Hungary urges Romania to close dangerous plants

Hungarian government spokesman Gabor Borokai said on 14 March that Budapest has asked Romania to identify plants that may pose a threat to the environment and "not delay" in closing them down. Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi told the cabinet he personally delivered the message to Romania's ambassador in Budapest. The Hungarian Environment Ministry has noted that the authorities managed to protect the Tisza Lake from a spill of heavy metals into the Tisza River (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 March 2000). Meanwhile, Hungarian water management authorities were put on alert again after receiving reports on 14 March from Ukrainian authorities of another pollution spill on the northeastern reach of the Tisza River. Hungarian authorities were unable to receive confirmation from Romanian officials that another spill has occurred. VG