US Ambassador Urges Budapest To Refrain From Blocking Kiev-NATO Cooperation
Fakhir Rizvi Published December 13, 2018 | 07:39 PM
US Ambassador to Hungary David B. Cornstein urged the Hungarian government on Thursday to refrain from blocking cooperation between NATO and Kiev amid the row between the neighboring countries.
Budapest consistently blocks meetings of the NATO-Ukraine commission at the level of heads of state and government over its tensions with Kiev, prompted by Ukraine's education law.
"We recognize and respect Hungary's very important concerns about Ukraine's education policy, and raise these matters with the Government of Ukraine. We want both sides to come to a resolution soon ... We feel strongly, however, that as NATO allies the best way to promote reforms in Ukraine is by talking to Ukraine, not by blocking Ukrainian engagement with NATO," Cornstein said in his address to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Parliament, as quoted in the embassy's statement.
The ambassador went on to call on Budapest to join Washington in "rejecting" Russia's energy projects such as Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2.
Ukrainian-Hungarian relations deteriorated over Ukraine's 2017 education law, which restricted national minority children's right to study in their native languages. In September, tensions escalated further over reports that the Hungarian consulate in Beherove, a city located in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia region, near the Hungarian border, issued Hungarian passports for Ukrainian citizens. This was done in spite of the fact that Ukraine does not recognize dual citizenship. The move prompted Kiev to expel the Hungarian consul from the country, and Hungary responded in kind.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pakistan's total liquid foreign reserves reach $ 13.42 billion
Aeon & Trisl signifies back-to-back successes by securing the No. 1 Award at the ..
Attaullah Tarar’s success notification from NA-127 challenged
PSX witnesses positive trend today
PM Shehbaz meets CJP Isa to address IHC judges’ concerns
Pakistan vows to bring to justice perpetrators, abettors of Bisham terrorist att ..
May 9 riots: SC allows conditionally to military courts to deliver reserved verd ..
Interior Minister arrives in Peshawar after Shangla suicide attack
OPPO Reno 11 F 5G: Setting New Records as Pakistan's Most Beloved Smartphone Lin ..
PCB dismisses FICA's claims of unpaid dues in PSL
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 March 2024
More Stories From World
-
Haiti situation 'cataclysmic': UN
17 minutes ago -
Profits fall for China's top chipmaker as sanctions bite
17 minutes ago -
Portugal awaits new government after hung polls
18 minutes ago -
China willing to work with Pakistan to enhance capability of tackling security challenges: Col Wu Qi ..
47 minutes ago -
Haiti situation 'cataclysmic': UN
47 minutes ago -
Detectives return to French village to solve missing toddler mystery
48 minutes ago
-
Japan Moon probe survives second lunar night: space agency
1 hour ago -
Blond vs pink: French-Swiss battle for 'fourth' chocolate
2 hours ago -
Zangnan has been China's territory since ancient times: Spokesperson
2 hours ago -
Nicoll relishes her shot at double Olympic stardom
2 hours ago -
Four killed in German motorway bus accident
2 hours ago -
French bill seeks to ban hair discrimination affecting black women
2 hours ago