Hungarian diplomat was summoned over recent criticism voiced by Hungarian Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Zsolt Nemeth against new Ponta Cabinet decisions on minorities’ law and UMF Targu Mures.
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked to see the Hungarian Ambassador in Bucharest following critical statements made by Hungarian Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Zsolt Nemeth (photo) on the new policies pursued by the Romanian Government in the area of minorities, Budapest announced on Wednesday, MTI informs. According to the Hungarian Foreign Affairs Ministry, an executive Embassy official, Adam Balazs, honoured the invitation in the absence of Ambassador Oszkar Fuzes.More exactly, Romania expressed its disapproval of the remarks Nemeth made last week, according to which the new laws in Romania, including those on the voting system and minorities, were ‘reasons of concern’. Another criticised point was the Hungarian effort of organising the reinhumation of Hungarian poet Jozsef Nyiro at Odorheiu Secuiesc. Adam Balazs told Romania that, to the Hungarian Government, the reinhumation was a show of respect to the poet as well as a cultural event. He added that the Hungarian Government was open for cooperation with the new Romanian Executive.The Romanian Foreign Ministry confirmed to Mediafax that it had ‘invited’ over the Hungarian ambassador in Bucharest on Wednesday, noting that the UMF Targu Mures was not one of the topics on the agenda and that the only things discussed were ‘the reinhumation of Nyiro Jozsef and the recent statements made by Hungarian politicians.’ Also, ‘during the audience, Romania reiterated its willingness to discuss any subject in the framework of bilateral diplomatic talks rather than via the mass-media, in the context of the relations of strategic partnership between Romania and Hungary and their excellent cooperation in the European Union,’ MAE states.The Secretary of State at the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Zsolt Nemeth said, last Thursday, that the recent developments in Romania, including the Government’s statements on the electoral law and minorities’ law, as well as the issue with the Faculty of Medicine in Targu Mures, were reasons of concern for Hungary. He noted that, over the last years, Romanian-Hungarian relations had been characterised by mutual respect and recognition of reciprocal interests which allowed for many successful projects to be carried out. Nemeth nevertheless added that it was still not too late to prevent the danger and that the Hungarian Government had the political will to do that.One of the first measures taken by the new Ponta Government was to prevent the opening of a Hungarian department at the Faculty of Medicine in Targu Mures. At the same time, the new Cabinet said the Minorities’ Law would be adopted without the chapter on cultural autonomy. The representatives of the Government also announced the elimination of the proportional representation system and the introduction of a majority voting system disavowed by UDMR who fears it may miss the Parliament.
