LOST IN TRANSLATION: HUNGARIANS PROTEST THE SLOVAK

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000573

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE, PLEASE PASS TO NSC JEFF
HOVENIER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV LO HU
SUBJECT: LOST IN TRANSLATION: HUNGARIANS PROTEST THE SLOVAK
LANGUAGE ACT

REF: BRATISLAVA 320

Classified By: Acting P/E Counselor Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (SBU) Summary. In protest of the recently amended Slovak
language law, Hungarian officials are ratcheting up their
public diplomacy efforts. Responding first, representatives
of all four parliamentary factions signed a joint letter
raising issues of discrimination. Following an August 3
meeting with the President, Foreign Minister Balazs announced
Hungary's plans to turn to the UN and other international
fora this fall to address the issue. The recent Slovak
legislation has also accomplished what no Hungarian
politician has been able to achieve for at least a decade -
unify the political parties in an unprecedented manner. With
Hungary currently attempting to stay on the PR "high road,"
the newly-appointed Slovak Ambassador to Hungry acknowledges
that Slovakia has "lost the PR battle." End summary.


2. (SBU) Following the passage of the amendment to the 1995
Slovak language law in June (reftel),Hungarian government
officials and politicians quickly raised an outcry. On July
20, the four parliamentary faction representatives signed a
joint statement requesting that the Slovak Parliament
withdraw the act. Interestingly, the Slovak legislation
accomplished in the short-term what no politician has been
able to do for at least a decade - unify the parliamentary
parties. The Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) led the
initiative, with SZDSZ faction leader Janos Koka commenting
that the issue is not a bilateral dispute but a serious
violation of human rights in Europe. (Comment. With SZDSZ
currently struggling to maintain the semblance of a political
party, Koka's efforts to coordinate the four-party letter may
reflect his effort to maintain his party's leadership role in
Parliament following the Party's new President demand that he
step down. End comment.)



3. (SBU) Following a meeting with President Solyom and Fidesz
party Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Zsolt Nemeth on August
3, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs stated during a news
conference that Hungary will turn to the UN Human Rights
Council and the Council of Europe to seek their respective
advisory opinions concerning the Slovak Language Act that
Hungary considers discriminatory. President Solyom, going on
record in support of Hungarians beyond the borders, expressed
clearly that he views the Slovak Language Act as
"incompatible with international laws protecting minorities,
and with the value system of the European Union." Zsolt
Nemeth added that a multi-party parliamentary delegation will
visit various European cities, including Brussels and The
Hague, to raise the issue in those capitals, adding that
"this is not only a Hungarian-Slovak dispute, but one that
violates European norms."



4. (C) In an initial courtesy call with the Charge, incoming
Slovak Ambassador to Hungary Weiss acknowledged that he has
definitely had a rough start and is in full defensive mode on
the Language Law. Weiss seemed to understand that in Hungary
(and possibly Brussels) Slovakia has lost the PR battle.
Ambassador Weiss said in an effort to mitigate the law's
consequences, he will be urging his government to be very
careful in the implementing regulations to avoid new
conflicts. Continuing, he said he understands the need to
improve relations with the GOH and he will try to focus on
pragmatic cooperation, especially on
infrastructure/highway/bridge projects.

5. (C) Comment. With most of Hungary on a break from
politics during the summer "uborka szezon" the Slovak
language law issue provides plenty of media fodder - on both
sides of the border. Hungarian press reports on August 5
cited the Slovak Foreign Ministry's labeling of the Hungarian
response as "hysteria." While suggesting that President
Solyom should have requested a meeting with the full Foreign
Affairs Committee on August 3, Matyas Eorsi, Parliamentary
Chair of the European Affairs Committee told us on August 4
that he agrees that the best way forward on the language
issue is via international organizations. The Prime
Minister's new Security and National Security Advisor, David
Koranyi, also confirmed in a meeting with the Charge August 3
that planning for a meeting of the two Prime Ministers is on
hold, another short-term fall-out of the new language law.

6. (U) Embassy Bratislava has coordinated on this cable
LEVINE