1988. szeptember (209-245. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
1 Jjfn?íS)iiirf^"“n^i ©sm£ Editor! György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London. WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (from abroad 441-430 2126) 218/1988 (E) 5th September, 1988 An International Conference /'bout the Danube Barra^es Finished in Budapest In Budapest yesterday at noon the three day intemational conference which started on Friday September 2nd in the Hungárián Academy of Science’s Congress hall ended. The meeting entitled the "Danube Barrages" was organised by the Danube Circle, the World Wildlife Fund and the International River Network at the request of the Nagymaros Committee which embraces fifteen environmentalist groups; the Young Democrats Alliance alsó helped. During the conference more than 4-00 participants listened to and debated lectures by 25 Hungárián and foreign experts. Detailed accounts of the events at the conference were published by the Hungárián mass média, including speciálist opinions which opposed the construction of the dam, bút political criticisms were nőt reported. Marga Hubinek the Austrian Parliament’s Peoples Party Chairwoman said that a proposal would be submitted to the Austrian Parliament in September requesting that the Austrian government withdraws guarantees of bank credit. The histórián Péter Hanák spoke about the modifications to the bordér which árise from the diversion of the Danube bed, he stressed that while the Hungárián kings, indeed even Viceroy Miklós Horthy, swore to keep Hungary’s land and waters intact, today it is nőt even part of the constitut- ion. Imre Makovecz, architect, focussed on the question of national identity, he spoke of the necessity fór immediate action and said that it will soon come to light whether those who make the decisions consider Hungárián interests or somé sort of misplaced intemationalism. Tibor Fényi said that a letter from the world famous etiologist Konrad Lorenz was confiscated from him at the Hungárián bordér, the letter greeted the Danube Circle and condemned Austria’s environmentally destructive export. Yesterday at 9 am a debate on the closing document was held, at noon the organisers held an International press conference, at ( pm a free debate began in which there was a report on the text of the conference*s closing document, The document condemns the plán to construct the BŐs-Nagymaros dam and referring to expert evidence demands that it be stopped. The document was signed by internationally renowned scientists. A declaration by the Hungárián Entrepreneurs Alliance caused a stir and was much applauded. It alsó opposes the plán although the entrepreneurs should, because of orders from the state, be interested in continuing the investment. At the meeting the Danube Circle announced that a mass protest is being organised on September 12th. In the evening Hungárián Television will show a one and a half hour film in which environmentalists conduct a debate with representatives from the Water Authorities. Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in dctail as long as the source is acknowledged.
