Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said in Bratislava on Monday that Slovakia's parliamentary speaker has "clearly reaffirmed" that a planned new language law will not restrict national minorities' right to the use of their mother tongue.
Hungary's government attaches great importance to the fate of ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, Minister Szijjártó said after talks with Slovak parliamentary speaker Péter Ziga. The government therefore welcomes Slovakia's view of the ethnic Hungarian community as an asset in advancing bilateral relations, he added.
"I received clear confirmation today from the speaker that the planned new language law regulation won't endanger the right of national minorities on Slovakia's territory to use their mother tongue," Minister Szijjártó said. He pointed out that he has worked together with Ziga for eight years and even considered him a friend, adding that he "cannot remember a single time when something didn't pan out the way he said it would".
Minister Szijjártó said he and Ziga had agreed to stay in contact in connection with any legislative process concerning language regulations. "So if either of us perceives a problem ... we will talk promptly and take steps together," he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Szijjártó said cooperation between Hungary and Slovakia was the most successful it had ever been. He noted the contributions to each other's physical and energy supply security, the Hungarian Air Force's help in policing Slovakia's airspace, and bilateral cooperation in the supply of crude oil.
"We are prepared to develop our ties further and to build more bridges over the Danube and the Ipoly," he said.
Ziga said neither the Slovak government nor parliament wanted to make any changes to the status quo when it comes to national minority rights.
Instead, he said, they wanted to place even greater emphasis on improving the living standards of ethnic Hungarians in southern Slovakia, particularly when it came to transport infrastructure.
Ziga underlined that the text of the language bill had yet to be finalised, and would be subject to inter-ministry and government consultations before it was put to a vote in parliament.