Consul for consul – this is how the game is played. According to international diplomatic tradition this is the way for a country to express its misgivings about another country’s actions in a firm, yet restrained way – just like it happened with the Hungarian consul in Beregszász.
We could argue about legal interpretations, but that is not Hungary’s job: it should be left to Kiev, who has expelled our consul. We have one task only: to protect – in accordance with our constitution – the rights of Hungarians, whether they have a Hungarian passport or not. The gauntlet must be picked up as this is the only way to solve the issue.
It is immaterial what troubles Ukraine or what kind of campaign is being run there. There certainly are some Ukrainians who now say their president Petro Poroshenko is a tough guy and hit the Hungarians the way they deserved it.
Ukraine has also growled at Prague, lest the Czechs remember that Transcarpathia was part of Czechoslovakia between the two world wars and venture to give passports to its Czech brothers living there.
Following the expulsion of the consul, Ukraine now hopes that Hungary will refrain from any unfriendly steps. The very same day, the parliament in Kiev passed a language law that clearly indicates to Hungarians (and other minorities) that they are not considered citiziens of equal standing.
It now expects Hungary to comply, while it is very clear that Ukraine is in no position to dictate terms. Currently, Hungary is a very stable country and it has excellent relations with six of its seven neighbors. The old Hungarian leadership may have yielded and left the ethnic Hungarians there to their own devices.
But this Hungary is different. Good relationships and successful cooperation are based on mutual respect and that cannot involve us being dragged into their domestic political feuds.
