BRATISLAVA, August 17, (WEBNOVINY) — Jozsef Berenyi, chairman of the ethnic Hungarian political party in Slovakia, the SMK, has yet to receive an invitation for the ceremonial laying of wreaths at the statue of St. Stephen in Komarno on Sunday, an event which should be visited by the former Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom.
The former Hungarian president plans to participate at the ceremony of laying wreaths at the statue of St. Stephen in Komarno on Sunday, daily Uj Szo informed on Tuesday. Mr. Solyom should have come to Komarno on the occasion of unveiling the statue last year; however, he was denied entry to Slovakia on August 21, 2009. The Slovak government argued that his visit “represents a security risk.” The incident ignited a diplomatic dispute between Budapest and Bratislava. On August 5, Laszlo Solyom was replaced by the new Hungarian President, Pal Schmitt.
The visit of former Hungarian President in Komarno is a clear provocation, according to Jan Slota, the leader of the opposition Slovak National Party (SNS). “It is only a beginning of what will follow in Slovakia. It will be bad for the whole Slovak nation as well as the Slovak state,” said Slota in an interview for SITA. In his opinion, nothing can be done about the fact that [ethnic] Hungarians are in the Slovak government. “Hungarians are getting in positions everywhere, and they are throwing Slovaks out like dogs,” Slota stated.
SITA