RFE/RL Daily Report
No. 182, 23 September 1994
. . . KOVAC ON MECIAR. In an interview published in Slovensky
vychod on 22 September Slovak President Michal Kovac said that he
realized that former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar wanted to
create the impression that Slovakia was being threatened. The
president argued that there were "no signs that serious problems
could arise between Slovaks and Hungarians living in southern
Slovakia." Kovac said that some people might "play games" or
"stage something," which intelligence services might not always
uncover in advance. Kovac said he had all the information that he,
as president, could have and that he was not aware of any serious
problems. According to Kovac, foreign politicians appreciate the
policies of the current government, which they consider to be
"transparent and understandable." -- Jiri Pehe, RFE/RL Inc.
HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT ON WORLD FAIR AND PENSIONS. Gyula Horn's
cabinet, at its 22 September session, decided to submit to
parliament its draft proposal calling for the cancellation of the
1996 World Fair in Budapest, MTI reports. The move, which does not
mean the cancellation of related infrastructural projects, will
result in savings of 45 billion forint ($42 million). The cabinet
also decided to pass in October its proposal to raise pensions by
8%, retroactive to 1 January 1994, so that the first payments can
be made in November. The move will cost 21.2 billion forint and
will increase the country's budget deficit by that amount. --
Alfred Reisch, RFE/RL Inc.
HUNGARIAN ARMY HAS MONEY PROBLEMS. Following a closed hearing on
21 September before the parliamentary defense committee, Major
General Nandor Hollosi said that under its current budget the
strength and structure of Hungary's Army could no longer be
financed, MTI reports. The committee asked the Defense Ministry to
prepare an estimate of the cost of Hungary's admission to NATO,
one requirement of which would be to spend at least 3% of the
country's GDP on defense, compared with only 1.78% at present,
when the armed forces should be receiving 2-2.5%. Next year the
government will submit to parliament a comprehensive reform
program for the armed forces to reduce the number of conscripts
and military installations and eliminate obsolete armaments. --
Alfred Reisch, RFE/RL Inc.
As of 1200 CET]
(Compiled by Penny Morvant and Maggie Evling)
Copyright 1994, RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved.
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A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.
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Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
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