The easing of the minority laws adopted by the Ukrainian parliament, which curtail the rights of Hungarians, is a necessary but not sufficient step, emphasized the Hungarian head of state.
In an interview published on Thursday, President Katalin Novák wished for strength and perseverance during Christmas and assured the Transcarpathian Hungarian community of his support and sympathy.
"I would like to assure the Hungarian community, through the columns of the Carpathian True Word, that we are with them every day in our thoughts, words, and prayers. Especially at Christmas," said the Hungarian head of state, who reminded in the interview that at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, he visited Kyiv twice, most recently in August of this year.
The sense of togetherness, the responsibility for each other brought me to Kyiv, as the road to Subcarpathia politically led through Kyiv, said Katalin Novák.
The President of the Republic explained to his Ukrainian counterpart the intention of reconciliation, the desire for peace and the guarantee of the rights of the Transcarpathian Hungarians, mentioning that the Hungarian minority, in addition to the already difficult and struggling everyday life, also faces the burden of war, restrictions on the exercise of their rights, and the consequences of internal migration. they have to suffer.
He made it clear: belonging to the national community gives strength, the people living in Transcarpathia cling to their faith and Hungarianness.
The free use of the mother tongue is not only a condition for the survival of an indigenous national minority, but also one of the most basic European human rights norms, said Katalin Novák, noting that when this is questioned, the leaders of the mother country cannot leave it unanswered.
Regarding the outcome of the negotiations, the head of state said that it is necessary to weigh things carefully, although the fact that he has spoken with the Ukrainian president several times since then can be seen as a good sign. Katalin Novák called it important that after the talks in Kyiv, President Zelenskyi went to Beregszász for the second time, where he listened to the leaders of the local Hungarian organizations.
The leaders of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community also confirmed that there has been significant progress, but what this will be enough for is the music of the future, he stressed.
In the interview, the President of the Republic called the relaxation of the minority laws adopted by the Ukrainian parliament, which curtail the rights of Hungarians, a necessary but not sufficient step.
As he said, the goal is to restore the situation before 2015, and this is not Hungarian stubbornness, because in Europe, the level of protection achieved cannot be stepped back, even with regard to the rights of national minorities and the right to use the mother tongue.
What we, Hungarians, are demanding in Ukraine are actually European requirements; if the accession negotiations start according to the Brussels decision, this is the minimum, he noted.
Emphasizing the importance of peace, Katalin Novák said in the interview that it is a difficult question how to reach the conditions for this, the most important thing now is to end the active, destructive phase of the war as soon as possible.
We need to sit down and talk about who wants what and how this can be achieved through peaceful means and negotiations. You can't make peace on the battlefield, only at the negotiating table, but for that you have to talk to each other, he explained.
Recalling the last two visits of the Hungarian head of state to Transcarpathia, he said that as Hungarian president it is not easy to get to Transcarpathia today, because he does not want to get Transcarpathian Hungarians into trouble with his actions or words.
"I personally took the love and support of the Hungarians of the motherland to the Carpathian Mountains, but I also drew strength from that will to live and from holding together. They need to know, they are not alone," stated Katalin Novák. He said that the largest humanitarian assistance in Hungary's history is still ongoing, and the Transcarpathian Hungarians who suffered a lot in the 20th century are supported and helped by the Hungarian communities of the motherland and the world.
According to the head of state, it is good for local Hungarians if both countries develop and it is in their interest to live in peace with their own and wider environment.
A national minority can be a source of wealth if it is allowed to be, i.e. not a threat, but an opportunity. He pointed out that progress requires cooperation between Hungary and Ukraine, between Hungarians and Ukrainians, and correct relations do not depend on Hungary if we show sufficient respect for the Hungarian communities.
"Ukraine wants to belong to the same federal systems as Hungary, which still has a very long and bumpy road to go, but it will not be possible without the Transcarpathian Hungarians," emphasized Katalin Novák.
In the interview, the President of the Republic talked about how, through his meetings with President Zelenskiy, he wants to convey the message that if the Head of State of Hungary is able to communicate with the Head of State of Ukraine, then Hungarians and Ukrainians are also capable of dialogue.
Cover image: Katalin Novák gave an interview to the newspaper Kárpáti Igaz Szó
Source: Facebook/Katalin Novák
