Radio Slovakia International

Slovak Foreign Minister criticizes Budapest´s approach to Slovak language law

RSI

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak today criticized Hungary´s reaction to the state language law that the Slovak parliament passed on Tuesday, which introduces fines for people´s failure to properly use Slovak in offices and in public. Hungary expressed embarrassment and regret about the piece of legislation. Speculations have also appeared in Hungary that the Slovak law might cause a postponement of Slovak PM Robert Fico´s planned visit to Budapest. “It is absolutely inadmissible for a foreign state to feel authorized to interfere in our legislative process,” Lajcak said after the cabinet meeting. Lajcak defended the language law which he said not only does not lower the level of minorities´ rights in Slovakia but extends them in many areas.