Post by oszkarthehun on Feb 14, 2013 2:11:47 GMT -5
Romania threatens expulsion of Hungarian ambassador as conflict over Székelyföld escalates dramatically
Ambassador Oszkar Fuzes of contravening diplomatic norms. He may be
expelled from Romania unless he “stays within the scope of his
authority,” he said.
Speaking on Romanian television on Wednesday night, Corlatean
condemned the ambassador for voicing support for autonomy for Szekler
Land.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Romanian government sharply rejected
remarks by Hungarian State Secretary Zsolt Nemeth, who had called on
Romania to drop a ban on the use of Szekler symbols and put an end to
“symbolic aggression”.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry summoned Fuzes, who had made his
remarks in a television interview. A subsequent statement called
Nemeth’s “intervention” unacceptable.
In response, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry said “it is up to Romania” to resolve the issue.
Romanian PM: No “lessons”
Earlier on Wednesday, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said his
country will not tolerate “lessons” from anyone on how to apply its
laws. Ponta was speaking in reaction to Zsolt Nemeth, state secretary at
the Hungarian foreign ministry, calling on Romania to stop a ban on the
use of Szekler flags on office buildings.
Ponta said Romania was applying the highest European standards in the representation of minorities and in local autonomy.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement sent to MTI that
Nemeth’s statement was unacceptable and was in contrast with the
strategic partnership that existed between Hungary and Romania, as well
as with the spirit of good neighbourly relations.
Bogdan Aurescu, the foreign affairs state secretary, said in the
statement that Romania would not accept such “regrettable interventions”
that violate Romania’s constitutional and legal framework.
Nemeth on Tuesday called on Hungarian local councils to show support
to Romania’s Hungarian-populated Szekler Land over the flag issue and
said he firmly expected Romania to stop this “symbolic aggression.”
Government commissioners in Covasna (Kovaszna) and Harghita (Hargita)
counties in central Romania have banned the hoisting of the Szekler
flag on office buildings.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday afternoon that the
solution concerning the issue of the ban on minority symbols was “in the
hands” of Romania. The ethnic community has the right to use its
symbols and Hungary therefore supports the use of the Szekler flag, the
ministry said in a statement.
The Hungarian position was presented by Hungary’s ambassador to
Romania in Bucharest’s Foreign Ministry where Oszkar Fuzes stressed that
it was in line with previous practices as well as with Romanian and EU
laws.
Speaking on Wednesday evening Nemeth suggested the Romanian prime
minister could have “misunderstood something” before he said that
Romania would not tolerate “lessons” from anyone in connection with the
issue of the Szekler flag’s use.
“What laws do not ban is permitted in Europe. There is no law banning
the Szekler flag’s use in Romania. In this context European norms, and
the norms of a state governed by laws, must be ensured, irrespective of
what the premier of Romania may or may not tolerate,” Nemeth said in
Gyula in south-eastern Hungary.
He said the Szekler people in Romania had the right to use their own
flag and expressed hope that the Romanian government would understand,
and allow, that. He repeatedly voiced Hungary’s support for the Szekler
people and its position that the issue had to be resolved by Romania.
Hungarian FM backs up ambassador
Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said on Thursday that nothing the
Hungarian ambassador to Romania had said concerning the issue of
autonomy for Szekler Land “deviates from the position of the Hungarian
government.”
Responding to a question at an unrelated conference on the economy,
Martonyi said that Hungary had maintained a clear stance concerning
endeavours to ensure autonomy for Szekler Land for the last 22 years. If
a community claims some form of autonomy in a democratic way, majority
society must consider that claim, he said.
Concerning Romania’s banning the Szekler flag from public buildings,
Martonyi said that Hungary would act as a partner in resolving the
situation.
“No doubt, Romania is in a position to take steps; legal proceedings
initiated in connection with displaying the flag in Romania should be
dropped,” he said.
Martonyi also said he would have talks by phone with his Romanian counterpart Titus Corlatean in the afternoon.
He said the situation must be handled calmly rather than amid the
atmosphere in which the Romanian media was dealing with the matter.
The minister said it was very important that, “we did not start the
flag-fighting.” In the past few months it has been indicated to Romania
that the good relations which have been developing well, and the
strategic partnership between the two countries, could be endangered, he
said. Whereas a reply had often been given that there was nothing to
worry about, the Romanian measures taken over the issue of the Szekler
flag, “belong in the category of negative gestures”. He said a
community’s right to display a symbol was today a “European minimum”.
Oszkar ...
Why is Romanian authorities being sooo intolerant of Szekely symbols/flag being displayed on office buildings in the Szekeyfold region
... what next ? it is not Hungary harming otherwise good or reasonable relations but Romania as the Hungarian minister noted ... these recent measures from Romania belong in the category of " Negative Gestures" a communitys right (and a significant ethnic minority) right to display a symbol is today a 'European Minimum'.