Fate of Hungarian minorities ‘not up for bargain’, says Hungarian FM

The fate of Hungarian minorities is not up for bargain, Hungary’s foreign minister said on Tuesday, calling on Ukraine to withdraw the provisions of its education law that violate the rights of minorities.

Péter Szijjártó told a news conference that the new Ukrainian law, which restricts teaching in the mother tongue for minorities, violated the association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. Hungary, he said, will call for a revision of the agreement at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. The Association Council will have to be convened and Hungary will initiate putting termination of the association agreement on the agenda, the minister added.

A qualified majority will be needed for the measure to pass, Szijjártó noted.

If Ukraine fails to take the necessary measures, trade-related penalties may take effect, he said. Ukraine, he noted, plans to take steps towards further EU integration, but Hungary will block them as long as the law remains in its current form.

Szijjártó said