The agreement signed by Israel and Hungary in Bern, Switzerland, Monday to establish interest sections in their respective countries follows a pattern established by Poland earlier this year which may extend to other Communist bloc states that severed diplomatic ties with Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, according to observers here.
Some are suggesting that Bulgaria may be the next Eastern bloc country to emulate Poland and Hungary. It is widely assumed here that the Kremlin is privy to and approves of the discreet negotiations that have led to progress toward restoring relations between Israel and the Eastern European countries.
Although both Israel and Hungary made it clear their agreement is only a first step, it could “lead to full normalization,” according to Yeshayahu Anug, the Israeli diplomat who signed the accord with the Hungarians.
Anug, who is Deputy Director General of the Foreign Ministry, said in a radio interview from Bern Monday that each side would send field missions to the other country to find suitable premises and make logistic arrangements for their interest offices.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
