‘Hungary is home to all nationalities living here,’ said Tibor Navracsics, Minister of Public Administration and Justice on Monday, when he signed a strategic partnership agreement with the leaders of the thirteen self-governments of nationalities living in Hungary. Tibor Navracsics said at the signing ceremony that the purpose of the statutory strategic partnership agreements is the achievement of better legislation. This also means that better conditions can be created for nationalities.

For precisely this reason the Government intends to provide the necessary opportunity for nationalities living in our country to flourish, and for their communities to grow in strength, the minister said. He stressed that the agreement now serves this purpose also. As with Hungarian minorities living beyond the borders, nationalities living within our borders must be given the opportunity to assert their identities.

In accordance with Hungary’s new Fundamental Law, the State undertakes to protect and promote the languages and culture of nationalities. The agreement between the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice – the ministry responsible for nationalities – and the thirteen self-governments of nationalities aims to promote the further development of the system for legal defence of minority rights (which is recognised at international level), to broaden the individual and collective rights of nationalities, and to support their cultural autonomy.

The signing ceremony was also attended by László Szászfalvi, Minister of State for Church, Civil Society and Nationality Affairs and by Csaba Latorcai, Deputy Minister of State for Civil Society and Nationality Affairs.

(korany.hu)