“The Hungarian Government is requesting in the strongest possible terms that its Ukrainian partners ask its authorities to refrain from harassing Hungarian institutions in Subcarpathia, and that legislators in Kiev do not introduce laws that represent a step back with regard to minority rights”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Minister of State for Economic Diplomacy declared in Munkács (Mukacseve) on Friday.

Levente Magyar, who is on a tour of Subcarpathia to promote Government funding for Hungarian enterprises in the region provided within the framework of the Egán Ede Economic Development Programme, told Hungarian news agency MTI: “On Thursday, the European Parliament voted in favour of affording Ukraine visa-free travel, meaning it will be much easier for all Ukrainian citizens to enter the territory of the European Union”.

“This is a huge step forward, the realisation of which is to a great extent the work of the Hungarian Government”, he pointed out. “The Government supported visa-free travel for Ukraine at all possible forums, often undertaking conflicts with its European partners to ensure that Ukraine, which is in an extremely difficult situation, receives this advantage as soon as possible”, he continued. “However, the Hungarian Government’s stand in favour of Ukraine in recent years at every possible forum and in every respect, including in support of the country’s unity and stability and in the form of social and economic aid provided to Ukraine and the provision of medical treatment to wounded soldiers, indicates that Hungary is fully aware of the fact that the situation in the neighbouring country is extremely serious and that it is greatly in need of assistance”, he added.

“For precisely this reason we feel that it is extremely unfair that these friendly gestures are being reciprocated to an increasingly lesser degree by Ukraine, where official measure that are clearly aimed at intimidating the Hungarian minority in Subcarpathia are gaining strength, where Hungarian institutions in Subcarpathia are being harassed to an increasing extent, and where legislative processes have begun that aim to restrict the rights of the Hungarian minority”, the Minister of State pointed out.

“This is something that Hungary cannot accept in view of the fact that the Hungarian community is already in a difficult situation, and accordingly any movement in a negative direction and the introduction of any legislation that curtails the rights of the Hungarian minority will provoke the strongest possible protests on the part of the Hungarian Government”, he added. “We regard it as unfortunate that the Ukrainian Government is continuously pushing on the boundaries of otherwise sincere Hungarian-Ukrainian friendship”, he highlighted.

“If the boundaries of this framework are pushed apart, it will have sad repercussions not only for Hungary and the Hungarian minority in Subcarpathia, but also for Ukraine”, he declared. “We sincerely hope that this process can be halted, and accordingly we request in the strongest possible terms that our Ukrainian partners ask their authorities to refrain from harassing Hungarian institutions in Subcarpathia, and that legislators in Kiev do not introduce laws that represent a step back with regard to minority rights”, Mr. Magyar stressed.

(MTI)