BRATISLAVA, October 1, (WEBNOVINY) — On Tuesday, October 2, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, to open in the Hungarian village of Mlynky/Pilisszentkereszt a Center for Pilis Slovaks. The prime ministers of both countries will deliver speeches at the opening ceremony, cut the ribbon on the new building for the local Slovak minority, and sign a joint memorandum on behalf of the two countries. The work of the new center will focus on promoting national awareness and cultural identity of ethnic Slovaks living in Hungary. The village of Mlynky is the cultural center of the Slovak minority in the area of Pilis.
Following several years of disputes, representatives of Hungary and Slovakia signed the final agreement on financing center in July. Based on the agreement, Slovakia financed the project with EUR 491,939, and the government of Hungary agreed to allocate EUR 442,338. The owner of the center and its operator will be the Nationwide Slovak self-government in Hungary, and the facility will also be used by local organizations of Pilis Slovaks.
The village of Mlynky became internationally known in 2008, when its Mayor Jozsef Lendvai presented a controversial proposal demanding that all Slovak minority associations and organizations to move out of the building of the Slovak house in the village. Members of the village council in Mlynky approved the proposal. Hungarian ombudsman for minorities Erno Kallai declared the decision on eviction of from the Slovak House unlawful, but the village council in Mlynky definitely decided on the eviction. In the same year, Hungary and Slovakia have agreed to build a new house, to which they would contribute equally. The building was completed last year in August.
SITA