Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó informed his Ukrainian partner with relation to the Hungarian proposal for simultaneously teaching Ukrainian as a minority language and preserving the native language of Transcarpathian Hungarian during his visit to Kiev, he told reporters at a joint press conference with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitro Kuleba following their meeting in Kiev on Friday.

“We understand Ukraine’s expectation that all citizens living on its territory should be able to speak Ukrainian, while we would like the Hungarians living in Transcarpathia to be able to preserve their native language. We believe the two goals can be achieved simultaneously”, Mr. Szijjártó said, explaining that he had briefed Ukrainian Education Minister Anna Novosad on the related Hungarian proposals, with whom it was agreed that she will be meeting representatives of Transcarpathian Hungarian teachers’ associations in the near future.

Mr. Szijjártó declared that the Hungarian government has an interest in rebuilding good neighbourly relations with Ukraine. “We would, however, like to construct a few pragmatic and practical success stories, which would facilitate the rebuilding of good relations between the two countries. And accordingly we have convened a meeting of the Inter-governmental Cooperation Committee for March”, he added. He pointed out that it has been seven years since the body has been convened, and he and the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister agreed it is high time that such a meeting took place. “Budapest would like a successful agreement on the opening of at least one new border crossing point to be concluded at this meeting. It would also like us to be able to agree on the application of the infrastructure credit line previously extended by Hungary, on the development of agriculture and healthcare cooperation, and on the mutual acceptance of the diplomas issues by the two countries”, he added.

“I agree with Dmitro Kuleba that we would both like to turn Transcarpathia into a success story, and for this reason we are prepared to continue our existing economic development programme in Transcarpathia, and will continue to provide Ukraine with support towards the functioning of its education, healthcare and cultural institutions”, he emphasised. “If this meeting comes to a successful close, it will open the opportunity for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to hold a summit in the spring”, he declared.

Mr. Szijjártó added that Hungary remains prepared to maintain the humanitarian aid it is affording Ukraine. He expressed his joy with relation to the launch of a direct air passenger service between Budapest and Zaporizhia in the near future, which will increase the number of Ukrainian cities that are accessible directly by air from the Hungarian capital to five.

In response to a question from Hungarian news agency MTI, Dmitro Kuleba said the act on the protection of minorities promised by the government is being drawn up by the Ministry of Culture, following which it will be put forward for public debate. The Deputy Prime Minister said he doesn’t know when the bill could be put before parliament. He did state, however, that Kiev is doing everything possible in the interests of protecting minorities in accordance with its international obligations, and has no wish to delay the adoption of the legislation.

At the press conference, the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister thanked Hungary for supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and for its assistance with relation to the rehabilitation of Ukrainian children. During the course of the day, Mr. Szijjártó also met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko and Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk.

(MTI)