Danko Urges Political Parties to Avoid Reopening Issue of Benes Decrees

Bratislava, 25 November (TASR) – Chair of the Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko called on all political parties on Tuesday, including Progressive Slovakia (PS), not to reopen the issue of the Benes Decrees, and if PS continues to pursue the topic, SNS will prepare a legal analysis. Speaking at a press conference, Danko said: "We call on all political parties to keep their hands off the Benes Decrees." He added that he was appalled by how some parties are raising the issue. "If PS continues to address the issue of the Benes Decrees, we will prepare a legal analysis and also turn to the Prosecutor-General," he said. The SNS chair pointed out that in the Czech Republic some associations were dissolved already in the preparatory phase if they attempted to reopen questions related to the Benes Decrees. The SNS appeal also concerns the position of a Hungarian political party in Slovakia. "It even has a programme approved that says Stop Benes," Danko noted. Danko argued that it is not good to reopen the trauma of the post-war settlement and pointed out that the Benes Decrees remain valid legal provisions. He further criticised other statements by PS concerning life in southern Slovakia. "I do not think that southern Slovakia suffers from a lack of infrastructure," he said and concluded that the party merely seeks to provoke tension between Slovakia and Hungary. mf