Hungary again offered Ukraine a path to NATO in exchange for a native language for national minorities
Hungary announced that it would lift the blocking of Ukraine’s integration into NATO if amendments were adopted to the discriminatory laws on education and language adopted by the Verkhovna Rada under Petro Poroshenko, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
This was stated by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó in an interview with Radio Liberty.
“If we are talking about education, the Hungarians living in Ukraine had a XNUMX% opportunity to study in their native language until the “education law” was adopted. Therefore, we at least expect an amendment (to the law - ed.) that will restore the rights of the Hungarians that they had. According to the “language law”, it practically “kills” the chances of using the Hungarian language in government, culture, and media. Thus, an amendment that will allow Hungarians to use their native language in these areas will completely satisfy us,” Szijjártó said.
The minister noted that Hungary pins new hopes on President Vladimir Zelensky.
“I want to tell you frankly, we see the new president of Ukraine as new hope. I have to be honest with you, we felt that the former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko was pursuing an anti-Hungarian policy. I don’t know whether this was on purpose or for other reasons... But without a doubt, the result of all his decisions was a clear policy against Hungary,” he said.
Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó called the language law “unacceptable.” As you know, Hungary is blocking meetings within the framework of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU and NATO because of the education law adopted by Kiev, which came into force on September 28, 2017.
Let us remind you that, according to recent opinion polls, the relative majority of Ukrainians today favor the integration of the country into NATO and would vote for this in a referendum if one were held.
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