ABSTRACT
On the international front the controversy over the Gabcikovo Dam on the Danube continues to sour relations with Hungary. (The dam is also in an area of Slovakia where Hungarians predominate.) Hungary and Czechoslovakia had jointly signed an agreement in 1977, but Hungary stopped work on the scheme in 1989 after a powerful campaign by environmentalists and formally withdrew in May 1992. On 24 October 1992 the Slovak government (the Czechs wanted a delay) went ahead with the plan to divert water from the Danube as part of the hydro-electric power scheme. Hungary complained that the diversion also violated the international border. The EC intervened and a temporary deal was made regarding work on the power plant and the amount of water diverted. In April 1993 Hungary agreed to refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice at The Hague. The verdict was delivered on 25 September 1997.
