August 11, 1997

Minister for Minority Affairs György Tokay stated that the anti-Hungarian campaign waged by the Rumanian media is "artificial and causes too much damage." The Minister stressed that the placement of bilingual signs is in compliance with international law and practice adding that Rumania consented to them through an agreement with the Council of Europe. [MTI (Budapest), August 11, 1997]

August 8, 1997

The two most influential Rumanian dailies, Adevarul and Evenimentul Zilei, have attacked the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania for its efforts to place bilingual signs in Mures/Maros, Cluj/Kolozs, Satu Mare/Szatmár and other Counties as well as the Rumanian government for its "soft approach" on these issues. The two dailies are worrying about "Transylvania/Erdély becoming a Hungarian haven." [Új Magyarország (Budapest), August 8, 1997]

August 4, 1997

Rumanian Foreign Ministry officially criticized Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar for acting against the Hungarian Consulate in Cluj, stating that it "causes confusion and provokes ethnic intolerance for which it becomes harmful to Rumania’s interests." Rumanian National Unity Party leaders met President Emil Constantinescu demanding to rescind the government decree over the use of Hungarian language and mandating bilingual signs. The President refused their request. [Magyar Hírlap (Budapest), August 4, 1997]

August 1, 1997

The Bihar County Prefect’s Office rejected a request by the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania to allow for the official use of Hungarian language and bilingual place name signs in the County. According to the County Prefect and Oradea/Nagyvárad Mayor, the Presidential Decree mandating bilingual signs and controlling minority language usage is unconstitutional and will become law only after it has been ratified by Parliament. [Kossuth Radio News (Budapest), August 1, 1997]

Rumanian President Emil Constantinescu issued Presidential Order No. 311/1997 pardoning the seven young men from Zetelaka who had been imprisoned for their involvement in the December 22, 1989 events leading to Ceausescu’s overthrow. Their crime was "desecration of state symbols and illegal possession of firearms," meaning that they, together with thousands of others, had burned communist party flags, books and other symbols of Ceausescu`s regime. They possessed no firearms, the charge having been falsely added to aggravate their legal position. Unfortunately, the pardon came too late for two of the victims, who have since committed suicide. [Új Magyarország (Budapest), August 1, 1997]

Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar demanded that Rumanian Foreign Minister Adrian Severin shut down the Hungarian Consulate in Cluj, expel its staff and declare the Consul persona non grata. [Népszava (Budapest), August 1, 1997]