Relations between Hungary and Slovakia have reached a „new level” and bilateral communications between the two countries has recently been „unprecedentedly intense”, Foreign Minister János Martonyi said in Bratislava on 13 March 2013.

The Minister, speaking after talks with his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajčak, said that the atmosphere of talks had changed for the better but this did not mean that „sensitive” issues such as dual citizenship had been avoided.

„There are disputed or delicate issues but they need to be resolved at a professional level,” the Hungarian official said. Concerning dual citizenship, he pointed out that commissioners of the two countries would next meet on March 19. „Though it is not easy to find a political solution, there is a mutual wish to resolve the problem,” he added.

At their meeting, in addition to the topic of dual citizenship, the two ministers reviewed key cooperation projects and current regional and European issues.

Minister Martonyi also emphasised during his visit to Slovakia that a weak forint is bad for borrowers who are struggling to repay their foreign-currency loans, and so the Government stands opposed to any further declines in the Hungarian currency.

„We are unhappy that the Forint is relatively weak,” he told a press conference, adding that „There number of foreign currency debts is still high (...) and the weak forint increases the burden presented by these debts”. The Forint strengthened to around 305 against the Euro from earlier levels of around 307 in reaction to the Minister's comments.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)