Hungary promises protection to Hungarian citizens in Ukraine

Budapest (MTI) – The Hungarian government must protect every Hungarian citizen by all means, and in view of the recent street shootings in western Ukraine, the safety of ethnic Hungarians there is rightfully questioned, government office chief Janos Lazar told the press on Tuesday.

In response to reports that Hungary’s ambassador was summoned to Ukraine’s foreign ministry on Monday, Lazar said that Ambassador Erno Keskeny can well represent Hungarian interests.

The government office chief confirmed Hungary’s interest in peace, security and maintaining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Lazar noted that Hungarian citizenship had been granted to a total of 783,000 applicants from beyond the borders in recent years.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry said on its website on Monday that Keskeny had been summoned in the wake of recent remarks in Hungary concerning the activities of the Hungarian secret services in Ukraine. According to the ministry, Lazar has made some unprecedented remarks about the activities of the Hungarian secret services on Ukraine’s territory. First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Natalia Halibarenko called it unacceptable that the Hungarian secret services operated in Ukraine without informing the Ukrainian services in advance.

Asked whether Hungary had carried out secret service activities in Ukraine, Lazar said Hungary’s neighbours should accept that the Hungarian state, including all its organisational units, must protect all Hungarian citizens throughout the world.

In response to a question about the resignation of tax authority chief Ildiko Vida, Lazar said she had offered her resignation to the prime minister several times since last autumn but Viktor Orban asked her to remain in office until the authority’s reorganisation. Lazar said there is no rush to replace her even now and her successor is still being sought.

Photo: MTI

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