Szijjártó: Hungary will not approve negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership because of Transcarpathian problems
Hungary will not give its consent to the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union until Kiev cancels laws discriminating against Transcarpathian Hungarians, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto told RIA Novosti.
The diplomat said that the adoption of a new education law in Ukraine had led to only partial lessons in Hungarian-language schools.
“This is unacceptable. It contradicts all international norms. It contradicts European norms as well. Therefore, when a decision is made to start accession talks with Ukraine, Hungary will not be able to give its consent until Hungarians get their rights back,” Szijjártó said.
He said the number of Hungarian-language classes was dropping to a level “between 20 per cent and 40 per cent”.
“Unfortunately, this situation is very sad. Things have only been getting worse since 2015, so, I repeat, it has nothing to do with the war. Since 2015 we have had a permanent conflict with Ukrainians about this. For the last eight years we have been in constant argument with them, asking them to give the Hungarians back the rights they had then. We are not asking for anything more. We are only asking them to return the rights that they had eight years ago,” the minister said.
1,524 total views, 2 views today
