Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has denied that Warsaw is involved in Hungary’s blocking of the opening of new negotiating clusters in Ukraine’s EU accession talks.
Sikorski made the remarks in an interview with European Pravda, rejecting claims that Hungary had cited a request from Poland as a reason for its position.
“That is not true. We are not blocking any chapter,” Sikorski said. “There is no room for speculation here. You either raise your hand to block it or you do not. We are not doing that,” he stressed.
The Polish foreign minister declined to predict when the remaining negotiating clusters could be opened, saying progress would depend, among other factors, on whether Ukraine and Hungary can reach an agreement on the rights of national minorities.
“There is a lively discussion between Ukraine and the new Hungarian government regarding minorities, and I hope it will produce a good result,” Sikorski said.
Hungary has been blocking approval of the screening results for Clusters 2 and 3 in Ukraine’s accession negotiations since September, citing concerns over the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine.
By Vafa Guliyeva
