REACTION OF SLOVAKIA'S ETHNIC HUNGARIANS TO NEW GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BRATISLAVA 000704

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL KPAO LO
SUBJECT: REACTION OF SLOVAKIA'S ETHNIC HUNGARIANS TO NEW GOVERNMENT

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1. (SBU) SUMMARY: New Slovak PM Robert Fico's decision to form a
ruling coalition with the Slovak National Party (SNS) following the
June 17 parliamentary elections elicited a strong negative reaction
from the country's sizeable Hungarian minority. SNS leader Jan Slota
is notorious for anti-minority remarks targeted mainly at ethnic
Hungarians. Emboffs met with a number of prominent Slovak Hungarians
from the political, cultural, and academic spheres to discuss their
opinions about the new government. They expressed worries, lamenting
that the SNS presence in the government has the potential to
threaten minority rights and empower extremist nationalist groups
throughout the country. The Hungarian community's main concern is
that Hungarian-language education and the ability to use the
language in public forums will be curtailed. US Embassy Bratislava
will continue to take every opportunity to emphasize the importance
of minority rights, tolerance, and ethnic diversity and speak out
against hate crimes and any attempt to harm minority rights and
cultural life. In the meantime, the Slovak MFA is trying to tamp
things down with its Hungarian counterparts. END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND
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2. (U) According to the latest census (2001),ethnic Hungarians
constitute almost 10 percent of Slovakia's population; they are the
country's largest minority with a numerical strength of 520,000. The
Hungarian Coalition Party (abbreviated SMK in Slovak and MKP in
Hungarian) represents their interests on both the local and national
levels. SMK was a member of the ruling coalition in 1998-2006 but is
now part of the opposition along with its former coalition partners
SDKU and KDH. The party ended up with 11.68 percent of the national
vote in the June 17 elections, only slightly less than the 11.73
percent that SNS received. SNS was the only party with which SMK
categorically refused to enter a coalition agreement, as it
considers SNS leader Jan Slota's nationalist agenda unacceptable.
SNS was a member of the ruling coalition in the 1994-1998 government
of Vladimir Meciar and has once again joined Meciar's HZDS (along
with PM Robert Fico's Smer) in the government. SNS now has 20 seats
in parliament (the same number as SMK) and controls the ministries
of education, construction and regional development, and
environment.


3. (SBU) Although the current tensions between Slovak nationalists
and the country's Hungarian community are connected to SNS's recent
return to power, they are rooted in conflicting views of the two
nations' shared history. For hundreds of years, the area that now
constitutes Slovakia was a part of the Hungarian (later
Austro-Hungarian) empire; Slovaks point out that they faced
discrimination as minorities in the country. The situation was
reversed after World War I, when a large number of Hungarians ended
up as minorities in the newly created Czechoslovakia. Arguments over
past injustices and the fairness of the current border between the
two countries still exist in both communities. Slovakia's ethnic
Hungarians demonstrate a strong Hungarian identity and attachment to
what they call the "mother country"; such sentiments raise questions
about their loyalties to Slovakia. Some Slovaks fear that areas
populated mainly by Hungarians wish to secede from the country and
react strongly to suggestions of autonomy for these regions.
Hungarians adamantly refute the claim of secessionist goals, arguing
that they recognize that Slovakia is their home but wish that
Slovaks would respect their cultural and linguistic differences.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR AMERICAN INTERESTS IN SLOVAKIA
-------------- --------------

4. (SBU) The protection of minority rights is a vital component of
democratic consolidation within multi-ethnic societies. Slovakia
still struggles with the question of how to incorporate its minority
groups into its political, economic, and cultural life. US Embassy
Bratislava places a special emphasis on promoting diversity and
tolerance in the country (FY 2008 Mission Performance Plan). The
nationalist rhetoric and agenda of SNS pose a potential threat to
minorities and undermine efforts to fully integrate them into
society. Slovakia's new government has already garnered a negative
reaction from the European community due to the inclusion of SNS in
the ruling coalition; it is important that the country be forthright
and strong in its protection of minority rights. Slota's rhetoric
has the potential to cause divisions and instability within the
government as the other coalition partners struggle to reign in the
SNS leader and minimize the damage done by his remarks. PM Fico has
promised to keep Slota under control. We will try to keep him to
that promise.

HUNGARIANS FEAR SNS INFLUENCE ON GOVERNMENT POLICY
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5. (SBU) Embassy contacts contend that the vast majority of
Slovakia's ethnic Hungarians are dissatisfied and disappointed with
the ruling coalition, mainly due to the presence of SNS. Although it
is difficult to judge the new government from the few weeks that it
has been in power, they argue that the signs pointing to its future
ambitions are discouraging. The very names of Meciar and especially
of Slota carry with them very negative associations, as the general
point of view within the Hungarian community is that the latter did
all he could to destroy Hungarian-language education and Hungarian

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cultural life during the 1990s. Since the election in June, Slota
has made several statements to foreign press that have enraged
Hungarians in both Slovakia and Hungary. PM Fico's government states
that it supports and values minority rights; Hungarians admit that
Dusan Caplovic, the Deputy PM for European Affairs, Human Rights and
Minorities seems very reasonable and trustworthy. Nonetheless, they
question the extent to which the government's actions will mirror
the stated commitment to minority issues.


6. (SBU) The single most important issue for many ethnic Hungarians
is the availability of and support for Hungarian-language education
(preschool through university). Embassy contacts argue that SNS
asked for and received the Ministry of Education because the party
opposes the very idea of education in minority languages. Prominent
Hungarians from the academic sphere point to the difficulties that
Hungarian-language schools faced in the 1990s under the Meciar
government, which included an SNS-controlled Ministry of Education.
Although the current government program does not propose any
concrete changes to minority education, the wording it uses to
discuss the topic demonstrates the influence of SNS. The program
highlights the need to emphasize national values and patriotism in
education and adds that instruction in minority languages cannot
come at the expense of instruction in Slovak. Hungarian educators
fear a move toward increasing the number of hours taught in Slovak
in Hungarian-language schools, an obligation to teach an overly
nationalist version of Slovak history, and a possible decrease in
funding to minority education. The leadership of the Selye Janos
University in Komarno (the country's only Hungarian-language
institution of higher learning) is especially worried about the
university's future, as many members of parliament opposed its
establishment two years ago (Jan Mikolaj, the current Minister of
Education, voted against it). Decreases in funding and
politically-motivated decisions against the accreditation of its
programs and degrees would seriously harm the university's prospects
for survival.


7. (SBU) Ethnic Hungarians are also concerned about SNS control of
the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development. Some of the
most underdeveloped areas of the country are those that are
inhabited mainly by Hungarians, and Hungarian politicians fear that
there will be no efforts to develop them. The ministry controls much
of the funding that Slovakia receives from the European Union, and
Hungarians predict an inequitable distribution of these and other
resources, directed away from regions with large Hungarian
populations. The mayors of cities and villages in such regions fear
an ethnically-motivated decrease in monetary support for
infrastructure and community and cultural projects. They predict
that the grant proposals they submit to the government might be
rejected not because of poor quality but rather because they would
mainly benefit Hungarians.


8. (SBU) In a more abstract sense, Hungarians also worry about a
general change in societal attitude and an increase in ethnic
tensions. The inclusion of SNS in the ruling coalition seemingly
validates extremist opinions and thus empowers and emboldens people
and groups with nationalist agendas. They are disappointed that a
sizeable number of Slovaks support Slota and SNS; they fear this is
a sign that the Hungarian community is far from gaining full
acceptance in the country. Although there is no reason to predict
any sort of violent confrontation, it is probable that people who
hold anti-Hungarian views will express them more freely and openly
than before (Embassy contacts point out recent increases in
anti-Hungarian graffiti and verbal exchanges at sporting events).

SMK PREPARES TO DEFEND HUNGARIAN INTERESTS
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9. (SBU) SMK members expressed satisfaction with the party's
election results, which they claim reflect that ethnic Slovaks also
voted for it (although this is impossible to prove). Nonetheless,
the party received around 40,000 less votes than it did in 2002. As
a prominent researcher specializing in minority issues pointed out,
these votes are always SMK's to lose, as Slovakia's Hungarians
either vote for the party or stay home on election day. This
suggests a level of dissatisfaction with the party's performance in
the last government. Several embassy contacts suggested that they
hope the loss of votes and the status as an opposition party will
force SMK to rethink its programs and strategies and perhaps allow
some new voices and ideas to shape its future. The president of an
important Hungarian cultural organization told Emboffs that he
expects more open and honest dialogue between the party, the
government, and the people. SMK politicians argue that they will
have very little room for action as an opposition party; instead,
they will focus on monitoring the ruling coalition (especially in
terms of possible measures and statements against minorities) and
alert the international community if they feel something is amiss.
They highlight the need to cooperate closely with SDKU and KDH to
form a strong and united opposition. On the other hand, minority
issues will dominate the SMK agenda to the detriment of the party,
suggest some Embassy contacts. Over the past eight years, SMK
successfully established itself as a party representing the
interests of all of Slovakia as an actor in the national government.

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Now, however, SMK shows signs of reverting back to being an ethnic
party with an almost exclusive focus on responding to anti-minority
statements. It is up to party leader Bela Bugar to preserve a truly
national, not regional or ethnic, focus for the SMK.

PERSPECTIVES FROM THE MEDIA
--------------

10. (SBU) As Slovakia's main Hungarian-language daily (circulation
24,482; readership around 120,000),Uj Szo has devoted a great deal
of coverage to minority issues and to the SNS agenda. Slota's
statements have been the subject of numerous front-page articles and
editorials over the past few weeks. Predictably, Uj Szo's slant
favors Hungarians and SMK; the daily has been quite critical of the
new government in general and of Slota in particular. Uj Szo's
tendency to dwell on any remark or action that could be construed as
anti-Hungarian is occasionally a bit sensationalistic; it certainly
contributes to the sense of worry in the Hungarian community.

GOVERNMENTS OF HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA REACT
--------------

11. (SBU) The Hungarian government has paid close attention to
Slovak politics in light of the composition of the new ruling
coalition. Hungarian FM Kinga Goncz called for the Slovak government
to distance itself from Slota's anti-minority remarks and agenda
during her July meeting with new Slovak FM Jan Kubis. A diplomat at
the Hungarian embassy in Bratislava explained that the Hungarian
government feels some responsibility toward Slovakia's Hungarian
community and thus will continue to speak out against negative
statements and actions directed at them. Privately, Hungarian
diplomats are worried and rather pessimistic but are unwilling to
discuss the subject publicly for fear of misunderstanding and harm
to bilateral relations. Hungarian diplomats note that it is an
"immense gesture" on the part of the Hungarian government to
emphasize good bilateral relations and to defend Slovakia in the
international arena. Nonetheless, the Hungarian MFA is worried that
PM Fico does not take their concerns seriously; he blithely
dismissed a letter MFA Goncz wrote to the Slovak government in
response to Slota's recent anti-Hungarian comments. In MFA Goncz's
opinion, PM Fico has not adequately distanced himself or his
government from Slota's positions.


12. (SBU) The Slovak MFA is also trying to ease interethnic
tensions. Slovak FM Kubis' decision to go to Budapest for his first
official visit abroad sent a strong signal that the country values
good relations with Hungary, even though his visit elicited
criticism from some members of the Slovak government (and Slovak
President Ivan Gasparovic). MFA officers said the GOS is trying to
avoid escalating Slovak-Hungarian tensions by responding seriously
to provocations, such as removing a recent video clip that
circulated on the Internet and depicted Slovak youths burning a
Hungarian flag. It is also avoiding overreacting to rival Hungarian
provocations, such as the throwing of paint on the Slovak Embassy in
Budapest. The MFA notes the GOS is attempting to control the
nationalist elements within the ruling coalition; indeed, Slota has
not made as many anti-minority remarks as he probably has had the
opportunity to do. PM Fico made a point of attending the recent
Hungarian National Day reception. Embassy contacts in the Hungarian
community said they support and appreciate such efforts but add that
they would like to see PM Fico condemn nationalism in general and
Slota in particular much more strongly in the future.

COMMENT
--------------

13. (SBU) COMMENT: Slovakia's ethnic Hungarian community is
decidedly pessimistic about the new government and the extent of SNS
influence within it. Although some of them compare the new
government to the one that was in power under Meciar's leadership,
it is highly unlikely that the next four years will bear much
resemblance to the 1990s. Slovakia is now a member of NATO, the
OSCE, and the European Union; these institutions constrain possible
actions against minorities. There are also a number of new legal
frameworks in domestic legislation to protect minority rights.
Nonetheless, ethnic Hungarians worry that the government will find
ways to curtail minority life through more clandestine measures,
such as decreases in funding for education, cultural activities, and
municipalities with Hungarian populations. It is difficult to
predict what constitutes the breaking point for Slovakia's Hungarian
community, but above all Hungarians value their ability to use the
Hungarian language in education, government offices, and public
life. They will protest when this is threatened either through
measures aimed at limiting Hungarian-language use or drastic
decreases in monetary support for Hungarian-language institutions.


14. (SBU) In light of the current tensions, US Embassy Bratislava
is using every opportunity available to promote the importance of
tolerance, ethnic diversity, and respect for minority rights. The
Ambassador has stressed these ideas in all his calls to new
government officials and will continue to do so both in public and
in private. We will publicly condemn hate speech and hate crimes
while applauding efforts at minority integration. We recognize the
concerns specific to the Hungarian community and will monitor the

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government's statements and actions, particularly in the areas of
education, culture, and regional development. The ultimate goal is
to ease tensions and promote understanding between all Slovak
citizens, including ethnic minorities.

VALLEE