In Slovakia, during the recent months, we have been witnessing some anti-Hungarian mood. The most actual have been public introduction of St. Stephan - The King’s Statue in south-Slovakian city Komarno. Just for information, Komarno is one among a few Slovakian-Hungarian settlements, divided by the state border. Slovakian “Komarno” and Hungarian “Komarom” are situated on banks of Danube River, connected by common bridge.

What happened last Friday? Slovakian Foreign Ministry issued a diplomatic note prohibiting Hungarian President from visiting Slovakia on 21st August 2009. Was it really unavoidable?

On 21st August 2009, the official introduction St. Stephan - The King’s Statue was planned by Komarno Municipality. None from the top Slovakian leaders - neither President, Prime Minister, nor President of the Parliamentary Assembly - had been invited. On the other hand, on the list of the official guests there was a name of Hungarian President, Mr. Laszlo Solyom. In context of timing, the 21st August for Slovakians (as well as for Czechs) represents the sad anniversary of soviet military invasion in 1968. The members of communist block’s invader-army had been also Hungarian troops - on the other hand side by side Soviet, Polish, East-German and Bulgarian ones. In times of soviet rule, the security and foreign policy of the whole East Block was dictated by Moscow. August 1968 was not Hungarian invasion, but Soviet-Russian one - and it would be a nonsense to understand it as the Hungarian, East-German, Polish or Bulgarian one. Unfortunately, the Slovak diplomacy, Slovakian top leaders, the leaders of opposition, as well as some Slovakian MEPs (e.g. Mr. Miroslav Mikolasik - EPP) have described Mr. Solyom’s planned personal visit in Komarno as an act of provocation.

Look at the other side of the same coin. Slovakian-Hungarian relations have been tough since the modern history. However, regardless the reasons, both sides should respect each other and not give themselves arguments and motives for accusations. A few days before Friday, there were various warnings from Slovak side that Hungarian President should consider his Friday visit - he was asked via diplomatic channels, via media, through special meeting with Hungarian ambassador… Why Hungarian side did not respect fear of Slovakia that it would not be good for both sides to pay a visit in Komarno on 21st August?

It is fact that this was not the first bad timing of Mr. Solyom’s visit abroad; for example Serbian and Romanian governments earlier this year criticized timing of Hungarian President’s personal visits in those countries.

If Slovakia did not forbid Hungarian President to come to Komarno last Friday, there would had been the threat of mobilizing Slovakian extremist movements. While Slovakia have forbidden Mr. Solyom to come, Hungarian extremist movement Jobbik partly blocked the bridge between Komarom and Komarno. One solution worse than the other…

Slovakia did not act in the right way, but Hungary as well before. In my opinion, if Slovakian-Hungarian relations should become better, temperance on both sides is necessary as well as more empathy and understanding of the other side’s concerns.

By the way, have you ever been to Komarno and Komarom? In times when no political promenades and no events with national context take place, this region is calm; full of friendly and open atmosphere. When some Slovak or Hungarian politician should come, both cities stay calm, but the general mood in both countries changes dramatically - especially Slovak citizens not in contact with Hungarian minority as well as Hungarian people not in near neighborhood with Slovakia react usually the sharpest.

One of the biggest online dailies in Slovakia - SME.sk - arranged online survey. It asked own readers, how would they evaluate the reaction of Slovak government on Hungarian President’s visit. More than a half - 55% - declared that the diplomatic note was right and Mr. Solyom provoked. Only 30% said that the diplomatic note was the bad step and it will cause additional Slovakian-Hungarian tension. Other 15% responded that Slovakian government should not pay attention to unofficial personal visit of Hungarian President in Slovakia. Like the poll revealed, if it comes to some national topic, the perception of ordinarily liberal oriented readers of SME is not so liberal.