Hungarian Foreign Minister: We will block Ukraine’s EU integration

26.09.2017, Hungary.

Hungary will block all steps within the EU which would advance Ukraine’s European integration, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó said on September 26, TASS Russian News Agency reports.

The recently adopted Law on Education in Ukraine caused sharp criticism not only in Russia, but also in Hungary.

“Until now, Pyotr Poroshenko has spoken about a European Ukraine, but this is something he can now forget about to all intents and purposes [when the Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko signed the new Education Act– editor’s note], in view of the fact that Hungary will be blocking all initiatives that could be favorable for Ukraine at … all international organizations, and primarily within the EU,” said Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On September 25, 2017, the President of Ukraine signed the new Law on Education. According to this law, only the Ukrainian language can be used in secondary schools and higher education institutions starting 2018. In primary school, the ban on teaching “minority languages” will come into effect in 2020.

Janos Lazar, the Hungarian Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, called the adoption of this law “shameful and unacceptable”, noting that “Ukraine is losing one of its friends.” Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó demanded an investigation from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Russia, Romania, Poland, Moldova, and Greece have also criticized the new law.

Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency

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