The Operative Council of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania held a meeting in Tirgu Mures/Marosvásárhely with the participation of the party’s leadership, analyzing recent developments in the government crisis. The Council came to the conclusion that continued cooperation in the coalition and implementation of further reforms are in the interest of DAHR, the ethnic Hungarian community and all of Rumanian society. Moreover, new elections would not be favored by DAHR. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Feb. 2, 1998]
Soon after Hungarian-language place-name signs had been posted at the city limits of Baciu/Kisbács, Cluj/Kolozs County, they were spray-painted and damaged by a gang of people. Although the road-signs were restored on the following day, the local administration has begun to take measures by calling on volunteers to help guard the signs [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 2, 1998]
The Democratic Party recalled its ministers but signed a President Emil Constantinescu-initiated declaration, along with the other coalition partners, to continue political cooperation within the framework of the coalition and to support the government within Parliament.’’ [Szabadság, (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 30, 1998]
Under the leadership of President Emil Constantinescu, members of the governing coalition held a meeting in Cotroceni Palace, intending to resolve the government crisis, ensure Rumania’s political stability, and continue cooperation among the coalition partners. The meeting resulted in a five-point agreement, reaching consensus on (1) accepting the withdrawal of Democratic Party ministers from the government, (2) acknowledging that the Democratic Party confirms its support for the government, (3) endorsing a final agreement by February 2, 1998 on the functioning of the coalition, (4) adopting a program to speed up reforms and improve parliamentary and government actions, (5) steering clear of all kinds of public statements and actions which could elevate tensions among coalition partners. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Jan. 29, 1998]
At the opening of the Rumanian Consulate in Szeged, Hungary, Rumanian President Emil Constantinescu stated in his speech that ``the native-language education of minorities at the higher education level is being addressed and they intend to resolve the issues according to European norms. For example, the government decided that from September students graduating Hungarian-language high schools will have opportunity to continue their education in either Hungarian or Rumanian because the number of admissions has been increased. Hungarian-language education in the Department of Law at the Babes-Bolyai University has recently begun, and three colleges that will also instruct in Hungarian will soon be opened.’’ [News Mirror - DAHR MTI Press Service, (Bucharest), Jan. 26, 1998]
During Rumanian President Emil Constantinescu’s visit to Budapest, the Hungarian Presidential Spokesman announced the country’s support for Rumania to fill the OSCE Presidential position in 2001 [News Mirror - DAHR MTI Press Service, (Bucharest), Jan. 26, 1998]
Smarande Enache, President of the Pro Europe League and well-known human rights activist, has been named Rumania’s ambassador to Sweden. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 26, 1998]
The governing coalition member Democratic Party announced that it will recall its ministers on Wednesday, January 28 if ``nothing changes,’’ for example, Prime Minster Victor Ciorbea does not resign by then. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 26, 1998]
Unknown vandals painted over all four bilingual place name signs in Sárvásár and one in Izvorul Crisului/Körösfô, Cluj/Kolozsvár County for the third time in one month (see report of January 14). [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 28, 1998]
Following today’s special parliamentary session the governing coalition member Democratic Party announced that it wants to form a new coalition with the Christian Democratic National Peasant Party, Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea to resign as soon as possible, and will recall its ministers. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 23, 1998]
Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea will not resign and the ruling coalition will continue to govern following today’s special parliamentary vote. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 22, 1998]
Hungarian President Árpád Göncz has invited President Emil Constantinescu to Hungary for a two-day official visit beginning January 25. He will officially open the Rumanian consulate in Szeged and meet the leaders of ethnic Rumanian self-governments. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 20, 1998]
President Emil Constantinescu announced that he has called together an extraordinary parliamentary session for January 21 in which the government will present the most important reform bills with a vote of confidence to follow. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 19, 1998]
A County crime organization is suspected in the repeated theft of bilingual place sign sin numerous Cluj/Kolozs County villages. The last sign reported stolen was the Rumanian-language one in Magyarfenes, while all signs except one were stolen [again] in Magyarléta last week. The Deputy Chief of Police of the County has come onto the scene while the villages have setup their own civilian patrol. Not only have merely a handful of the 86 eligible communities posted the signs, but it appears that County Prefect Alexandru Farcas has not forwarded the government decree mandating the move to the local governments to this day. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 21 and 22, 1998]
Following the Democratic Party’s national meeting, party President Petre Roman heavily criticized the government and prime minister Victor Ciorbea, giving the government a deadline of March 31 to restructure .Victor Ciorbea offered to resign, but the government firmly rejected his proposal. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 15, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Zalau/Zilah City Chapter President Edit Kerekes reported that during her tour of villages in Satu Mare/Szatmár County she found that all bilingual place name signs were posted law permitting [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 15, 1998]
Democratic Party President Petre Roman announced that his party will part of the governing coalition ``since this is the only road warranting hope for the success of the reform process.’’ [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 15, 1998]
The Democratic Party has announced that it will convene its national council on Wednesday to decide about continued participation in the governing coalition. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 9, 1998]
Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar made an announcement to all "good Rumanian" citizens, councilors, parties and their presidents, calling attention to the illegal placement of bilingual road-signs by ethnic Hungarians in most communities of Cluj/Kolozs County. Victor R. Constantinescu, President of Cluj County Rumanian Social Democracy Party, along with the Chair of the County Council, submitted an ultimatum to County Prefect Alexandru Farcas demanding sanctions against ethnic Hungarians and forbidding bilingual signs within 24 hours. In response, Farcas declared that he would not issue any order in this matter as long as Government Decree 1997/22 remains in effect, and will resist to all sorts of political pressure. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 9, 1998]
Cluj/Kolozs County Christian Democratic National Peasant Party Representative Vida Simiti announced that the Education Law will undergo further changes before it is adopted by the Chamber of Deputies and the Party will support the establishment of a state Hungarian-language university under ``certain [unspecified] conditions.’’ [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Jan. 9, 1998]
Cluj/Kolozs County Superintendent of Schools Ioan Sasarman announced that he will not allow the Hungarian-language instruction of geography and history in schools until that provision to the Education Law is adopted by Parliament. Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Representative János Boros from Cluj/Kolozs County, however accused the Superintendent of violating the law since the government decree in effect mandates the native-language instruction of these subject. Representative Boros will turn to Education minister Andrei Marga for resolution of the problem. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Jan. 9, 1998]
The Cronica Romana quoted Christian Democratic National Peasant Party Representative Eugen Hilote as saying that the reason Senate Education Committee Chairman George Pruteanu has not been dismissed as demanded by is because the party did not want it to appear as if it had bowed Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania demands. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Jan. 9, 1998]
Greater Rumania Party President Corneliu Vadim Tudor, who has recently called President Emil Constantinescu a "foreign spy," now accused him of being a "traitor" for ceding "Rumanian territories" in the Rumanian-Ukrainian Bilateral Agreement, and inviting "separatist Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania" into the government coalition. Extremist C. V. Tudor also claimed that "it was the Americans and Germans who allowed [Emil Constantinescu] to lead the Democratic Convention, and run for presidency," so that he could facilitate the restoration of the monarchy in Rumania. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 7, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Executive President Csaba Takács stated that should the Chamber of Deputies pass the government decree amending the Education Law in the form approved by the Senate, it would evidently lead to DAHR’s non-participation in the coalition. Furthermore, Takács firmly rejected the accusations of several Rumanian dailies, among others, the Curierul National, that DAHR is "cruelly blackmailing" the coalition, pointing out that by the time the party joined the government, it had already agreed to the removal of minority-related restrictions from the Education Law, instead of implementing its own educational proposal, which bears the support of 500,000 signatures. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 7, 1998]
Christian Democratic National Peasant Party President Ion Diaconescu announced to have a meeting with Education Minister Andrei Marga and members of the Chamber of Deputies’ Education Committee to discuss the government decree amending the Education Law and come to a final agreement. The Peasant Party leadership has declared its commitment to stand by the coalition agreement signed by the Presidents of all four coalition partners on December 3, 1997 and ignored during the Senate vote on December 9, 1997 over removal of restrictions on minority educational rights. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 7, 1998]
Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea and Christian Democratic National Peasants Party President Ion Diaconescu confirmed in a statement that except for the native-language instruction of history and geography the government decree amending the Education Law must be approved in the form it was issued last summer. [Magyar Nemzet, (Budapest), Jan. 5, 1998]
Hungarian-language place signs at the city limits of Tirgu Mures/Marosvásárhely were found white washed again and one vandal arrested and charged a 100,000 Lei fine. [News Mirror - DAHR MTI Press Service, (Bucharest), Jan. 7, 1998]
Unknown vandals in a Dacia car spray-painted black the place name sign of Sárvásár in Cluj/Kolozsvár County yesterday. The sign was restored the next day with the help of police[Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 14, 1998]
An unknown perpetrator attempted burglary at the Tirgu Mures/Marosvásárhely office of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó, but escaped from the premises when the security alarm went off. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jan. 7, 1998]