The prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, Gordon Bajnai and Robert Fico, have agreed on a ceasefire in a longstanding quarrel related to the implementation of an amended State Language Law which came into effect in Slovakia on September 1.

Under the new law the use of Slovak would be encouraged when conducting official business in Slovakia's minority areas. Slovakia said the move does not contravene European standards and is necessary to preserve the speaking of Slovak, but protesters have argued that it contravenes international laws.

The proposed new law has been an emotive issue in Slovakia. On September 1, about 10 000 people filled the football stadium in Dunajska Streda, in southern Slovakia, to demand that the law be abrogated.

The law stipulated fines of up to 5000 euros for those who disregarded its provisions, after a written warning.

Now, following consultations between the two leaders, both Hungary and Slovakia have now agreed to make the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) an independent arbitrator in the dispute.

Speaking after the September 11 meeting in Szecseny, Fico pledged that "no individual will be fined in Slovakia for using their own language", in effect announcing a U-turn on the controversial plan to fine Hungarian speakers.

Deteriorating relations between Hungary and Slovakia had meant that Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom was prevented from visiting Slovakia on August 21.

Before Thursday's meeting the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, issued a confidential "opinion" on the new Slovak law at Slovakia's request.

"The amendments to the State Language Law pursue a legitimate aim and are - overall - in line with international standards.
Some elements, however, raise or - depending on the implementation - might raise issues of compatibility with international standards and with the constitutional principles of the Slovak Republic," Vollebaek says.