In this context, we recall that Ukraine’s language policy is high on the agenda of the international organisations. I have to refer to the alarming developments concerning Ukraine’s policies on the education of minority languages, and I have to express the Hungarian Government’s still existing serious concerns on the Ukrainian Education Act, especially Article 7 of the Act and the Law of Ukraine on the Principles of State Language Policy. The implementation of these normative acts in their current forms narrow down already existent minority rights related to education in minority languages. As you are certainly aware, the Council of Europe requested the Venice Commission to prepare its analysis on the Law on Ensuring the Functioning of Ukrainian as the State Language. We look forward to the forthcoming adoption of the opinion and we are confident that the recommendations of the Venice Commission will be duly taken into account by the Ukrainian authorities when updating their legislation on national minorities. Enhancing the role of a state language and its education, under no circumstances can justify limitations on existing linguistic rights of national minorities. Preservation of identity and culture should be seen as a prerequisite of long-term peace, stability and prosperity of the society as a whole. We can state that the right of national minorities to receive education in their mother tongue is and should be a self-evident fundamental right recognized in international human rights instruments. We therefore commend the Special Rapporteur on minority issues for addressing the issues of the education of minority languages as a key priority within his mandate and we fully support his endeavours in this field. Thank you.

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