Ukrainian, Hungarian FMs note positive dynamics in addressing national minority rights issue
During negotiations with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Economy of Hungary Péter Szijjártó in Budapest, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reiterated both bilateral and international commitments undertaken by Ukraine to ensure the rights of persons belonging to the Hungarian national community.
"For my part, I emphasized that Ukraine reaffirms both bilateral and international commitments undertaken by Ukraine to ensure the rights of persons belonging to the Hungarian national community. The minister and I noted the positive dynamics in resolving this issue and agreed on further interaction in order to reach an understanding on all sensitive issues," the Ukrainian minister said at a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart on Monday.
He also said that Ukrainian Hungarians are an integral and equal part of the Ukrainian political nation and "a key bridge of mutual understanding between our states."
Sybiha noted that today ethnic Hungarians defend Ukraine with arms in their hands at the front and support Ukraine at the rear.
"For us, this is the best evidence that the Hungarian national community is our strength, our Erős Pista [from Hungarian Erős Pista – "strong Stepan", a famous Hungarian seasoning, very spicy, has cultural and archetypal connotations], if we speak in culinary language, that today we are equal in the defense of our freedom and life," he said.
The ministers also focused on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula as well as the Victory Plan during the talks. Sybiha thanked Szijjártó for Hungary's participation in the first Peace Summit and joining its communiqué.
"We hope that Hungary, as a country actively advocating for peace, will continue to support Ukrainian initiatives, will contribute to their early implementation," he said.
As reported, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha is on a working visit to Hungary on September 30.
In the afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that negotiations ended between the Ukrainian and Hungarian foreign ministers in Budapest in a one-on-one format. The meeting lasted about an hour, twice as long as planned. After that, negotiations in an expanded format with the participation of delegations began.
