Slovak Alliance politicians ‘unifying’ ethnic Hungarian forces

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Tuesday thanked Slovakia’s ethnic Hungarian Alliance party for creating a unified Hungarian political force in the country after “years of division”.

Good bilateral ties are in Hungary’s interest, and the ethnic Hungarian community is the “bridge and an asset” in that process, Szijjártó told a press conference with Alliance leader Krisztián Forró in Borsa (Borsi).

“Its contribution to developing Hungarian-Slovak ties will be all the more robust if it has parliamentary representation,” he said.

He welcomed the emergence of an allied ethnic Hungarian party, and pledged Hungary’s continued support for “the joint Hungarian-Slovak success story”.

He thanked the politicians of Alliance, Most-Hid and MKP for “putting the interests of Hungarians first, even at the cost of personal compromise,” by entering and remaining in Alliance.

“We wish you success for Saturday,” he said, referring to the general election.

At the request of the ethnic Hungarian party Alliance, Hungary will continue to support its key programmes helping Hungarians living in Slovakia, he said.

At their meeting, Szijjártó and Forró reviewed the state of bilateral ties, the situation of ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia and the upcoming general election.

“At the request of the party leadership, we agreed to continue key programmes supporting Hungarians in Slovakia. The Alliance’s success would significantly help the success of those schemes,” he said.

Noting that his Slovak counterpart had asked him to “behave” during his visit, Szijjártó called on all Hungarians to vote in the election on Saturday. “If Hungarians support the unified Hungarian parties, Hungarian representation can be restored in the Slovak national assembly,” he said.