Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Liliya Hrynevych has told 112 Ukraine TV channel she is disappointed with Hungary's intention to hinder the rapprochement between Ukraine and the EU over the language provisions of the new law on education.
"It is very disappointing for me because it's strange that our Hungarian partners cannot be interested in Ukrainian citizens, including those of Hungarian origin, seeing a European perspective," she told 112 TV channel.
The minister stressed that Ukraine did not violate its international obligations in the field of protecting the rights of national minorities.
"With this law – and we can prove it – we are not violating our international obligations. It seems to me that many different myths about this law were born in Hungary," Hrynevych said.
She stressed that many Ukrainian children of Hungarian origin have no command of the state language, so the new law’s provisions are aimed at fixing the existing problem.
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According to Hrynevych, Ukrainian officials will conduct consultations with foreign partners and explain how the language norms of the law on education will be introduced, show curricula for schools where representatives of national minorities study, etc.
"I think that we need more understanding, and instead of [hearing] ultimatums we would be grateful for the openness of the Hungarian leadership to hear our arguments and plans that we want to fulfill for our little Ukrainians studying in schools with minority national languages of command," Hrynevych said.
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"We are meeting on Wednesday with Minister of Education of Romania, I have a meeting with the Minister responsible for education in Hungary on October 19. I hope that during these meetings we will not only have a political debate but also a professional conversation, a pedagogical, educational conversation," she said.
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The move comes as a response to the signing by President Poroshenko of the new law on education.
"We can guarantee that this will be painful for Ukraine in the future," the Hungarian top diplomat said.