A difficult relationship

Tibor Kis writes in the left-liberal daily Népszabadság about the most recent tensions between Slovakia and Hungary: "What we have seen in Slovak-Hungarian relations over the past days has not exactly been uplifting. But it seems we will have to get used to this sort of thing. ... Certainly, our biggest problem is Ján Slota and his irrational fear of Hungary. Of course it is not easy to say (as our friends from abroad do) that we should rise above such things. But the fact is you simply can't 'rise above' Slota. We can't avert our eyes to the fact that this primitive, extremely aggressive politician is Premier Robert Fico's right hand man. But there is also a ray of hope: Fico has for the first time - if half-heartedly - distanced himself from Slota. He must be credited for that. But Hungary has also made mistakes. ... In the cacophony of the past days it was perhaps a silence that was most eloquent. It is entirely possible that of all things Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány's silent reserve has done the most for Hugarian-Slovak relations."

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