On 26-28 November 2017, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij, on the invitation of the UWC member organization Association of Ukrainian Culture in Hungary, fulfilled a working visit to Budapest, Hungary, which he dedicated to discussing with its high-ranking government officials the new Law of Ukraine “On Education” and Hungary’s continued support for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.
During meetings with high-ranking government officials, the UWC President thanked Hungary for recognizing the Holodomor of 1932-33 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, being one of the first countries to do so, and for the support for Ukraine in the defence of its territorial integrity and the humanitarian assistance, primarily the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers and caring for children with family members fighting in the conflict zone.
Particular attention during the meetings with Hungarian high-ranking officials was devoted to reconciling concerns on the part of Hungary over Article 7 of the newly adopted Law of Ukraine “On Education” regarding the use of the state and minority languages in Ukraine. The UWC President noted that Ukraine submitted this law for review to the Venice Commission, which is expected to soon make public its recommendation. He highlighted the need for continued dialogue between Ukraine and Hungary on this issue, and called upon Hungary to refrain from escalating the situation any further and to support the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.
On 26 November 2017 Eugene Czolij held a community meeting organized by the Ukrainian Cultural Association in Hungary chaired by Jaroszlava Hartyanyi and the Ukrainian Self-government of Hungary chaired by Yuri Kravchenko. The UWC President delivered an address on the main priorities of the Ukrainian diaspora and the UWC, which are primarily related to supporting Ukraine, and called for continuing cooperation from the Ukrainian community in the realization of common goals.
That day the UWC President joined the Ukrainian community leadership and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary Liubov Nepop in remembering the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33 by laying flowers at the monument in their honor.
On 27 November 2017, Eugene Czolij met with the Ambassador of Ukraine in Hungary, Liubov Nepop, assuring her that the UWC will continue to support Ukraine in the defence of its territorial integrity.
On 28 November 2017, the UWC President attended a session of the Parliament of Hungary where Member of Parliament from the Ukrainian minority Jaroszlava Hartyanyi, who is also UWC First Vice President and President of the European Congress of Ukrainians, delivered an address on the 84th anniversary of the Holodomor.
During his visit to Hungary the UWC President was accompanied by UWC First Vice President Jaroszlava Hartyanyi and Director of UWC Mission to International Organizations in Brussels Maryna Iaroshevych.
“The visit to Hungary was productive and enabled a discussion on the main aspects of the Law of Ukraine “On Education”,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
More information on the UWC President’s visit to Hungary is available in the Ukrainian language on the web site of the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary – Link #1, Link #2 and Link #3.
List of individuals with whom the UWC President met:
Gulyás Gergely, Chair of the Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz) Group in the Hungarian Parliament
Harrach Peter, Chair of the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) in the Hungarian Parliament
Magyar Levente, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Secretary of State
Martonyi János, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, President of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
Németh Zsolt, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Hungarian Parliament
Nepop Liubov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Hungary
Poupart Isabelle, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Hungary
Semjen Zsolt, Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary
Szél Bernadett, Chair of Politics Can Be Different (LMP) Group in the Hungarian Parliament
Van Cleve David, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States to Hungary
Volner Janos, Chair of the Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) Group in the Hungarian Parliament
In the photo from left to right: Z. Semjen, J. Hartyanyi, E. Czolij and M. Iaroshevych
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