RFE/RL NEWSLINE 
Vol. 1, No. 173, 5 December 1997

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT EXCLUDES SLOVAKIA FROM
MEMBERSHIP TALKS. The European Parliament on 4
December called for all qualified countries seeking EU
membership, with the exception of Slovakia, to begin
membership talks next year, AFP reported. The parliament said
the Slovak government is  "not yet sufficiently democratic" for
it to be considered for membership.  EU leaders are meeting in
Luxembourg on 12-13 December to wrap up discussions on
whom to invite to start membership talks. However, they
remain split over the European Commission's  recommendation
earlier this year that only six countries--the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary,  Poland, Slovenia, and Cyprus--begin
negotiations. MS

HUNGARY'S SOCIALISTS TO RUN ON THEIR OWN IN
NEXT ELECTIONS. Prime Minister Gyula Horn, who is also
chairman of the Socialist Party (MSZP), said on 4 December that
his party will not conclude an electoral cooperation agreement
with its current coalition partner, the Alliance of Free
Democrats (SZDSZ), Hungarian media reported. He said  that  the
MSZP-SZDSZ coalition is likely to retain  power after the spring
1998 parliamentary elections. MSZ

HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT OUTLINES FUTURE
MONETARY POLICY. Government spokesman Elemer Kiss told
reporters on 4 December that the main goal of the cabinet's
monetary policy is to reduce inflation from its current level of
18-19 percent to 12-13 percent next year. The current account
deficit is likely to drop to $1.5-1.8 billion in 1998 from $4
billion in 1994, while investments are expected to increase by
more than 10 percent next year, he said. The government will
increase the minimum monthly wage to 19,500 forints ($100)
in 1998. MSZ

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
               Copyright (c) 1997 RFE/RL, Inc.
                     All rights reserved.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx