22 December 1994
Volume 1, Issue 23


REGIONAL NEWS
-------------

**Former Communists Naming Former Communists*
  Hungary's Constitutional Court could invalidate parts of a law today
  regulating the investigation of public officials ties to the communist 
  secret police. The controversial law calls for a panel of judges to
  investigate members of parliament and other high ranking
  officials. They are being investigated in groups of 20. Late
  last month, all in one group were cleared except for one, who
  hasn't been named yet. But now the court could rule that it's
  illegal for judges to act as investigators, a political activity.
  The panel has been in legal trouble since it was revealed
  earlier this week that its leader, Judge Jozsef Eigner, presided
  over political trials in the 1950s.
BUSINESS NEWS
-------------

**Hungary's Social Security Administration to Get Firms**
  Hungary's State Holding Company, one of two privatizations
  agencies, plans to offer portions of some of the country's
  biggest companies to the Social Security administration. Most
  of the stakes would be 10% or less in individual businesses. A
  total of about $600 million worth of these businesses is being
  offered. Some of the firms include the national airline MALEV,
  the trucking company Hungarocamion, the broadcaster Antenna
  Hungaria and the national savings bank O-T-P. Hungary's
  previous government committed about $2.7 billion in
  privatization revenue to social security.

**Hungarian Reserve Requirements Raised**
  Hungary's National Bank has decided to raise reserve
  requirements on bank loans. The National Bank says the new
  policy is designed to raise liquidity. It says Hungarian banks
  don't have adequate reserves to back the rising number of
  loans they're making. And the bank says it's using too much of
  its own reserves to back these loans and that's having an
  impact on the country's current account deficit. The central
  bank plans to sit down with top banking officials early next
  year to map out the country's future monetary policy.

**BUSINESS FEATURE**

  Many business travelers know they have lots of options, but
  their employers don't realize this. In central Europe, newly
  formed corporations are gradually finding out how to cut
  business travel expenses.

  A recent American Express survey found that Hungarian
  companies doing international business expect to spend nearly
  4% of their total costs on travel. However, almost half have
  no firm business travel policy. Generally, they expect these
  costs to go up and they see no way to control them.

  Hungary was the only central European country included in the
  survey. The 9 others were all western Europe. Istvan Talabos
  is business travel manager at American Express Hungary. He
  says Hungarian companies are gradually learning how to
  manage their business travel expenses:

  "There are corporations who know that it is good to work with
  a travel agency, by the simplest fact that a travel agency can
  offer more services than the airline."

  That's because individual agents, especially those
  specializing in business travel, often negotiate their own
  deals with certain airlines.

  Talabos says airlines offer frequent flyer mileage programs
  and the occasional upgrade to individual customers. But few
  corporations use just one airline exclusively. Also few
  companies can supply enough passenger volume to negotiate
  their own special deals. This is where a high volume travel
  agent can step in.

  "Recently we finalized our negotiations with Air France for
  example and there are certain destinations like New York,
  Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and a few others in
  which we can offer a 50% discount on a comfort or a first
  class ticket. We negotiate with the airlines as a company who
  has a volume on the airline."

  Talabos says many companies don't realize that they can
  control their travel expenses with a little research aimed at
  finding the best deals.

  "We think companies in Hungary don't have that type of
  culture, so far. Small numbers of companies, they do have the
  company policy for the travel arrangements. Most of the
  companies they have only one criteria, namely: get me the
  cheapest, logical fare."

  Gradually, companies are learning how to find these good
  fares. The corporate travel business is booming in central
  Europe. Talabos says American Express Hungary's business has
  increased 700% in the past 2 years. So it Appears many
  companies are realizing that cheap fares don't necessarily
  come from working directly with the airlines.

**SURVEY**

  The case of the so-called dog child of Szil, in western
  Hungary, last week captured the imagination of the world's
  media. According to the Budapest tabloid newspaper, Kurir, a
  4 year old boy was taken away from his mother because he
  was allegedly being raised by dogs. The report said that Berci
  walked on all fours and slept curled up on the floor. The
  story made its way onto the pages of several British and
  American papers. Duncan Shiels looked into this modern day
  Mowgli story to try and separate fact from fiction.
  Walking through the sleepy village of Szil, near the
  Hungarian-Austrian border, you can hear geese, goats and
  especially dogs. Every house has at least one or two. Four year
  old Bertalan, or Berci, Kutrovics, was especially fond of his
  dogs. Indeed, by all accounts they were the only friends he
  had. Since the age of 2 he'd been locked in the house from 4 in
  the morning until late at night while his mother worked and
  his father was allegedly out drinking. Last month, after
  hearing reports of Berci's situation, representatives of the
  Child Protection Agency from the nearby town of Gyor came
  and took the boy away from his parents. He's now living in the
  agency's children's home. When Berci arrived he was in a sorry
  state. Agency head Mihaly Szecsenyi claims the boy behaved
  almost like a dog.

  "When the little boy arrived he was filthy, we tried to put
  shoes on him but he kicked them off. He couldn't use a toilet,
  he crawled on all fours and at night he made noises at the
  moon. When we tried to put him to bed he immediately got out
  and curled up in a corner. He couldn't speak. He could only
  understand simple commands like "come here" like with a
  dog."

  Berci's mother, Judit Sarly, says he was not brought up by
  dogs and explains Berci's inability to speak as something that
  just runs in the family.

  "I grew up in worse conditions than my child. When I was 8 I
  could only grunt but I understood. This boy is from my blood,
  unfortunately, and he has learned in this family all that is
  possible to learn. We've had no help. No one organized any
  education for us. I had to work. I worked honestly, I didn't
  steal. I didn't take him to the doctor because he was never ill
  and I didn't take him to nursery school because Berci's not the
  type to mix with other children."

  But Berci has fit in very well at the children's home. He's very
  popular with the other children. Szecsenyi says Berci's mother
  is right about his health, though. Reports from a psychologist
  and medical doctor indicate the boy has no serious physical or
  mental deficiencies. Nurse Ilona Zko has followed Berci's
  progress since he arrived at the children's home.

  "He learns fast. He can see, for example, that you can eat veal
  cutlet with a knife and fork so he learned how to use cutlery
  very quickly, even though he's probably never seen it before
  When he first came he always took food in his hands and
  smelled it first."

  Back in the village of Szil, Berci's neighbors all admit they
  were aware of his living conditions. One neighbor who asked
  not to be named, says she occasionally saw the child in the
  street.

  "He was nice and friendly. He came out to the street and came
  up to us. He could only say "hee hee" He couldn't say anything
  else. But otherwise he was clever. If I told him to fasten his
  shoes or pull up his socks he did it. He was so little. They
  should have done something."

  But she didn't do anything to help Berci.

  "Well, you know, nobody can interfere in a family's affairs.
  There were child specialists, people from the court visited,
  there was the village council, the mayor. Look we can't
  interfere. His mother has said if she finds out who took her
  kid away she'll take revenge."

  Berci's mother has vowed to get her child back. She says she'll
  take the Gyor Child Protection Agency to court. But that would
  take money she doesn't have. Other parents may soon face the
  same situation. Since Berci caught the public eye, the Gyor
  Child Protection Agency has seen a marked increase in reports
  of child abuse. Again, agency head Mihaly Szecsenyi:

  "Since the Berci case we've had 20 or 30 reports of possible
  child neglect by people in other villages, whereas in the whole
  previous your we've had perhaps 10 to 15 cases were reported
  to us."

  As for Berci, he'll soon be joining new foster parents,
  possibly by the new year. The center had no problem finding
  the boy a home. It received 30 responses to an appeal it issued
  for foster parents for him. So, even though this story was
  blown way out of proportion by the press, ultimately Berci's
  15 minutes of fame have left him better off, at least for now.


ABOUT CET ON-LINE
-----------------

* CET On-Line - copyright 1994 Word Up! Inc. and Cameron M. Hewes.
  All rights reserved.  This publication may be freely forwarded, 
  archived, or otherwise distributed in electronic format only so 
  long as this notice, and all other information contained in this 
  publication is included.  For-profit distribution of this 
  publication or the information contained herein is strictly 
  prohibited.  For more information, contact the publishers.

*****************************************************************
A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.

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Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
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23 December 1994
Volume 1, Issue 24


REGIONAL NEWS
-------------

**Hungary Will Continue Investigation**
  A law which created a panel of judges to investigate public officials 
  for past links to the secret police was upheld yesterday by Hungary's
  Constitutional Court. This comes despite last springs stiff opposition 
  in Parliament from the Socialist party. And although the court may have
  upheld the law which allows judges to serve as investigators, matters
  dealing with who can be investigated remain unclear. The court did
  state, however, that heads of universities and state-owned companies
  cannot be examined. It also asked parliament to better define why
  individuals should be investigated. Until parliament makes these
  changes, most of the present law stays in force. Since the 
  investigation began several months ago 2 groups of members of 
  parliament have been investigated along with various other public 
  officials. And According to Judge Jozsef Eigner, head of the 
  investigative panel, judges will continue to probe.

  "It's obvious that the Constitutional Court agrees with the purpose of 
  the law and the decision they made now eliminates the unconstitutional
  parts of it. The result is especially reassuring for us, since we can 
  go on working, we are on the right track"

  But Eigner himself is under attack over reports that he presided over
  political trails in the 1950s. This could side track current 
  investigations.  The National Security Committee meets today to examine 
  Eigner's judicial  record.

BUSINESS NEWS
-------------

**Coca-Cola Amatil to buy Polish Coke Operations**
  Australia's Coca-Cola Amatil Limited is going to buy all of
  Coke's bottling operations in Poland for $237.5 million. Coca
  -Cola Amatil expects the purchase to be complete before the
  end of the year, but the price is locked in until January 31st.
  The deal still needs shareholder approval. Under the agreement,
  Amatil would buy all shares in Coca-Cola Poland Limited and
  Coca-Cola West Poland Limited, 7 bottling plants and 20
  distribution centers. Amatil already bottles Coke in 7
  European countries, including the Czech Republic, Hungary and
  most of their neighbors.

**SURVEY**

  Christmas away from home can be a lonely experience. In
  central Europe, daily life is left behind as families draw
  together to share the joy of Christmas. This can mean a
  confusing disruption as shops, restaurants and even public
  transportation close down in the days around Christmas.
  Nevertheless, there are still plenty of things for expatriates
  who are here over the holidays to do.

  Bright lights and decorations on the street, last minute
  shoppers crowding stores and the hushed anticipation of small
  children are all familiar signs that Christmas is approaching
  fast. In central Europe, though, city life grinds to a halt on
  Christmas eve and the bustle is replaced by stillness as
  families gather on the most sacred days of the season. For
  this reason virtually all shops and restaurants will be closed.
  Hans Henkel is catering director of Budapest's Marriot Hotel.

  "You definitely better do your Christmas shopping before
  hand, because during those days, there's nothing going to go
  on. Nobody's going to be open. Also restaurants are very
  limited, especially Christmas eve, there are actually just a
  few restaurants who are going to be open."

  So you better head for the major hotels to find that special
  Christmas dinner. Henkel says he'll be hard at work preparing
  turkey with all the trimmings. After dinner, if being far away
  from home has left you in a blue mood, go to see Hungary's
  answer to Bob Geldof, the blues star Hobo; he'll be performing
  a special Christmas concert on December 25th. Concerts and
  programs will continue in Budapest all through Christmas
  with organ recitals and classical concerts. But aside from
  these musical events, you may find your favorite local haunts
  closed during Christmas. But, in the Czech Republic, a number
  of shops, restaurants and clubs stay open over the holiday,
  catering to the foreign community. Prague resident Alexandra
  Kurzova says the place to be on Christmas eve is the
  "Hevelski-Trh", a large open air market not far from
  Wenceslas Square. It has everything from live fish, waiting to
  be turned into soup, to traditional Czech ornaments and
  handicrafts.

  "All the streets are decorated. We have also here the
  Christmas market where the people sell their own products
  which continues the Christmas tradition in the Czech
  Republic."

  Later that evening, another important central European
  tradition takes place. Midnight Mass. Kurzova says that even if
  they're not catholic, Czechs flock to hear the beautiful
  Christmas hymns.

  In Poland, extra masses are scheduled on Christmas Day to
  accommodate the country's many worshipers. But, Pastor Bill
  Anderson, of the Warsaw International Church says if you
  don't get there early you may be out in the cold.

  "Most of the Polish community goes to church on Christmas
  eve. Sometimes, I've been told that people have to stand
  outside because there's no room inside the church."

  Also on Christmas Day, Warsaw has a rich offering of
  concerts. The great Christmas Help Band embodies the spirit
  of Christmas by promoting concerts to help the needy. Anna
  Klosowicz, editor of Warsaw's "Where, What and When"
  magazine, says the organization, raised over $2 million last
  year and this year thousands of volunteers and rock groups
  will join together with the hopes of raising even more money.

  "Money from these concerts is going for sick children and for
  buying equipment for hospitals."

  The benefit concerts will be held throughout the Christmas
  season culminating in a final gala event on January 8th. So
  although it can be difficult to spend the holiday season away
  from home, with a little searching, a bit of Christmas spirit
  is never hard to find.

ABOUT CET ON-LINE
-----------------

* CET On-Line - copyright 1994 Word Up! Inc. and Cameron M. Hewes.
  All rights reserved.  This publication may be freely forwarded, 
  archived, or otherwise distributed in electronic format only so 
  long as this notice, and all other information contained in this 
  publication is included.  For-profit distribution of this 
  publication or the information contained herein is strictly 
  prohibited.  For more information, contact the publishers.

*****************************************************************
A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.

           [*]   [*]  [*]   [*]  [*][*]    [*][*][*]
           [*]   [*]  [*]   [*]  [*]  [*]  [*]
           [*][*][*]  [*][*][*]  [*][*]    [*][*] 
           [*]   [*]  [*]   [*]  [*]  [*]  [*]    
           [*]   [*]  [*]   [*]  [*]   [*] [*]

Reposting is supported by Hungarian Human Rights Foundation News
and Information Service.
*****************************************************************