[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ROMANIAN-HUNGARIAN BILATERAL TREATY

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise to draw the attention of the 
Senate to the signing by the Governments of Hungary and Romania of a 
basic bilateral treaty intended to normalize relations and resolve 
longstanding border disputes and ethnic rivalries between the two 
countries.
  The Prime Ministers of Hungary and Romania signed the bilateral 
treaty on September 16 marking an important step toward insuring peace 
and stability in Central Europe. Their signing represents the 
culmination of several years of difficult negotiations and, when 
ratified by both countries, will help ease centuries of conflict and 
tension between these neighbors.
  The treaty obligates both countries to respect the basic civil rights 
and cultural identities of minorities in each country. Educational and 
linguistic guarantees and other communal protections are enshrined in 
the treaty. When ratified and faithfully implemented, the resolution of 
border disputes and respect for the rights of minorities that are 
embodied in the treaty will be an important model for other countries 
with comparable ethnic and nationality problems. Further, the treaty 
will move each country closer to satisfying requirements set for 
successful integration into western institutions, including membership 
in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
  As Romania and Hungary continue to strengthen their democratic 
institutions, develop free-market economies, and ensure respect for 
human rights, their governments and the political parties supporting 
this process are to be commended for taking the political risk required 
to reach an agreement on this treaty. It is a significant example of 
two nations putting the best interests of regional stability ahead of 
domestic political interests.
  Therefore, Mr. President, I want to congratulate the governments and 
peoples of Hungary and Romania for successfully reaching agreement on 
this historic bilateral treaty.

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