Hungary's relations with Ukraine are now better than at any time over the past 20 years, Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics said on Wednesday.

Mr Navracsics addressed the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Kiev and held talks with top Ukrainian leaders. He said Hungary supports Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. In particular, it welcomes political efforts and investments in infrastructure which serve regional stability.

At talks with Mikola Azarov, Ukraine's prime minister, it was agreed that Croatia, Hungary and Ukraine should sign an agreement as soon as possible on creating a common gas corridor in a bid to ensure stable energy supplies to the region, the Deputy Prime Minister stated.

The two parties touched upon the issue of bilateral infrastructure development concerning border crossing points and the Ukrainian premier pledged support and state guarantee for the construction with an Exim Bank credit line of a 25-km road section leading up to the Beregsurany crossing.
Mr Azarov said the accreditation process of the II Rakoczi Ferenc Hungarian College of Transcarpathia, an important institution for ethnic Hungarians, would be concluded in November and this would stabilise the school's situation.

Deputy Prime Minister Navracsics also had a discussion with his Ukrainian counterpart, justice minister Olena Lukas, focused on Ukraine's legislation obligations in connection with the country's EU association agreement. He offered the Hungarian justice ministry's help in organising conferences, workshops and training seminars for Ukrainian officials.

The Hungarian official also met Ukrainian Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko, with whom they discussed migration issues and ways to enhance joint efforts to combat illegal migration.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)