MINELRES: Romania: Divers Bulletin no. 29 (225) / August 21, 2006
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BRINGING TO LIGHT THE COLLABORATORS WITH FORMER COMMUNIST SECURITATE
ALSO AFFECTS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MINORITIES
PRESIDENCY SUPPORTS RAPID ENACTMENT OF LAW ON ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP
PROPOSAL TO REFORM UDMR
ETHNIC ROMA SILVERERS, IN PREMIERE AT THE HANDICRAFTSMEN FAIR IN MAMAIA
PROGRAM TO PROMOTE ETHNIC TOLERANCE
ICR SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION IN ROMANIAN LANGUAGE IN THE NEIGHBORING
COUNTRIES
News
BRINGING TO LIGHT THE COLLABORATORS WITH FORMER COMMUNIST SECURITATE
ALSO AFFECTS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MINORITIES
BUCHAREST - The latest controversial debates related to the politicians
who allegedly collaborated with the former communist secret police
Securitate also target some of the current MPs representing the ethnic
minorities. So far, this has been a closed topic, but it is absolutely
necessary to approach it in order to clear out some aspects regarding
the "dark age" in Romania's history.
Friday, August 11, a mainstream daily made public the list of 29 MPs
with files at the National College for the Study of Securitate Archives
(CNSAS), but CNSAS officials did not confirm the authenticity of the
document.
According to this list, two PMs belonging to the Democratic Union of
Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) and a deputy representing the Ruthenian
minority allegedly collaborated with former Securitate (actually, they
signed a collaboration agreement with former Securitate).
Moreover, other six UDMR deputies representing the Greek, Jewish and
Albanian minorities allegedly collaborated with former Securitate as
well.
All MPs who allegedly collaborated with the Securitate denied any
accusations. Thus, UDMR senator Gyorgy Frunda checked his file on August
15 at CNSAS headquarters. "I have never signed anything nor have I ever
written any informative report on anybody in my life and I hold no
secret code number", said Frunda who also added: "UDMR members have
never collaborated with the Securitate. It is nothing but a social and
political scheme".
Another UDMR member, Sogor Csaba, said CNSAS officials told him that he
did not have any file of informant or collaborator with former
Securitate. He added that he was questioned for a few times by former
Securitate officers and that he made three statements related to his
connection with Laszlo Tokes.
In the end, UDMR deputy Gheorghe Firczak, the representative of the
Ruthenian minority, denied any collaboration between him and the
Securitate. He said on August 11 that he knew he was under the constant
watch of former Securitate and he asked for CNSAS to enable him to see
his own file. Firczak explained that the "hostile attitude" was based on
the history articles he wrote about Transylvania's history and the
Securitate wanted to "make an irredentist of him".
The list of parliamentarians suspected of having collaborated with the
former securitate are Verestoy Attila, Marko Bela, Kelemen Hunor,
Kelemen Attila, Toro Tibor, Becsek-Garda Dezso-Kalman (all UDMR
members), as well as Sotiris Fotopolos (deputy, Greek minority), Aurel
Vainer (deputy, Jew minority), Oana Manolescu (deputy, Albanian
minority). They are all waiting to see their file.
CNSAS avoided to officially corroborate the information. "CNSAS College
cannot confirm these names as - according to the law - we cannot only
confirm the decisions on the persons who made or not political police",
CNSAS spokesperson Cazimir Ionescu told HotNews.ro.
Author: DIVERS
PRESIDENCY SUPPORTS RAPID ENACTMENT OF LAW ON ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP
BUCHAREST - President Traian Basescu Tuesday said in Eforie, the laws on
granting the Romanian citizenship to Romanian minorities abroad will
soon come into force, NewsIn reports.
The declaration was made in the camp organized by the National Authority
for Youngsters for almost 300 ethnic Roma youngsters in Ukraine,
Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova and Transdniester.
"The law on citizenship will be soon enforced. We have almost 30,000
files with citizenship requests from Romanian minorities abroad",
Basescu said. The president also said this large number of requests made
him analyze the citizenship law.
"I reassure you that by end-September, the law will be in the
Parliament", Basescu said the Romanian youngsters abroad, complained of
the fact they cannot employ in Romania if they study here, or in their
country of origin, as the diploma is not recognized.
The president also said advantages will be created to the ethnic
Romanians. Basescu also said the citizenship law will become operational
by year-end. Basescu asked the youngsters not to consider immigration to
Romania is the best solution for them.
The president said he wants the Romanians abroad are a connection
between the governments of these states and the Romanian authorities and
aims they benefit from this law, as European citizens, after the
accession to the EU.
Author: DIVERS
PROPOSAL TO REFORM UDMR
CLUJ-NAPOCA - Ethnic Hungarian Democratic Union in Romania (UDMR) needs
a new structure taking efficient decision in a short time, the executive
vice-president with the Union Zsolt Nagy said Monday, August 14.
Nagy, minister of communications and IT, presented during a press
conference, together with UDMR deputy Kelemen Hunor, a reforming model
of the Union, which better adjusts to the current political and social
reality, the news agencies report.
The reform could be made abiding by two principles: change of the
internal structure and improvement of rhetoric, stressing upon general
interest issues, which belong to all communities in Romania.
UDMR representatives said that an intermediary structure should be set
up, which could easier meets, and that could quicker make efficient
decisions. The decision-making institutions are Operative Council and
Council of Union Representatives (CRU), which rarely meet.
UDMR reform might also act upon this CRU, which is a good structure for
strategic decisions, which could gather members of other organizations
representing the interests of the ethnic Hungarian community, such as
the National Council of Ethnic Hungarians in Transylvania. Zsolt Nagy
said this will be an open gate to the dialogue with the other ethnic
Hungarian organizations, which leads to better relations with the
electorate.
Kelemen Hunor also said the current UDMR structure, the way it was
reconsidered in 1993, was very good for that period of time and for the
people to come, but the political environment has changed a lot and
requires no organization.
The president of the Union Marko Bela said on August 15 the proposals on
reforming UDMR are "absolutely natural" before the next year's congress
of the party.
Author: DIVERS
ETHNIC ROMA SILVERERS, IN PREMIERE AT THE HANDICRAFTSMEN FAIR IN MAMAIA
MAMAIA - Mamaia resort will host during August 17-21 the 8th edition the
Folk Handicraftsmen Fair in Romania, with the attendance of a group of
ethnic Roma silverers and copper-smith, said the local press.
The handicraftsmen come from Transylvania and are settled in Sibiu and
Bucharest. Ethnic Roma handicraftsmen will exhibit their parts in the
fair for the first time. They will join folk handicraftsmen allover the
country.
The silverers will enable the wide public to take part in the setting up
and finishing of exhibited objects, which represents the main attraction
point of the fair. Jewelry with semi-precious stones and copper pots
will be presented.
Considered one of the largest fairs of the handicraftsmen countrywide,
the event will meet over 250 folk handicraftsmen. Thus, ceramic, wood,
metal and fiber objects will be pout up for sale, together with folk
costumes, jewels, wood icons, glass icons, folk masks, folk instruments
and traditional caky.
Author: DIVERS
PROGRAM TO PROMOTE ETHNIC TOLERANCE
BUCHAREST - During June - December 2006, the Agency for Community
Development "Together" and the city hall of sector 2 of Bucharest
municipal, Department of Project Management and European Accession-
Service Programmes and European Accession develops the project "Equality
is not a dream!".
The program aims to promote the ethnic tolerance, the multi-culture and
the civic spirit in the high-school units throughout sector 2 in
Bucharest, by developing a briefing campaign among youngsters.
The project supposes the training of 12 youngsters in Bucharest in
"Techniques of Public Debate - Debate", which sets up groups of pupils
in 12 high-schools in sector 2. The groups will be trained to take part
in debates at Contest of oratorical debates- Equality is not a dream!".
The applications will be sent to by email
[email protected] or by fax 210.05.39, for the attention
of Ms Crina Morteanu, by August 24, 2006, stipulating "Application-
Equality is not a dream!". The accepted applicants will be subsequently
invited to take part in the second selection stage - the interview.
Author: DIVERS
ICR SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION IN ROMANIAN LANGUAGE IN THE NEIGHBORING
COUNTRIES
BUCHAREST - Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR), through Department
Romani Abroad, is organizing in Sinaia, during August 16-26, 2006, the
training classes for teachers of Romanian tongue in the countries
neighboring Romaniei, Rompres reports.
The event celebrating the 15th anniversary expects the attendance of 30
teachers of Romanian tongue in schools from Bulgaria, Republic of
Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine. The project is a part of the
series of actions aiming to maintain the cultural, scientific and
spiritual liaisons with the Romanians abroad.
The program includes courses of methodic and didactics held by academic
teachers, member of the National Association of Romanian Language and
Literature "Ioana Em. Petrescu" (ANPRO) in Cluj-Napoca, seminars and
lectures held by important persons of the Romanian cultural life, such
as teachers Alexandru Calinescu, Paul Cornea, Dan Horia Mazilu, Cornel
Ungureanu, Ioan Pop.
During the interactive workshops, the participants will debate issues
specific to Romanian communities abroad, as well as topics connected to
the requirements of a performing education, on identity integrity and
globalization.
Evening of Romanian film and documentary visits will be organized.
The participants will receive sets of manuals, books, dictionaries and
proficiency publications.
Author: DIVERS
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DIVERS - News bulletin about ethnic minorities living in Romania is
edited every week by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, with the
financial support of King Baudouin Foundation, Belgium and Ethnocultural
Diversity Resource Center. Partial or full reproduction of the
information contained in DIVERS is allowed only if the source is
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