According to Hungarian organizations, the law does not provide an adequate institutional basis and legal mechanisms for the enforcement and protection of the rights of national minorities.Continue reading
There is enormous pressure on the government from both sides of the Atlantic to give up the protection of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, in Ukraine, but this will not happen under any circumstances, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó emphasized in Brussels on Tuesday. He added that the convening of the NATO-Ukraine Committee meeting at the ministerial level violates the unity of NATO, and Hungary will not support any meaningful integration rapprochement until the rights of the Hungarian national community in Ukraine are restored.
During a break in the General Affairs Council of EU Member States, the minister said he held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the morning, who confirmed that Hungary is a reliable ally that contributes to the strength of the military organization. The foreign minister added that Hungary also sees NATO as a community of values, which is why it is considered important that only countries that respect the rights of national communities should be allowed to join NATO.
Unfortunately, this is not the case in Ukraine today. Of course, this is not a new situatio: since 2015, the rights of national communities, including the Hungarian national community, have been practically continuously curtailed,”
Péter Szijjártó said. He recalled that this is why the Hungarian government has continuously blocked the convening of the NATO-Ukraine Committee at the ministerial level in recent years, and it has not taken place until now.
He stressed that although there is great pressure in the international arena for Hungary to give up the protection of the Hungarian national community in Transcarpathia, the NATO Secretary General has shown understanding on the issue and has taken this concern seriously.
However, the Secretary General has said that for various reasons, which it is not for me to go into, he will convene a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Committee at the ministerial level during the Foreign Ministers’ Council on April 4, despite the Hungarian opposition, despite the fact that we believe that this meeting could only be convened if there is unanimous agreement,”
he said. Szijjártó added that this decision violates the unity of NATO and the procedures for unity of will, “but we cannot but take note of the Secretary General’s decision.” He added that Stoltenberg had promised to give space at this meeting to the discussion of the protection of minorities.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister emphasized said that “we will of course stand by our original position, and I would like to make it clear that we will not support any meaningful integration rapprochement with NATO or the European Union in Ukraine until the rights of the Hungarian national community in Ukraine are restored.” He stated that no matter how much pressure there is, Hungary will not give up on the protection of Hungarians in Transcarpathia, and they will continue to stand up for the Hungarian people of Transcarpathia.
There have been many prejudiced acts towards the Hungarian minority community living in Transcarpathia. Most recently, the Ukrainian parliament adopted another controversial legislation restricting the rights of national minorities in December, against which Hungary has already spoken out. The main problem with the legislation is that it not only reinforces the restrictions on rights previously codified in the Education and Language Law that was hurtful to Hungarian communities, but also introduces new ones, and it does not guarantee the preservation of compact nationality settlement areas, nor the use of nationality symbols.
Featured photo via Facebook/Péter Szijjártó