October 30, 1999

In an interview with the Hungarian-language daily, Szabadság, Ádám Maksay, coordinator for restoration of the Bánffy Castle in Bontida/Bonchida, Cluj/Kolozs County, said that the necessary permission to begin reconstruction is still pending. The castle is of historic importance to the Hungarian community and was listed in the World Monuments Fund’s 2000-2001 roster of the 100 most endangered monuments [see report of September 15].The Transylvania Trust Foundation and the Association of Transylvanian Historic Monuments Restorers initiated, and are in charge of, the program. Immediate intervention to safeguard the edifice was offered by the Utilitas Historic Monument-Research and Planning Center. The 500 million Lei ($30,300) offered by the Cultural Ministry, and the $28,700 approved by the Hungarian Ministry for National Cultural Heritage, are not sufficient to cover the expenses of the whole restoration process. According to Maksay, 8-10 million dollars are needed for full restoration. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Oct. 30, 1999]

October 29, 1999

At their press conference, Cluj/Kolozs County representatives of the DAHR unanimously condemned the initiative of the Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar to raise a statue of Marshall Ion Antonescu in the city. Antonescu was responsible for the persecution of Jews between 1941 and1944. City Council Member Károly Pálffy told the press that the resolution was apparently the outcome of an "odious" compromise between the opposition and Funar’s coalition members. [Szabadság (Cluj-Kolozsvár), Oct. 30, 1999]

Minister for Minority Affairs Péter Eckstein Kovács told the Hungarian-language daily Szabadság that following a visit by ethnic Hungarian church leaders to Prime Minister Radu Vasile the government allocated 2 billion Lei from its reserves to these churches. The amount is to augment clergy salaries. Eckstein-Kovács also reported that the Árkádos House in Sfintu-Gheorghe/Sepsziszentgyörgy, which used to fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior and functioned as a National Archive, has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture and will function as an East-Carpathian Museum. [DAHR News Watch (Bucharest), Oct. 29, 1999]

October 26, 1999

Minister for Minority Affairs Péter Eckstein Kovács continued talks with public television leaders – Head of the Board of Directors Cristian Hadji Culeava, Channel 1 Director Titus Moldovanu and Channel 2 Director Sanda Visan—over increasing the broadcast of minority-language programs. Currently, two-thirds of minority-language programs are broadcast on Channel 2, which covers only one-third of the country and reaches only 30 percent of compactly minority-inhabited areas such Hargita/Hargitha County (88% Hungarian). Culeava informed the minority organizations present at the meeting that in the near future they plan to broadcast the minority-language programs exclusively on Channel 1, which has a broadcasting area of 98 percent. The television directors also promised to establish minority-language regional studios in Tirgu Mures/Marosvásárhely and Constanta. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Oct. 27, 1999]

October 14, 1999

The Chamber of Deputies began debate on a bill on the citizens' right to initiate legislation. In his speech Sándor Tamás, Covasna/Kovászna County Representative, pointed out that while this constitutional right already exists, only one attempt to date has been made to exercise it: In 1995, 490,000 ethnic Hungarian citizens submitted a petition to Parliament asking that the 84/1995 Law on Education be amended to guarantee them native-language rights. (DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Oct. 14, 1999)

October 13, 1999

Following a joint initiative by the Romani Criss Association and Ministry of Education, the New Jersey-based Project on Ethnic Relations (PER) organized a seminar for the newly appointed Roma Superintendent in Tirgu-Mures/Marosvásárhely. József Kôtô, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, was also present at the meeting where possibilities to promote countrywide Roma-language instruction were discussed. (DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Oct. 18, 1999)

October 5, 1999

According to the Hungarian daily Bihari Napló, Prime Minister Radu Vasile cancelled his planned attendance at the October 6 commemoration in Arad on account of health problems. [October 6 marks the anniversary of the execution of 13 Hungarian generals by Austria following the 1848-49 Hungarian war for independence.] Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania President Béla Markó, however, attributed the Prime Minister's absence to "pre-election panic," since members of the current government coalition may loose potential voters in the upcoming elections next year unless they appear more "pro-Rumanian." As a consequence, no high-ranking Rumanian or Hungarian officials will be present at an event usually attended by both premiers. [Bihari Napló (Oradea/Nagyvárad), Oct. 6, 1999]

October 1, 1999

The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) gained membership in the European People's Party—first among all organizations representing the interests of Hungarian minorities in East Central Europe. Wim van Velzen, the vice-president of the largest conservative Christian faction within the European Parliament, applauded DAHR’s commitment to European integration, the rule of law and establishing a market economy. He also praised the fact that DAHR has maintained its unity since its 1989 inception. DAHR Béla Markó pointed out that the move not only acknowledges his party’s 10-year record but positively signals Rumania’s upcoming integration into the EU. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Oct. 1, 1999]