Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets met with Hungary’s Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Juhász Imre in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia (Transcarpathian) region, discussing the protection of national minority rights and Ukraine’s European integration.
Lubinets announced the meeting on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.
“We are beginning a busy day of joint work with a meeting on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border. I am pleased to welcome my colleague to Ukraine – Dr. Juhász Imre, Hungary’s Commissioner for Fundamental Rights,” Lubinets wrote.
He said the talks focused on protecting equal rights and freedoms, the rights of national minorities, European integration, and deepening cooperation between their institutions.
“The willingness for dialogue is there. We are working toward a common result,” Lubinets added.
The Ukrainian Ombudsman said that together with his Hungarian counterpart, they laid flowers in honor of Ukraine’s defenders at the Kalvaria Historical Memorial Complex, as well as at the memorial to the heroes of Hungary’s 1956 uprising and victims of communist dictatorships.
He emphasized that memory should serve as a unifying force.
“Substantive dialogue lies ahead. I will share the most important results very soon,” Lubinets said.
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As reported by Ukrinform, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said his government had reached a comprehensive agreement with Ukraine on expanding the linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights of Hungary’s minority community in Ukraine, which numbers around 100,000 people.
Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi also said that Ukraine would continue supporting the development of education, languages, and cultures of national communities, including the Hungarian community.