Ukraine recalls ambassador in Hungary for consultation

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin recalled Ljubov Nepopot, Ambassador of Ukraine in Budapest for consultation due to Hungarian criticism of the new Ukrainian education law.

“Ukraine’s position on relations with Hungary is unchanged, we are prepared to discuss any issues constructively,”

said the Ukrainian foreign minister. He added that he would soon be travelling to Budapest but did not give a precise date.

He expressed hope that his visit would be successful. He also stated that

he was ready to visit the University of Debrecen and Transcarpathia/Kárpátalja.

The new law on education, which comes into force in 2018 aims to modernize public education; the reforms include among others raising of the mandatory elementary, and secondary education from 11 to 12 years. The law gives schools considerable autonomy and imposes a pay rise to teachers.

However, Article 7 of the Act on Language of Education has provoked a fierce protest by several countries, including Hungary, Romania and Poland.

This part of the law, which will come into effect from September 2020, states: In Ukraine, the language of instruction is Ukrainian. Accordingly, national minorities will only be allowed to study in their mother tongue in the first four grades, alongside Ukrainian, and only in educational institutions run by local governments.

This provision, according to the organizations of national minorities, violates the Constitution of Ukraine, and several international conventions and agreements.

Source: MTI – hungarianambiance.com