Slovakia would be in danger from the Hungarians only in two very unlikely (theoretical) scenarios.
Scenario 1: Some Slovak politicians take a page from Milosevic's book and try to expel ethnic Hungarians from Slovakia in the same way ethnic Albanians were turned out of Kosovo.
Scenario 2: Slovak tanks attack Budapest, as nationalist party leader Ján Slota suggested in 1999.
In both cases the result would be catastrophic for Slovakia. It would be like in a chess match, when a player through a bad move gives away his queen.
Hungary is a member of Nato. There is an air base south of Lake Balaton with lots of US airplanes and military 'professionals', not to mention other bases in Germany. Before any retaliation the world media - TVs, newspapers - would jump on the case (I could imagine the headlines). Bush and Nato would have to act to defend the Hungarians. It would start with an ultimatum. Depending on the response the well-oiled military machine would remain idle or be put in action. I would hate to envisage the rest.
I know that the majority of Slovaks are reasonable people and they would never do something as silly as to provoke one of their neighbours. The Hungarians would not start anything either. So don't worry. Relax, as people say here in the US. Things will work out.
13. May 2002 at 0:00
