Region: OSCE weighs in on dispute

" The Slovak laws appear to be intended to ensure the continuation of Slovakian national sovereignty over relatively small areas of land containing a high concentration of people whose mother tongue is Magyar and where the tongue of choice as a lingua franca is Magyar."

Very well put.That's why in this context the Slovak language law is far better understandable and valid legally than the xenophobic French one.
By the way,nobody is limiting usage of Hungarian language in private or even in public orally.Nobody is limiting media using Hungarian language intended for Hungarian minority.

Jiri, my error. It's close to midnight here. You were of course referring to France, not Canada.
The French Language Laws in France were intended to prevent the corruption of French by other languages, primarily English, American English. I think Slovakia's motives are a little different. The Slovak laws appear to be intended to ensure the continuation of Slovakian national sovereignty over relatively small areas of land containing a high concentration of people whose mother tongue is Magyar and where the tongue of choice as a lingua franca is Magyar.

"Jiri, I expect you are referring to the French Language Laws of Quebec, n'est-ce pas(ze ano)?"

Actually not,even if Quebec also have language laws(that are in direct oposition to Canadian Human Rights Charter).
I am refering to continental France.
It would you a good to do bit of research as well as to other people that are"waxing" human rights in respect to Slovakia but not others.

Jiri, I expect you are referring to the French Language Laws of Quebec, n'est-ce pas(ze ano)?
I don't wish to criticise your country, but Canadians should be glad Quebec doesn't share a border with France, as Slovakia does with Hungary.

I think that people need to read again the article we are commenting on.
Representative of OSCE did not say that Slovak's language law is out of bounds as far as EU is involved.He said that -maybe-it needs some "tweaking(my term) as to correct some ambiguity in some of its parts.

If he said that it is out of bounds he would have to say the same thing about France's language law.
Do you think that it would happen, even if French language is absolutelly not in danger of being overpowered in any parts of France?In that sense,the French language law is far more
xenophobic than Slovak and far less defendable.

Jiri, I realise my 'solution' to the Slovak-Hungarian problem is far-fetched, fantastic, but really, no less fantastic than the Slovak language law itself. And I am well versed with the Sudeten matter; that was then, this is now. They say that possession is nine tenths. Well, look at a map of the ethnic distribution of Hungarians in Slovakia as I did recently and you will see them grouped close to the Hungarian border. These people have no doubt been there for centuries. To now require them by law to use only Slovak , or if they use Hungarian, to use Slovak as well, in parallel, is ridiculous. I think, once it gets to the stage that the majority feels it has to resort to such measures to protect the state, which in Slovak hearts and minds is synonymous with the nation, the Slovak nation, then you have a big problem and the longevity of that state must fall into question. The Slovaks need to step back and take a long, hard, realistic look at the situation and rid themselves of this festering problem before it escalates. They should look at what can benefit their people the most. After all, the land is really in Hungarian hands, not Slovakian, though, no doubt Slovaks live there and Slovak taxes(and Czechoslovak taxes from days gone by) have paid for the infrastructure. Get rid of it to the highest bidder while it fetches a good price. In instances such as this in the climate of today, "history is bunk", to quote Henry Ford. Sell! Sell!

I wrote some time ago about the borders of the E.U. being complacent on a multi-level anti-democratic level. The enemy from within is the greatest threat to collective and indivdual freedoms in the E.U. The historical past of Europe offers pointers to that hidden enemy, it's the inaction within the current E.U. that causes concern. Having a free press helps in as much as it offers dialouge and elected representatives of E.U. institutions read the press. Most people hope that people can live in peace and be free from historical oppression that surfaces. Extremist dogma always has some scapegoat to hide its true intent; dictation of living by the few over the many. The E.U. should be ever vigilant on this cancer and ensure light is shone on motive shrouded in dark. Thats why as individuals we need to guard the very freedom that allows us to type into this newspaper today.

"I think the best thing the Slovaks could do, to get the whole thing over with, would be to sell those large areas containing Hungarian majorities along the frontier with Hungary to Hungary. I know it would be difficult, to put it mildly, and not a little expensive for the Hungarians, but, what's the alternative? - a festering sore between the two states and for Europe as a whole, which will possibly erupt into war one day, requiring EU/NATO intervention at some cost. In many ways it is identical with the problems between the Czechs and (Sudeten) Germans before Munich, 1938."

That is silliest thing I ever heard,Karel.
You can't be serious.
To sell a part of your country to another country because of ethnic population distribution?
Thinking like that is main reason why Nazi Germany annexed Sudetenland and consequently the rest of Czechoslovakia.That is a main reason why Russia is now pushing with the agressive politics in Moldava and also against Ukraina.Slovakia has perfectly legitimate right to establish an official language laws just like France did with its "French only" laws in public domain.
As it was more than adequatelly discussed on this blog,European countries are not ethnically homogenous.No country would ever consider selling its property to another country for any reason,least of all ethnic problem.
You can forget that.


Thank you for answering another corespondent's question why Hlinka was put into the jail after WWII.This you did in your previous comment.

Ian, if you look further into Slovak history you will find that during WWII independent Slovakia under the fascist regime of the ultra catholic, Jozef Tiso, had very far-right politics indeed. They enacted anti-Jewish laws which exceeded those of Germany itself, and despatched several divisions to fight with the Wehrmacht in Russia. Slovak troops were highly thought of by the Germans and they distinguished themselves in Russia, most notably at Stalingrad.

We're going to hear much more about relations between Slovakia and Hungary.

Ian, it depends on what you mean by Czech. I am Australian, live in Australia, was born in Australia and have lived almost my whole life in Australia. My parents are both Czechs having come to this country as emigres, well self-exiles really, after the communist putsch in February, 1948. I don't hold Czech citizenship, so far as I know, and would never, ever hold the passport of another country, including one of the CR. I can speak Czech because that was the language of the home, celebrate Christmas the Czech way on Christmas Eve, and since I married an English girl, celebrate it on Christmas Day as well these days, so two Christmases for all of us! There are thousands like me in this country. Each of the major cities here has a Czechoslovakian Club, ours here being, by happenstance, only a couple of kilometers from the Austrian Club. Wouldn't you know it.

So yes, I am Czech, but I'm not also; I'm Australian as well and sound like one. Hybridisation.

Further research on this article gets even more disturbing, words not enough......SLOVAK FAR RIGHT LEADER THREATENS HUNGARY. Jan Slota,
chairman of the far-right opposition Slovak National
Party, has threatened to "get into our tanks and crush
Budapest." Slota was speaking at a rally last week in
Kysucke Novo Mesto, central Slovakia, Radio Twist
reported on 8 March. He said Slovaks must defend their
territory in southern Slovakia, which is densely
populated by ethnic Hungarians, and "not give up a
single centimeter [of land] to the Hungarian
scoundrels." He said he will never tolerate a Romany
minority in Slovakia because "they are Gypsies who
steal, rob, and pilfer." And he warned about "a Czech
womanÖ[who] calls herself an American and even the U.S.
Secretary of StateÖand [who] wants to teach all Slovaks
lessons about what sort of idiots we are," CTK reported.
The government sharply criticized Slota's speech as
"irresponsible and unacceptable." MSPravda - Slovakia | Thursday, August 13, 2009
Slovak court lifts ban on right-wing extremists

The Supreme Court of Slovakia has granted an appeal by the right-wing extremist group Slovenská Pospolitosť (Slovak Togetherness) against the move to ban it by the country's minister of the interior, basing the ruling on formal mistakes in the banning process. The liberal daily Sme comments: "On November 12 of last year Ferenc Gyurcsány, the Hungarian prime minister at the time, suggested a meeting to [the Slovak head of government] Robert Fico. One day later [the Slovak Minister of the Interior Robert] Kaliňák banned Pospolitosť. Then on November 15 Fico boasted in Komárno about how harshly his government was dealing with extremists, and demanded the same of Budapest. ... The ban had its media impact. But the lifting of the ban will also have an impact - the contrary one."

? full article (external link, Slovak)

N/B Karel Burles, are you Czech?

Re Karel Burles; having spent some time in both regions in early 2000's there was a lot of 'obvious' developments. I quicky understood why the break up of Czechoslovakia happened and assumed 'time' would see progress. The difference between democratic values in the C.R. and Slovakia is almost 'two speed'. I am surprised the Swedish E.U. presidency, as yet, has not tried to help in this area. It may well be in a covert way with Mr Vollebaek; but Europe has to start being Europe. The situation in the break up of Yugoslavia was tragic; but this is well within the remit of the E.U. All over Europe 'old' problems have had to be overcome and there is ample scope for this dispute to rise to modern democratic soloutions.
The diplomatic 'language' flying around between the two countries, and various individual 'performances' ; surprises me that E.U. presidential concern at a level that recognises the 'danger' level of current events is almost silent. Throughout Europe recognition of our history and causes of conflict has to be a part of growing up; any regress to the late 30's 40's needs intervention on a united E.U. front. My current concerns are to 'ordinary people' in these regions being open to abuse because of inflamitory politics that encourage extreme behaviour by extremist groups. The OSCE at present would be well within thier remit to request further 'observation' and the mandate to do so. The alternative as you highlight is avoidable; but if 'dont interfere and look the other way prevails' then the E.U. only has its own imaturity and inaction to blame. I expect within the C.R. the situation will be well understood and maybe C.R. M.E.P's will voice concern based on historical and moral concern as well as doing the right thing, standing up as a new generation and saying no to 'old Europe', enough hatred is enough.

Ian, the animosities, 'history' betwen Hungarians and Slovaks goes much, much deeper than anything in the UK at present.
I think the best thing the Slovaks could do, to get the whole thing over with, would be to sell those large areas containing Hungarian majorities along the frontier with Hungary to Hungary. I know it would be difficult, to put it mildly, and not a little expensive for the Hungarians, but, what's the alternative? - a festering sore between the two states and for Europe as a whole, which will possibly erupt into war one day, requiring EU/NATO intervention at some cost. In many ways it is identical with the problems between the Czechs and (Sudeten) Germans before Munich, 1938.

The UK, which has regions Wales; England, has no problems in making documents aviliable in 'Welsh' . Also where there is a lot if legal migrant work, other languages such as Polish are made availiable to help people.
The situation in Slovakia where fines of 5000 euros can be enforced for producuing text in Hungarian, say a poetry club. All complaints against police, local councils, using postal facilities; which must be made in Slovak and effect half a million ethnic Hungarians, have no clear lines of implimination.
The legislation causes division; its unhelpful, its implimentation open to abuse, Its conception stems from 'hooliganism politics'; the kind of debate that most 7th grade schoolkids gravitate above with ease.
Adults that refuse to let go of nostalgic dogma, incapable of mature debate; being paid large saleries; to produce 'backwards hillbilly' legislation, are having a field day.
The usual consequences, this will impact on ordinary people who hoped the concept of European Union would enhance thier lives compared to thier parents generation. Another case of the need for a new generation of 'Europeans' determined to go forwards, as opposed to the current fiasco of 'bickering nationalists' living in the past.

I am just glad to see some oversight and 'another view' in this situation. I hope Mr Vollebaek has close relations with the Swedish government; whom of course he could always ask for further guidance.