ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96091602.WWE
DATE:09/16/96
TITLE:16-09-96  ROMANIA-HUNGARY TREATY BOLSTERS NATO MEMBERSHIP EFFORTS

TEXT:
(Romanian Ambassador to the U.S. briefs at NPC) (350)
By Vance Phillips
USIA Staff Writer

Washington -- The "Treaty of Understanding, Cooperation, and Good
Neighborliness" will "normalize Romania-Hungary relations" and bolster
each country's effort to gain NATO membership, according to Mircea Dan
Geoana, ambassador of Romania to the United States.

In a September 16 news briefing at the National Press Club, Geoana
said the Romania-Hungary treaty will benefit both nations as they seek
European Union (EU) membership.

The treaty, he said, is "part of a broader package of arrangements,
agreements and gestures" which will help normalize relations between
Hungary and Romania.
He noted the September 6 signing of the "Agreement on Confidence- and
Security-Building Measures" by Gheorge Tinca, the Romanian minister of
national defense, and Gyorgy Keleti, the Hungarian minister of
defense, as one of many steps being taken to "normalize
Romania-Hungary relations." Agreements such as these will help
increase stability in Central Europe, he said.

Geoana said under the treaty both Romania and Hungary have agreed to:

-- refrain from using force or threat of force to resolve disputes;

-- respect the territorial integrity of each other's respective
country;

-- share each others common borders;

-- not make any territorial claims on each other's land;

-- provide mutual support of each other's quest for NATO and EU
membership; and

-- work toward developing economic trade via bilateral agreements.

He stressed that the treaty is part of Romania's effort to improve
Romania's past image. He said although the people of Romania
experienced difficult times during its dictatorial rule steps, such as
the November 3 free presidential elections, are being taken to enhance
Romania's image. He emphasized that the upcoming election shows that
Romania is an emerging new democracy, a factor that could further
enrich Romania's quest for NATO membership.

Geoana pointed out that there was little opposition to the treaty
between Romania and Hungary, that between 70 and 80 percent of the
overall population -- of both Hungary and Romania -- felt that the
treaty is in the "best interest" of all those involved.
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