MAE: We hope extension of transition period reflects Ukrainian authorities' commitment to address impact of Education Law

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) expresses the hope that "the intention to extend the transition period reflects the Ukrainian authorities' commitment to fully address the issues related to the impact of the Education Act on the persons belonging to the Romanian minority."

In a response to the AGERPRES request, the MAE shows that the recent meeting of the Ambassador of Romania to Ukraine with Minister of Education and Science in Kiev Lilia Grinevici "is part of the constant efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote the national position in terms of the Law of Education in Ukraine and its impact on persons belonging to the Romanian minority."

The main topic of the discussions was the implementation of the recommendations of the Venice Commission as well as the aspects related to the cooperation Protocol in the field of education, proposed by the Romanian side to the Ukrainian side, which includes provisions aimed at preserving the right to education in Romanian at all levels of education.

The MAE recalls, in context, Romania's actions aimed at the Ukrainian authorities in order to determine both the full implementation of the decisions of the Venice Commission and the consultation of the Romanian community regarding the measures in the field of education, the visit to Romania of Foreign Minister Klimkin - October 13, 2017, the reception of representatives of the Romanian community in Ukraine - 19 December 2017, the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu, to Cernauti - January 11, 2018, respectively.

"We express our hope that the intention to extend the transition period reflects the assumed commitment of the Ukrainian authorities to fully address the issues related to the impact of the Education Law on persons belonging to the Romanian minority," the MAE said.

At the same time, the ministry emphasizes that "promoting the right to education for all Romanian-speaking Ukrainians remains a priority for the MAE, which will be adequately promoted in the dialogue with the Ukrainian side."

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine extended the transition period for the implementation of the "linguistic article" in the new Education Law by 2023, Minister Lilia Grinevici announced last week, according to the Rakurs.ua portal.

The ministry has fully accepted the recommendations of the Venice Commission, Grinevici said on February 1 at a meeting with Romania's ambassador to Kiev, Cristian-Leon Turcanu, according to a press release posted on the official website of the institution.

On October 28, 2017, the new Law on Education took effect in Ukraine, introducing into the schools the twelve-form system and extending the use of the Ukrainian language in the sphere of education, a law that gave rise to a wave of criticism from national minorities in this country, including the ethnic Romanians, who fear that Romanian schools will disappear in a few years. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Claudia Stanescu; EN - author: Bogdan Gabaroi, editor: Adina Panaitescu)