ETHNIC HUNGARIANS IN ROMANIA ESTABLISH NEW ORGANIZATION…

Some 1,200 ethnic Hungarians participated in a civic forum in the central Romanian
city of Odorheiu Secuiesc on 26 April that established the National Council of
Hungarians in Transylvania, Mediafax reported on 28 April. The organization called
for territorial and cultural autonomy for ethnic Hungarians living in Romania, and
speakers at the forum heavily criticized leaders of the Hungarian Democratic
Federation of Romania (UDMR) for having "abandoned" the goal of self-determination
and territorial autonomy. Transylvania has historically been a center of territorial
and ethnic disputes between Hungarians and Romanians. ZsM/MS

…AND ROMANIAN PREMIER REQUESTS INVESTIGATION INTO ITS CALL FOR AUTONOMY

Prime Minister Adrian Nastase has asked the Prosecutor-General's Office to
investigate calls for territorial autonomy that were made by leaders of the
country's Hungarian diaspora at the 26 April forum, Reuters and Romanian media
reported on 29 April. The government said in a 29 April statement that "while fully
observing the right to free association," Nastase requested the investigation
because the National Council of Hungarians named "cultural and territorial autonomy"
as one of its objectives. Former UDMR Chairman Lazlo Tokes, who was elected honorary
chairman of the new National Council of Hungarians, said it is "a pity" the
government is taking judicial measures against political actions that fall under the
right of free expression. MS/ZsM

Discussion/Fórum