Speech #1000088075

I visited Budapest and met with several highlevel officials and Hungarian citizens to discuss humanitarian and other CSCE issues relating to Hungary. Hungary has enjoyed MFN status on its exports to the United States since 1978. under the terms of the JacksonVanik amendment. While this amendment explicitly ties such status to a countrys emigration performance. it implicitly embraces wider human rights considerations. such as respect *or freedom of expression and religious liberty. Turning first to the emigration picture. I am pleased to note that family reunification cases between the United States and Hungary have continued to be resolved without difficulty. While the number of cases between the two countries has never been high. the resolution of outstanding cases by the Hungarian authorities over the last 4 years demonstrates how the MFN reviewin conjunction with a continual dialog between the United States and Hungarycan work to meet the concerns of all those involved. I welcome this positive development and hope to see it continue. However. the continuing existence of strict Hungarian emigration laws causes concern. One never knows when a restrictive law will be used to limit freedoms. even though it is not being used this way presently. Removal of these laws from the books would build confidence that Hungary will continue its current. favorable practices.