“In 1996 we rejected Meciar’s vision and we have no reason to support an even worse plan,” commented László Gyurovszky, Hungarian Coalition Party’s (HCP) Vice President on HCP’s refusal to support the government’s plan for public administration reform. Gyurovszky reasoned that the Vladimir Meciar-led government’s 1996 redistricting created a new administrative unit — the district — and achieved a vertical division of the country. By this means, Meciar divided once compact Hungarian settlements making it more difficult for candidates representing the interests of the minority to win elections. Now, HCP has noticed a similar intention on the part of its coalition partners. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 31, 2000]

The new U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia, Carl Spielvogel, arrived to Bratislava to assume his position. Spielvogel, who follows Ambassador Ralph Johnson in the post, took his oath on August 9, 2000 in Washington, D.C. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 31 and Aug. 10, 2000]

A three-member delegation of the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) met with Prime Minister Mikulás Dzurinda. HCP President Béla Bugár, parliamentary faction leader Gyula Bárdos and Deputy Prime Minister Pál Csáky. HCP delegates told the Prime Minister that the main objective of the ethnic Hungarian party is not the 13th county, rather, creation of a higher territorial unit consisting of the Komárno/Komárom, Dunajská Streda/Dunaszerdahely, Galánta/Galanta, Sala/Vágsellye, Levice/Léva and Nové Zámky/Érsekújvár districts. HCP can imagine the above county within the government’s planned 12-county division as well [see report of August 24, 2000]. The parties agreed on the issue of ratification of the European Charter on Regional or Minority Languages, which will undergo inter-ministerial evaluation on September 5, 2000. The government’s coalition council will be able to decide on the ratification as soon as September 12. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 30, 2000]

In an interview with Új Szó, Chairman of the Hungarian Coalition Party’s (HCP) Council on Self-Government, József Kvarda rejected criticism on the part of some of the Slovak media that HCP’s has not been pro-active on the issue of public administration reform. In fact, HCP presented its proposal to establish a 13^th county that would incorporate many of the predominately Hungarian-inhabited district more than 11 months ago, said Kvarda. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 25, 2000]

“The Hungarian Coalition Party is not decoration in the government. If our coalition partners keep ignoring our proposals, the national council of the party can approve a decision that we leave the government,” HCP President Béla Bugár said in an interview to Új Szó. The cornerstone of differences is the plan for public administration reform. According to Bugár, HCP’s coalition partners ignore his party’s objections and proposals. HCP would like to set up a county, which would consist of the Komárno/Komárom, Dunajská Streda/Dunaszerdahely, Galánta/Galanta, Sala/Vágsellye, Levice/Léva and Nové Zámky/Érsekújvár districts thereby increasing the percentage of ethnic Hungarians. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 24, 2000]

At the initiative of the Director of the Ministry of Culture’s Department for Minorities Gabriella Jarábik, a round-table discussion was held to discuss the financial situation of the two Hungarian-language theaters in Kosice/Kassa and Komárno/Komárom. The meeting concluded that the Slovak and Hungarian language theaters do not have equal opportunities. Péter Kolár, Director of the Hungarian Thália Theater in Kosice/Kassa pointed out that the average monthly income of Slovak actors is 14,000 Slovak Korunas whereas actors in the Thália Theater, holding the same qualifications, receive almost half or 7,561 korunas. Kolár revealed that the theater would need 29.5 million Slovak Korunas (roughly $640,000) to renovate its original building. When established, Thália was temporarily housed a converted high school, where it has remained—for lack of finances— for the past 30 years. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 21, 2000]

Hungary opened its second diplomatic mission in Slovakia, a new Consulate General in the eastern city of Kosice/Kassa. György Varga, who previously served as Hungarian Ambassador to Prague, was named Consul General. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 19, 2000]

“If we fail to segregate those Slovak citizens who are unable to integrate— the majority of whom are Gypsies— like they do in the United States with Indians, they will put us into reservations,” said Vitazoslav Moric, member of parliament for the Slovak National Party. Pál Csáky, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights, Minorities and Regional Development denounced the statement calling it pandering to popular sentiments, impulsive and harmful. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Aug. 5, 2000)