Foreign minister pledges further efforts to promote Hungarian minority rights in Transcarpathia
Change language:
Hungary continues to work towards resolving the issue of the Hungarian minority’s rights in Transcarpathia, including the right to use their mother tongue and have access to Hungarian education, the foreign minister said on Thursday, after online talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.
Hungary and Ukraine are in agreement that Transcarpathia should be “a success story” for both countries and this gives hope for finding a common solution, Péter Szijjártó told an online press conference.
- Hungary to block NATO-Ukraine meetings until minority rights deal reached
- Coronavirus – Ukrainians allowed to enter Hungary at Hegyeshalom between 9pm-5am
Hungary will, however, continue to block NATO-Ukraine Council meetings until a solution is found for restoring minority rights, he said.
He said there was hope that under Ukraine’s ongoing public administration reform a district could be set up in Berehove (Beregszász) with Hungarians forming a majority.
Szijjártó said that they discussed the coronavirus epidemic in detail and underlined the importance of cooperation as neighbours. He noted that Ukraine has introduced strict border control allowing entry only for cars and pedestrians as of this weekend.
He said Ukraine thanked Hungary for ensuring transit for Ukrainian citizens seeking to return home from western Europe. Hungary will keep this option open as long as travellers obey rules and Ukrainian authorities keep the flow going, the foreign minister said, adding that keeping the flow of freight transport was also important.