“It is a great joy to be able to announce, on the day before the Day of National Belonging [the anniversary of the signing of the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, ed.], that the Ukrainian government has committed itself to transposing the negotiated measures into its legal order in the near future”, the Hungarian government chief wrote.
As a result, he added, Hungarians in Transcarpathia would have “much broader educational, cultural, linguistic and political rights than before”.
What the Deal Would Change
Under the plans, school administration and report cards will also be available in Hungarian. Students will be able to take school-leaving and entrance exams in Hungarian, as well as exams in Hungarian language and literature, the Hungarian news portal Index.hu reported.
The agreement also covers cultural and identity rights. Minority schools will be allowed to use Hungarian national symbols, sing the Hungarian anthem during celebrations and display signs in Hungarian in their institutions.
In settlements where ethnic Hungarians make up more than 10% of the population, Hungarian national symbols may be displayed freely, while the minority language will be permitted in health care, at sporting events and at scientific conferences.
The package also extends political rights. In the affected settlements, campaign materials, ballot papers, notices and other election information will be available in Hungarian.
Magyar said the Ukrainian government had pledged to incorporate the agreed measures into its legal system in the near future.
The measures would also be included in the action plan agreed between Ukraine and the European Union, he added. If that happens, Hungary will support the opening of the first accession cluster for Ukraine.
However, he emphasized that Budapest “continues not to support accelerated accession negotiations with the European Union”.
“If Ukraine manages to close all 33 accession clusters within 10 or 15 years, our country will hold a legally binding decision-making referendum on this issue”, Magyar added.
(luc)
