BRATISLAVA, August 31, (WEBNOVINY) — Foreign Affairs Minister of the Slovak Republic Mikulas Dzurinda wants to look ahead in the Slovak-Hungarian relations and not delve in the past, he said in an interview for SITA news agency on Tuesday. His idea is to focus on activities that could help people and not delve into Benes Decrees or the Trianon Treaty, as nothing can be done about these. It only spoils the atmosphere, he said. According to the agreement with his Czech counterpart Karl Schwarzenberg, they would like to create a new group of young historians, who will look at the past with new unclouded eyes. As the minister told SITA, he believes that in the upcoming days he will be able to present other ideas, thoughts and projects to the public. “When we have good relations with neighbors, there is a chance that also the region will be stabile and that we can spread peace and stability further,” he added.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dzurinda recalled the period since 1998 when he became prime minister for the first time. Even back then the Slovak-Hungarian relations were not all positive. “They were quite cold,” he admitted. The idea of renewal of the Maria Valeria Bridge between the Slovak town of Sturovo and Hungarian town of Esztergom improved the situation, in his opinion. He believes that if people living in Esztergom, Slovaks or Hungarians, were asked about it, no one would say it was a bad idea. He also mentioned the recent start of construction of the dual carriageway R4 between Slovakia’s Kosice and Hungary’s Miskolc. In his own words, the Foreign Affairs Minister told his colleague Transport Minister Jan Figel to make R4 not only and an infrastructural but also a political priority.
According to minister Dzurinda, personal relations with the members of the current Hungarian government led by Viktor Orban are not always altogether positive. However, Mr. Dzurinda has known his counterpart Janos Martonyi for years and they have a good relationship.
SITA