Organization: CSAV UTIA
X-Acknowledge-To: <BUDD@CSPGAS11>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.mideur-l
Date:         Tue, 12 Jan 1993 08:36:36 EDT
From:         Richard Budd <BUDD@CSPGAS11.BITNET>
Subject:      Report from E. Slovakia - January 5, 1993

To the Readers of MIDEUR-L and SLOVAK-L

Kral'ovsky Chlmec, Slovakia, January 5, 1993

I am in my second day of substitute teaching English at the
gymnasium.  The regular teacher is back and feeling much better,
but he wanted me to have one more day of this experience.  On one
of the breaks, he showed me pictures from just after the Velvet
Revolution in Prague.  He did not express his views to me on the
separation, but I could sense he was disappointed it had resulted
in the separation of Slovakia from the Czech Republic and in some
way the West.

The only other thing to mention in what has probably been a long-
winded analysis of the situation is that last night I met with
two Hungarians, one who works in Trebisov.  They told me that
there are an estimated 800,000 Hungarians and 400,000 Gypsies in
the Slovak Republic, but that previous governments undercounted
both nationalities.  I don't believe there are 400,000 Gypsies in
Slovakia, but then I have not been to every village in Slovakia
either to count them.  If these figures are accurate and given a
total population of 5,000,000; that means Hungarians constitute
15% of the population and Gypsies 9%.  Assuming 3% are Polish
(George Frajkor, correct me if I'm wrong), that means Slovaks
constitute only three-quarters of the people in the country.  in
other words, the Slovak Republic has a much more diverse
population than the homogeneous Czech Republic.  I am interested
to find out how the government in Bratislava views this.

I leave for Prague tomorrow and back to my regular duties.  I am
actually quite interested in returning to Slovakia later in this
year and maybe working in the country for a period of time, if
political and economic conditions permit it.  If the Meciar
government does not succumb to either printing the currency
without limit or masking its problems by persecuting its
minorities, there may be quite an opportunity here.  Already I
have two project possibilities at a hospital.  I am also waiting
for Pavol Navrat to return to Bratislava so I can speak with him
about the University.  I regret not having tuned into the
discussions on SLOVAK and MIDEUR.  Being there has been a better
experience for me.

When I post these articles, I will also resubscribe.  However,
could readers who want to send comments please copy my ID as
well.  My priority discussion groups remain the technical ones.
Thanks.

                                    Richard Budd

PS Tonight, I heard a rumor that the new Slovak crowns would be issued
by the end of the month.  The government planned to set the rate at
Ks40 = $1.  That is about a 50% devaluation of the currnecy.  It actuall
is a good idea since the government may be more able to defend the lower
rate than the existing one.  Of course, people will not be too happy
because it eans their savings have been devalued and their wages may not
be able to purchase as many consumer goods as previously.  Now, if the
Slovak government holds the line on wages to prevent printing money it i
not in the position to back.  My big worry here, is that the government
will print too much money, the economy sours because of the resulting
inflation, and people lose their savings to the inflation.  Then who can
the government blame this time.  I fear it will be Hungary and the
Hungarians.
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