Bratislava: Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said in Bratislava on Monday that Slovakia’s parliamentary speaker has “clearly reaffirmed” that a planned new language law will not restrict national minorities’ right to the use of their mother tongue. Hungary’s government attaches great importance to the fate of ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, Minister Szijjártó said after talks with Slovak parliamentary speaker Péter Ziga. The government therefore welcomes Slovakia’s view of the ethnic Hungarian community as an asset in advancing bilateral relations, he added.
According to About Hungary, Minister Szijjártó emphasized that he received a clear confirmation from the speaker that the planned new language law regulation would not endanger the right of national minorities in Slovakia to use their mother tongue. He pointed out that he has worked together with Ziga for eight years and even considers him a friend, adding that he “cannot remember a single time when something didn’t pan out the way
he said it would”.
Minister Szijjártó also mentioned that he and Ziga had agreed to maintain communication regarding any legislative process concerning language regulations. He stated, “So if either of us perceives a problem … we will talk promptly and take steps together.”
Meanwhile, Minister Szijjártó highlighted the successful cooperation between Hungary and Slovakia, noting contributions to each other’s physical and energy supply security, the Hungarian Air Force’s assistance in policing Slovakia’s airspace, and bilateral cooperation in the supply of crude oil. “We are prepared to develop our ties further and to build more bridges over the Danube and the Ipoly,” he said.
Ziga assured that neither the Slovak government nor parliament intended to make any changes to the status quo concerning national minority rights. Instead, he expressed a desire to focus on improving the living standards of ethnic Hungarians in southern Slovakia, particularly in transport infrastructure.
He further underlined that t
he text of the language bill had not yet been finalized and would undergo inter-ministry and government consultations before being put to a vote in parliament.
