New Hungarian community centre opens in Transcarpathia

Chop, Ukraine (MTI) – Hungarian officials inaugurated a new Hungarian community centre built in part from funds contributed by the Hungarian government in Chop (Csap), in western Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region, on Saturday.

The Hungarian government contributed more than 30 million forints (EUR 97,300) to the construction of the 200 sqm community centre which will be operated by the Hungarian Cultural Federation of Transcarpathia (KMKSZ).

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ernő Keskeny, Hungary’s ambassador to Kiev, said the community centre would be a worthy venue for hosting events for the Hungarians of the Uzhhorod (Ungvár) district and local Hungarian organisations. Keskeny said the establishment of the community centre was a notable example of the support Hungary extends to Hungarians living beyond the border.

István Grezsa, government commissioner for development coordination between eastern Hungary and western Ukraine, said the inauguration of the community centre gave cause for a “double celebration” because it not only demonstrated Transcarpathian Hungarians’ will to live but was also a significant event for Hungary because “we form a single national community.”

Source: MTI