March 30, 2000

At a press conference, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó sharply criticized Rumanian Environmental Minister Romica Tomescu for not taking responsibility for the environmental disasters along the Tisza and Danube Rivers that began January 30th. Markó emphasized the unfortunate fact that the cyanide and heavy metal toxins contaminating the Tisza, Hungary's second largest river, have escalated into an inter-state conflict instead of focusing on the repeated environmental mistakes that have occurred. Four spills have originated in Rumania since the beginning of the year, killing 1,000 tons of fish and contaminating rivers in Rumania, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria. On February 15^th, The New York Times reported that "Zoltán Illés, chairman of the Hungarian Parliament's environment committee, said the [January 30] spill was Europe's 'biggest environmental catastrophe' since the nuclear accident in Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986." [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Mar. 31, 2000; The New York Times, Feb. 15, 2000]

March 17, 2000

Unknown offenders stole the wreaths placed by Hungarian officials during the March 15 commemoration held by the local ethnic Hungarian community in Cluj/Kolozsvár. March 15th marks the anniversary of the 1848-49 Hungarian War of Independence against Austrian rule. Ethnic Hungarian local counselor Lajos Molnár told the Hungarian-language daily Szabadság that the wreath placed by the Hungarian Consulate disappeared the same day, around 4 o’clock, as soon as the tribute ended. Subsequently, three other wreaths vanished, reported the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania, which has asked the local police to investigate. [DAHR News Watch (Bucharest), Mar. 17, 2000]

March 16, 2000

The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) reported that the government was able to prepare the mid-term economic strategy draft plan required by the EU for starting accession discussions with Rumania in time. Preparation occurred with the active participation of DAHR and the support of all parliamentary parties, labor unions, and employer associations. Premier Mugur Isarescu will submit the document on March 20th in Brussels. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Mar. 17, 2000]

March 15, 2000

The Budapest information office jointly set up by the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania and the Hungarian Government Office for Hungarian Minorities Abroad to handle restitution claims closed its doors today. During a six-week period, 2,200 persons contacted the office from more than ten countries hoping to regain lands following the January enactment of the Rumanian Law on the Restitution of Illegally Confiscated Agricultural and Forestlands [see report of February 2]. [DAHR News Watch (Bucharest), Mar. 15, 2000]

March 10, 2000

At a press conference by the national campaign board of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania, Executive Chairman Csaba Takács announced that the most important task for the Alliance's in 2000 will upcoming local elections in early June. Takács pointed out that self-governments with dedicated local institutions could become a key factor in keeping and strengthen the Hungarian community in its homeland. The board evaluated the work of ethnic Hungarians currently occupying local government positions and discussed future candidates to be nominated, emphasizing the Alliance's preference for those who enjoy local community support. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Mar. 11, 2000]

March 9, 2000

Following ethnic Hungarian Deputy Sándor Kónya-Hamar's report to the Ministry of Interior on the attack of two school girls on a Cluj/Kolozsvár bus for speaking Hungarian, the Ministry has sent two police officers to the city to investigate the case. [See report of February 24] [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Mar. 11, 2000]

March 3, 2000

OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Max van der Stoel recounted the results of his meeting with the Board of Trustees of the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj/Kolozsvár. At a meeting with Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) President Béla Markó and other DAHR officials, the High Commissioner outlined his proposals to the university's leadership in order to develop its multicultural character. Van der Stoel said that it would be vital to create, as quickly as possible, a committee to draft the necessary changes to the by-laws. In his discussions with the University's Rector, Andrei Marga, the High Commissioner said that Professor Marga indicated that the modified by-laws would legalize and enforce multiculturalism at the university. Moreover, beginning fall 2000, Hungarian-language groups will start in the economic and law departments. Van der Stoel emphasized that no special funding will be forthcoming from the European Union until the OSCE is satisfied with the steps made by the university's leaders towards creating a multicultural environment at the institution. DAHR officials were dissatisfied, however, with the results of the meetings between the High Commissioner and the university leadership as the establishment of Hungarian-language sections and departments at the institution was not a specific discussion point. [DAHR Bulletin (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Mar. 3, 2000 and Szatmári Friss Újság (Satu-Mare/Szatmárnémeti), Mar. 4, 2000]

March 2, 2000

During a press conference at its Bucharest headquarters, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó called attention to an alarming trend namely, growing use of anti-Hungarian, ultra nationalistic and xenophobic rhetoric on the part of certain political parties in election campaigning. The President pointed out, for example, the anti-Hungarian slogans used by Greater Rumania Party members who participated in 10^th anniversary celebrations of the ultra nationalist organization Vatra Romaneasca. Markó also used the occasion to recall that the 10^th anniversary of anti-Hungarian and anti-Roma violence in Targu-Mures/Marosvásárhely will be on March 19-20 and it was precisely the Vatra Romanaesca that played the largest role in inciting and escalating the conflict. [DAHR News Watch (Bucharest), Mar. 3, 2000]

Zoltán Kása, the recently elected ethnic Hungarian Deputy Rector at the Babes Bolyai University in Cluj/Kolozsvár informed the media about his discussions on March 2 with OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Max Van der Stoel. Kása reported that the Commissioner made three explicit proposals to the university's Board of Trustees: (1) the institution should officially declare that it instructs in, at minimum, three languages, namely Rumanian, Hungarian and German; (2) those students who study in Hungarian or German should take at least one subject in Rumanian; and (3) a separate department should be established that tracks the development of the university’s multicultural character. Kása assessed the first proposal as very important in the history of the university since Hungarian and German would gain—for the first time ever—equal status to Rumanian. Voting on changes to the by-laws to officially register the multicultural character of the of the institution is expected in April. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Mar. 3 and 4, 2000]

Ethnic Hungarian and independent Senators walked out on the Legal and Local Public Administration Committee's session in protest against a proposal to the Bill on the Restitution of Illegally Confiscated Properties. Introduced by the opposition, the Iliescu-led Rumanian Social Democracy Party, and adopted with the support of members from the governing coalition, the motion threatens the fundamental principle of the law, which is restitution where possible, compensation, if not. According to the proposal's author, Ioan Taracila, the state would retain ownership of the buildings currently occupied by institutions in the public interest, its rightful owners would merely be compensated. Moreover, only a future law would determine the scope of compensation. DAHR expressed hope that voting discipline on the part of coalition members will be restored on this issue. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Mar. 4, 2000]

March 1, 2000

Leaflets bearing the picture of, and quotes from the infamous Rumanian nationalist Cornelius Zelea Codreanu were posted on the Cluj/Kolozsvár headquarters of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) and placed in the mailbox of the city's Hungarian-language daily Szabadság. The flyers, which bore the signature of the so-called Christian Nationalist Club of Cluj, petition against establishing a Hungarian university in the city. When asked to comment, DAHR Deputy Sándor Kónya-Hamar pointed out that the action seems to be well timed considering the upcoming local and parliamentary elections. He also recalled other similar incidents that have occurred since campaigning began and called for restraint on the part of Hungarians in responding to such provocations. Minister for Minority Affairs Péter Eckstein-Kovács told reporters that he has personally asked the competent state authorities to investigate the case. The Minister has unsuccessfully petitioned the Ministry of Justice to make available a list of all the neo-fascist associations in the country and just recently learned that courts will decide on March 16 whether to actually register the Legionnaires. Founded by Codreanu in the 1920s, the movement is sometimes referred to as the Iron Guards. During Rumanian President Emil Constantinescu visit to Israel in January, the President acknowledged existence of such groups in the country and promised to do everything in his power to stop their proliferation. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Mar. 2, 2000]