Embassy: Ukraine is ensuring education in the languages of national minorities, including the Romanian national minority

The Ukrainian Embassy in Bucharest said on Thursday that the relevant institutions in Ukraine will issue an "appropriate" response regarding the situation at a Romanian-language educational institution in the village of Orlivka, Odesa region, describing as "unfounded" "attempts by certain individuals to fuel negative emotions" surrounding the case and to cast doubt more broadly on Kyiv's policy on safeguarding the rights of national minorities."The Embassy informs that the relevant Ukrainian institutions are currently establishing all the circumstances surrounding the situation at an educational institution in the village of Orlivka, Odesa region, Ukraine. Once these circumstances have been established, an appropriate response will be issued. At the same time, we consider unfounded the attempts by certain individuals to fuel negative emotions surrounding this situation, thereby casting doubt more broadly on Ukraine's policy on safeguarding the rights of national minorities," the Ukrainian Embassy in Bucharest said in a post on its Facebook page.According to the diplomatic mission, the Ukrainian state "remains committed" to respecting its international commitments concerning the rights of national minorities, including their educational rights."Significant progress in this area over the course of the past difficult years has been duly assessed and recognised by the European Union and our partner states. Despite the complex security challenges generated by Russia's war of aggression, Ukraine is duly ensuring education in the languages of national minorities, including the Romanian national minority (community), supporting the operation of an extensive network of Romanian-language educational institutions. In particular, 63 Romanian-language educational institutions operate in the Chernivtsi region alone," the post said.The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) said on Wednesday that it is closely monitoring respect for the rights of members of the Romanian minority in Ukraine, including through the mechanisms provided for in the Action Plan on the Protection of National Minorities as part of Kyiv's accession process to the European Union.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alignment with European standards on minority protection is a commitment undertaken by Ukraine as part of the accession negotiations.The statement was issued in the context of the situation involving the first-year class providing education in Romanian in Cartal (Orlivka).The Foreign Ministry said it had taken steps both in Bucharest and Kyiv to clarify the situation and identify a solution that would allow schooling in Romanian to continue."The opening of the class was made possible following efforts by the Consulate General of Romania in Odesa with the Ukrainian authorities, based on specific requests from the local Romanian community. At the same time, the Consulate General of Romania in Odesa immediately contacted the relevant local and regional authorities and will make a second visit to the site on 18 September to discuss the situation with all parties involved," MAE said in a press release.In recent months, Romanian consular teams have travelled to several communities in the region for direct dialogue with representatives of the Romanian community and local authorities.