Slovaks reject Hungary reconciliation bid

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Slovakia’s prime minister, rejecting a Hungarian reconciliation proposal, says Hungary should unilaterally apologize to Slovaks, Hungarian media said Thursday.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz in Budapest Thursday supported a recently proposed draft declaration on reconciliation between Hungarians and Slovaks, the Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

The Party of the Hungarian Coalition last week proposed the declaration to be passed by the parliaments of Hungary and Slovakia expressing regret for the treatment of minorities from each neighboring country during certain periods in the last century.

The draft suggested Hungary apologize for its policy towards a Slovak ethnic minority early in the 20th century and Slovakia apologize for violating ethnic Hungarian rights after World War II, MTI said.

But Slovak Prime Minister Rober Fico, referring to the Hungarian initiative, said suggestions Slovaks should apologize to Hungarians was “shameful impudence” and Hungarians should apologize to Slovaks, MTI said.