Slovak cultural center opens in Hungary

A Slovak Education and Culture Center opened in the northern Hungarian town of Bank to serve the interests of the Slovak minority in Hungary, Hungarian media reported on August 5. Setting up the Ľudovit Štúr Center cost 30 million forints ($198,000). The Hungarian government contributed 5 million forints and the Slovak government 2 million forints to the center. Jan Lomen, mayor of Bank, a predominantly Slovak town, said the new center should improve Hungarian-Slovak relations and help the 100,000-strong Slovak minority adapt to Hungarian society. Slovak Ambassador to Hungary Eva Mitrová said the center's opening was an exceptionally important event.