United States Foreign Aid Hungary

For those with any memory of the bad old days in Eastern Europe, President Bush's journey through Poland and Hungary this week was nothing short of astonishing--from the Warsaw lunch at which Communists and once-jailed opposition leaders joined in toasting the United States, to the Hungarian military band that saluted Bush with a spirited rendition of "The Stars and Stripes Forever." "(The) change is absolutely amazing," Bush marveled aboard Air Force One as he left Eastern Europe on Thursday.

Prime Minister Jozsef Antall doesn't believe in sugar-coating the truth when describing the woeful state of the nation he governs. In a three-hour interview Monday, Antall ticked off every depressing detail of the Hungarian economy and likened his leadership task to that of Moses. Inflation and unemployment are spiraling upward while 90% of industry is still owned by the state, he pointed out.

President Bush and the other leaders at the annual summit meeting of seven major industrial democracies agreed Saturday to take concerted action in support of economic reforms that have been launched in Poland and Hungary. But apart from promising to funnel surplus food to Poland through the European Community, the summit leaders did not pledge any specific sum of financial aid to the two East European countries.

Foreign ministers of 24 of the world's richest nations approved an economic aid package for Poland and Hungary on Wednesday, including just over $1 billion in grants and loans that will permit Poland to stabilize its economy and make its now largely worthless currency convertible on international foreign exchange markets.

In a striking example of how communism is crumbling in Eastern Europe, President Bush went before an enthusiastic audience at Karl Marx University of Economics here Wednesday and outlined a seven-point program to aid Hungary in its efforts to develop free enterprise and a more open political system.

When President Bush visits Poland and Hungary next week, U.S. officials expect him to step into a warm and welcoming flood of pro-American sentiment. Despite 40 years of Communist rule, Poles and Hungarians long have yearned to be part of the West, and they have traditionally greeted U.S. officials with adulation. But when Bush begins to speak, the cheers may quickly fade.

The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to provide $838 million--or nearly twice what President Bush requested--for economic aid to Poland and Hungary over the next four years. The measure, which passed 345 to 47, reflects a strong consensus in Congress that the current movements toward democratization in Poland and Hungary will fail unless the economies receive substantial assistance from the West. The Senate has not yet acted on a measure providing assistance to Poland.

The Hungarian Communist Party expects to win no more than one-third of the seats in next year's parliamentary election, virtually assuring non-Communist opposition groups control of the government in a second East European nation, the Speaker of the present Communist-dominated Parliament said Wednesday.

Congress, rushing to adjourn for the year, will hold an extraordinary Sunday session today in an effort to complete work on a budget compromise and repeal of Medicare's controversial catastrophic care program. But lawmakers may be thwarted in their plans to leave town this week because dissident senators, including Republican Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, are threatening a filibuster to save remnants of the catastrophic program.

President Bush signed into law a $14.6-billion foreign aid bill Tuesday night that includes the first cash in a promised three-year aid program for Poland and Hungary. The measure includes $533 million in new aid for Poland and Hungary, aid that has become politically popular because of the wave of economic and political reform sweeping Eastern Europe.

President Bush signed into law a $14.6-billion foreign aid bill Tuesday night that includes the first cash in a promised three-year aid program for Poland and Hungary. The measure includes $533 million in new aid for Poland and Hungary, aid that has become politically popular because of the wave of economic and political reform sweeping Eastern Europe.

President Bush on Sunday vetoed a $14.6-billion foreign aid bill that included emergency economic aid for Poland and Hungary because the legislation provides $15 million for a United Nations family planning agency. The President contends that the agency finances compulsory abortions in China. The President's action marked the third time that he has vetoed a major bill containing funding for abortions.

Congress, rushing to adjourn for the year, will hold an extraordinary Sunday session today in an effort to complete work on a budget compromise and repeal of Medicare's controversial catastrophic care program. But lawmakers may be thwarted in their plans to leave town this week because dissident senators, including Republican Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, are threatening a filibuster to save remnants of the catastrophic program.

Poland's Lech Walesa on Tuesday finally got to take up the invitation he received eight years ago to address the American labor movement, and--judging by his tear-streaked smile--how sweet it was. The emotional moment--shared by an overflow crowd of 1,100 AFL-CIO delegates who interrupted with applause about 29 times--would have strained a seasoned diplomat, let alone the spiritual father of Eastern Europe's democratic revolution.

House and Senate negotiators late Monday approved $533 million in aid to Poland and Hungary to support economic and political reforms in the coming year. Included is $200 million as the U.S. contribution to a $1-billion international fund to stabilize Poland's economy as well as money to set up private sector development programs of $45 million in Poland and $5 million in Hungary.

The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to provide $838 million--or nearly twice what President Bush requested--for economic aid to Poland and Hungary over the next four years. The measure, which passed 345 to 47, reflects a strong consensus in Congress that the current movements toward democratization in Poland and Hungary will fail unless the economies receive substantial assistance from the West. The Senate has not yet acted on a measure providing assistance to Poland.

Foreign ministers of 24 of the world's richest nations approved an economic aid package for Poland and Hungary on Wednesday, including just over $1 billion in grants and loans that will permit Poland to stabilize its economy and make its now largely worthless currency convertible on international foreign exchange markets.

Prime Minister Jozsef Antall doesn't believe in sugar-coating the truth when describing the woeful state of the nation he governs. In a three-hour interview Monday, Antall ticked off every depressing detail of the Hungarian economy and likened his leadership task to that of Moses. Inflation and unemployment are spiraling upward while 90% of industry is still owned by the state, he pointed out.

The Hungarian Communist Party expects to win no more than one-third of the seats in next year's parliamentary election, virtually assuring non-Communist opposition groups control of the government in a second East European nation, the Speaker of the present Communist-dominated Parliament said Wednesday.