Protecting the right of minorities to use their mother tongue helps to promote diversity and culture throughout Europe, according to one of Hungary’s state secretaries.
István Mikola, minister of state for International Cooperation and Security Policy at the foreign ministry, said that there are a number of minorities living in Europe that have the right to use their mother tongue not only in their private life but in conducting official affairs.
During a conference focusing on the Council of Europe’s charter on regional and minority languages, Mikola said that steps must be taken to ensure that all minorities on the continent can exercise these rights.
Árpád János Potápi, state secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad, was also present and emphasized the importance Hungary attaches to minority rights. He said that today one-third of all Hungarians around the world live beyond Hungary’s borders and 13 minority communities live in the country.