Hungary vetoed joint declaration of NATO ambassadors on Ukraine

Hungary vetoed a joint declaration of the North Atlantic Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Ukraine.

This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Economy and Foreign Affairs of Hungary Péter Szijjártó at the Euroasia Forum in Budapest, the Daily News Hungary reports.

According to the minister, Hungary has vetoed a joint declaration of NATO ambassadors on Ukraine as it did not compel Ukraine hand back rights it stripped from the ethnic Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia Oblast.

“Hungary was not prepared to sacrifice the interests of 150,000 ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine to geopolitical interests,” said Szijjártó.

At the same time, Hungary submitted several amendment proposals to the declaration, which stated that Ukraine must fulfill its obligations towards minorities in accordance with international law. Several proposals were based on the principles of the Council of Europe and the UN.

Since these proposals were rejected, “we had no other choice than to veto the declaration,” Szijjártó emphasized.

The Minister is convinced that the declaration should at least have a reference to the deprivation of minority rights of one of the NATO member state, in addition, such a document should include provisions on reinstating of such rights.

Once again Hungary has shown flagrant disrespect for Ukraine as a partner – Klympush-Tsintsadze.