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Fico Worried by Hungarian Pre-election Attacks, Fischer Fears Extremism
Tuesday 30 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Sezimovo Usti, March 30 (TASR) – Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday categorically denounced attacks against Slovakia which he said could be seen as part of the political struggle in the run-up to the April general election in Hungary.
Following the meeting with his Czech counterpart Jan Fischer, Fico said he was "very concerned" about some statements presented in Hungary, and that he sees them as infringing on Slovakia's territorial sovereignty and the validity of the Benes Decrees. He said these attacks are also aimed at Slovak as the state language.
Fico said that if this kind of rhetoric from the parties who use it continues after these parties succeed in the Hungarian election, "Slovakia will react robustly". In this connection, Fico utterly mentioned right-wing FIDESZ party leader Viktor Orban, now in opposition in Hungary.
Fischer said he shares Fico's views in this respect, admitting that he particularly worries about the growing influence of extremist parties. However, the Czech premier said he was hoping not to see any dramatic scenarios coming true after all.
The Slovak premier expressed his wish to hold good relations with Hungary and to continue in successful co-operation within the Visegrad Four group, which is currently being presided over by Hungary. Fico also said he was ready to hold talks with the new Hungarian premier after next month's election.
Fico and Fischer jointly and unequivocally expressed their opinions on the post-war Benes Decrees that set borders in the region of central Europe. They did so quite symbolically - in front of former Czechoslovak president Edvard Benes' residence in Sezimovo Usti, a town in southern Bohemia. "The Slovak Government sees the Benes Decrees as unchangeable and inviolable," underlined Fico. Fischer said he agrees.
Heads of Czech and Slovak governments also discussed both countries' bilateral relations, calling them excellent and trouble-free.
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