Hungary complained to NATO of violations of the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians, abusing their right to file such requests. But in fact, this will not affect Ukraine’s political position in developing its relations with NATO.
“Hungary is torpedoing the meetings of the NATO Ukraine Commission, in fact playing into the hands of the Russian Federation, although it refutes this cooperation. But it will not have any effect for Ukraine, because the decisions there are taken by consensus and I see no reason why NATO will listen to Hungary’s political position there,” political scientist Eugene Magda said.
He believes that such behavior of the Hungarian government will spoil its reputation.
“The Hungarian government continues its line, demonstrating that Ukraine is unconstructive and one that violates the rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia. Hungary is the only country that believes so by the way. Other countries do not support this position. I think that the Hungarian political leadership is abusing certain tools. In the end, they will encounter the fact that the similar actions will have a negative opposite effect,” the expert said.
Mr. Magda predicts that the Hungarian memorandum on the violation of the rights of the Transcarpathian Hungarians will not be fulfilled and will not become a subject of discussion in NATO.
“Therefore, there is no scenario of apocalypse today. And before executing what is called a “memorandum”, one must remember the Budapest Memorandum, according to which Ukraine was promised something, but has never received it. Although the Budapest Memorandum in the system of international relations means much more than a memorandum of the Hungarian government. And I note that the strategic goal of Hungary is to change the Ukrainian law on education,” the political scientist summed up.
Recall that in Hungary, a new government of Viktor Orban took “a memorandum on the protection of Transcarpathian Hungarians”. The document was sent to the leaders of all NATO member states as well as to the Secretary General of the Alliance. In this memorandum the Hungarian government offers NATO members to take into account “the problems of national minorities in Ukraine related to Ukrainian laws, as according to the local officials, these laws violate the rights of minorities.”
In January 2018, it became known that Hungary would not contribute to the NATO-Ukraine summit at the level of defense ministers, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said after meeting with Chairman of the Society of Hungarian Culture in Transcarpathia and People’s Deputy of Ukraine Vasiliy Brenzovich. Szijjarto noted that Hungary’s position has not changed and Budapest will not support the integration processes in Ukraine, while “European and international rights are violated there.”
The minister added that Hungary is ready to negotiate with Kiev on the law on education adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine but only if it coincides with the “interests and desire of the Hungarian minority.”
Also Hungary demanded to introduce an OSCE mission to Transcarpathia.