In Budapest, Ponta pleads for normal relations with Hungary

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Whilst the PM was conveying a conciliatory message at a meeting with the Hungarian Socialists in Budapest, the Magyar separatists in Romania were preparing to move forward with the setting up of the ‘Szekely Land’ with the capital in Targu Mures.

The Premier stated on Saturday in Budapest, in a speech given at a meeting of the Hungarian Socialist Party (opposition party), that “populism, extremism and demagoguery” run against the interests of Romania and Hungary, being the duty of his “generation” to find the way to work and live together. Ponta stated that the “true problems” in the bilateral relation “do not consist of flags or extremist decisions” (a hint to the scandal surrounding the hoisting of the Szekely flag on Romanian state institutions – editor’s note). “Between us there should be only the decision to be together, to mutually respect each other and to understand that we have to live together: we have to take care of the important problems, namely jobs and economic growth. (…) If we want what is best for our countries and our people, this will have to be the most important preoccupation,” the Social-Democrat leader stated, being quoted by Mediafax. The Premier emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence between Romanians and Hungarians, pointing out that although the past divided the two countries “they have to have a common present and future.”Victor Ponta’s presence at the reunion of the Socialist Party was harshly criticized by Zoltan Balczo, the Vice President of Jobbik, Hungary’s nationalist party, who accused the Hungarian socialists of high treason for inviting the Romanian Premier to Budapest. Thus, in a speech given at a meeting organized outside the “Papp Laszlo” Sports Hall in Budapest, where the meeting of the Hungarian Socialist Party was taking place, Zoltan Balczo stated that through all of his decisions the Romanian Premier acted against ethnic Hungarians.

On the other hand, Istvan Szavay, the Jobbik leader responsible for Hungarian communities abroad, stated that the spontaneous meeting organized on Saturday is not against the Romanian people but “against those that betray the interests of the Hungarian nation.” The meeting ended without incidents. The day before the Romanian Premier took part at the meeting of the Hungarian Socialist Party, Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban met UDMR President Kelemen Hunor in Budapest. According to the Hungarian government’s spokesperson, Orban and Kelemen talked about the situation of the Hungarian community in Romania, focusing mainly on the project of administrative reorganization and the rights of minorities.

Szekelys ask for autonomy

5,000 persons  took  part last evening in the march for Szkeley autonomy in Targu Mures, Mures County authorities taking supplementary measures to ensure the protection of Romanian, Hungarian and Jewish cultural sites. The meeting started at the Monument of Szekely Martyrs, built where the Szekelys that plotted against the Austro-Hungarian Empire were executed on March 10, 1854. Magyar Popular Party (PPMT) President and MEP Laszlo Tokes (the event’s initiator – editor’s note), National Szekely Council (CNS) President Izsak Balazs and Civic Magyar Party (PCM) President Biro Zsolt gave speeches. After laying wreaths at the monument the participants were expected to march towards the centre of Targu Mures. County Prefect Corneliu Grosu stated that based on the information he had “significant movements of personnel” were not expected and most participants were expected to leave Targu Mures during the evening hours. “Several political and non-political parties from the country and abroad, form Hungary in particular, will be present. (…) Based on the statements of the organizers up to 5,000 people are expected to take part in the march, they will give the prefect a document noting the de facto existence of the Szekely Land with the capital in Targu Mures, in order for it to be sent to the government,” the Prefect stated according to the aforementioned source. He called for calm after messages asking Romanians to stage a counter-demonstration were posted on social networks. The New Magyar Guard, financed by Jobbik, Hungary’s far-right party, also announced its presence.

Martonyi: Transylvania’s re-annexation to Hungary is nonsense

Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi holds that Transylvania’s alleged re-annexation to Hungary „is an absolute and utter nonsense”. While Martonyi, on a two day visit to Bucharest, acknowledges that bilateral relations with Romania are going through a difficult time, dialogue is the only solution for conflicts to get resolved, jurnalul.ro reports, quoting nol.hu. Speaking of the autonomy issue, he made the point that there are various autonomy forms in Europe, including different levels of territorial autonomy. “Call it decentralization or any other way, yet, the central idea is that a community should be allowed the right to handle its matters, at least in a given territory,” the Hungarian official said. Referring to the Szekler flag issue, he reiterated that, in Hungary, there are regions where the Romanian flag is hoisted, and nobody is upset about: „This means it’s a Romanian community that feels better hoisting the Romanian national flag at the top of a public building”.