Magyar Meets Gubik to Discuss Phone Call with Fico

Budapest, 28 April (TASR) - Hungarian Prime Minister-designate Peter Magyar met Laszlo Gubik, chairman of a Slovak extra-parliamentary party called Hungarian Alliance, in his office on Tuesday to discuss the phone call that Magyar had with Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) last week, TASR has learnt from Magyar's post on Facebook. "I received in my office Laszlo Gubik, chairman of the Hungarian Alliance, which represents our compatriot-Hungarians living in the Upper Lands [Felvidek - a Hungarian name for Slovakia harking back to the Kingdom of Hungary until 1918 that is viewed as derogatory in Slovakia - ed. note] ... I emphasised that the Tisza party government is determined to support them," Magyar wrote in a Facebook post. "We consider the Slovak law that threatens critics of the Benes Decrees with imprisonment - and which contradicts the fundamental values of the European Union - to be unacceptable, as is the confiscation of land from Slovak citizens of Hungarian origin without compensation," continued Magyar. "I emphasised that under Tisza's government, acquired rights will be preserved and that protecting the interests of our Hungarian compatriots will always be at the heart of further strengthening Hungarian-Slovak relations," stated the future Hungarian prime minister. Magyar also told Gubik that his party "expects fundamental changes when it comes to how transparently and efficiently funds from Hungary are used". According to Magyar, he won't "accept the fact that Hungarian media in Slovakia, which operate with support from these sources, spread Fidesz propaganda". He told the leader of the Hungarian Alliance party that Tisza's government will review the use of funds from Hungary over the past ten years. Magyar also confirmed that he's accepted Gubik's invitation to visit Slovakia. According to him, he'd like to make this trip sometime this summer. am/df