Rumania
June 1998
As per the decision in its Thursday meeting, the government will reallocate to its rightful owners seventeen communal properties appropriated by the state from national minorities [see report of June 25]. The ethnic Hungarian properties includes the Petôfi House in Bucharest, the Hungarian House in Timisoara/Temesvár, the one-time headquarters of the Transylvanian Hungarian Museum-Coalition in Cluj/Kolozsvár, two building of the Unitarian Church, the Batthyaneum Museum in Alba Iulia/Gyulafehérvár, the former office buildings of both the Reformed and Roman Catholic Bishoprics in Oradea/Nagyvárad, and the Lutheran Reading House in Sacel/Szecseleváros. The Körös Region Museum, which, along with 37 other entities occupies the Roman Catholic Church’s buildings, has protested the decision even though Bishop József Tempfli has offered that they remain gratis in a wing of the building for three years. Redistribution, however, will not occur immediately, as the government decree must be adopted by both houses of Parliament after which a council of the rightful property owners and members of the government will be formed to oversee the returning of the properties. This motion was submitted to the Cabinet in August 1997 by the Government Office for National Minorities. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 30, 1998]
According to Bucharest daily Adevarul, Council of Europe spokesman Gunar Jansson does not agree that nationality is a sufficient reason for ethnic Hungarians to reestablish a Hungarian-language university in Cluj/Kolozsvár because "it will lead to the creation of ghettoes." Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Senator György Frunda responded by claiming that, in fact, Jansson had told him in a personal meeting that such a university would be perfectly in line with European standards. Frunda added that he will ask Jansson to make his viewpoint clear, in writing, to dispel such misrepresentations. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 30, 1998]
The new Hungarian Cabinet declared its support for the efforts of ethnic Hungarian communities everywhere to obtain autonomy in education and representation, and the Cabinet further promised its support for re-establishing the Hungarian-language university in Cluj/Kolozsvár. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 30, 1998]
The weekend meeting of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania's supreme decision-making body, the Council of Alliance Representatives (SZKT) in Cluj/Kolozsvár reviewed the coalition parties' fulfillment of the latest protocol statements and, despite failings, decided to reject the motion that DAHR quit the government. At the same time the SZKT did not adopt the DAHR Presidium motion to create an oversight committee reviewing DAHR officials past connections with the former Securitate. Rather, the SZKT recommended that everyone disclose their dealings with the Securitate by a certain deadline. The SZKT concluded the meeting by declaring that it is absolutely necessary that by October 31, the Chamber of Deputies adopt Government Decree No. 36 as set forth in the ruling coalition's protocol, that the Parliament adopt the law by the end of term, that the committee in charge of finances for the Hungarian-language university take definite steps by the end of the year, and that Parliament pass the new Law on Local Government during its Fall term. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 29, 1998]
Chamber of Deputies' DAHR Representative Zsolt Szilágyi announced that the most unfair aspect of the recent publication of Securitate files is the automatic incrimination of those named in the files. He states, "Neither the head of government nor coalition leaders can denounce someone whose guilt or innocence has not yet been determined. . . When people come to power, the head of state and all government leaders should examine the files pertaining to the appointed official- this is how it works in all democracies." He concluded by saying that as regards Bishop László Tôkés it is very strange to accuse someone of a past involving cooperation with the Securitate when that person was in fact persecuted and tortured by the Securitate. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 29, 1998]
Cluj/Kolozsvár DAHR Parliamentary Representative Sándor Konya-Hamar faced fierce criticism during the weekend meeting of its Council of Alliance Representatives (SZKT) for breaching faction discipline. On June 15, he submitted legislation to the Parliament on reestablishing the Hungarian-language university in Cluj ahead of the June 25 date agreed upon by the parliamentary faction. He claimed, however, that he proposed this bill on account of an independent motion by constituents in his County. DAHR's faction in the Chamber of Deputies did in fact submit [another] bill on the 25 that will be consolidated with the prior one before debate. Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó reminded the SZKT leaders in his closing words that decisions of the party's leadership are to take precedence in such instances. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 29, 1998]
The Cluj/Kolozs county branch of the National Liberal Party (NLP) held its board meeting, at which party President Mircea Ionescu-Quintus told Szabadság that the NLP supports the formation of a council for the re-establishment of the Hungarian-language university at Cluj/Kolozsvár. However, the council itself will not automatically lead to the realization of the university, and, Quintus added, "my opinion is that this is not the place to establish the Hungarian university, since the Babes-Bolyai University already exists in Cluj. But if the coalition decides otherwise, we will accept it." [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 29, 1998]
Adevarul reported Prime Minister Radu Vasile's statement that ``realistically,'' Rumania will not become a NATO member in April 1999 and therefore we should work out a ``non-NATO strategy'' as well. [DAHR News Observer (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 29, 1998]
Although the authorities claimed to have eliminated the gasoline tax which all cars crossing the Rumanian border into Hungary have had to pay for four years, in reality, travelers are still required to pay the tax, according to a recent traveler. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 27, 1998]
Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu called the claim in one Rumanian nationalist paper that Hungary will attack Rumania and reclaim Transylvania with the help of NATO ``ridiculous,’’ as reported in the daily Jurnalul National. Plesu stated that Transylvania was not Kosovo, and that the events there merely "serve to prove that we live in a world where the altering of boundaries is not tolerated." He added that if anything, NATO’s purpose is precisely the opposite: to prevent such disturbances of the peace from occurring, and therefore he has no further comment on these ridiculous claims in the press. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 26, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Senator Péter Eckstein-Kovács announced that the Senate passed a law concerning access to the files of the former Securitate. The law states, as previously determined, that a special council will guard the documents and make sure they remain available to the public. However, it has now been determined that this council, which will be made up of officials who must have the support of parliamentary parties, will only be allowed to glimpse into the files, which will remain in their current location. The full effect of this law is to prevent the files from falling under civilian scrutiny and control. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 26, 1998]
The June 11 deadline set by the coalition parties for establishing a committee to deal with Hungarian-language education and the independent Hungarian-language university came and went today without results except that the Cabinet did approve the creation of such a committee, under the leadership of Minister György Tokay, to debate the various options for establishing the university. In addition, the Cabinet approved the return of 17 buildings significant to national minorities of which eight were properties of the Hungarian community. These include the so-called Vass Otilia House in Kolozsvár/Cluj, the Hungarian House in Timisoara/Temesvár, the Batthyaneum Library in Alba Julia/Gyulafehérvár, and the two buildings of the Roman Catholic Bishopric in Oradea/Nagyvárad. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 26, 1998]
Democratic Party President Petre Roman declared that he supports "multicultural universities" and in his opinion there is no need to reestablish a Hungarian-language university in Cluj/Kolozsvár. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 25, 1998]
Since Prime Minister Radu Vasile is abroad, Minister of Health Dr. Ferenc Bárányi’s resignation can be accepted at the earliest on Monday June 29, following the weekend meeting of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania’s supreme decision-making body, the Council of Alliance Representatives which also needs to approve DAHR Operative Council’s recommendation. Bárányi has declared that regardless of the Council's decision, he has no desire to remain minister and now merely wants to clear his name. "I’m a victim, a victim of the Securitate!" Bárányi added. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 24, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) President Béla Markó declared that the coalition partners must decide whether they want to work with the DAHR on reestablishing the Hungarian-language university in Cluj/Kolozsvár because DAHR's participation in the government coalition is not mandatory. Markó further emphasized that it is not the expediency of the university that should be at issue but rather its financing [see report of June 19]. Christian Democratic National Peasant Party President Ion Diaconescu called the issue of such a university a ``thorny problem’’ that Transylvanian Rumanians consider a ``radical proposal’’ by DAHR. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 24, 1998]
Debate over the native-language education provisions of the Education Bill was once again postponed in the Chamber of Deputies’ Education Committee. Vice Chairman of the committee, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Representative Ferenc Asztalos, accused the coalition partners of refusing to deal with this controversial issue because they are more concerned with keeping their seats. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 25, 1998]
At a press conference during his visit to Poland, Prime Minister Radu Vasile stated that the Rumanian government welcomes the democratic agenda of the newly-elected Hungarian government, and he invited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to visit him in Bucharest, before he would go to Budapest. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 25, 1998]
Hungarian-language instruction will begin in the Fall at the Spiru Haret Vocational High School (UCECOM) in Cluj/Kolozsvár. According to deputy superintendent Ferenc Török, a Hungarian auto-mechanic and auto-electrician course is commencing with 25 slots for students. The Hungarian teachers at the trade school have agreed to take on the task of translating the lessons into Hungarian, hoping that Hungarian textbooks published in Hungary as well as in Rumania in the 1980s will be useful. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun.23, 1998]
Mediafax has given account on Amnesty International’s latest report on the status of human rights in Rumania. According to the report, no significant changes have occurred since the 1996 change in government as regards the treatment of prisoners or police conduct, about which the organization continues to receive alarming reports. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Jun.23, 1998]
The Rumanian daily Adevarul dedicated most of its front page to the publishing of secret police files concerning Bishop László Tôkés, including the allegation that, under physical and mental duress, he had signed his name to several confessions for the Securitate. Tôkés countered by saying that indeed he was not alone in signing such documents-- the Securitate has overstuffed files on him -- and "the point is that the selective revealing of these documents is misleading because they are taken out of context. Yes, the time has really arrived to make public the vast files guarded in [Dej]/Dés, [Cluj]/Kolozsvár, and [Brasov]/Brassó," Tôkés stated. Furthermore, Tôkés declared that the manner in which these files are being disclosed [see report of June 19] aims to compromise the integration of ethnic Hungarians into the Rumanian political process. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun.22, 1998]
The Rumanian daily Adevarul also wrote of an alleged ``secret cooperation’’ between Bishop László Tôkés and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Tôkés finds the revelations ridiculous and not unexpected since the author is the same journalist who during the March 1990 Targu Mures/Marosvásárhely events distorted the facts. In addition, Tôkés pointed out that neither the timing of the publishing of the Securitate files nor this most recent revelation can be considered coincidental, coming precisely at the time of Dr. Ferenc Bárányi's resignation from his post as Minister of Health. Tôkés declared that the aim of these actions is to scapegoat ethnic Hungarians, weaken the democratic government and poison all recent advances toward better Rumanian-Hungarian relations. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun. 24, 1998]
Members of parliamentary faction of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) decided that they will make public statements disclosing any past involvement with the Securitate by Thursday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Radu Vasile has called on all ministers to make similar declarations and so far Alexandru Sassu, Parliamentary Relations Minister, and Sorin Frunzaverde, head of Tourism, have turned in accounts of their activities. Minister of the Interior Gavril Dejeu and Minister of Development Ion Caramitru stated in the press during the weekend that they accepted no orders from the Securitate. In addition, the Christian Democratic National Peasants Party (CDNPP) is urging its members to report their past connections with the secret police, and National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Mircea Ionescu Quintus has declared that the membership of all who collaborated with the Securitate would be dissolved, although the NLP is still determining an appropriate course of action. CDNPP President Ion Diaconescu noted how ``interesting’’ it is that only the past ``affairs’’ of those currently in power are ``coming to light.’’ [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun.24, 1998]
After five years on the drawing board, the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs submitted its plans for a Law on Religious Denominations to the government. The plan is based on the input of 15 officially-recognized churches in Rumania and is expected to face fierce parliamentary debate. ’’ [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun.24, 1998]
Cluj/Kolozs County Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) representative János Boros met with Pierre Ménat, France’s new ambassador to Bucharest. Boros familiarized Ménat with the problems of ethnic Hungarians in Rumania, particularly issues of voter representation and the obstacles encountered in attempting to reestablish a Hungarian-language university in Cluj. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun.23, 1998]
The Operative Council of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) concurred with the resignation of Dr. Ferenc Bárányi from his post as Minister of Health. The resignation came in light of the publication of Securitate files revealing signed confessions by Bárányi in 1961. Although Bárányi refused to actually cooperate with the Securitate and remained committed to the ideals of democracy throughout his career, DAHR agreed with his desire to resign because of the lack of public trust that accompanies such revelations. The Operative Council further recommended that DAHR officials bring their dealings with the former Securitate to light. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Jun.22, 1998]
The Rumanian government has postponed until next week the appointing of a committee to deal with the question of the Hungarian-language university. The question has arisen whether the committee will deal merely with financing the university, as the coalition leaders desire, or, as the government leaders expressed at the meeting, with "expediency and finances." Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó gave a statement to Mediafax after the meeting declaring his hopes that the coalition partners would keep their promise of the June 10 protocol requiring designation of such a committee within the week. Regarding Minister of Education Andrei Marga’s opposition to establishing a university, Markó said that the Minister should decide whether he wants to follow his own interests or those of the government which he is supposedly working for. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Jun.23, 1998]
The Highest Court of Appeals in Bucharest began deliberations in Ernô Barabás’s case, who, along with Pál Cseresznyés, was sentenced in 1992 to ten years in prison for his involvement in the March 1990 Targa Mures/Marosvásárhely incidents. The deliberations were postponed to October 22 because the appellate judges’ terms ended precisely on June 18, and several cases were thus postponed to October, according to Elôd Kincses, counsel for Ernô Barabás. [Népújság (Targa Mures/Marosvásárhely), Jun.23, 1998]