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Gasparovic: Dual Citizenship Isn't Only Hungary's Matter
Thursday 13 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, May 13 (TASR) - The steps conducted by the Government vis-a-vis Hungary's amendment to the Dual Citizenship Act - declarations by Premier Robert Fico and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, and summoning ambassador in Budapest Peter Weiss for talks - are a clear sign that the whole affair doesn't concern only Hungary but also Slovakia, President Ivan Gasparovic told TASR on Thursday.
Gasparovic said he is convinced that the bill which is about to be discussed in the Hungarian Parliament requires agreement of the states concerned (Slovakia, Romania and Serbia).
To make his case, the president cited the European Convention on Citizenship, which was joined by Hungary in 2001. "It contains the conditions under which it is possible to introduce citizenship for foreign citizens, and there's also a provision that the state (a citizen of which has gained citizenship of another state) is allowed to divest him or her of citizenship," said Gasparovic.
At the same time, Gasparovic pointed out that even in Hungary it obviously won't be that simple after the bill is adopted. "If an ethnic Hungarian living in another country gets the (Hungarian) citizenship, according to the Hungarian Constitution, he will have neither passive nor active (voting) rights, as he must have permanent residence in Hungary," he said.
According to Gasparovic, Slovakia strictly observes the civic principle. "All Slovak citizens have equal rights, be they Hungarians, Czechs, Jews, Ukrainians or Ruthenians ... They can maintain their cultural heritage and be educated in their respective language," added Gasparovic.
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