RFE/RL NEWSLINE 
Vol. 1, No. 104, 27 August1997

HUNGARIAN OFFICIAL CRITICIZES ANTI-ROMA MEASURES. Jeno
Kaltenbach, the ombudsman for minority rights, is to launch a
"comprehensive investigation" into a decision by the local authorities
of Satoraljaujhely, in northeastern Hungary, aimed at forcing
members of the Roma minority to leave the town. The local
authorities there recently decided that "certain people" who are
"unable to adjust to life in towns" and 'threaten public security" may
be removed, even if that requires "using illegitimate means."
Kaltenbach termed the decision "local apartheid," Hungarian media
reported. The mayor of Satoraljaujhely recently said on Hungarian
television that the decision was prompted by "hygienic reasons."
Kaltenbach said the Satoraljaujhely case was not an isolated one.
television that the decision was prompted by "hygienic reasons."
Kaltenbach said the Satoraljaujhely case was not an isolated one.

HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CRITICIZES ATTACKS ON FOREIGN
POLICY. Laszlo Kovacs on 26 August said the Alliance of Young
Democrats' (FIDESZ) recent criticism of the country's foreign policy
(See "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 August 1997) is a "bad omen" for the
1998 election campaign. He said FIDESZ aims at undermining
Budapest's relations with its neighbors and with Hungarian
minorities abroad. Also on 26 August, Victor Orban, the chairman of
FIDESZ, expressed regret that other opposition parties, excluding the
Hungarian Democratic Forum, are not willing to back FIDESZ's
proposal that the results of the planned referendum on NATO
membership be binding on the government, Hungarian media
reported.


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