By ANDREA DUDIKOVA, Associated Press Writer

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase criticized
Hungary on Wednesday for delaying changes to a law giving financial
benefits to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring states a measure
criticized both in Romania and Slovakia.

"I don't understand why Budapest is slowing down changes to this law,"
Nastase told reporters after meeting with his Slovak counterpart, Mikulas
Dzurinda. "And also that a law which is unacceptable for us is still valid
in spite of promises for changes … which have not seen the light of
day."

Hungary is in the process of amending the so-called "status law," which
provides some government money to ethnic Hungarians living in states
bordering Hungary. The law also provides health, pension and travel
benefits to ethnic Hungarians who are citizens of other countries while
they are in Hungary.

The law was adopted by Hungary's previous, center-right government and
went into effect in January 2002.

Slovakia has criticized the law, saying it infringes on its sovereignty
and creates inequality among its citizens on ethnic grounds.

Both prime ministers expressed hope that the law would be changed soon.
Hungary has promised to water down the law, but has not yet sent the
changes to parliament for approval.

The ethnic Hungarian minority in Slovakia is estimated at 500,000 people,
and at more than 1.3 million in Romania.

Nastase was in Slovakia on an official two-day visit.

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