Forgoing Another Siege, This Time Around the Turks Plan to Lease Szigetvár

If Hungary had neo-cons, they'd be having a collective aneurysm. The Islamic Cultural Association of Hungary would like to acquire the rights to operate the Castle of Szigetvár for 99 years, writes news portal origo.hu, based on a print-only report in conservative daily Magyar Nemzet. The mayor of the southern town which was occupied by the Turks in 1566, told the paper he thinks the idea is good, because it serves to "scare" the current owner of the castle. Turks at the gates? No shit.

Currently, the castle is owned by the Hungarian National Asset Manager (MNV). The association has contacted Socialist Mayor József Paizs, and in exchange for operating rights, offered to renovate the minaret in the castle and complete the previously started but stopped renovation works to other parts of the castle. Their plans also include establishing a Turkish cultural and educational center.

The castle was occupied by the Turks after a one-month siege in 1566. The defenders were led by Miklós Zrínyi the elder, and it inspired the famous painting you can see above.

Paizs told the paper that the association's offer came at the right time, because now he can use it to "scare the Asset Manager, and this might make it stop being a bad owner and force it to realize that money has to be spent on our national treasures." The mayor added that if negotiations with the Islamic association were to turn serious, a local referendum should decide on the matter. The contract with the current operator - Paizs says it's a Fidesz entrepreneur - is valid until 2010.

MNV Spokesman Gábor Száraz said that until the contract expires, the fate of the castle cannot be predicted. He said he had heard that the government of Szigetvár has a 49% ownership share in the company of the current operator. He added that a total of Ft 450 million (over €1.8 million) had been spent on renovations of the castle until 2005.

So, in actuality, this isn't nearly as bad of an idea as it first sounds, and it could turn out to be a good thing, provided it means Turkish investment in Hungary that doesn't involve opening another fucking kebab shop.