“The education-related rights of no minority can be impaired in Ukraine”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Monday in Bucharest following a meeting with his Romanian counterpart. He stressed that this is something with relation to which he and Teodor Melescanu are in full agreement.
The two foreign ministers agreed to continue their already close cooperation on the issue to assure that the existing rights of minorities living in Ukraine cannot be reduced.
They agreed that the Ukrainian Government must enter into negotiations with minority communities before implementing the disputed legislation, and that Kiev must respect the recommendations of the Venice Commission to the fullest possible extent.
With relation to minority issues, Mr. Szijjártó confirmed that the Hungarian party would like to continue its cooperation with Romania based on mutual respect.
“This includes the fact that we are mutually respecting the rights of minorities in accordance with European standards, and regard minorities as a resource”, he said. “The Hungarian Government is continuously monitoring developments with relation to the re-opening of the Roman Catholic College in Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely) and trusts that the Romanian Governed will keep to the promise previously given by the political leader of the Romanian coalition, Speaker of the House Liviu Dragnea. We are monitoring the situation and are in continuous contact with the leaders of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (DAHR)”, Mr. Szijjártó told Hungarian news agency MTI.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade discussed several issues with his Romanian counterpart, including the launching of Romanian gas exports to Hungary, the permanent opening of some of the existing temporary border crossing points between the two countries, and the construction of the Budapest-Cluj high-speed railway line. During his visit, the Hungarian Foreign Minister will also be holding talks with the Speaker of Romania’s bicameral Parliament, and with President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (DAHR) Hunor Kelemen.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)
