RFE/RL NEWSLINE
Vol. 1, No. 177, 11 December 1997
HUNGARY ACHIEVES TRADE SURPLUS WITH EU. In the
first 10 months of 1997, Hungary's exports to European Union
countries totaled $10.754 billion, while imports from the EU
were $10.616 billion, Peter Balas, deputy state secretary at the
Industry, Trade and Tourism Ministry told Hungarian media on
10 December. He said this trade surplus is unprecedented. He
explained the increase in exports is a result of foreign
investments in Hungary, adding that exports to Germany
represent 37 percent of Hungary's total exports. In other news,
Hungary agreed to send secret service files to Paris on the
notorious terrorist known as Carlos "the Jackal," who used
Budapest as a base in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Carlos is
awaiting trial in Paris for the murder of two French secret
agents in 1975. MSZ
ROMANIAN POLITICIANS SEARCH SOLUTION TO
COALITION CRISIS. The leadership of the National Peasant
Party Christian Democratic on 10 December decided that faction
discipline will be imposed when the government regulation
amending the 1995 Education Law comes to debate in the
Chamber of Deputies. According to regulations, the different
texts approved by the two chambers would then have to come
before a mediation commission. President Emil Constantinescu
on 10 December met with leaders of the Hungarian Democratic
Federation of Romania and said he would refuse to promulgate
a law that infringed on the right of the national minorities to
set up independent universities and to have separate sections
in existing universities. The president said the coalition must
abide by the protocol signed on 3 December, but added that he
supports the stipulation which makes the teaching of history
and geography in the Romanian language obligatory in all
schools, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. MS
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