Romanian Minister Of Foreign Affairs: Romania Still Opposes Autonomy

Titus Corlatean, Minister of Foreign Affairs told in an interview that Romania does not agree with the viesw represented by Viktor Orbán in the case of autonomy.

The presenter of the Romanian public service television (TVR) introduced the topic by saying that “the recently re-elected Hungarian prime minister would like to have territorial autonomy for every Hungarian in Central and Eastern Europe”. The channel brought it up in a montage that Viktor Orbán stood up many times for the autonomy of Hungarians in Kárpátalja. TVR stated: the Hungarian government is supported by the “radical Jobbik”.

In his answer, Corlatean first greeted Orbán’s urge of strong and stable cooperation between the Hungarian and Romanian government, which was announced on Thursday when he met Hunor Kelemen, president of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) and vice president of the Romanian government. Corlatean also mentioned that he spoke about the “positive parts” of Romanian-Hungarian relations, the economic aspects of the development of the strategic partnership to the Hungarian ambassador in Bucharest on his introductory visit.

After this, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs referred back to Viktor Orbán’s previous statements and pointed out: it is not new that Romania disagrees with autonomies based on ethnicity and that those are not accepted “European standards”. He noted that, on contrary, the ten thousands of Romanians in Kárpátalja are not asking for separation but the basic European rights of education and language use, and that their national identity will be respected.

“These statements (of Orbán) created discontent in the Ukrainian government, in certain European capitals and in Washington as well. These stances are not helping in these situations when we are interested in the stable and European, democratic development of Ukraine. We, the Romanian government will negotiate differently with a more stable, European and democratic Ukraine about our natural, transparent and legitimate interest that Romanians living in Ukraine keep theiridentity”

based on article of erdely.ma
translated by Oliver Tamasi

Source: http://erdely.ma/