Brussels, 04/06/1997 (Agence Europe) - Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban decried on Tuesday the apparent acquisition by many Austrian farmers (through secret contracts concluded with men of straw on location) of farm land in western Hungary. Hungarian legislation bans foreigners from acquiring farm land in the country because prices are far below the European average. "This Austrian practice must be stopped", said Mr Orban, reported a Hungarian local press agency. The Prime Minister appealed to Hungarian citizens to cooperate with the public authorities to uncover and denounce illegal contracts. Within the framework of the accession negotiations (in the chapter on the free movement of capital), Hungary was granted a seven-year transitional period during which it can continue to ban the acquisition of farm land by Community citizens not residing in Hungary.