Hungarian FM calls on Ukraine to guarantee safety of ethnic Hungarians

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called on the Ukrainian authorities to guarantee the safety of ethnic Hungarians living in the country, in talks with László Brenzovics, head of the Hungarian Cultural Federation in Transcarpathia (KMKSZ), in Budapest on Thursday.

The minister has reviewed the security situation in Transcarpathia, the ministry said in a statement.

The talks followed an arson attack on KMKSZ’s headquarters in Uzhhorod, in western Ukraine, in February.

“The series of attacks on the Hungarian minority is a cause for concern,” Szijjártó said.

“We expect the Ukrainian authorities to guarantee the safety of Transcarpathia Hungarians and welcome the increased presence of OSCE observers in the region,”

the statement said. “Hungary is willing to support Ukraine’s attempts to join NATO and the EU only if that country refrains from enacting laws that curb the rights of the Hungarian minority,” the statement said.

Last September the Ukrainian parliament amended the public education law, banning minority language education beyond primary school levels. Bills on citizenship and language which the Hungarian government says could further harm minority have also been submitted to Parliament.

Source: MTI