There is an important article hidden in the text of the latest Romanian-Ukrainian intergovernmental agreement which, in my opinion, has not received the attention it deserves in the media.
In fact, this is a joint statement by Prime Ministers of Romania and Ukraine following the first meeting of the two governments on 18 October, 2023.
’Upon the results of the joint meeting, the Prime Ministers (…) confirm readiness for effective cooperation aimed at ensuring the rights of persons belonging to the Ukrainian national minority in Romania and persons belonging to the Romanian national minority in Ukraine, taking into account relevant international obligations and standards, including in the field of education; they agree on the importance of developing the bilateral legal framework in this respect, based on the principle of equivalent level of protection of the rights of persons belonging to the Romanian minority in Ukraine and the persons belonging to the Ukrainian minority in Romania’, the Joint Statement emphasises.
It is hard to put into words how deeply I am affected by what really happened. In my opinion, what has happened is that Romania, which has repeatedly criticized the shortcomings of Ukrainian policy towards national minorities and related legislation, both during bilateral talks and on various international platforms, has now taken the initiative and, through a bilateral agreement, is trying to ensure that the fundamental rights of persons belonging to the Romanian national minority in Ukraine, including the issue of mother-tongue education, were guaranteed.
Good relations between Ukraine and Romania made it possible to take this step: Kyiv was ready not only for discussions, but also for a compromise in favour of Romania, in exchange for Bucharest’s military support, and this certainly will lead to substantial positive changes in the situation of the Romanian national minority in Ukraine.
For me, it is a tragedy that a member state of the European Union has to give obligations to Ukraine to supply it with weapons and make other promises in order to ensure their compatriots in Ukraine the legal rights they are entitled to have by law.
The Romanian-Ukrainian special agreement was not publicized widely and the meaning of this news was not explained correctly by the European news outlets despite the fact that this should be part of objective and balanced mass media coverage. I am sad to observe that important issues are marginalised in order to feed Ukraine’s ego.
Source:
• www.kmu.gov.ua
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