RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
________________________________________________________
RFE/RL NEWSLINE  26 July 1999

U.S. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SHORTCOMINGS OF HUNGARIAN
MILITARY. A study of the Hungarian armed forces by the
U.S. company Cubic Applications Inc. outlines numerous
shortcomings and suggests ways of modernizing the
forces, "Magyar Hirlap" reported 24 July. The study
notes that there are still too many senior officers and
too few NCOs. It says that armor-piercing artillery used
by land forces is virtually ineffective, while radar and
air defense systems are well below standard. And it
recommends the gradual withdrawal of MiG-21s, noting
that other air force equipment is out of date. MS

ROMANIAN, HUNGARIAN PREMIERS DISCUSS OUTSTANDING
ISSUES... Radu Vasile and Viktor Orban, meeting in Targu
Mures on 23 July for "informal talks," agreed that
ethnic conflicts in the region must be quickly
eliminated. With regard to the envisaged Hungarian-
language state university in Romania, Vasile said the
"constitutional obstacles" for setting it up have been
removed and the problem is now a "technical" one. The
next day, however, Vasile said in Cluj that the
university cannot be established during the current
parliamentary session because of "procedural
difficulties." Vasile also told Orban on 23 July that
the restitution of Church property confiscated by the
communist regime will be provided for either in a law
passed by the parliament or in an emergency government
regulation. Some 195 buildings will be returned,
RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau quoted him as saying. MS

 ...WHILE ORBAN SAYS HE WANTS 'RESOLUTE STEPS.'
Addressing the traditional Balvanyos Free Summer
University in Baile Tusnad on 24 July, Orban complained
that the Hungarian government must "time and again raise
the same issues" with the Romanian cabinet, in
particular the Hungarian-language university and the
restitution of Church property. He said that his cabinet
will "not make concessions" on the problems faced by
Hungarians living outside Hungary and that the
restitution of Church property is linked to
"safeguarding the Magyar minority's identity." He said
Romania has made a "few nice gestures" but added he
expects "resolute steps." Orban also said that it is up
to the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania (UDMR)
to decide what policies best serve the interests of
Romania's ethnic Hungarians. Since the UDMR supports the
setting up of the university, he said, his government
will also "not give up supporting it." MS

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