Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Senator György Frunda who was a member of the Rumanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that although Amnesty International’s criticism of Rumania’s treatment of its prisoners and homosexuals was partially correct (see report of Apr. 21), it does not warrant renewing formal monitoring of the country’s human rights compliance. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 28, 1998]
Prime Minister Radu Vasile appointed Chairman of the Harghita/Hargita County Council Gábor Kolumbán an advisor on local public administration and regional development. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 28, 1998]
Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar was elected president of the Alliance for the Unity of Rumanians as he was the only candidate. This newly formed party is consists of about 500 Funar followers. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 27, 1998]
The Legal and Monitoring Committees of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe postponed its debate until late May whether to totally terminate its formal monitoring of Rumania’s compliance with human rights. The decision came after Amnesty International had earlier released a report on Rumania’s human rights violations endorsing that the Council renew monitoring activity. Adrian Nastase, member of the Parliamentary Assembly’s Rumanian delegation stated to the Rumanian daily Adevarul that certain domestic force,s supported from abroad, had plotted the Strasbourg decision, thereby trying to exert pressure on the Rumanian Parliament to adopt the two government decrees granting greater autonomy for minorities. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 25, 1998]
The Supreme Defense Court issued a statement, pointing out that "it is unacceptable on anyone’s part to slander state institutions with impunity" and said that it is the Spreme Court’s mandate to investigate such incidents. The move came after Greater Rumania Party President Corneliu Vadim Tudor announced at a press conference that he had submitted a memorandum to a number of international institutions, among others, the Council of Europe, alleging that all Rumanian state institutions are tied to Mafia-like, underworld organizations, as is President Emil Constantinescu. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 27, 1998]
In an interview to the Transilvania Jurnal, Prime Minister Radu Vasile expressed support for the use of special minority textbooks in Hungarian-language schools. However, the Premier called the issue of a native-language university difficult, and acknowledged that "in principal there is no barrier to establish a Hungarian-language university in accordance with law as we have committed ourselves internationally. It is also reflected in the spirit of the Council of Europe’s recommendations. If the financial resources and framework are available, such a university can be established. A form of multicultural universities already exist," stated Radu Vasile. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 25, 1998]
Interior Minister Gavril Dejeu indited far-right Greater Rumania Party President Corneliu Vadim Tudor for slander (alleging that the Interior Minister played Vadim’s brother into the hand of authorities in the 1950s) and initiated proceedings to suspend his parliamentary immunity. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 25, 1998]
During his five-day official visit to the United States, Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu continued talks with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright over Rumania’s effort to join NATO. While Albright ensured the American government’s support for "Rumania’s full integration in European and trans-atlantic organizations", she declined comment on Rumania’s chances for NATO membership. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 25, 1998]
Amnesty International rebuked Rumania for its continued human rights violations, including police torture, detention of prisoners of conscience and criminalizing private homosexual acts between consenting adults. In a report disseminated at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Amnesty calls upon the Council "to take effective measures to ensure that there is real respect for commitments made by Rumania at the time of its admission to the Council" four years ago. [Central European Online (London), Apr. 22, 1998]
In a speech delivered to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Prime Minister Radu Vasile said his country has already complied with a number of obligations and will fulfill the rest in the future. A year ago the Council ended formal monitoring of Rumania’s compliance with human rights commitments but gave Bucharest 12 month to address outstanding concerns. Concerning the two government decrees, amending the Education Law and the Law on Local Administration, Radu Vasile stated that he favored the ones adopted by the government but admitted that "there is a Senate version of them, too". [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 22, 1998; Central European Online (London), Apr. 22, 1998]
Cluj/Kolozs County Superintendent of Schools Ioan Sasarman has been temporarily suspended for engaging in bribery (see report of Apr. 16). Sasarman concurrently announced his own resignation. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 18, 1998]
In a BBC interview, President Emil Constantinescu stated that amnesty for participants in the 1989 bloodshed can only be granted after the authorities fully uncover the truth, investigate the share of responsibilities for crimes, and state the verdicts. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 18, 1998]
Prime Minister Radu Vasile blasted Education Minister Andrei Marga for criticizing the government program’s educational section during his hearing before the educational committee thereby violating the promise to refrain from publically raising conflicts among cabinet members. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 18, 1998]
During his two-day visit to Covasna/Kovászna and Harghita/Hargita Counties, Prime Minister Radu Vasile continued talks with ethnic Hungarian officials and called many of the nationalist press’ claims groundless, for example, that ethnic Hungarians have take over the Prefecture. In conclusion, the new Premier emphasized the need for minority-language education, including higher education, but called for the learning of the Rumanian language. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 18, 1998]
Gábor Kolumbán, Chairman of the Harghita/Hargita County Council, called Prime Minister Radu Vasile’s intended visit to the region a positive message to both local Rumanians and the ethnic Hungarian communities. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 18, 1998]
The Ministry of Education set May 20 as the deadline to create suitable conditions for the preparation of new text books on the history and tradition of Rumania’s national minorities. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 17, 1998]
Police caught Cluj/Kolozs County Superintendent of Schools Ioan Sasarman in the act of accepting a bribe from a construction company led by Mircea Muresan for the renovation of a school in Dej/Dés. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 18, 1998]
After a four hour-debate, the two-chamber Parliament voted confidence for the new government led by Radu Vasile by 317-124. Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania presented two ministers in the Cabinet, György Tokay, Minister for Minority Affairs, and Ferenc Bárányi, the new Minister of Health. [Magyar Hírlap (Budapest), Apr. 16, 1998]
Prime Minister designate Radu Vasile introduced the members of his Cabinet to Parliament along with the new government program for 1998-2000. Democratic Alliance of Hungarian President Béla Markó pointed out that the new government program will pave the way for reforms, stressing, among others, the importance of Rumania’s European integration, cooperation between minorities and the majority population, and unrestricted native-language education. The DAHR President also called attention to demagogy and recent anti-minority moves, which can jeopardize the success of reforms. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Apr. 15, 1998]
In a public letter, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, George Pruteanu attacked Prime Minister designate Radu Vasile for his pledge to the leaders of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania to endorse the two government decrees critical to ethnic Hungarians. Pruteanu claims that minority rights, allowing for native-language use in public administration and Hungarian-language education "raised anxiety and discontent in various strata of Rumanian society." Furthermore, Pruteanu, recalling that the Senate approved restrictions to Government Decree 36/1997 amending the Education Law, questions Radu Vasile’s ability to achieve endorsement of the government decree in its original form, which is "not wanted by the majority of public opinion." "Will you persuade the senators to abandon their convictions? Are you going to hypnotize them?" asked George Pruteanu. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 15, 1998]
At the end of his North American visit, Bishop László Tõkés met a number of leading White House and State Department officials in Washington, including Susan Braden, Director for Central and Eastern European at the National Security Council, Micheal Hathaway, Chief of Staff of the Helsinki Commission, and Ambassador Eileen Malloy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Canada. The Bishop spoke about Rumania’s political deficiencies in the democratic process and ethnic Hungarian concerns, mentioning the delay of the endorsement of the two government decrees critical to ethnic Hungarians and return of illegally confiscated church and community assets. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Apr. 23, 1998]
Prime Minister-designate Radu Vasile stated that the new government program includes securing parliamentary endorsement for (1) Government Decree 22/1997, amending the Law on Public Administration, (2) Government Decree 36/1997, amending the Education Law and (3) a bill on the return of illegally confiscated community assets, designating September 1 as the deadline for their adoption. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 9, 1998]
"The resignation of Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea is a heavy blow to the democratic process in Rumania, bolstering state nationalism both within the Peasant Party and the governing coalition," stated Bishop László Tõkés during his three-week visit to the United States and Canada. Tõkés also pointed out that political coercion within the coalition further weakens the chances of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania to pass in Parliament the two government decrees (No. 22 and 36) critical to ethnic Hungarians and achieve return of illegally confiscated church properties to ethnic Hungarian churches. Throughout his visit, the Bishop will inform the public in a series of talks and lectures on the present-day circumstances of the ethnic Hungarian minority and its churches, and seek moral, political and financial support for Rumania’s democratic changes and NATO accession. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 9, 1998]
Prime Minister designate Radu Vasile continued talks with Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó expressing full support for the endorsement of the two government decrees critical to ethnic Hungarians. Radu Vasile is reportedly planning a visit to Covasna/Kovászna and Harghita/Hargita Counties to become familiar with the problems of the ethnic Hungarian and Rumanian communities there. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 9, 1998]
Prime Minister designate Radu Vasile has promptly introduced his coalition Cabinet, achieving his first political success. Following the announcement, Democratic Alliance of Hungarian President Béla Markó stated that "One cannot not say that this government is technocratic. It is a strong political government." [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 9, 1998]
Regarding the formation of the new government, the Operative Council of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania nominated the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies’ Health Committee, Ferenc Bárányi, for the position of Minister of Health in exchange for the position of Minister of Tourism that Ákos Birtalan held. Minister for Minority Affairs György Tokay will remain in his post in the Vasile government. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Apr. 7, 1998]
Prime Minister designate Radu Vasile and the leadership of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania came to an agreement over the coalition’s future plans and ethnic Hungarian aspirations. DAHR President Béla Markó pointed out that his party "did not link its participation in the government to conditions, however, all coalition parties have their list of priorities." DAHR Executive President Csaba Takács left the native-language instruction of history and geography open to the coalition parties’ political will but strongly insisted on the right to establish an independent Hungarian-language university. DAHR has not proposed new elements to the government program; it’s merely reaffirmed the agreements based on which it decided to participate in the government in 1996, said Takács. The prime minister designate responded positively to ethnic Hungarian concerns. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 8, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó convened the party’s Operative Council for April 7 to discuss the issue of forming a new government and setting its program. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Apr. 6, 1998]
President of the Baciu/Kisbács branch of Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania, Ferenc Deák and local resident Ioan Calian caught Kisbács resident Petre Gheorghe trying to remove one of the bilingual road-signs at the city’s limit. Petre Gheorghe was taken to the police station and will be questioned on Monday. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 7, 1998]
Prime Minister designate Radu Vasile finds parliamentary endorsement of Government Decree 22/1997, amending the Law on Local Administration and Government Decree 36/1997, amending the Education Law, ultimately possible despite a series of recent rejections by the Senate and various committees of the Chamber of Deputies. Moreover, Radu Vasile pointed out that even though documents of the Council of Europe recommend higher-educational institutions for minorities, this debate in Rumania has artificially concentrated on the independent Hungarian-language university. "This is not the problem and nor is this going to be the solution, rather the existence of multicultural universities is, which has everyone’s endorsement and which exist practically everywhere in those European regions where the situation is similar [to ours]," said the Prime Minister designate. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 4, 1998]
During talks on a two-day official visit to Rumania, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana ensured President Emil Constantinescu and Prime Minister designate Radu Vasile that NATO will continue its open-door policy, stressing Rumania’s role in the maintenance of regional stability. However, Solana gave no details of how further enlargement of NATO will proceed. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 3, 1998]
President Emil Constantinescu entrusted Peasant Party Top Secretary, Radu Vasile to form a new government with setting April 15 as the deadline to assemble the cabinet and submit its program to Parliament. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 3, 1998]
The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania considers the newly designated Prime Minister, Radu Vasile, to be a reform-minded, European-style politician who has not demonstrated any anti-Hungarian sentiments and has argued in favor of the original versions of the government decrees critical to ethnic Hungarians, said DAHR Senator György Frunda.
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania has formulated its conditions for continued participation in the government, insisting that Government Decree 22/1997, amending the Law on Local Administration and Government Decree 36/1997, amending the Education Law be incorporated into the new government program and the protocol, which aims to regulate the functioning of the coalition parties. DAHR representative Sándor Kónya-Hamar stated his party also wishes to amend all laws discriminating against ethnic Hungarians, ranging from the return of illegally confiscated church properties to the guarantee of the future existence of ethnic Hungarian cultural institutions. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 2, 1998]
Greater Rumania Party President Corneliu Vadim Tudor rejected President Emil Constantinescu’s invitation for talks in Cotroceni Palace, saying "the main reason for the catastrophe that has afflicted the country is Emil Constantinescu himself," and demanded his resignation. C. V. Tudor also concluded that based on his recent visit to Transylvania "the participation of the Horthyst Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania in the government has dangerous ramifications for a unified Rumanian nation state and the majority population." [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 2, 1998]
Rumanian National Unity Party President Valeriu Tabara strongly criticized all governing parties for the current political crisis and stated that under no circumstance would his party negotiate with the government regardless of the program it undertook. Tabara mentioned the presence of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania in the government as the principal reason for his party’s objection. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 2, 1998]
The Christian Democratic National Peasant Party named the party’s top secretary, Radu Vasile, as prime minister to replace Victor Ciorbea, who resigned amidst political turmoil. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 2, 1998]
Similar to the Chamber of Deputies Public Administration Committee’s decision last week (see report of March 26), the Chamber ‘s Legal Committee adopted the bill rejecting Government Decree 22/1997 amending the Law on Local Administration by allowing for the broad exercise of minority rights in public administration. Only the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania voted against the bill with Peasant Party and Liberal Party representatives abstaining from the session. The committee did not have the necessary quorum to vote, reported Mediafax. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 2, 1998]
The Council of National Minorities held a Bucharest meeting and approved a parliamentary bill on the return of illegally confiscated community assets, including minority schools, hospitals and other organizational institutions. A separate bill will tackle the return of church properties seized during communism. The Council also pointed out that further efforts have to be made to adopt the two government decrees (No. 36/1997 and 22/1997) which remove restrictions on minority rights, and to stop the on-going xenophobic, anti-Semitic and anti-minority campaign. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Apr. 2, 1998; Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 3, 1998]
Due to the Peasant Party’s protest, the Chamber of Deputies’ Public Administration Committee will again debate the bill that seeks to withdraw Government Decree 22/1997 amending the Law on Local Administration to allow for the placement of bilingual signs and the use of native-language in public administration (see report of March 26). [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Apr. 1, 1998]