OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 191,  2 October 1996

POLL SHOWS 48% OF HUNGARIANS IN FAVOR OF NATO MEMBERSHIP. A poll
conducted by the Hungarian Gallup Institute shows that 48% of those
interviewed would support Hungary's admission to NATO if a referendum
were held on 6 October, Magyar Nemzet reported on 2 October. Another 27%
responded with a definite "no," while 25% were undecided. In a
Eurobarometer survey conducted for the European Commission last
November, the respective figures were 32% for joining NATO, 22% against,
and 46% undecided. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

BULGARIAN HOSPITAL CHARGING FOR STAYS. Patients of the hospital of
Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city, have to pay for hospitalization
although the law provides for free medical treatment, Kontinent reported
on 2 October. Due to the hospital's financial situation, patients are
also asked to bring their own bed-sheets and pay for their food and
treatment. Hospital Director Gospodin Halachev said if the hospital did
not ask for money it would be forced to close down altogether. Health
Minister Mini Vitkova is reportedly informed of the situation but has so
far not reacted or commented. Meanwhile in Petrich in southwest
Bulgaria, a 17-year old boy died of meningitis. It is the second recent
death in Bulgaria. He had recently traveled to Hungary and returned via
Romania. A doctor said it was a unique and isolated case. -- Stefan
Krause

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Tom Warner