Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that progress has been made in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations in respecting the rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – May 14, 2021 – Diplomatic Affairs
This was announced by the Hungarian Foreign Minister following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba at the Hungarian Embassy in Bratislava.
Szijjártó noted that relations between Hungary and Ukraine have not developed according to positive scenarios lately, there have been and are many differences. However, he said, “progress has been made in recent days, which gives cause for cautious optimism, and in the current situation, these small successes should also be appreciated.”
Szijjártó said that he had agreed with his Ukrainian counterpart that after a long break, a meeting of the joint minority committee of the two countries would be convened in the near future to discuss complex issues other than education.
According to Siyyarto, after the second meeting of the Hungarian-Ukrainian working group on education the day before, “a solution is planned that could help Transcarpathian Hungarians to be in a better position under the current Ukrainian education system in terms of native language use,” 112ua.tv reports.
He added that progress had also been made on the so-called Agreement on the Equivalence of Mutual Recognition of Diplomas and Professional Qualifications, the text of which has already been finalized.
The Hungarian minister noted that Kuleba also welcomed Hungary’s proposal for mutual recognition of so-called vaccination passports issued by the two countries, which would simplify travel for vaccinated people.
Deterioration of relations between Ukraine and Hungary
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary deteriorated after the Verkhovna Rada passed a new law on education in autumn 2017.
Hungary is blocking meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, alleging alleged violations of the rights of Hungarians living in Ukraine due to a provision in the law that states that the language of instruction in educational institutions is the state language.
The inaugural meeting of the Ukrainian-Hungarian interdepartmental working group on education took place in Kyiv on February 24. The participants of the meeting reached an agreement on common intentions to provide quality conditions for school education for Ukrainians of Hungarian origin in Transcarpathia.
On February 25, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Hungary was ready to discuss with Ukraine the implementation of the provisions of the education law, taking into account the interests of the Hungarian minority.
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Source: Ukrgate
