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SZIJJÁRTÓ: UKRAINE'S LANGUAGE LAW UNACCEPTABLE

 

The language law that Ukraine’s parliament approved on Thursday is unacceptable, Hungary’s foreign minister told public media.

The law which violates the rights of the Hungarian community in the neighbouring country reflects the ideals of outgoing President Petro Poroshenko, who pursued an anti-Hungarian policy, Péter Szijjártó said.
Voters in Ukraine elected a new president, Volodymyr Zelensky, with a large majority in Sunday’s ballot, he said, adding that it put an end to the Poroshenko era. He expressed hope that the situation concerning the rights of the Hungarian community in Ukraine could be “clarified in a dialogue with the new president on the basis of mutual respect”.
“We will do our utmost to restore ties with Ukraine ” after Zelensky enters office. Our aim is to have friendship return between Hungary and Ukraine and the outcome of this recent presidential election gives some hope for that,” he said.
The law which makes the use of Ukrainian compulsory as an official language in several areas was passed with a large majority. Hungarian organisations in the Carpathian Basin protested against the legislation saying that it eliminated all of the minorities’ rights to the use of their own language.