Government Spokesman Zoltán Kovács told Hungarian news agency MTI on Wednesday that the Hungarian government notes with regret that George Soros’s lies have also proved capable of deceiving the German government. Mr. Kovács was reacting to concerns expressed by German deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer over the amendment of Hungary’s Act on Higher Education, which has been adopted in an accelerated procedure.

Mr. Kovács also called it regrettable that such statements are being made by a government as respected and responsible as that of Germany.

He confirmed that the aim of the legislative amendment is to eliminate irregularities uncovered in the course of inspections by the Office of Education, and at the same time to put an end to an exceptional dispensation which has given an unfair advantage to one institution of higher education in Hungary – to the detriment of all the others.

Mr. Kovács observed that the new regulations do not contain any conditions which are impossible to fulfil, and he added that the Government is open to entering into negotiations with its American counterparts on how the criteria can be met.

The Government Spokesperson also said that the statement of opinion issued by the German government had been made without first consulting the Hungarian government or its Embassy in Berlin – both of which are more than ready to respond to any questions and enquiries.

Mr. Kovács noted that, taking into consideration the education regulations in German states, there are questions as to whether an institution such as the Soros university would be allowed to operate at all in Germany, and therefore the Deputy Spokesperson’s statement is a “particularly interesting” one.

(MTI)