On Monday the Hungarian ministry of foreign affairs and trade said that Poland and Hungary agree that it is in their interest to see an independent, democratic Ukraine which can keep its territorial integrity intact.

After talks in Warsaw, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Tibor Navracsics and his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski also said that Kiev should observe the Council of Europe's conventions on minority rights.

At a press conference during Mr. Navracsics's one-day visit to the Polish capital, the ministers said that there are very few unresolved questions in relations between Hungary and Poland.

Photo: Pawel Supernak

The two ministers agreed that next year their governments would raise the annual budget of a fund for cooperation between civil society organisations and for youth exchange programmes from 20,000 to 30,000 euros for each country. They agreed that their embassies would support programmes that facilitate cooperation between schools, non-governmental organisations and churches.

Hungary’s proposal to make 2016 the year of Hungarian culture in Poland was welcomed by the Polish representation.

Mr. Navracsics presented Mr. Sikorski with the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Middle Cross with Star, for his efforts in boosting cooperation with Hungary in Europe, within Central Europe, and at intergovernmental and diplomatic forums.

Mr. Navracsics also laid a wreath at a memorial to József Antall, Sr. – a government commissioner who worked to provide aid to Polish refugees in 1939–1944.