MINELRES: Romania: Ethnic Minority Briefs No. 77
MINELRES moderator
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Tue Nov 4 16:59:02 2003
Original sender: Divers Bulletin <[email protected]>
No. 77 / November 3, 2003
DIVERS
- reporting ethnic diversity -
SUMMARY
1. ROMANIAN PARTIES DENOUNCE ESTABLISHMENT OF SZEKLER NATIONAL COUNCIL
2. UDMR ARAD SET ASIDE PROTOCOL WITH PSD LOCALLY
3. HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT PAID PRIVATE VISIT TO TRANSYLVANIA
4. F. MADL SUGGESTED SAPIENTIA UNIVERSITY TO COLLECT OWN FUNDS
5. SNEAK PREVIEW OF "CITY WITHOUT JEWS " FILM IN ROMANIA
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ROMANIAN PARTIES DENOUNCE ESTABLISHMENT OF SZEKLER NATIONAL COUNCIL
BUCHAREST - The ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) said on 28 October
it is "concerned" over "attempts by extremist circles to enforce
territorial autonomy based on ethnic criteria," Radio Free Europe
reported. That statement was prompted by the setting up in
Sfantu-Gheorghe on 26 October of the Szekler National Council, which
represents a part of the ethnic-Hungarian minority in Romania. The PSD
also praised the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania (UDMR) for
having distanced itself from the initiative. It also said that the
"competent authorities" must launch an investigation to establish
whether the Szekler National Council should be outlawed. On the same
day, the Democratic Party said the Constitutional Court should rule
whether the council is breaching legal provisions, adding that its
creation is likely to endanger peaceful interethnic relations. The
Greater Romania Party said on 27 October that the setting up of the
council must be discussed by the Chamber of Deputies, because it is the
responsibility of parliament to defend the country's "territorial and
institutional integrity."
summary
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UDMR ARAD SET ASIDE PROTOCOL WITH PSD LOCALLY
ARAD - UDMR Arad organization suspended the protocol signed locally with
PSD, as a result of non-erecting in the municipal of the Liberty Statue,
announced on Monday October 27, the president of the organization,
Andras Kiraly.
The Board of UDMR County Representatives at end-week met in order to
analyze how the protocol issues had been fulfilled, thus deciding, with
28 �for� and 5 �against� to set the protocol aside. "The main problem
lies in non-erecting of the Liberty Statue, which actually bothered the
Magyar community. Other dissatisfactions were linked to non-granting of
support for infrastructure development in localities inhabited by
Magyars ", said Kiraly. In accordance with UDMR Arad leadership, the
suspension of the protocol means "a signal of Magyar community�s
dissatisfactions ". Locally, the suspension of the protocol will
immediately trigger giving up to the support assured by PSD to UDMR in
the Municipal Local Council. "We will vote only the projects which are
really in favor of the Magyar community ", pointed out Kiraly. (DIVERS)
summary
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HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT PAID PRIVATE VISIT TO TRANSYLVANIA
CLUJ-NAPOCA - Hungarian President Ferenc Madl ended on 28 October a
two-day private visit to several towns in Transylvania, Radio Free
Europe reported. On 27 October, Madl reiterated in Cluj his country's
readiness to support the preservation of the national identity of
members of the Hungarian minority in Romania. Madl said that the
controversial Status Law has been designed with that purpose in mind and
expressed the hope that the future European constitution will include
provisions that will help to preserve the identities of minorities. He
also urged Romania to support the reestablishment of a state-funded
Hungarian university in Cluj. Madl refused to answer questions as to his
position toward the recently-established Szekler National Council,
saying that his official position prevents him from doing so. In an
apparent reference to the council, Reformed Bishop Laszlo Toekes said he
expected "moral backing" from the Hungarian president. On 27-28 October,
Madl met with representatives of the private Hungarian-language Sapienta
University in Odorheiul Secuiesc and Miercurea-Ciuc.
summary
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F. MADL SUGGESTED SAPIENTIA UNIVERSITY TO COLLECT OWN FUNDS
TIRGU MURES � Hungary�s president, Madl Ferenc, suggested the membership
of Sapientia University in Tirgu Mures to collect even own funds for
investments, without exclusively relying on the funds from the Hungarian
Government. "I reminded the Hungary�s president that next year 600 m
forint amount is necessary to build the university campus, which is the
same amount we have been granted this year. I told him that extra 400 m
forint amount would stand for a need. Mister president Madl, who is not
in charge with distributing the money, signing only the budget
authorized by the Parliament, told us that he would do his best. He did
not reject the request, yet if it is impossible, we will be in charge of
collecting this money ", stated on Wednesday October 29, Dean of
Sapientia University in Tirgu Mures, Hullanda Dionisie. According to
Hullanda, the own budget of Sapientia University already started being
assigned inflows, coming both from natural persons, as well as from
legal entities, mostly scholarships and sponsorships. (DIVERS)
summary
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SNEAK PREVIEW OF "CITY WITHOUT JEWS " FILM IN ROMANIA
BUCHAREST - "City without Jews " film ("Die Stadt ohne Juden"), a
full-length prophetic film produced in 1924 by the Austrian
film-director Karl Breslauer, was presented on Sunday October 26, as
sneak preview in Romania, part in Yiddish Culture Festival from Iasi,
inform the organizers. Based on the novel written by Hugo Bettauer, the
film depicts expel of thousands of Jews considered responsible of
economic crisis in a country called Utopia. The event was organized with
the support of Austria�s Embassy in Romania. The festival from Iasi,
which is taking place on October 23 - 30, consists of theater
performances, klezmer music concerts, and exhibitions about the history
of Jewish communities in Central Europe and workshops about Yiddish
culture. It is deployed with the help of the European Commission, part
in Culture 2000 program, and represents stage of Yiddish culture-themed
European tour, developing on April 2003 �May 2004 interval. (DIVERS)
summary
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