Insight Central Europe News
Hungary-Slovakia reconciliation proposal gets little support
Hungary's foreign minister has given a cautious endorsement to a declaration on reconciliation between Hungarians and Slovaks. Kinga Goncz said the proposed joint declaration "does not contain anything objectionable". The proposal, from the Party of the Hungarian Coalition, calls on both parliaments to express regret over controversial periods in their common history. However the initiative seems unlikely to succeed. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has dismissed it saying Slovaks should not apologise to Hungarians.
Poland's elections could see just three parties in Parliament
Opinion polls in Poland suggest only three parties may attract enough votes to enter parliament after next month's election. According to the GfK poll the conservative Law and Justice party of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has 29 percent support, just behind the 31 percent for its main rival, the center-right and pro-business Civic Platform party. The poll indicated 8 percent support for the Left and Democrats bloc. In such a result the Left and Democrats, dominated by ex-communists, would hold the balance of power.
Slovenia wants EU to remain united on Kosovo future
Slovenia says it will work to keep the European Union united over the future of the Serbian province of Kosovo when it takes over the presidency of the EU in 2008. A senior official in the government told the news agency Reuters that Slovenia wants a decision on the status of Kosovo and for that decision to be unanimously supported by all EU members. Slovenia says it will also focus on other parts of the Western Balkans including Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Central Europe's Social Democrats unite in opposition to US missile shield
Leaders of Social Democratic parties and governments from across Central Europe met in Prague on Friday to coordinate their opposition to US plans for a missile defence shield with bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. The leader of the Czech Social Democrats, Kurt Beck, said the bases could increase tension with Moscow and lead to a new arms race. The Prime Ministers of Hungary and Austria's Chancellor also attended the meeting. The group was to issue a joint declaration opposing the missile and radar bases.
