Slovakia has a natural interest in a permanent dialogue at all levels and good relations with any government formed due to the results of democratic elections in the Republic of Hungary said Prime Minister Robert Fico, as reported by the SITA and TASR newswires.
“I am prepared to do everything in order for our cooperation with the new government in Hungary to be as focused and constructive as was our cooperation with outgoing Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai,” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said at the Annual Conference on Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Policy on April 12, as quoted by SITA.
Fico also reiterated that he is willing to meet with the new Hungarian premier anywhere and anytime and discuss anything regarding common interests of Slovakia and Hungary.
The results of the first round of the parliamentary elections in Hungary, with Fidesz as the clear winner, equals bad news for Slovakia, said Anna Belousovová, the first deputy chair of the co-ruling Slovak National Party (SNS), on April 12 as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Belousovová recalled the statement by Viktor Orbán, Fidesz leader and currently the uncontested candidate for the post of premier, last month that after assuming the post at the head of cabinet he will speak to ethnic Hungarians living in ‘Felvidék’ [a term used mainly by Hungarian nationalists to describe Slovakia - ed. note] before meeting Slovakia’s official representatives.
The Slovak-Hungarian Most-Híd party isn’t happy that the extremist Jobbik –Movement for a Better Hungary – got into Hungarian Parliament in the elections on April 11, Most-Hid founder and chairman Béla Bugár told TASR. The ethnic Hungarian SMK opposition party commended the fact after the first round of the general election in Hungary that the far-right Movement for a Better Hungary did worse (at 16.7 percent) than expected (more than 20 percent).
Jobbik claims to be committed to supporting Hungarians living in countries bordering Hungary to achieve self-determination and autonomy. SMK is happy about the victory of Fidesz, with which it has good relations, SMK chairman Pál Csáky told the TASR.
Sources: TASR, SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
