Semjen voices commitment to indigenous ethnic minorities

Indigenous ethnic minorities are an integral part of the Hungarian nation, deputy PM Zsolt Semjen said on Tuesday. The job of the state is to guarantee conditions for their prosperity and ability to preserve their values. "Just as Hungarian communities in other countries are an inseparable part of the Hungarian nation, indigenous ethnic groups are its inseparable components," Semjen said at an awards ceremony. Concerning support for Hungary's ethnic minorities, Semjen noted that budget allocations have increased five-fold compared with 2010. He welcomed the growing number of citizens declaring that they belong to such ethnic groups. Currently, 6.5 percent of Hungary's population identify as belonging to an ethnic minority, he added.