The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek is likely to visit Hungary within the next two months to discuss Slovakia’s minority language law, Hungary’s Foreign Minister told MTI on Monday.
Peter Balazs confirmed news reports that he had talked to Vollebaek by phone, and that the commissioner had accepted an invitation to Hungary. The exact date of the visit will need to be discussed later, he added.
Hungary’s government welcomes a recent statement by Vollebaek that the OSCE would “participate in the process” until Slovakia raises its minority language law to the same level as its state language act.
Balazs said it was good that Vollebaek was willing to be available while problems are unresolved.
So far, the Slovak government has accepted only some of the OSCE’s recommendations and rejected most of them, Balazs said. It is important that the Commissioner should remain part of the process; this reminds Slovakia that many more steps should be taken in order to settle the issues, he added.
“This is basically a Slovak issue. The Slovak majority is attempting to regulate the minorities living there, including 10 percent Hungarians,” Balazs said, adding that they are trying to help the Hungarians.
