Hungary outlines conditions to start a dialogue with Ukraine
Ukraine should refrain from implementing the law on education until it has agreed to the details of the legislation with minorities, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Szijjártó stated, Evropeyska Pravda reports.
At a press conference in Budapest, he said that NATO had planned to hold a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Defense Ministers on 14-15 February, however, Hungary imposed a veto, and, consequently, the NATO Secretary General informed the member states that the meeting would not take place.
Szijjártó noted that each country that operates in close cooperation with NATO conducts and implements annual programs.
"Within the framework of such agreements, Ukraine has committed itself to respect the rights of national minorities. If Ukraine really aims at closer ties with NATO and the European Union, it should justify their expectations," the Foreign Minister of Hungary said.
According to him, in order for Hungary to lift the veto, Ukraine should "refrain from the beginning of the implementation of the Law [On Education] until every detail of the law is agreed upon by national minorities."
According to the Minister, Kyiv has to decide on the suspension of the law.
"If the Ukrainian government decides to suspend the implementation of the law until the end of the consultations, it will be a good basis for negotiations," he said.
The Minister also confirmed that consultations between the Ministry of Education of Ukraine and the Hungarian minority on the implementation of the law "On Education" should begin on February 14.