OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 4, 5 January 1996

OPPOSITION PARTY ASKS HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT TO VETO MEDIA BILL. Jozsef
Torgyan, president of the Independent Smallholders' Party, told a news
conference on 4 January that President Arpad Goncz should not sign the
media bill, Hungarian newspapers reported. Torgyan said several
provisions are unconstitutional and violate the present multiparty
parliamentary democracy. Following a six-year debate, the bill brings
Hungarian media legislation in line with Western norms. A six-party
consensus on the bill was reached, but the Smallholders opposed it
during the parliamentary debate. The bill was nonetheless passed on 21
December, with the support of a large majority of deputies. -- Zsofia
Szilagyi

NEW HIGHWAY OPENED IN HUNGARY. Prime Minister Gyula Horn on 4 January
opened Hungary's first toll highway, which links the Western town of
Gyor with Hegyeshalom on the Austrian border, Hungarian media reported.
The travel time between Budapest and Vienna has effectively been cut by
20 minutes. Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky and Slovak Transport
Minister Alexander Rezes attended the opening ceremony. The 43-kilometer
highway reportedly cost 37 billion forints ($264 million) to complete
and is the most expensive in Europe to use, with passenger cars paying
900 forints ($6-7) for a one-way fare. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

VOJVODINA HUNGARIANS SUPPORT AMNESTY. Nasa Borba on 5 January reported
that Andras Agoston, leader of the Democratic Community of Hungarians in
Vojvodina, has pledged he and his party will back proposed federal
legislation offering an amnesty to individuals who fled the country
rather than fight in the wars throughout the former Yugoslavia. The
previous day, the daily had reported that Srdjan Darmanovic, vice
president of the Social Democratic party of Montenegro, had endorsed
such legislation, saying conscientious objectors were "not deserters,
but the genuine patriots." -- Stan Markotich

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave