The foreign minister said Hungary expects Ukraine to respect the rights of its nationalities, including the Hungarian community.
During an informal videoconference of EU affairs ministers, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary has a vested interest in a strong, stable and democratic Ukraine, and it takes a stand for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.
The minister said on Facebook that over the past few years, Ukraine has regularly violated the Hungarian community’s rights in culture, education, public administration and the media. Hungary “was shocked to learn” that leaders of that community had been exposed to intimidating procedures last week. Nor does it serve mutual trust that the Ukrainian authorities have launched an action to identify dual citizens, he said.
Minister Szijjártó asked Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who also logged into the conference, to respect minority rights and abstain from presenting the Hungarian community as one endangering Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Hungarians in Transcarpathia can always rely on support from Hungary and its government, he said. “We will take a stand in all international forums for Transcarpathia’s Hungarian community and its rights,” he said.
Photo credit: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter