OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 48, 10 March 1997

HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OPTIMISTIC ON NATO FOLLOWING U.S. TRIP.
Laszlo Kovacs said on 7 March that meetings with U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and other officials have reassured him about
Hungary's prospects of joining NATO in the first round, Reuters
reported. "The United States has indicated a very strong intention to
implement [NATO] expansion as scheduled," Kovacs told journalists on
returning to Hungary. Commenting on Romania's efforts to become a member
during the first round, Kovacs said Hungary supports the simultaneous
entry of Hungary and Romania into NATO but does not want to sacrifice
its chances of first-round membership on that account. In other news,
Prime Minister Gyula Horn on 9 March said ethnic Hungarians in Romania
could better promote their interests if the two countries were admitted
to NATO at the same time. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

HUNGARY'S YOUNG DEMOCRATS BACK FARMERS' PROTESTS. Viktor Orban, chairman
of the opposition Young Democrats, has expressed his party's full
support for farmers' demands, including the immediate cancellation of
social insurance and tax regulations, Hungarian media reported on 7
March. Farmers first erected road blockades in eastern Hungary two weeks
ago. Following extensive talks with government officials last week,
farmers are today continuing their protest against unfavorable
legislation. In other news, a recent poll conducted by the Szonda Ipsos
agency shows the opposition Smallholders party leading the popularity
ratings with 29% support. It is followed by the Young Democrats (24%)
and the ruling Socialist Party (22%). -- Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave