Bajnai demands govt backing for Ukraine independence

(MTI) – Withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, protection of minority rights and the Hungarian government’s clear backing of Ukraine were among the demands expressed by E14-PM leader Gordon Bajnai in a flashmob held at the Russian embassy in Budapest on Sunday.

Bajnai demanded that the Russian government should withdraw its troops from Ukraine without delay and enforce its true interests through international organisations, such as the UN and the OSCE.

He also called on the Ukrainian parliament and government to pay increased attention to the protection of minority rights.

Bajnai asked the Hungarian cabinet to start consultations with the opposition and civil organisations. He urged the government to clearly express its support for Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and the Hungarian ethnic minorities living there. The government should present Hungary’s security situation because “news have been spreading for weeks and months about the gas reserves being used up in order to maintain the lies on public utility fees” and it is not known how long the remaining reserves will last, Bajnai said.

He said Hungary, too, has the means to exert pressure and the government should therefore start consultations about the opposition and declare that “as long as the Russian soldiers are treading on Ukrainian land,” the agreement with Russia on the Paks nuclear power station upgrade is being suspended. He also called on the government to suspend all negotiations with Russia about a 3,000 billion forint credit connected to the planned Paks upgrade.

Bajnai said there is the danger for a new Cold War to start and a new Iron Curtain to emerge. He accused the government of having made preparations for years “to drag Hungary back to the Russian zone of interest”. The general election on April 6 will also be about Hungary potentially becoming a post-Soviet state, “a type of Orbanistan,” or a free, independent, democratic and growing European country, Bajnai said.

The event was attended by several hundred people, including PM co-leader Benedek Javor, PM politicians Gabor Scheiring and Peter Szilagyi, DK deputy leader Tamas Bauer and DK spokesman Zsolt Greczy.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters