It's time to stop smiling, said Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday, May 18, after a session of the State Security Council summoned in reaction to an amendment to Hungary’s law on dual citizenship proposed on Monday which would allow Slovak citizens to claim Hungarian citizenship.
Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Pavol Paška said that a ceremonial parliamentary session marking the end of the Slovak electoral term would not take place today, in order to allow parliament to take possible legislative steps via fast-tracked legislative proceedings.
Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák is to send an official written request for a bilateral Slovak-Hungarian committee to be summoned. If this request is rejected, a special high-level meeting will be initiated. In addition, the Slovak ministry is preparing to submit a complaint to OSCE High Commissioner for Minorities Knut Vollebaek, and Fico will inform European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso about the issue.
Fico said that detailed monitoring of the situation will take place and that Slovakia will use all diplomatic efforts and normal procedures. If these aren't effective, the Slovak Parliament will take counter-measures. "We prefer consultations and diplomatic proceedings," Fico stressed.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
