Transcarpathia wants to intensify cooperation with its neighbors, the Hungarians

On Thursday, November 6th, at the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, there was a meeting of the regional officials with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Hungary in Ukraine. Mr. Erno Keshken was welcomed by the head of the RSA Vasyl Hubal and the Regional Council Chairman Volodymyr Chubirko.

Welcoming the guest, the head of the region stressed that neighborly relations with Hungary, as well as the successful implementation of various projects, that we carry out jointly with this country, are very important fo Transcarpathia. "We seek to enhance relationships, collaboration, and also to eliminate red tape in implemention of projects and work transparently and on the principles of mutual trust" – Vasyl Hubal said.

Mr. Keshken said that early in his diplomatic career he had worked with Ukraine, collaborated with representatives of our country in the Danube Commission, and after that he also was the ambassador to the Russian Federation. In passing, he noted that Hungary supported Ukraine’s European choice and condemned the aggression on the part of Russia, and did not recognize the annexation of the Crimea.

The Regional Council Chairman Volodymyr Chubirko said that voice of the Hungarians was heard in the united Ukrainian family – representative of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia Vasyl Brenzovych was elected to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Then they talked about the projects that are common to Hungary and Transcarpathia. The head of the RSA Vasyl Hubal aksed for the assistance of the Hungarian party in Ukraine’s participation in the Danube Strategy, projects that are implemented within it. And also, to support the idea, according to which the Visegrad countries within this association will help in setting up departments of UzhNU, where students study foreign philology, and in completing the relocation of the library from the Episcopal residence.

Then, the head of the region invited the Hungarian partners to cooperation in the energy sector, as Transcarpathia is preparing the strategy that provides full transition to alternative sources of heating in the public sector by October 1, 2015, and the experience of neighbors will be very useful. The parties assured each other that they would seek to enhance cooperation and develop good neighborly relations.