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Hungary to block NATO-Ukraine meetings until minority rights deal reached
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Hungary will continue to block NATO-Ukraine Council meetings until minority rights are restored in Ukraine, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, told lawmakers on Tuesday.
In a speech in parliament, Szijjártó said Hungary’s stance had been portrayed on the global stage as a Russia-friendly policy. This, he said, was “absurd”.
Szijjártó said that from afar it was perhaps understandable that the lives of 150,000 ethnic Hungarians were less important than geopolitical considerations.
“But for us, this community is more important than any geopolitical matter,” he said.
The minister noted that on March 26, his Ukrainian counterpart, who has been asked by his president to work towards restoring bilateral relations, will visit Budapest.
“We’re ready and we’ll also make sensible suggestions,” he added.
He said that in terms of Hungary’s bilateral ties with neighboring countries, its relations with Ukraine were the most challenging. Whereas Hungary supports Ukraine on matters of territorial integrity and sovereignty, it must keep in mind the many violations in legislation of Hungarian national minority rights.