Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has said the Hungarian side has tasked its minister for developing cooperation between the authorized minister for development of cooperation between Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg County and Zakarpattia region with broader powers and tasks than just cooperation.
“Of course, we expected the renamed position to reflect additional functions. But it is not yet known how much this functionality is limited only by cooperation between the Ukrainian and Hungarian regions. I think the mandate is broader, and the tasks that are set by the Hungarian government are also broader,” Klympush-Tsintsadze said in an exclusive interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine agency.
The deputy prime minister said Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry created the post of ombudsman for cross-border cooperation. It was filled by ambassador for special assignments Mykola Baltazhi.
“It is he who is responsible for liaison with Mr. István Grezhi, and the first meeting has already taken place. Now the ministry is deciding how to establish a mechanism for interaction between these two commissioners,” she said.
As reported, Hungary changed the name of the post of government commissioner for Transcarpathia, which provoked resistance from Ukraine, to “authorized minister responsible for the development of cooperation between Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg County and Zakarpattia region, as well as coordinating the program of children’s educational institutions of the Carpathian region.”
The relevant decision was published in the official publication of Hungary’s Justice Ministry on Oct. 29.
This post is left to István Grezhi, previously appointed government commissioner for Transcarpathia.
