The European Commission welcomed the constitutional amendments recently approved by the Slovak Parliament [see report of February 23]. Jean-Cristophe Filori, Spokesperson for EU Enlargement, pointed out that the move has accelerated the country’s EU-accession process. Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for EU Enlargement previously said that rejecting the amendment bill would have had a detrimental effect on Slovakia’s efforts to join the EU, since the motion was indispensable in harmonizing EU and domestic legislation. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 26, 2001]

Despite several attempts by the opposition to obstruct the adoption process, with a vote of 90:57 and one abstention, the Parliament approved the Constitution Amendment Bill, putting an end to a heated debate of almost three weeks. The most important provisions of the bill create the legislative framework for the country’s EU and NATO accession and bring the constitution approved in 1992 in line with current EU judiciary and financial standards. The amendment package of 85 amendments allows for public administration reform and stipulates the creation and maintenance of the institution of the ombudsman, public protector of human rights. It also stipulates that the government is liable to support aspirations of ethnic Slovaks living abroad to preserve their national identity and culture—an initiative submitted by Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) Deputy Miklós Fehér on behalf of the ruling coalition. The HCP was the only party of the coalition which unanimously supported the amendment package even though its motions [see report of January 6] were not included in the bill. At the initiative of Anna Malíková, Chairwoman of the Slovak National Party (SNS), the opposition parties displayed posters with the inscription “The constitutional amendment of the [governing] coalition betrays the Slovak nation.” The new provisions of the constitution will take effect June 1, apart from those concerning the judicial system, which will become valid on January 1, 2002. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 8, 24 and 26, 2001]

About 300 members of the Youth Movement of the Slovak National Party (SNS) demonstrated against the planned establishment of a Hungarian-language faculty at the Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra [see report of January 24]. Supporters of the Vladimir Meciar-led Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) and the nationalist organization Matica Slovenská also joined the rally. The demonstrators chanted anti-Hungarian slogans like “Hungarians, get back over the Danube” and “Slovakia for Slovaks.” A leader of the Nitra–Mother of Slovak Cities civic initiative present at the demonstration revealed that the organization had already collected 14,500 signatures on a petition objecting to the planned faculty [see report of February 2]. [OMRI Daily Digest (Prague), Feb. 26, 2001 and MTI–Hungarian Telegraph Agency (Budapest), Feb. 23, 2001]

Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for EU Enlargement held talks with Pál Csáky, ethnic Hungarian Deputy Premier for Human Rights, Minorities and Regional Development. Csáky ensured the European Commissioner that the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) would unanimously support the constitution amendments essential for Slovakia’s EU-integration [see report of February 6]. Verheugen also showed interest in the HCP’s concept on public administration reform and the planned establishment of a Hungarian-language faculty at the Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra [see report of January 24], announced Péter Miklósi, spokesman for Csáky. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 24, 2001]

Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for EU Enlargement visited several districts with a high proportion of ethnic Roma, namely the cities of Kassa/Kosice, Jarovnice/Jerne, Rudoany/Ötösbánya and Levoca/Lőcse. Walter Rochel, EU Ambassador to Slovakia, and Vincent Danihel, Government Commissioner for Roma Issues, also participated in the visit. During a discussion with the EU-officials, Zdenko Trebula, Mayor of Kosice, pointed out that the situation of the Roma had significantly improved in the last two years, but the rate of unemployment was still 90 percent in the IX District of the city called Lunik. Verheugen perceives his visit as a political gesture demonstrating the EU’s concern over minority issues in Slovakia, reported the Hungarian-language daily, Új Szó. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 23, 2001]

In a speech before the parliament, Jaroslav Paska, Deputy of the Slovak National Party (SNS), moved that all of Article 4 dealing with minority rights be dropped from the constitution, as the body debates a complex amendment [see report of February 6]. Paska cited that the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) was willing to replace the phrase “we, the Slovak nation” with “we, citizens of the Slovak Republic” in the preamble of the constitution, consequently—according to his reasoning—the civic principle must be applied throughout the basic law. He said that if his proposal were not adopted, he would also be satisfied with excluding certain parts of Article 34 that grants language rights to ethnic minorities. Similar remarks were made by other SNS members during the course of the debate (Eva Slakovská on February 15 and Jozef Prokes on February 16). [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 23, 2001 and BBC Monitoring Service (United Kingdom), Feb. 15 and 16, 2001]

Eduard Kukan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Strasbourg. Provisions of the charter include recognition of minority languages, promotion of native-language instruction and supporting the use of minority languages in public administration. Adoption of the charter affects nine minorities in localities where the proportion of a given minority exceeds 20 percent and it will come into effect after its ratification by the Parliament. Slovakia is the 25^th country to have signed the instrument. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 21, 2001]

According to an opinion poll conducted by the Public-Opinion Research Institution, Anna Malíková, Chairwoman of the Slovak National Party moved into third position on the popularity chart with 12 percent, replacing Prime Minister Mikulás Dzurinda. The list is headed by Robert Fico, populist President of Smer (20 percent), while President of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) Vladimir Meciar, gained the second place with 15 percent. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 20, 2001]

During his visit to Bratislava/Pozsony, Dirk Meganck, the European Commission's chief negotiator with Slovakia, held talks with Pál Csáky, ethnic Hungarian Deputy Premier for Human Rights, Minorities and Regional Development. The subject of discussion was Slovakia’s EU-accession, with special regard to measures that need to be taken in order to bring the condition of national minorities up to EU levels, including native language rights and education. “After 2-3, maybe 4 years, when negotiations end, Slovakia will have to show conclusively that it made significant steps in the field of minority rights and the Roma question,” pointed out Meganck. Slovakia has submitted two projects to the European Union concerning national minorities and there is a chance that the planned Hungarian-language faculty at the Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra [see report of January 24] will also receive PHARE aid, Csáky told the Hungarian-language daily, Új Szó. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 15, 2001]

Pál Csáky, ethnic Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights, Minorities and Regional Development, announced that the Council of Nationalities would launch a campaign urging those belonging to ethnic minorities to declare their nationality during the national census to be held May 19-June 10. The aim of the campaign entitled “Declare Yourself!” would be to gain an objective picture about the ethnic composition of the country because “the results will provide the basis for planning the future of our society for the next 10 years,” said Csáky. In addition to Slovak-language census questionnaires, bilingual ones (Slovak-Hungarian, Slovak-Ruthenian, Slovak-Ukrainian and Slovak-Romany) will also be prepared in accordance with the 1999 Minority Language Law [see report of January 18,2001 and December 20, 2000]. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 13, 2001 and MTI–Hungarian Telegraph Agency (Budapest), Feb. 13, 2001]

The nationalist Matica Slovenská organization started to gather signatures against the constitution amendment bill currently under discussion in the Parliament [see report of February 6]. According to Eva Kristínová, Chairwoman of the Petition Committee, if adopted, the amendment package would undermine the country’s sovereignty and endanger the very existence of the Slovak nation. The editorial staff of the extremist weekly Zmena and the Slovak Intellectual Society have joined the Petition Committee. The initiative is also supported by the Vladimir Meciar-led Movement for a Democratic Slovakia and the Slovak Communist Party. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 13, 2001 and Magyar Nemzet (Budapest), Feb. 14, 2001]

Over 6,500 signatures were gathered on petition against the government resolution which recommends that a Hungarian-language faculty be created at the Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra [see report of January 24]. The signatures were collected by the Nitra–Mother of Slovak Cities civil organization [see report of February 2] and handed over to Daniel Kluvanec, Rector of Konstantin University. According to Kluvanec the university has already received a similar number of signatures objecting to the Hungarian-language faculty from other sources. The purpose of the faculty would be to address the lack of an adequate number of qualified Hungarian-language teachers. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 13, 2001]

According to a poll conducted by the Polis Slovakia Agency, less than 20 percent of the population agrees with amending the preamble of the constitution as proposed by the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP). The HCP has sought to replace the phrase “we, the Slovak nation” with “we, citizens of the Slovak Republic” in order to more accurately reflect the ethnic composition of the country, but has not made adoption of its proposal a condition of its support for the constitution amendment package [see report of February 6]. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 10, 2001]

Anti-Hungarian speeches by opposition deputies continue to dominate the debate on the constitution amendment [see report of February 6], reported the Hungarian-language daily, Új Szó. Today, members of the Vladimir Meciar-led Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) floor group delivered verbal attacks against the government coalition, accusing Premier Mikulás Dzurinda of committing treason by collaborating with NATO and lambasting the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) for its alleged efforts to “Hungarianize” Slovakia’s eastern part where the majority of the country’s 600 000-strong ethnic Hungarian population lives. HZDS deputy Roman Hofbauer displayed a map of Slovakia to indicate the territories to which Hungarians are allegedly laying claim. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 9 and 10, 2001 and BBC Monitoring Service (United Kingdom), Feb. 9, 2001]

In an interview with the Hungarian-language daily Új Szó, Gyula Bárdos, Parliamentary Group Leader of the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP), pointed out that anti-Hungarian outbursts by opposition parties during debate on the constitution amendment were dangerous, since the debate was broadcast live on Slovak Public Television. “It is regrettable that during the debate opposition parties do not talk about their objections to the amendment, but mainly incite against Hungarians,” said Bárdos, referring, among others, to anti-Hungarian statements made today by Anna Malíková, Chairwoman of the Slovak National Party, who accused the HCP of seeking to undermine the country’s territorial unity. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 8, 2001]

Parliamentary deputies started their two-week debate on a bill that would amend the constitution regarded as essential for the country’s EU- and NATO-accession process. The current constitution was passed in 1992, when Slovakia still was a part of Czechoslovakia, and its revision is crucial for creating a legal framework suitable for implementing EU norms. If adopted, provisions of the bill would also promote public administration reform and mandate the establishment of the office of the ombudsman. The Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) is willing to initiate three amendments: (a) to replace the phrase “we, the Slovak nation” with “we, citizens of the Slovak Republic” in the preamble; (b) to amend Article 65 in order to grant municipalities the right to dispose of unclaimed lands as opposed to the central government; and (c) to enable ethnic minorities to decide on certain issues at the local self-government level. However, HCP’s support of the amendment package is not conditioned on fulfillment of these objectives. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 7 and 16, 2001 and MTI–Hungarian Telegraph Agency (Budapest), Feb. 5, 2001]

The Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) held its III. National Congress in Dunajská Streda/Dunaszerdahely. In his speech, HCP President Béla Bugár pointed out that the party has been working consistently on achieving the goals outlined in its platform, along with that of the government’s, but has often run into opposition when trying to bring laws and practices in line with EU norms. Bugár emphasized that the party’s most important objectives continue to be amending the constitution in order to strengthen the country’s civic and multicultural character; supporting the country’s EU- and NATO-integration; and implementing public administration reform acceptable for the Hungarian minority. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Mikulás Dzurinda, who called HCP one of the government coalition’s most reliable partners. Other prominent guests at the congress included Zsolt Németh, Hungarian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Béla Markó, President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 4, 2001 and MTI–Hungarian Telegraph Agency (Budapest), Feb. 3, 2001]

The Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra officially received the government resolution recommending creation of a Hungarian-language faculty at the institution [see report of January 24]. The next session of the University Council is February 12, but the issue has not been placed on the agenda, reported the Hungarian-language daily, Új Szó. Establishing this Hungarian-language faculty was one of three conditions placed by the Hungarian Coalition Party for supporting amendment of the constitution [see report of December 14, 2000]. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 3, 2001]

According to Education Ministry State Secretary László Szigeti of the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP), professional conditions exist to create a Hungarian-language faculty at the Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra [see report of January 24]. His statement came in response to a declaration by Daniel Kluvanec, Rector of Konstantin University, who in an interview with the Slovak-language daily Sme based his failure to support the faculty on the lack of enough qualified professors [see report of January 31]. Setting up a faculty at Konstantin University that would ensure the training of Hungarian-language teachers is one of the main aspirations of the Hungarian community. The question is so much the more compelling since 35 percent of all Hungarian-language teachers are not qualified and most of them are close to retirement age, Szigeti added. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 2, 2001]

The Nitra–Mother of Slovak Cities civic organization started to gather signatures on a petition opposing creation of a Hungarian-language faculty at the Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra [see report of January 24]. Previously, local officials from the Slovak National Party (SNS) and the Vladimir Meciar-led Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) called upon the local council to jointly formulate an open letter against the government resolution recommending the faculty. As the local council ignored the move, they opted to gather signatures. One member of the petition committee is Ján Kovarcík, president of the local branch of HZDS, and owner of the local radio station Hviezda FM, which aired programs throughout the day rousing sentiments against the Hungarian-language faculty. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 5, 2001 and MTI–Hungarian Telegraph Agency (Budapest), Feb. 2, 2001]

According to an agreement signed by the governing coalition parties, title of unclaimed lands will not be transferred to localities, but the local councils will have a say when making the lease agreements, said Agricultural Minister Pavel Koncos in an interview with the SITA News Agency. Transferring the title of unidentified owners’ lands to the villages concerned was one of the conditions initially set by the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) to support amending the constitution [see report of January 27]. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Feb. 1, 2001]