The part of the Raba region with an indigenous Slovene population lies along the Raba river near Monoąter (Szengotthárd), in ®elezna ®upanija (Vas Mégye), squeezed between the Austrian and Slovene borders. In terms of geography, language, culture, and ethnicity, it is part of the Prekmurje region, to which it was closely linked until 1919, when Prekmurje was incorporated into Yugoslavia. The Raba region, however, remained part of Hungary. This disrupted the unity of the Slovene cultural landscape and resulted in the beginning of a separate history for the Slovene Raba region.
The region covers an area of 94 square kilometres. Seven villages in the region have a Slovene population (Gornji Senik/Felsőszölnök, Dolnji Senik/Alsószölnök, Sakalovci/Szakonyfalu, Slovenska ves/Rábatótfalu, ©tevanovci/Apátistvánfalva, Verica- Ritkarovci/Kétvölgy, Andovci/Orfalu). Monoąter (Szengotthárd) is the economic and cultural centre of the Raba region (in the past it was also the administrative centre) and has a mixed Hungarian and Slovene population. After the first world war the press in Slovenia began referring to the Slovenes living in the area around Monoąter as 'Raba' Slovenes, while after the Second World War they were labelled 'Porabje' Slovenes. The region itself was dubbed 'Porabje' or 'Slovensko Porabje' (in Hungarian: 'Szlovén-vidék' or 'Rába- vidék'). Outside the Raba region Slovenes can be found in Sombotel (Szombathely) and in other parts of ®elezna ®upanija, in Somogy and Györ-Moson-Sopron and in Budapest, and in scattered fashion throughout Hungary. Various estimates (population censuses, figures compiled by experts who know the area, etc.) suggest that there are between 4000 and 5000 Slovenes in Hungary.
Two Slovene organisations are active in the Raba region:
1) In October 1990, following the dissolution of the Democratic Union of South Slavs in Hungary, a group of young intellectuals together with some older activists established a supra-party organisation called the Zveza Slovencev na Madľarskem (Union of Slovenes in Hungary), based in Monoąter. This organisation is responsible for activities which ensure the preservation and development of Slovene identity. The Union of Slovenes in Hungary publishes the fortnightly newspaper Porabje (founded in 1991). Since 1979 a Slovene programme has been aired on Radio Györ and, since 1992, a television programme, Slovenski Utrinki, has been broadcast. Radio Monoąter, the first independent Slovene radio station, has been broadcasting a daily one-hour programme since 2000. Numerous cultural groups operating under the auspices of the Union of Slovenes in Hungary help preserve the rich folk culture.
2) The adoption of the National and Ethnic Minorities in Hungary Act (1993) provided the Slovenes with the possibility of setting up minority self-governing units in Slovene villages and the Drľavna slovenska samouprava (National Slovene Self-Government) based in Gornji Senik with a representative office in Budapest. The work of the National Slovene Self-Government affects all aspects of life of the Slovene ethnic minority (from education to economic development). Since 1998 there have been Slovene self-governing units in Budapest, Szombathely, and Mosonmagyaróvár, as well as in the seven Slovene villages in the Raba region. At the last elections (in 2002), Slovenes in Hungary elected thirteen minority self-governments (seven in the Raba region and six outside the area of autochthonous settlement).
The Union of Slovenes in Hungary and the National Slovene Self-Government actively cooperate with each other, since the functions of the two organisations in all areas of life of the Slovene minority overlap and complement each other. Jurisdiction is clearly defined - something which is highly important for such a small ethnic community. Any divergence in common interests could have negative effects on the sustainability and development of national identity.
The legal status of the Slovenes living in Hungary is governed by various legal documents, including the Constitution of the Republic of Hungary (1989), the Rights of National and Ethnic Minorities in Hungary Act (1993), the Amendments to the Education Act (LXXIX) passed in 1996, the Radio and Television Act (XXXVIII) adopted in 1996, and the Local Self-Government Act (LXV) adopted in 1990.
It is only really possible to talk about the legal protection of minorities in Hungary as a 'positive concept' after 1990. Following the 1990 elections Hungary became a member of the Council of Europe and commenced the process of accession to the European Union. It also began to improve its attitude towards national and ethnic minorities and their legal position. Significant improvements in the legal protection of the Slovene minority came with the adoption of the new constitution (1989), the signing and ratification of the Agreement on the Guaranteeing of the Special Rights of the Slovene National Minority in the Republic of Hungary and of the Hungarian National Community in the Republic of Slovenia (1992) and the adoption of the Rights of National and Ethnic Minorities in Hungary Act (1993). Since 1990, international documents signed by Hungary have also contributed to the gradual improvement of the legal protection of minorities. These include the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.
Today the maintenance and development of contacts between the Slovene ethnic minority and the homeland has become everyday practice, both in Hungary and Slovenia. This has been upheld by a number of inter-governmental agreements between the two countries: the Agreement on the Guarantee of Special Rights for the Slovene Ethnic Minority in the Republic of Hungary and for the Hungarian Ethnic Community in the Republic of Slovenia (signed in 1992), the Agreement on Cooperation in the Areas of Education, Culture and Science between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Hungary, the Agreement on Free Trade, and so on.
Cross-border cooperation between regions is exceptionally important for the Slovene minority. The Union of Slovenes in Hungary and neighbouring municipalities in Prekmurje (Murska Sobota, Gornji Petrovci, Puconci, ©alovci) have signed an Agreement on the Promotion of Cultural, Economic and other Cross-Border Contacts. There are also direct contacts between the Slovene ethnic minority and Slovene national and non-national institutions and widespread personal contacts. The Resolution of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia on the Status of Autochthonous Slovene Minorities in the Neighbouring Countries, adopted in 1996, which sets out the aid allocated by the Slovene government to these minorities, is very important for the Slovene ethnic minority living in Hungary.
The opening of the Consulate-General of the Republic of Slovenia in Hungary (18 November 1998) has contributed to the strengthening of the ties and cooperation between the Slovene ethnic community and its homeland, as well as to the enhancement of cooperation between Hungary and Slovenia (economic activity, cultural/educational activities, exchange of information, etc.). An important role in the maintaining of ties and contacts is played by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Budapest and the Consulate-General of the Republic of Slovenia in Monoąter. Informal contacts (visits by relatives and friends, cultural events, etc.) have become frequent since the opening of the Martinje-Gornji Senik/Felsőszölnök border crossing (1992) and the Čepinci-Verica-Ritkarovci/Kétvölgy international border crossing (2002).
A turning point for transport connections between the two countries came in May 2001 with the opening of the direct railway line between Zalalövő and Hodoą. The issue of bus links between the Raba region and Slovenia is still waiting to be resolved.
Despite the positive changes since 1990 (organisation of Slovenes, invigorated cultural activity, development of media and publishing, the gradual opening of the border area, cross- border cooperation with the municipalities of the Goričko region on the other side of the border, etc.), a number of critical points remain (the development of the economy, transport infrastructure, the development of Slovene-language teaching in the villages of the Raba region and the projection of needs for university educated staff).
The Raba region is an economically undeveloped area. Industry has only developed in Monoąter. There are few businesspeople among the Slovenes and the unemployment rate is high. Investment in tourism could contribute to essential development. The unspoilt countryside with its rich forests and hunting grounds and an advantageous position at the open triple border between Austria, Hungary and Slovenia are factors which could enable successful development of farm tourism as a new sector.
Linguistic survival and development urgently requires active linguistic planning on the part of the Raba region Slovenes (and also on the part of Hungary and Slovenia).
Thanks to the modernisation of the education system in Hungary, conditions are improving for the teaching of the mother tongue of the Slovene minority. Nevertheless, the implementation of legal regulations in everyday practice requires certain technical conditions such as funding, staff who know both languages, etc.
The formation of a scientific research group among the Slovenes of the Raba region (or even a research institution) and systematic links with scientific research institutions in Slovenia will have a key role after the accession of the two countries to the EU.
The accession of the two countries to the EU means the disappearance - after more than 80 years - of the artificially drawn border between Porabje and Prekmurje. For the first time in history, the Porabje Slovenes will be a part of the Slovene national body. What will be the identity of the Porabje Slovenes in the 21st century? European, Hungarian, Slovene? This will undoubtedly be influenced by a clear strategy on the part of the Republic of Slovenia, since even after Slovenia and Hungary join the EU, bilateral cooperation and agreement will be the basic instrument affecting the development of Slovene minorities in neighbouring countries.
Dr Katalin Munda Hirnök
The Institute for Ethnic
Studies