Magyar Hírek, 1984 (37. évfolyam, 2-26. szám)
1984-09-15 / 18-19. szám
ABOUT THIS ISSUE A number of articles and reports about the Danube are printed in the Hungarian section of this issue. The actual subjects range from a description of how this great river is responsible, directly and indirectly, for the water supply of Budapest to a glimpse of traditional river life, of the paradise of anglers still thriving on many shores of the river. One article tells of the efforts to preserve the ecological equilibrium in the vicinity of a small Danube riparian township of Paks where things were radically changed by the local nuclear power station. Of course, it is not possible to give a really comprehensive picture of the Danube in a few stories: it would need a library of books. This great river, connecting the Black Forest with the Black Sea, is really a “river of history”. In ancient times, when it had two names since the upper part was called Danubius and the lower Ister, much of it at various times, it formed the boundary of the Roman Empire. Several remains of the ancient fortified frontier, the limes have been excavated by archeologists in Hungary. Csepel Island was the home of the Árpád-led princely tribe after the Conquest in the 9th century, and Esztergom, overlooking the Danube, became the first seat of the kings of Arpád’s dynasty. Later, in the 13th century, Béla IY, the second founder of the country, built his palace on Castle Hill rising above the Danube in Budapest. The river has always been an important transport route: shipments of salt coming from Transylvania used to be hauled up river towards Buda, Pozsony and Vienna after floating down the Maros and the Tisza. The introduction of steamshipping and the regulation of the Iron Gate were shining achievements of the Hungarian Reform Age in the 19th century, and even though technological progress has changed much since then, the importance of goods traffic on the great international water-way has continued unchanged. The Csepel free port just South of Budapest is one of the most important transit stations. The International Danube Commission, on which all to the Danubeside countries are represented, is also located in Budapest. Much of the Hungarian section of the river still displays its natural splendour. The Danube Bend, north of Budapest, is one of the most attractive areas of not only Hungary but perhaps of the whole of Central Europe. The great river flowing from West to East broadens almost to a lake he^e, after breaking through a line of 5 — 600 meters high hills, then, changing course, it continues on its way between Zebegény, Nagymaros and Visegrád. An Article in Hungarian Scene concerns this region, and it gains special actuality by the fact that István Szőnyi (1894 — 1960), the painter, who lived and worked there, would be ninety this year. * Discussing problems and tasks appearing in the most diverse fields at conferences and symposia, is a characteristic feature of our lives. It is difficult to even list the vast number of international conferences held within a relatively short time in Budapest and other Hungarian cities, attracted here by the high standard of Hungarian intellectual life but perhaps also lured by Hungarian atmosphere. Let me mention the World Congress of International Federation of Automation, the Budapest session of which was attended by more than 1,200 representatives of 39 countries. Participants were welcomed by György István Szőnyi in his Zebegény garden A view of the Danube Bend Lázár, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People’s Republic. A number of medical conferences also chose Budapest as their venue this year. A total of more than four hundred participants came not only from Europe but from America, Asia and Africa to attend the conference of the Federation of European Associations of Connective Tissue Researchers. More than 1,300 people from forty countries in five continents registered to take part at the Electron Microscope Congress. Endocrinologists held a conference at Pécs, and haematologists at Szeged. More than eight hundred Hungar" ian economists discussed timely prob’ lems of the economic life of the country at congress held at Pécs, covering problems of “how now” of the economic reform, which the world press also follows with interest from time to time. The Deputy-Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Lajos Faluvégi delivered a lecture that discussed the principal problems. He pointed out that the equilibrium of Hungarian economic life was successfully restored, though much effort was required in recent years, indeed, a considerable surplus of the balance of trade is expected this year in spite of the deterioration in the terms of trade. But the economic problems can only be coped with by way of a complete restructuring and modernization of the Hungarian economy. The product structure must be modified first of all. That has to be done so that production of uneconomic, noncompetitive products can be scaled down, while efficient production, promising profits, promoted. The economic reform works well, he said, but life gave rise to more problems than expected. The delay in working out a programme to continue the reform slowed down the solution of these. From now on, — Lajos Faluvégi emphasized — more attention has to paid also to the social effects of the system of economic management. Economic measures affect large sections of society, they have a direct influence on general welfare, thus influencing even the will and ability of people to act. For these reasons a programme is being worked out now, the realization of parts of which will take several years. Further consolidation of equilibrium is the aim of the first phase, therefore purchasing power can increase only to a limited degree. Provided that external circumstances will not worsen public purchasing power can grow at a higher rate in the second phase. Afterwards Jenő Véncsa, the Minister of Agricultural and Food Production, spoke, then László Kapolyi, Minister of Industry discussed connections between technical progress and human factors. ZOLTÁN HALÁSZ 60 * I
