's
refusal to sign the dismissals of the top leaders of Hungarian
Radio and TV, the statement condemns arbitrary interpretation of
the constitution.  In reference to the Csurka essay, the
government attacked what it called extremist political views
burdened by prejudices, firmly rejecting endeavors of any
orientation characteristic of totalitarian states, intentions
running counter to general moral values, human and minority
rights, the UN spirit and charter, or the government's
international obligations. The government promised to do
everything necessary to safeguard the constitutional order. The
statement expressed hope that all political forces will make
efforts to easing confrontations.  (Judith Pataki)
 
ROMANIAN REACTIONS TO TOKES'S PROTEST FAST.  President Ion Iliescu
released to the media an open letter addressed to the Magyar
bishop Laszlo Tokes.  Iliescu rejects as unfounded Tokes's
accusations of government laxity in prosecuting those responsible
for anti-Hungarian actions. Among other things, the letter claims
that the ethnic clashes in Tirgu Mures in March 1990 were
"fomented from abroad" and began when "massive groups" of
Hungarian citizens visiting Romania "behaved in an objectionable
manner." Iliescu says Tokes is resorting to "spectacular gestures"
that could be dangerous for the country's tranquillity before the
elections.  The Democratic National Salvation Front, on whose
ticket Iliescu is running in the elections, accused Tokes of
staging the fast on the orders of the CIA and other intelligence
services, according to Reuters. And the extreme nationalist
Greater Romania Party said the action signals "the beginning of a
series of diversions" that could "lead to ethnic clashes and
bloodshed" before the elections. (Michael Shafir)
 
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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