I see three:
1) History at the end of the 19th century. In the era of the building of nation states, there was no attention paid to the minorities and, as a result, the Slovak one experienced forced “Hungarization”. Even though not all of the Hungarians behaved in that manner toward the Slovaks, Slovaks today see them as unified in this matter. Unified, even to extreme terms.

2) Trianon. When, as a result of the First World War, the Great Powers divided not only historical Hungary but also the Hungarian nation without thorough thinking – actually in an ill-advised way. It is not only the Hungarians who ever experienced such a fate but, in their eyes, they are the biggest losers of history.

3) History of the Second World War. First the Vienna Award and then the Benes decrees again influenced in a brutal way the Hungarian – Slovak relationship. Both acts were comparably cruel, but both the Slovaks and the Hungarians consider only the one hurting them to be wrong.

What do politicians do with such a heritage?

First, lets see three positive aspects:

1) The current opposition in the Slovak government ruled for almost ten years in coalition with a Hungarian political party. During these 10 years, Slovaks could learn that Hungarians are equal citizens and useful people – just like them, and that Slovakia is also their country.

2) The first government of Robert Fico had chosen the nationalists as coalition partners, while the second Fico government has nominated László Nagy, an important member of the Hungarian – Slovak Most-Híd party to be its government representative for minorities. It is a small but still a symbolic step forward.

3) Lunatic nationalist Ján Slota and his party, the Slovak Nationalist Party (SNS), had not succeeded to pass the parliamentary threshold in the latest elections.

These are important facts, but we are still far from achieving reconciliation.

Three examples:

1) When Iveta Radičová (former Slovak PM) ran for presidential election, nationalistic Slovak myths and public campaign about her secret agreement with the Hungarians on the Benes decrees made it impossible for her to win the elections.

2) When the Hungarian president, László Sólyom, wanted to come to Slovakia, despite the fact he was in the Schengen zone of free movement of people, he was stopped by the Slovak authorities and prevented from entering the country.

3) When Hungary introduced the possibility of applying for dual citizenship for people whose ancestors had ever had Hungarian citizenship, i. e.- for Hungarians living in Slovakia today, and also allowing certain electoral rights for those who acquire the citizenship, Slovakia adopted a law that makes Slovak citizens lose their Slovak citizenship if they obtain the Hungarian.

These are not examples that contribute to friendship and reconciliation. Today’s silence and relative peace in our relationship is ensured mainly by the economic crisis that hit the whole of Europe and in which we focus our efforts to be considered good students of Germany.

Why we do not understand each other?

Primarily because there are very few who have the courage to understand and empathize with the other nation.

I will talk only on behalf of the Slovaks. I can only recall one strong step to this direction done by the Slovak side. Former president of the National Assembly of the Slovak Republic, Frantisek Miklosko, when receiving the Prize of St. Adalbert in the Hungarian Parliament, publicly apologised for the injustices that were committed against Hungarians during the years of 1945 – 1948. Even if he was very strongly criticized in Slovakia for his act, something very major happened.

Why are most politicians reluctant to act in such way and do similar gestures? Because most have no understanding for the bigger picture, and they are convinced that their voters would punish them for anything similar. They do not trust Slovaks having good intentions towards Hungarians and they do not want to risk their votes for acting in a friendly manner with Hungarians. From the politicians we cannot expect too much.

What could be done?

Again three ideas:

1) The role of elite. If the French and the Germans were able to find a mutually acceptable way to co-operate after the events of the Second World War, Slovaks and Hungarians have to find one, as well. Perhaps we could start with small things. For example, with a common football league, or common history textbooks, films, music. Later, I do not see any reason why not to have common airlines or common European politics. But all these have to be initiated by the elite and not by the politicians.

2) The role of education. Politicians, with the exception of some statesmen, will be just like their voters. So, the standpoint of the voters is decisive. In this respect, education and knowledge of our common history and heritage play a key role. By the way, if Slovakia receives resources from the Cohesion Fund, those should go for education rather than artificial projects that just strengthen corruption in the country.

3) Courage to recognize the right of the other nation is, nevertheless, the most important. Find the courage that Frantisek Miklosko had is the task for my generation in Slovakia. That is why, as a Slovak, I say with Miklosko, that the Benes decrees were inhuman and unfair against our Hungarians. And I even go further: the Trianon treaty was not only unreasonable but also cruel and criminal towards Hungarians. I feel sorry that it happened to the Hungarians.

I dare to say that we are not destined for eternal hostility. We should, instead, base our relationship on mutual understanding and courage for the truth.

Štefan Hríb
Editor in Chief
.týždeň (Slovak weekly)
Slovak Republic