At that time all countries sharing a border with Germany and all members of the European Union were considered safe third countries. Today's ruling revokes a ruling by the Koblenz Upper Administrative Court that had come to a contrasting finding. The Federal judges stated that neither the genesis of the law, nor its text nor its target contained evidence for an opposing view. The plaintiff, however, may stay in Germany anyway because as a Kurd he is threatened by political persecution in Turkey. Reform of hospital financing The financing of hospitals will be reformed.
Hospitals account for one third of all health care expenditures.
The top coalition boards have passed a draft that from 1997 on hospital budgets will be negotiated between hospital corporations and public health insurers. The German government has admonished Zaire to improve the human rights situation. Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said on a meeting with Zaire's Prime Minister Leon Kengo wa Dondo that it was impossible at this time to return to regular development aid. Germany and the international community, however, are prepared to support serious reforms in the central African country. Both politicians agreed that the unstable political situation in Zaire's neighbouring countries Rwanda and Burundi was a heavy burden for the whole region.