Strong Ukraine in Hungary s interest, says state secy

Kiev, September 22 (MTI) - It is important for Hungary that Ukraine, its north-eastern neighbour, is a "strong, sovereign and viable" country, State Secretary at the Hungarian foreign ministry Zsolt Nemeth said after talks with leaders of Ukraine s diplomacy in Kiev on Thursday.

Nemeth noted that in December Kiev and Budapest would be celebrating the 20th anniversary of establishing bilateral diplomatic ties. He added that Hungary was the first country to open a foreign representation in Kiev, just two days after Ukraine had become independent.

Nemeth met Deputy Foreign Ministers Pavlo Klimkin and Viktor Mayko, and assured his negotiating partners of Hungary s support at talks with the EU targeting Ukraine s associate membership as well as a free trade agreement with the 27 EU members. That latter agreement, Nemeth said, could be concluded in the autumn.

Cooperation along the border is of key importance for European relations; Hungary and Ukraine would pay increased focus to the development of crossing stations to improve physical connections between the two countries, Nemeth said.

Concerning the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, parties at the talks agreed that radical expressions experienced recently, such as those manifested in the activities of the Svoboda (Freedom) party, were not in line with the interests of either country or the ethnic Hungarian community.

On the subject of Hungarian citizenship and voting rights, Nemeth stressed the importance of dialogue and mutual respect for the law of both countries.