[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 127 (Monday, September 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HUNGARY AND ROMANIA SIGN TREATY OF UNDERSTANDING, COOPERATION, AND GOOD 
                             NEIGHBORLINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 16, 1996

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, just a few hours ago earlier today, a Treaty 
of Understanding, Cooperation, and Good Neighborliness was signed by 
representatives of the Governments of Romania and Hungary. The signing 
took place in Romanian city of Timisoara/Temesvar with leaders of both 
Governments--Romanian President Ion Iliescu, Hungarian Prime Minister 
Gyula Horn, Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a historic occasion and this is a historic 
document. The leaders of both Governments deserve our commendation and 
our congratulations for their foresight and their efforts in seeking to 
reconcile outstanding differences between the two countries. The 
following is a statement that I made on the occasion of the treaty 
signing:

  Statement of Congressman Tom Lantos on the Signing of the Treaty of 
Understanding, Cooperation, and Good Neighborliness Between Romania and 
                        the Republic of Hungary

       I wholeheartedly welcome the signing of the ``Treaty of 
     Understanding, Cooperation, and Good Neighborliness between 
     Romania and the Republic of Hungary,'' and I commend the 
     farsighted leadership that has been shown by both the 
     government of Hungary and the government of Romania in 
     reaching agreement on this document. The negotiations have 
     not been easy. The Romanian government faced a fractious 
     internal division over the treaty, and the Hungarian 
     parliament had a lengthy debate on the matter.
       This treaty will be of benefit to both Hungary and Romania, 
     and it will be an important element contributing to the 
     stability of that region. It is my sincere hope that the good 
     faith implementation of this document will be of benefit to 
     ethnic Hungarians living in Romania. It is also my hope and 
     expectation that this agreement will accelerate and 
     facilitate the entry of each of these two countries into 
     membership in the North Atlantic Treaty and into full 
     economic integration with the European Union.
       It is significant and it is symbolically important that the 
     signing of the treaty will take place in Timisoara/Temesvar, 
     just a few miles from the borders of the former Yugoslavia. 
     Hungary and Romania have faced their differences, they have 
     conducted a frank and open and reasoned political dialogue, 
     and they have both compromised in reaching this agreement. 
     Their reasoned dialogue and mutual respect stands in sharp 
     and dramatic contrast to the tragic violence and bloodshed 
     that has convulsed Bosnia and other areas of the former 
     Yugoslavia.
       I want to emphasize that the signing of this treaty 
     constitutes another significant step in the process of 
     reconciliation between Hungary and Romania. Both countries 
     have been active in their efforts to improve economic 
     cooperation, to foster the free movement of peoples between 
     their countries, to expand military relationships, and to 
     increase cultural and educational cooperation. The signing of 
     this treaty will lead to greater cooperation in all of these 
     important fields.
       I congratulate the leaders of both governments for their 
     efforts and for their statesmanship.

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