OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 171,  4 September 1996

HUNGARY'S OPPOSITION ATTACKS DRAFT BASIC TREATY WITH ROMANIA . . .
During a special session of the parliament on 3 September, opposition
parties condemned the draft Hungarian- Romanian basic treaty, Hungarian
dailies reported the next day. They accused governing parties of
"supporting a draft that sets limits to minority rights, of neglecting
the interests of the Hungarian community in Romania, and of supporting
Iliescu's election campaign." Opposition leaders said the "approval of
the basic treaty could win a pat on the back from Europe but never its
respect." The session was convened on the initiative of the opposition
in an effort to ensure that the cabinet will not sign the treaty without
preliminary authorization from parliament. The initiative, however, was
rejected in a parliamentary vote by governing parties, who hold 72% of
all seats. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

. . . BUT GOVERNMENT REMAINS ADAMANT. In reaction to the opposition's
heated criticism, socialist Prime Minister Gyula Horn said, "I have
heard nothing that would prevent me from signing the treaty." Foreign
Minister Laszlo Kovacs argued that the international community considers
the basic treaty the most important indication of an intention to
improve bilateral relations with Romania. He said the treaty will help
Hungary's Euro-Atlantic integration efforts and will contribute to
stability in the region. He said the draft is the "maximum that can be
attained under present conditions." Matyas Eorsi, chairman of
Parliament's foreign affairs committee, warned that a failure to approve
the treaty could lead to an increase in anti-Hungarian manifestations in
Romania. He added that the chances of signing a document that is
acceptable to both Bucharest and ethnic Hungarian organizations in
Romania are close to zero. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

ROMANIAN CABINET RESHUFFLE. Following the ouster of the Party of
Romanian National Unity (PUNR) from the governmental coalition, three
new ministers, all members of the Party of Social Democracy in Romania
(PDSR), were sworn in by President Ion Iliescu on 3 September, Radio
Bucharest reported. They are Ion Predescu, former chairman of the
Senate's judicial commission, who takes over the justice portfolio;
Alexandru Lapusan, at agriculture; and Virgil Popescu, who is now
communications minister. Lapusan and Popescu were formerly deputy
ministers. The government also dismissed five PUNR county prefects and
several deputy prefects. In a press release, the PUNR attacked the PDSR
for its decision to break up the coalition, calling it "immoral" and
aimed at achieving sole control of the parliamentary and presidential
elections scheduled for 3 November. The PUNR also accused the PDSR of
jeopardizing the country's national interests by deciding to sign the
basic treaty with Hungary. -- Michael Shafir

As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Janet Hofmann