U.S. ambassador to NATO, Nicholas Burns, raised concerns about Slovakia re-electing Vladimír Meciar to power if it wants to join NATO. "The former government, we believe, did not demonstrate a commitment to democracy and the rule of law. The United States was therefore unable to support Slovakia’s candidacy to NATO in 1997 for that reason,” stated Ambassador Burns at a news conference in Bratislava/Pozsony, adding that “there is no evidence that the leadership of the party has changed and that remains a fundamental concern of our government.” Recently, Ronald Weiser, U.S. ambassador to Slovakia, issued a statement pointing out that “if the situation repeats itself, there will not be a NATO-invitation for Slovakia.” With the Slovak national elections scheduled for September, Meciar’s Movement for a Democratic Slovakia is the most popular political party supported by almost 30 percent of the voters, according to the latest opinion polls. [ Népszabadság (Budapest) March 6, 2002, Washington Times, March 1, 2002]

In Kosice/Kassa, a gang consisting of 20 skinheads attacked innocent civilians riding bus No. 19 at night. Many of the victims were Roma and included women and children as well. After the incident, five of the victims walked into the police station to file a report. However, police officers refused to do so, demanding that the victims first show medical examination reports. It was only at the subsequent intervention of human rights activists that police acquiesced and began an investigation. People Against Racism (LPO), a human rights group, has reported that as many as 5,000 neo-Nazis are active in Slovakia, and that their numbers are growing. [ Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 26, 2002, Slovak Spectator (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 4, 2002]

In a vote of 87 with no rejections, the Slovak Parliament amended the Law on Compensation for those who were deported to Nazi concentration camps during World War Two by the fascists. This amendment allows these people, or their descendants, who were deported from present-day Slovakia and at the time of their deportation held Hungarian citizenship, to receive a one-time payment as a subsidy to their pensions. The same applies to people who were deported from the then Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia and Subcarpathia. The amendment, introduced by the Slovak Christian Democratic Party, was necessary because these people were not eligible for the benefits provided by the compensation laws of either of the effected countries. According to the Ministry of Justice, compensation is estimated at 120 million Korunas (approx. 2.5 million USD). A proposed declaration—offered by László Köteles of the Hungarian Coalition Party—for the Slovak Parliament to redress legal violations suffered on the basis of ideology by people on the country’s territory, was rejected. Moreover, prisoners of war are still not eligible for compensation.[ Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 22, 2002]

The Slovak Parliament failed to elect an ombudsman—an official human rights advocate—due to the ruling coalition parties' inability to agree on any of the five candidates running for the position. A simple majority of the votes cast by deputies present in the 150-seat Parliament (67 ballots) was necessary to endorse a candidate. Lawyer Ján Hrubala withdrew his candidacy one hour before the vote in favor of court chief justice Jana Dubovcová, citing the lack of unity among coalition parties. With the latter candidate and labor union vice-president Igor Lenský having dropped out in the first round of voting, State Secretary for Social and Family Affairs Edit Bauer, nominated by the Hungarian Coalition Party, and parliamentary legislative department employee, Dušan Nikodým, emerged as the strongest candidates in the second round. However, with government deputies voting against Bauer, she garnered 48 votes while Nikodým received 50, both falling short of the necessary votes to win. Even though the ruling coalition still commands a majority of over 80 seats, their failure to agree on a common candidate reflects the disunity apparent in the government, said László Nagy, Head of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights. Speaker of the Parliament, Jozef Migas, scheduled the next round of voting for March 19, 2002. [ Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 28, 2002]

The Konstantin University in Nitra/Nyitra plans to open a special department in Lucenec/Losonc to train Roma teachers and social workers. Július Berky, President of the Roma Novohrad Civic Association, said that the establishment of such a department would represent tremendous progress in raising the educational standards of Roma people. At minimum, 30 applicants are necessary to launch a class which, if approved by the Ministry of Education's accreditation committee and the university's leadership, could commence as early as Fall 2002. Currently, 28 applications have been submitted. Application for admissions merely need to include a high school final examination certificate and a health certificate. Concurrently, for more than a year, the university’s Senate has failed to deliberate the resolution adopted by the Slovak government [see report of January 24, 2001] recommending that an independent Hungarian-language department be established in Nitra/Nyitra [see reports of April 23 and May 17, 2001]. [ Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 15, 2002]

At the Dunajská Streda/Dunaszerdahely registrar’s office, last month alone, 29 ethnic Hungarians requested, in writing, new birth certificates that revert their Slovak-spelled last or first names to the original Hungarian spelling, reported the Hungarian-language daily Új Szó. According to officials, this resurgence is attributed to three developments: last December, the local newspaper provided detailed information on the issue and included a submission form prepared by government's department for minority affairs; many people don’t want to see their names with the “-ova” Slovak ending in the Hungarian Certificates that will be issued by Hungarian authorities as Hungary's Status Law goes into effect; and young ethnic Hungarians working or studying abroad are inconvenienced by the -ova ending on their names. A law adopted in May 1994 granted exemptions to non-Slovak nationals from using the -ova ending, which, according to Slovak grammar, they had to use at the end of their last names combined with their spouse’s last name. However, few people availed themselves of this opportunity until now when all official documents—personal identification card, passport, work permit—will be changed. Another development is that the Interior Ministry decided to support an amendment which, if adopted in Parliament, will eliminate the -ova requirement for all women in Slovakia beginning July 1, 2002. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 5, 2002, Slovak Spectator (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 11-17, 2002]

The Hungarian Education Ministry decided to grant 193.5 million HUF (approx. $US 750,000) to the János Sellye Foundation in Slovakia. The organization oversees the Komárno/Komárom branch of the Budapest University of Economics and Public Administration. Monies will be split between infrastructure development and operating expenses. Education at the faculty is tuition free and 300 places will be available for students in the upcoming academic year. Zoltán Szabó, Executive Director of the foundation, said that since the Slovak government has failed to provide any support for the university, the Hungarian government's continued effort at financing the institution is vital. Meanwhile, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics also plans to launch a branch in Komarno offering instruction in technology and information sciences. The accreditation of the faculty is underway which may result in 100 students beginning their academic studies in Fall 2002. These various institutions from Hungary are attempting to fill the educational needs of the Hungarian minority stemming from continued failure by the Konstantin University Senate in Nitra/Nyitra to launch a Hungarian-language department, as recommended in a government resolution [see report of January 24, 2001]. [ Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) February 2, 2002]