16 Nov

The protection of minorities and the protection of minority languages to enriches and helps to preserve Europe's culture and diversity - said István Mikola, Minister of State for Security Policy and International Cooperation in Budapest on Tuesday, at the opening of the conference of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.  The Secretary of State highlighted that numerous minorities live in Europe and they have the right to use their language not just privately, but in public life and in the offices, and therefore more steps are needed to ensure their right.

Istvan Mikola said: The minorities are struggling with difficulties in the use of their languages in several countries and these problems can be solved only by cooperation. Regarding the new Ukrainian education law, he noted that the principle that minorities can enjoy their rights and use their language needs to be strengthened. Hungary has always paid attention to insure the rights of the minorities in its territory.

Árpád János Potápi, Minister of State for Nation Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office emphasized: For Hungary, the issue of minority rights is important because one third of hungarians live outside of the borders while 13 different nationalities live in Hungary. 2.5 million Hungarians live in the neighbouring countries and an additional 2.5 million Hungarians are living  worldwide. Therefore it is crucial for Hungary that the minorities could preserve their identity, languages, culture and traditions and Hungary – as a Motherland - is committed to help them for it.

The Secretary of State said in Hungary 13 different nationalities has been living together and building the country with the hungarians for hundreds of years and we see it as a common home for which we have fought a lot. Árpád János Potápi added that native nationalities deserve the same protection as other nationalities living here for a few decades.

Claudia Luciani, director for democratic governance and anti-discrimination of the Council of Europe, said Hungary has had a vested interest in signing the CoE charter 25 years ago, and the country has ever since been working towards ensuring the protection of minority rights. 25 years ago this issue was particularly important, because of the war in Europe, today the situation isn’t that urgent but minority issues have to be kept on the agenda.

She underlined: Europe must remain a multilingual and multicultural community, adding that the use of a state language must not exclude the possibility of using a minority language. "Minority languages must not be seen as an enemy," she said.

About the new Ukrainian education law, she stated that Ukraine agreed that they would listen to the opinion of the Venice Comission thus they will re-examine their obligations.

Zsolt Németh, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs also said, in the ’90s when the charta was born the status of minorities significantly differed from today. The agreement protects the rights of minorities to the use of their languages and preserving their traditions.

He conceived that the EU is regarded as a union of values, at the same time there is no mechanism in the EU which protects minorities. When there is a need for more Europe, there is not enough, like in the area of guarranteeing language rights - he stated. The Chairman emphasized that Hungary is committed to protect minorities and grateful for the Council of Europe's support in the issue of the Ukrainian education law.

The conference was held on the occasion of the opening for the signature of the Charta by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Council of Europe with the support of the State Secretariat for Nation Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Parliament.

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is the European convention for the protection and promotion of languages used by traditional minorities. It was adopted as a convention on 25 June 1992 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and was opened for signature in Strasbourg on 5 November 1992. Hungary signed the charter in 1992 and was among the first to ratified by the Parliament in 1995.

(MTI)