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Vollebaek: Consultation Needed Before Passing Law on Dual Citizenship
Tuesday 25 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
The Hague, May 25 (TASR) - Granting citizenship to a person on any other criterion than one's residency is grounds for political tension between countries, OSCE High Commissioner for Minorities Knut Vollebaek said following his meeting with Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak in The Hague on Tuesday.
"I warned countries about granting citizenship on ethnic, linguistic or cultural criterion, and I cautioned them about repercussions stemming from such citizenship," said Vollebaek.
Even though granting citizenship is an exclusive right of each country, this doesn't mean that a country can do whatever it pleases. "This also means that principles of good neighbourly and friendly relations ought to be taken into account in the creation of policies that apply to citizens of both countries," he added.
He said that an adoption of such a thorny piece of legislation must be preceded by bilateral consultations. "This applies to Hungary and Slovakia too, who are partners in the EU and NATO and have signed bilateral agreements," said Vollebaek.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Slovak Parliament approved a resolution expressing concerns about Hungary's proposed dual citizenship legislation. The House pointed out that if Hungary adopts the amendment to the Dual Citizenship Act, it will be a unilateral step directed towards creating institutional bonds between Hungary and members of the Hungarian ethnic minority living in Slovakia through installing a sort of 'state connection'.
The extraordinary parliamentary session was adjourned until Wednesday 10 p.m., with Slovak Parliament waiting for Hungary's next move(s). If the Hungarian Parliament adopts the controversial legislation (with the vote scheduled for Wednesday morning) despite Slovakia's reservations, the Slovak Parliament will pass an amendment to the Citizenship Act in a fast-track proceeding.
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