The Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies once again failed to vote Article 123 of Government Decree 36 in its original form. A meeting of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania's (DAHR) Operative Council did not inform the press about any decision it may have reached regarding the manner of withdrawing from the government coalition. Concurrently, government spokesman Razvan Popescu announced on Rumanian television the government's decision entrusting the Education Ministry with drawing up plans for establishing by mid-December a Hungarian-German language university called Petofi-Shiller. [Magyar Nemzet and Magyar Hírlap (Budapest), Sep.30, 1998; DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 30, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) President Béla Markó expressed his shock at the Chamber of Deputies' Education Committee vote yesterday and said that if today the committee does not adopt Article 123 of Government Decree 36 in its original form, DAHR ministers Gábor Hajdú and György Tokay will immediately hand in their resignations to Prime Minister Radu Vasile. Markó has called together the Alliance's Operative Council for today. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep.30, 1998]
Following a one-and-a-half hour debate, the Education Committee's Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies rejected in a 3:2 vote Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) Representative Ferenc Asztalos' motion to place on the agenda re-voting of Article 123 of Government Decree 36. The reason given was that the four-party coalition submission did not contain each given party's seal. DAHR President Béla Markó, Minister for Minority Affairs György Tokay and Senate faction leader Attila Verestoy met with Prime Minister Radu Vasile and the coalition partners n the afternoon. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep.30, 1998]
In a statement issued by the Office for Minority Affairs, the government-appointed committee to study the mode for establishing an independent Hungarian-language university concluded that further steps are necessary to develop the training of professionals, and overcome the institutional and organizational shortcomings of Hungarian-language higher education. The committee also pointed out that according to the 1992 census, ethnic Hungarian students are underrepresented in higher education when compared to the general population. The committee must present its report by October 15. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 30, 1998]
In Gheorgheni/Gyergyószentmiklós, the city council was unable to permanently resolve the accommodation of a Roma school for 6-9 year-olds (see report of September 14). As a result classes have begun in the building they occupied last year at a cost of more than 11 million Lei which is being paid by the Saint Michael Swiss charity organization. This amount had been originally intended to cover the cost of teaching tools and bonuses to Roma teachers. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep.29, 1998]
The next meeting of the Hungarian-Rumanian inter-governmental committee is scheduled for October 13 in Budapest. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep.25, 1998]
Rumanian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Razvan Ungureanu told his Hungarian counterpart, Zsolt Németh that plans for a Hungarian and German language university with campuses in Tirgu Mures/Marosvásárhely and Sibiu/Nagyszeben, respectively, are before the Parliament and would, in his opinion, enjoy the support of the majority. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep.25, 1998]
The newly re-opened Hungarian-Language László Németh High School in Baia Mare/Nagybánya began the Fall semester with 15 classes, 350 students and 35 teachers, reported Principal Zoltán Vida [See report of September 14, 1998]. As a result, a significant number of the 1,5000 ethnic Hungarian high school students in the city are now able to continue their studies in their native language. True to its heritage, the school, which dates back to 1547, will have a boarding facility. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep.24, 1998]
Discussion of the Article 123 of the education law, as modified by Government Decree No. 36/1997 removing discriminatory native-language provisions, did not occur again in the Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies [See report of September 15, 1998]. Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) representative in the committee Ferenc Asztalos said that following an agreement reached Tuesday that representatives of the Christian Peasant Party, the National Liberal Party (NLP), the Democrat Party (DP) and DAHR would request a new committee debate, the necessary quorum was not reached on account of NLP and DP members. The last available date for committee deliberation before the September 30 DAHR deadline for quitting the government coalition is Tuesday, September 29. That, however, does not leave enough time for the committee to finish its work, have the plenary adopt the provision, and for the conference committee to meet, concluded Asztalos. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 24, 1998]
The Supreme Court decided for a change of venue from Oradea/Nagyvarad to Braila in the Roman Catholic Bishopric's lawsuit to regain the Bishop's Palace forcibly nationalized in 1963. Oradea Bishop József Tempfli had requested the change in December 1997 in a suit begun in March 1996 wherein the Bishopric asked that the document giving over the property be nullified since it was signed under duress and the local church representative did so without Vatican approval. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep. 25, 1998]
President Emil Constantinescu continued talks with leading government officials of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) over minority-language education, the enhancement of coalition cooperation and the implementation of necessary reforms. [DAHR Bulletin, (Bucharest) Sep. 23, 1998]
The government-appointed committee to study the mode for establishing a Hungarian-language university met for the third time in Bucharest. Among others, discussion of the structure of the institution's decision-making body was continued. The committee is scheduled to meet again on September 29. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 24, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó received Pierre Menat French Ambassador to Rumania at Alliance headquarters to discuss the current status of the government decree on the removal of discriminatory provisions from the education law, as well as DAHR's participation in the government [DAHR Bulletin, (Bucharest) Sep. 22, 1998]
The Hungarian government has established several committees to examine the question of dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians living outside the borders of Hungary, announced Tibor Szabó, recently elected president of the Government Office for Hungarians Abroad while on tour in Tirgu Mures/Marosvásárhely. [Népszabadság (Budapest), Sep. 24, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) President Béla Markó received U.S. Ambassador Jim Rosapepe at Alliance headquarters to discussed the pace of economic reforms in the country, DAHR's role and future in the government coalition, as well as the party's position on native language education and Government Decree No. 36 on the removal of discriminatory provisions from the education law. [Magyar Hírlap (Budapest), Sep. 22, 1998]
The Béla Bartók Lyceum in Timisoara/Temesvár will commence a three-year, Hungarian-language, post-secondary nursery and teacher's training course with 25 places. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep. 18, 1998]
Discussion of the contested provision on the right to native-language education at the higher level was not on today's agenda of the Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania representative in the committee, Ferenc Asztalos said that the earliest date for a re-vote is Wednesday, September 23 since, apart form the President of the House, none of the coalition representatives in the committee were willing to reach a consensus. In order to avoid a repeat debacle, the House President recommended that the coalition party presidents discuss the matter with their own representatives before a re-vote. [Népszava (Budapest), Sep. 16, 1998]
The government-appointed committee to study the mode for establishing a Hungarian-language university worked out its rules of conduct and approved the structure of its closing statement in the presence of Prime Minister Radu Vasile in time for the September 15 deadline. The closing document will contain the existent possibilities to establish an independent Hungarian-language university according to current laws, the Committee's suggestions concerning the structure of such a university, an estimate of the financial resources necessary to establish and operate such an institution, as well as the institution's integration into the Rumanian higher educational system. [Magyar Hírlap (Budapest), Sep. 17, 1998; Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 15, 1998]
The Senate ratified the agreement between Hungary and Rumania on mutually honoring and accepting each other's diplomas from the elementary through to the higher education level. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 16, 1998]
The special meeting of all coalition party leaders and Prime Minister Radu Vasile concluded that the Chamber of Deputies Education Committee must re-examine the article of Government Decree 36/1997 on the establishment of a minority-language university, and approve it, not in a restrictive, but a permissive form. After the meeting, coalition leaders stated that the details were still to be worked out. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 15, 1998]
Nine students will begin Hungarian-language music instruction in a newly formed section of the Art Lyceum in Baia Mare/Nagybánya this Fall, in addition to the reopening of the Hungarian-Language László Németh High School in the city. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep.14, 1998]
While both the Education Ministry and the Harghita/Hargita County District Superintendent have decided that a Roma class for 6-9 year-olds should start commence this Fall in Gheorgheni/Gyergyószentmiklós, the Roma Alliance president stated that he has not been able to find available space in any of the town's schools. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep.14, 1998]
The Hungarian daily Magyar Hírlap has learned that another Hungarian newspaper, Nepszabadság, is planning to start a political, 16-page Hungarian-language daily in Transylvania with a distribution of 50,000. The proposed title is New East. Funding would initially come from Transylvanian investors and be published by István Stanik's media company in Oradea/Nagyvárad. Proposed members of the editorial board include Andor Horváth, Lajos Kántor, András Sütô, Sándor Kányádi and Zoltán Tibori-Szabó. [Magyar Hírlap (Budapest), Sep.14, 1998]
48 ethnic Hungarian mayors of Transylvanian localities will meet in Miercurea Ciuc/Csíkszereda to form the Transylvanian chapter of the Hungarian Mayors Society. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep. 12, 1998]
In a letter to the leadership of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania, OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Max van der Stoel voiced his indignation and protest over the Rumanian press's distortion of his statement last week regarding native-language education. During his visit to Rumania, Max van der Stoel never stated that native-language education is possible only within the framework of multicultural institutions. "This is an inappropriate interpretation of my opinion. Personally, I feel that multiculturalism, as such, is really valuable. However, it is my opinion that other opportunities for native-language higher education must be established at the level of state universities as well. Moreover, in my letter of March of this year to the Rumanian government I recommended that these conditions be guaranteed by the provisions of the Rumanian Education Law," declared the High Commissioner in his message. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 12, 1998]
The Economic Department of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania, in conjunction with the Society of Hungarian Farmers in Rumania, held an agricultural forum in Tirgu Mures/Marosvásárhely with the participation of 32 agrarian experts to discuss the status of agrarian goals found in the government program. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 15, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó told the Hungarian daily, Népszabadság, that "there is time until the September 30th deadline for the education committee to re-vote the botched provision in the education law and for the Parliament to debate the issue." DAHR previously set September 30th as the deadline of its withdrawal from the coalition government if Parliament fails to endorse Government Decree 36/1997 in its original form, which includes the right to establish a Hungarian-language university. [Népszabadság (Budapest), Sep. 11, 1998]
The Civic Alliance and LADO human rights organization, in conjunction with other non-governmental organizations, have begun collecting signatures on a petition in support of Parliamentary Representative Ticu Dumitrescu's bill on making public the [former] secret police's (Securitate) files. [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep. 11, 1998]
During his brief visit to Bucharest, European Union Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Hans van der Broek voiced concern over the decline of Rumania economy, emphasizing the need for fundamental reforms. Five major areas were discussed: local public administration reform and privatization, PHARE-related questions, the recently introduced tax, and bilateral relations. In addition, the establishment of a state-funded, independent Hungarian-language university was also on the agenda during the discussion between the EU Commissioner and Prime Minister Radu Vasile. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 11, 1998]
The Senate adopted a law on foreigners replicating the law in effect during the Ceausescu regime, namely, that Rumanian citizens housing foreigners have to notify the police within 24 hours (hotels have 48 hours to do so). Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Senator and lawyer Péter Eckstein-Kovács, who's proposal to eliminate this section from the bill was defeated, told Szabadság reporters that the legislation was proposed in 1993 under the Iliescu government. Eckstein-Kovacs in particular objected to the fact that the law does not stipulate how police notification is to occur, while another provision of the law requires private citizens to determine if their guests' travel documents are legitimate, a matter under police jurisdiction solely. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 12, 1998]
An article propagating the false notion that the ethnic Hungarian community called "Csángó," who live in the Moldavian part of Rumania, are actually "Hungarianized" Rumanians , appeared in Cotidianul. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 10, 1998]
Education Minister Andrei Marga recommended to the Chamber of Deputies' Education Committee that the Rumanian and Hungarian Parliaments approve a university instructing in Hungarian, German and one other internationally-spoken language with campuses in border towns, for example, in Arad and Satu Mare/Satmárnémeti in Rumania; Szeged and another town in Hungary. As heard on Bucharest radio September 10, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó commented that the proposal dodges the true issue at hand which is adoption of an education law not restricting native-language education. Markó further rebuked the Rumanian press for "manipulating politicians . . . by consciously distorting the nature of conflict as if the question at hand was whether or not a Hungarian-language university is going to be established tomorrow." [Romániai Magyar Szó (Bucharest), Sep. 11, 1998]
In a letter to Prime Minister Radu Vasile, Greater Rumania Party Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies' Education Committee, Anghel Stanciu, demanded that the government committee appointed to study the mode for establishing the establishment of a Hungarian-language university be abolished. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 11, 1998]
All coalition party leaders and Prime Minister Radu Vasile met today in an effort to resolve the establishment of a Hungarian-language university. No concrete decision was reached and another round of deliberations has been scheduled for Monday, September 14. The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) has tied its coalition participation to endorsement, by September 30, of a government decree amending the Education Law. DAHR President Béla Markó told the Rumanian-language daily Adevarul that "we need to adopt an Education Law, which does not restrict the right to native-language education and then we can address the issue of a network of schools guaranteeing education in minority languages." Markó also told the Hungarian Telegraph Agency (MTI) that "the issue is not who gives in and who doesn't. What has to be solved now is not DAHR's or any other political entity's demands. We are asking that our joint government program, the principles found therein, be honored. The principles have to be adhered to under all circumstances, while the formulations that flow from them are all, of course, the result of compromises." [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 9, Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 10, 1998]
If the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) decides to withdraw from the coalition it will initiate the renewal of formal monitoring of Rumania’s compliance with human rights commitments in the Council of Europe, said István Székely, DAHR Executive Vice-President. Since we support Rumania's integration into NATO and the European Union, the Council of Europe's monitoring activity would help the country to comply with EU expectations and the address shortcomings in the democratization process. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 10, 1998]
The Chamber of Deputies adopted the law on the organization and operation of the Parliament's Official Monitor. According to the newspapers Adevarul, Jurnalul national, Curentul and Ziua, Paragraph 18 of the law, mandating the partial Hungarian-language translation of the Monitor, provoked heated debate. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 9, 1998]
President of the Christian Democratic National Peasant Party Ion Diaconescu told reporters that a summit of the coalition leaders has been called in Cotroceni Palace for September 8 to discuss exclusively the issue of an independent Hungarian-language university. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 8,1998].
The Council of Representatives of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania [the organization's highest decision-making body] decided to withdraw participation in the government coalition at its Cluj/Kolozsvár meeting. The majority of representatives (68) voted that the withdrawal would take place on September 30 if until then Parliament fails to endorse Government Decree 36/1997, amending the Education Law in its original form. DAHR's official statement also reiterated that, as of September 7, the organization does not consider the coalition agreement binding on itself and its parliamentary members will vote solely according to DAHR policies.
The decision came following a meeting of coalition leaders called by President Emil Constantinescu on September 4 where the coalition's position on native-language education was not reinforced. DAHR President Béla Markó subsequently stated that "during the meeting the coalition leaders acknowledged that they agree with establishing an independent Hungarian-language university. They also concurred that the text adopted by the Chamber of Deputies' Education Committee is unacceptable, but we could not get beyond a multicultural institution, possibly a Hungarian-German university, but under no circumstances located in [Cluj] Kolozsvár."
DAHR Executive Chairman Csaba Takács pointed out that "we know . . . that as a result of our decision our community will be negatively affected by many subsequent measures . . . [but] our coalition partners have unequivocally proved that they are not willing to support us on such an important matter as the establishment of an independent Hungarian-language educational system." [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 7, 1998; DAHR Bulletin, Sep. 7, 1998; Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 7, 1998]
The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) considers its coalition obligations null and void until the leaders of the governing coalition reexamine their position to date on reform and minority policies, and the coalition agreement is reinforced at the Friday meeting called by the President, announced DAHR President Béla Markó following the Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies' vote blocking the establishment of an independent Hungarian-language university. Mr. Markó said the decision is warranted because the current governing coalition has veered off the European road and become unfaithful toward fundamental reform of the Rumanian economy and society and, within such, towards its original platform of inter-ethnic reconciliation.
DAHR representatives in the lower house boycotted today's' session and DAHR Senator Attila Verestoy asked the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Ion Diaconescu to suspend the Education Committee's proceedings until the coalition summit takes place on Friday.
DAHR Executive Chairman Csaba Takács told reporters that the committee's decision will make it necessary for the Alliance to reconsider its participation in the government coalition at the weekend meeting of its Council of Alliance Representatives [the organization's highest decision-making body]. "I consider it unacceptable to continue participation in a coalition whose members, instead of defending their government program, adopt proposals set forth by the Greater Rumania Party and the Rumanian National Unity Party and act as if these two parties were members of the coalition,'' said Mr. Takács to Mediafax.
I consider it my "moral and political responsibility" to resign my position if the Education Committee does not change its position, said Minister for Minority Affairs György Tokay to Mediafax. The Rumanian human rights organization APADOR-CH protested the decision at the Education Committee calling it a radical act of limiting minority rights. APADOR-CH President Gabriel Andreescu told Mediafax that the committee's decision is an "outgrowth of a pathetic nationalistic policy" which will have catastrophic effects both domestically and internationally. "A decision to reject, in principle, the establishment of an independent Hungarian university completely contradicts the spirit of Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights according to which you cannot prohibit any minority from preserving and developing its national identity, culture and institutions," determined Andreescu. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 4, 1998; Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 4, 1998]
The Chamber of Deputies' Education Committee rejected the provisions of Government Decree 36 that had reversed anti-minority provisions in the Education Law and, in a vote of 19-2 with 2 abstentions, adopted text rejecting the right to establish an independent Hungarian-language university. Article 123, Paragraph 1, as now voted, stipulates that at the public higher education level, upon demand, native-language classes and sections, can only function within the framework of a multicultural institution, as guaranteed by law. Paragraph 2 adds that mastery of Hungarian-language subject-specific terminology is to be guaranteed. Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) Representative and Committee Deputy Chairman Ferenc Asztalos said that the version adopted is worse than the Senate's because the mention of "sections'' also excludes the functioning of three-year independent Hungarian-language colleges.
The vote is not surprising, commented DAHR President Béla Markó to Szabadság reporters, it is the direct result of [anti-Hungarian] sentiments enflamed in Rumanian public life and press throughout the past months and weeks. ["So long, Hungarian University," "The Chamber of Deputies Has Buried the Hungarian University Once and For All," "The Last Hopes of Hungarian Separatists Have Been Dashed" - such were the headlines in today's National, Cotidianul and Adevarul, respectively.] Although it is not yet law, Markó continued, the vote foreshadows what will happen in the plenary. The situation is very critical: the coalition has once again breached its agreement. I consider it to be a tragicomedy of Rumanian political life that during the past few days Rumanian politicians mislead Max van der Stoel with false hopes about the situation of minorities and see, how they're capable of breaking their word, concluded President Markó. DAHR Executive Chairman Csaba Takács thinks the current situation is a result of "mistaken calculations:" many members of the coalition have placed anti-Hungarianism and nationalism above the true national interest in the hope that these will prove to be a long-term, effective policies for Rumania, concluded Takács in the Adevarul de Cluj. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 3, 1998; Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 3, 1998]
In his open letter to President Emil Constantinescu published in the Jurnalul national, president of the National Federation of Rectors in Rumania Sergiu T. Chiriacescu reiterates his opposition to a "university founded solely along ethnic lines." [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 2, 1998]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Senator from Covasna/Kovászna County Zoltán Bálint Puskás was elected secretary of the Senate's Permanent Committee by a vote of 93-30. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 3, 1998]
Following meetings between Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó and OSCE High Commissioner for Minorities Max van der Stoel on August 31 and September 1, Alliance President Markó told Cotidianul that "Mr. van der Stoel unequivocally stated that he sincerely hopes the government decree [No. 36, which reverses anti-minority provisions found in the education law] will be adopted in its original form.'' Markó went on to point out that "it was my impression that Mr. van der Stoel is well-informed about details, knows about the [governing] coalition's agreement and the existence of a protocol . . . which expresses the coalition members' support for the [above-mentioned] government decree.'' The High Commissioner scheduled his visit upon receiving unsettling news regarding the status of the Education Law and disputes surrounding the establishment of a Hungarian-language university to gain first-hand information, concluded Markó.
Azi reported that during their meetings Markó had accused Education Minister Andrei Marga of contributing significantly to the hysteria surrounding the re-establishment of a Hungarian-language university. It is also thanks to the Minister - Markó added - that promises to establish a Hungarian-language section at the Gheorghe Dima Music Academy, as well as independent Hungarian faculties at the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, have not been kept. Mr. van der Stoel inquired about the status of Roma school enrollment, recognition of report cards and diplomas between Rumania and Hungary, as well as drafting of textbooks within the context of European cooperation.
At his press conference Foreign Ministry Spokesman Filip Anda reflected on the meeting between Mr. van der Stoel and Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu saying that the men spoke at length about discrimination, racism and the dangers of inciting hatred. According to the Adevarul de Cluj, the High Commissioner sought clarification from Mr. Plesu on the situation of Rumania's minorities, their public role as well as native-language education. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 2, 1998]
Adevarul reported on the first meeting of the government-appointed committee to study the mode for establishing a Hungarian-language university [See report of Aug. 31]. The committee agreed upon consensus for adopting decisions with dissenting opinions to be noted. At the committee's next meeting, scheduled for September 15, the Ministry of Education will provide statistics on the number of potential university students as well as plans for the structure of the university. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 2, 1998]
The County Road and Bridge Maintenance Board, which belongs under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, removed the bilingual signs indicating the villages of Izvoru Crisului/Körösfô and Saula/Sárvásár in Cluj County even though these were not located on public property. Minister of Transportation Traian Basescu, who along with his State Secretary Józséf Birtalan were visiting Oradea/Nagyvárad, immediately gave instruction for their replacement. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 3, 1998; Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Sep. 2, 1998]
Azi published a protest by Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania Sfintul Gheorghe/Sepsiszentgyörgy local council members against the building of police barracks without the council's consent. Town mayor Álmos Albert told the local paper Haromszék that while the Interior Ministry deliberates with other institutions and parties, it doesn't do so with local representatives. In addition, the prior agreement reached with the ministry's representatives to build the County's Police Headquarters in town has now been breached. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 3, 1998]
At his press conference, leader of the parliamentary group representing non-Hungarian minorities in the Chamber of Deputies, Varujan Pombaccian, protested the plenary session's decision to rescind the group's right to representation in the Chamber's Permanent Committee, reported Azi and the Cronica Romana. [DAHR News Observer (Bucharest), Sep. 2, 1998]