Szeklerland

Hungary to expand economic development scheme to Szeklerland, says foreign minister in Transylvania

Hungary will expand its cross-border economic development scheme aimed at helping ethnic Hungarian communities beyond the border to Szeklerland, Romania, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said after talks with Hunor Kelemen, head of the ethnic Hungarian RMDSZ party, in Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár) on Friday.

In Romania, the programme so far had only been implemented in Mures (Maros) county targeting farmers and small companies, Szijjártó noted.

Last year, the Hungarian government disbursed 1.5 billion forints (EUR 4.7m) among the region’s farmers and entrepreneurs, he said, adding that the 800 grant applications that have been submitted this year were still being assessed.

Szijjártó also noted that next year’s budget earmarks 50 billion forints for economic development schemes, a significant chunk of which will be geared towards Transylvania and Szeklerland.

The minister lamented that the Romanian government had yet to approve the opening of a Hungarian cultural institute in Cluj-Napoca. In response to a question, he said the Hungarian government would gladly support the opening of a Romanian cultural institute in any Hungarian city.

“I would encourage the Romanians to open as many cultural institutes in Hungary as possible,” Szijjártó said. “Somehow this is not the exact attitude we see from our Romanian colleagues.”

Szijjártó said he had asked his Romanian counterpart, Teodor Melescanu, at their meeting in Bucharest to support the establishment of the Cluj-Napoca cultural institute. He added that the matter would remain on the agenda of the two countries’ ties.

The minister also said

it was natural that he would meet representatives of ethnic Hungarians during his trip to Romania, given that the Hungarian government tailors its policy for Hungarians beyond the border to their expectations.

He said it was important for Hungary and Romania to achieve “success stories” together, arguing that this would create the trust that could allow the two countries to pursue solutions to any sensitive issues between them. Szijjártó welcomed that progress has been made in such sensitive areas as relaunching the Catholic secondary school in Targu Mures (Marosvásárhely).

Kelemen said he and Szijjártó reviewed the “problematic issues” between Hungary and Romania. He said

Romania’s ethnic Hungarian community was interested in continuous dialogue between the two countries and called for their strategic partnership to be strengthened.

Szijjártó also held talks with ethnic Hungarian business leaders and is scheduled to have a working dinner with the local leaders of Hungary’s historical churches.

November 10, 2018

Hungarian foreign minister held talks in Romania

Good Hungary-Romania relations clearly serve the interests of Hungarians and ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday after meeting counterpart Teodor Melescanu in Bucharest.

“Both Hungary and Romania have done much towards fulfilling this purpose in recent times,” the minister said.

Progress has been made in such sensitive areas as relaunching the Catholic secondary school in Targu Mures (Marosvásárhely), the amendment of the education law and regulations on textbooks, Szijjártó told MTI.

“We greatly appreciate the Romanian government fulfilling its promise to relaunch the Catholic lyceum of Marosvásárhely so that Hungarian children in Marosvásárhely can again study in a Catholic Hungarian school from September,” he said. Regulations linked to the amendment of the Romanian educaton law have been brought into line with the recommendations of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), he noted. Also, the regulations on textbooks have been amended in Romania in a way that allows Hungarian teachers to prepare textbooks for Hungarian children, he said.

“All these changes point in a positive direction from the point of ethnic minorities in Romania, Transylvania and Szeklerland,” Szijjártó added.

These achievements contribute to a strategy of rebuilding trust between the two countries that will help resolve difficult issues, he added.

Concerning additional areas discussed with his counterpart, Szijjártó said it was important for the two countries to develop closer energy cooperation in the upcoming period. Infrastructure developments in Hungary and Romania will make it physically possible to transport 1.75 billion cubic metres of natural gas in Hungary’s direction annually from next year and 4.4 billion cubic metres from 2022, he said.

“We hope that American and Austrian-Romanian gas industry companies will make decisions regarding the exploration of Blak Sea gas resources as soon as possible, so we can sign the necessary contracts. We are making every effort to buy gas from Romania in the long term and the physical infrastructure for this will be in place from next year,” he added.

He said he and Melescanu had agreed to keep the border crossings at Dombegyháza and Elek permanently open in order to improve the lives of local communities. Currently, they are opened once a week.

Additionally, by the end of 2020, Hungary’s M4 and Romania’s A3 motorways will be connected and Oradea (Nagyvárad) will be accessible from Budapest by motorway, he said.

Preparations for a high-speed railway linking Budapest and Bucharest via Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár) are progressing well, with Hungary having allocated 1 billion forints (EUR 3m) for a feasibility study, Szijjártó said.

On the topic of ethnic minorities in Ukraine, the minister said:

“We view the situation … similarly. Ukraine violates the rights, laid down by international law, of ethnic minorities, taking away numerous rights affecting language use and education from both the Romanian and the Hungarian communities. We are following different strategies here but agree that international law has been breached and this must be stopped as soon as possible,” he said.

Szijjártó expressed thanks to Melescanu in connection with a vote by his MEPs in the liberal ALDE grouping against the Sargentini report. “I assured the foreign minister that Hungary, too, will not support biased political attacks against Romania launched based on the opinions of NGOs,” Szijjártó said.

In response to a question concerning the subject of the 100th anniversary of the assembly of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehervár), where representatives of the Romanian population of Transylvania proclaimed the union of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania, he said that, similarly to other occasions in the past when this issue came up, he pointed out the importance of mutual respect at the talks with Melescanu.

“It must be accepted that certain dates in history have a different meaning to different nations and countries. The same historical date can bring joy to one side and pain to the other. We must respect this and must not force the other to feel differently. I asked him that we should respect each other’s feelings and should not try to force any position on each other,” he said.

During his visit in Bucharest, Szijjártó also met house speaker Liviu Dragnea, who is also head of the Social Democratic Party, the largest party in Romania’s parliament. In the afternoon, he is scheduled to meet RMDSZ leader Hunor Kelemen, ethnic Hungarian entrepreneurs in Transylvania and church leaders.

November 9, 2018

Five parties join Jobbik initiative for day of Hungarian-Szekler cohesion

Five parties including ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats have expressed their willingness to join conservative opposition Jobbik’s initiative for a day of Hungarian-Szekler cohesion, Jobbik lawmaker István Szávay said on Monday.

Szávay proposed three weeks ago, on the 170th anniversary of the Szekler national assembly of Agyagfalva, that 11 centuries of Hungarian-Szekler co-existence should be commemorated by making the date a memorial day and called on all party group leaders to back the initiative.

The only party that has not responded is the Democratic Coalition (DK), which has never expressed much sensitivity towards ethnic Hungarians abroad, he said.

Jobbik does not support the idea of declaring Szeklers a nationality in Hungary because “a step like this would only provide ammunition for Romanians to divide ethnic Hungarians.”

“Szeklers are part and parcel of the Hungarian nation,” he said.

Featured image: www.facebook.com/SzávayIstván

November 5, 2018

Hundreds of Szeklers singing in the Vatican – VIDEO

Hargitanépe reports that a choir representing the Upper Ciuc region of Transylvania sang on Monday at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The choir numbering over 405 people arrived in the Vatican to promote the beautification of bishop Áron.

The pilgrims attended the Sunday Holy Mass on the 7th of October at the Saint Ignatius church, while on the next day, on the Feast of Our Lady of Hungary, the group attended another Holy Mass (this time in Hungarian) where they even performed several songs. Since the large group could not fit into the Our Lady of Hungary Chapel, the mass had to be performed at the cathedral altar of the St. Peter’s Basilica. The Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister, Zsolt Semjén, the Hungarian ambassador to the Holy See, Eduárd Habsburg-Lotharingiai and the Hungarian ambassador to Rome, Ádám Zoltán Kovács, were also present at the latter mass.

The choir prepared mostly with Mary-songs for this Mary Indulgence, but they performed the Hungarian and Szekler anthems, too.

Bishop Ferenc Palánki emphasised that Hungarians everywhere are trying to maintain peace in Europe, representing Christian values, honouring Saint Stephen, who offered Hungary to the Virgin Mary, hoping that she will protect the nation in the coming centuries. A thousand years have passed, as Palánki argues, and yet Hungarians have never forgotten their faith which was given to them by their ancestors and which they will have to pass on to the coming generations.

The pilgrims, respecting tradition, wore Szekler and Csángó folk costumes which, as Vatican News writes, captivated tourists and believers alike.

The choir had an audience with the pope himself, for which they prepared fifteen liturgical songs, among them several are dedicated to Virgin Mary, and even a hymn about bishop Áron Márton, as this pilgrimage is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Áron Márton’s appointment as a bishop. The pilgrims’ ultimate goal is to have bishop Áron beatified.

The 405-member choir is made up of 14 smaller Szekler choirs, namely from Balánbánya, Csíkszentdomokos, Dánfalva, Madaras, Csicsó, Madéfalva, Delne, Szépvíz, Szentmiklós, Borzsova, Taploca, Gyimesfelsőlok, Gyimesközéplok, and the choir of the Millenium Church from Csíkszereda.

Photo: vaticannews.va

October 13, 2018

On the fabulous landscapes of Transylvania

For a long time every year, at the beginning of August, I have taken 30-40 friends of mine to Transylvania(in Hungarian: Erdély). I have shown them my favourite places, I have made them try the chimney cake in Bălăușeri, the cabbage in the Laci Tavern in Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely), the “csorba soup” in Odorheiu (Székelyudvarhely) in the Pethő Restaurant and, I have told them about the feeling of “togetherness” that will capture every visitor from Hungary.

I had to select from among the must-see sights for the 5-day-trip. If we listed every touristic offer of Transylvania, we would fill up several Tropical magazines.

For us, Hungarians, the Transylvanian events represent, mean a lot.

The Pentecostal Blessings of Șumuleu Ciucare (Csobotfalva) already have scheduled pilgrim trains now. Those who take part in the excursion, will never forget the atmosphere. The dance of the Székely girls, the camp at Băile Tușnad (Tusnádfürdő), the dance festival in Izvoru Crişului (Kőrösfő) are all great experiences for the participants.

Many people ask me whether I am afraid of the bears. Of course, a bear is not a game, but I have taken several photos and videos about them. They are frequently around Lake Saint Anne (Szent Anna tó) but it is advisable to book a guided bear watching, which is some kind of a Transylvanian safari.

When I was asked some years ago to make a touristic conception plan for the city of Gheorgheni I had no idea how many wonders this little city was hiding. Then, after a lot of official and private visits, all the miracles were revealed. For example, the churches that can already be visited with organized tours. In Gheorgheni (Gyergyószentmiklós), many churches testify of the importance of faith among the people here. Many religions and denominations left their marks on Gheorgheni’s culture. Catholics, Calvinists, Armenian Catholics and Jews lived here together in peace. In the churches, there are some real specialties to discover. In the Armenian Catholic church, hundreds of years old clothes are hidden in the cabinets. At the place of the Roman Catholic church there was once an old Gothic church. The old synagogue talks about the tragedy of the Jewish who used to live here. In the approximately three-hour church tour, even the relatively new Orthodox church can be visited. It is a true religious-cultural delight. In the old town of Gheorgheni, Armenian, Székely, and Jewish traders were here even in the 13th century. The inhabitants of the city created relative prosperity with the production of wood, rafting and animal breeding. This region did not lack for wood. The wonderful Armenian merchant houses, the churches and the old-fashioned buildings give everyone the temptation to walk around either in the winter or the summer. All this is framed by the wonderful natural surroundings, the hills around the city.

The town’s specialty is the St. Anna chapel, built on Csobot-peak, more than a thousand feet high, or the 16-acre arboretum, the Csíky Garden, which is a popular place for excursions with its special plant collection.

The museum of Gheorgheni is worth a visit. We can find out here that local girls and women have woven special messages and information into the patterns of their clothing. Those who knew what the secret marks said could tell by clothes of a person whether she was married, or how rich a family she came from. All these miracles can be seen in the city museum today where the attire and lifestyles of all the nationalities lived here can be seen in the showrooms.

Every year, Gheorgheni celebrates its name with exciting programs on 6th of December. The St Nicholas fair is a real rarity and you should visit it at this time. Of course, you have to dress warmly as the nearby Cheile Bicazului (Békás szoros) is Romania’s coldest area during winter. Even some of those Himalayan expeditioners come here to prepare for the terrible colds. But on the main square of the town, a good kind of blueberry pálinka can warm you up or hot chocolate in the café.

Among the Szeklerland towns, Odorheiu Secuiesc usually is the best liked by the people I take to all of my favourite places.

One of the most beautiful monuments in the city is on the main square, the town hall built in 1896 in eclectic style. The millennium memorial column is erected in the middle of the main square. The 8.4-meter-high obelisk was demolished in 1919 but was later restored. Going further towards the Hotel Küküllő-Târnava, you can see the Statue Hall of Remembrance. In the former Retirement Park, there are 13 bronze statues of famous people. Walking in the city centre you will understand why many people like Székely land.

Țara Călatei’s dream land is a reality till the present day. Of course, you can taste the fairy tales a bit in Huedin, as you do not know what to make of the many of Roma palaces here.

Kalotaszeg transylvania — *Photo: Parna.co.uk*

Five kilometres from here you can find the most well-known city of the region, Sâncraiu (Kalotaszentkirály). On the hilltop, next to a magnificent reformed church from the 13th century, there is the well-known guest house, where after checking in, it’s never too late for to have hot chicken soup or any of the tasty cuisine of the Țara Călatei region. Of course, there is some good pálinka besides the warm welcoming words.

The people living here since the conquest of the Pannonian Basin, when the Kalota tribe settled in fifty villages, which now is Țara Călatei, kept their Hungarian nationality.

Sâncraiu with 1200 inhabitants is one of the most important settlements in the legendary countryside where Hungarian folk traditions still flourish. Everyone wears a distinctive folk costume on feast days and when the bell of the ancient church with the wooden coffered ceiling rings, many respect the old custom: men and women, lads and lasses sit in separate places and also enter the house of God through separate entrances. The bell means more than in another church since in the storm of history, the fortress church often gave shelter to local Hungarians. This is evidenced by the bell in the garden which was cast in 1481, and whose sound disappeared when the church burned down.

When I am in Târgu Mureș, I always visit one special restaurant. In summer the water is splashing in the garden fountain while they bring my favourite dish, the Székely cabbage. They make it amazingly well, I eat it even if I am not so hungry. Then comes the walk through the central square. Once 70% of the residents of Târgu Mureş was Hungarian, now less than half is. Still, the restaurant order is understood by everyone.

The town lies at the junction of three geographical areas (Transylvanian Plain, Valley of Mureș and Eremitu). The highest point of the city is not far from the city centre, the Somos-roof, there is also a superb zoo with a small railway station. The most exciting sight is the two famous downtown Art Nouveau buildings, the Public Administration Palace and the Palace of Culture. The roof of the culture centre is covered with blue, red and white tiles made by the famous Zsolnay factory.

St. Anna Lake is the only crater of volcanic remains in southeast Europe that remained intact.

Although we will go downhill upon visiting the lake, we will still be 950 meters above sea level. Its bottom is gravel and does not deepen quickly although its average water depth is 4 meters. There is no spring running into, its water supply is provided by the spring when snow melts from the surrounding mountains. On the northern shore of the lake the accretion has started, its bottom is covered with a thick sludge layer.

Officially, bathing is already restricted. Next to the lake, there is the St. Anna Chapel, where each year Anna’s Day is celebrated with masses of Catholics going on a pilgrimage. Many people take a grill and make delicacies on the meadows of the lakeside forest.

According to the legend, once upon a time, St. Anne’s Lake was a high mountain with a castle on top. Across the hillside, there was a huge castle on Bálványos Hill, its ruins are still visible today. There were two siblings living in the two castles who were constantly competing with each other. The brother living on the Bálványos Hill once won from one of his guests a beautiful carriage carved with gold and silver and diamonds, led by six squirrels. The other brother was very jealous and envious of the carriage, and they made a bet that he would get a different carriage within a day with not six, but twelve horses. He ordered the most beautiful girls in the area to his castle. It did not take half a day and hundreds of girls gathered together, among them the most beautiful was a girl named Anna. He chose her first, then eleven others, and he put them in front of the carriage. But the girls could not move the carriage. The lord got angry and whipped Anna. When he whipped her for a second time, Anna cursed him to sink under the ground. The curse concealed, the castle sank and in its place a beautiful lake was created.

Transylvania’s landscapes have many legends, it is a fairy-tale world, dreamy landscapes, famous cities, historical monuments. Those who come here, will never forget it.

October 10, 2018

Flavors, Prayers, Transylvania

Are you planning to visit Transylvania this year because it has been on your bucket list for a long time? According to Tropical Magazine, here are some tips on how to organize your trip.

Brief History

The catchphrase “Transylvania – Fairyland” can be attributed to the reign of Transylvanian Prince Gábor Bethlen and the golden age of Transylvania. In the spirit of humanism, Bethlen invited many craftsmen to the country (mostly from Venice) to carry out various construction works. This is how Transylvania became an economically, politically, culturally and artistically prosperous place that is rich in natural resources and enchanting architecture. It lies in the picturesque curve of the Carpathian Mountains. Transylvania is basically about coexistence, acceptance and tolerance. In the spirit of the Unio Trium Nationum (the unification of three nations), the Hungarian nobles in Transylvania, the Székelys and the Saxons concluded peace among themselves.

Since the 17th century, there have also been a large number of refugees from Armenia who have been accepted by the community. Although the price that they had to pay for asylum was the religious union, the essential religious language remained Armenian and they were allowed to keep their ancient rituals, just like the Romanians did. Thus, the Church was the patron of cohesion and ethnic consciousness for a long time. The Székelys are hospitable and caring which can be sometimes too much. Perhaps the typical Székely nature can be attributed to the history of tolerance. It is certain that the visitor in Transylvania will not be left without food, drinks and love if they dine with a Székely family. After this brief historical review, let us look at the surprises this fancy jewelry box might hold if we decided to open the lid…

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The flavor of the Carpathians

Transylvania has a tradition of mushrooming. There are many kinds of mushrooms in the mountains, of which truffles and flap mushrooms are in the highest regard. These mushrooms are exported in high quantities. Within the framework of the Transylvanian Truffles program, mushroom lovers have the opportunity to try truffle hunting.

Forests and fields provide excellent stuff that is worth to taste: rosehips (the jam is amazing), juniper berry, cranberry, blueberry, raspberry, mulberry, strawberry, pine-cone (the syrup is incredibly tasty), ramson, sorrel and herbs of course. So, it is a good idea to take an herbal trip as well.

Waters and gases

In the Csíki Basin, Lázárfalva is a settlement with the population of 600. It lies south from Csíkszereda. There are many medicinal springs in this area. As a result of a joint effort, the locals established a small spa complex called Nyírfürdő. There is neither entry ticket nor classic bathhouse atmosphere. Instead, there is blooming nature and absolute tranquility. After we managed to immerse into the smaller and larger pools, it is worth to try the so-called “mofettas”. The mofettas are natural gas leaks associated with volcanic activity and healing effect. In addition to carbon dioxide, these so-called “stinky pits” contain hydrogen sulfide. Besides curing the chronic musculoskeletal symptoms with circulatory disorders, they also show good efficacy in treating post-traumatic complications.

If you desire a lake-side experience, Lake Medve (Lake Bear) is the ideal choice. Lake Bear in Sovata is the world’s largest heliothermal lake which absorbs and retains the heat of solar radiation. The lake’s water is even saltier than seawater because it comes from natural salt crystals. The lake is named after its shape, as it looks like a bear skin from above. In the vicinity of Lake Bear there are several small lakes: Lake Mogyorósi, Lake Zöld (Lake Green) and Lake Piros (Lake Red), Lake Fekete (Lake Black), Lake Rigó (Lake Blackbird), Lake Piroska. In case we have more time, it is recommended to discover these lakes as well, since salt rocks can be found at Lake Red and Lake Piroska. The unique surface of the rocks has been created as a result of volcanic activity. These also belong among the attractions of Sovata since the 19th century.

Sauntering in Csík

If you are tired of hiking and more interested in a city experience, then you should head to Csíkszereda. The city is characterized by a vibrant cultural life, which is described in the Origo Program Magazine. Every summer, the Early Music Festival in Csíkszereda is meant to recall the music of old times. The beautiful location also plays a role, as the main venue of the festival is the Mikó Castle, which is a chateau built in late Renaissance times. If you are interested in folk dance culture and dance traditions, you should visit one of the performances of the Hargita National Székely Folk Ensemble, which will undoubtedly be a decisive experience in your journey. If we were to visit Csík on Monday and we are in a dancing mood, we can join the dance session and class organized by the dance ensemble. In the field of fine arts, the works of Imre Zsögödi Nagy are worth to be noted. We can see the works of the artist in the Imre Nagy Gallery. Before his death, the painter had handed over almost 8,000 works to the town of Csíkszereda. If we are in Csík, we cannot miss Csíksomlyó, the famous pilgrimage place. The saddle between the two hills is the pilgrims’ gathering place. A hearty walk in the fresh air of the mountains can help to process the experiences. The Hármashalom altar (Three Hill Altar) on the saddle is an excellent place to rest. The brave ones can climb up to the lookout tower at the top of Nagysomlyó hill which is 1033 meters high. The wonderful panorama will be well worth the efforts.

For those who seek adrenaline

Those who enjoy extreme recreational activities should visit the Icelandic Horses Riding Hall in Ivó. Here we can explore the local Wildlife Park on horseback. If you want more excitement, you can go to the Blau Park in Hargitafürdő, where you can try climbing, crawling and flying. Finally, an off-road trip with military vehicles is available, which leads to untouched and quiet places where you can hear your own heartbeat.

Székely – English dictionary

pityóka – potato

potyoló – meat mallet

lapító – chopping board

bikkfafejű – capricious

borvíz – mineral water

gübben – immerse

eregel – flounder

sirülő – turn

October 6, 2018

Szekler Safari – Bears within arm’s reach

According to Tropical Magazine, in nearly all Székely jokes, or even on the most popular Romanian beer, we come across one of the country’s symbols, the Ursus arctos, or the brown bear. In our country, who doesn’t like the gentle, trudging animal, bearing absolutely no resemblance to Winnie the Pooh? On the other side of our Eastern border, especially in Szeklerland, however, their proliferation poses a serious problem.

The brown bear is Europe’s largest predator, with male specimens sometimes reaching a weight of 350 kilograms. According to the estimates of the year 2017, around 6800 bears inhabit Romania, the overwhelming majority of the bear population, approximately 5300 specimens, can be found in the counties of Hargita (Harghita), Kovászna (Covasna), Maros (Mures) or the neighboring one of Brassó (Brasov), all of which are part of Szeklerland (in Hungarian: Székelyföld). This is where they pose the greatest threat, too. Only last year 18 people were attacked by bears, and this year a dozen attacks have already been reported. The latest attack took place at the community college of Bálványos, where a 27-year-old man from Gyimes was bitten by a smaller specimen on the zeroth day of the schoolyear; fortunately, the young man was able to get off with but a few wounds from the frightening experience.

Of course, not everyone feels threatened by the large predators; some actually wish to observe their lifestyle from as close up as possible. Fortunately for them, the bear population of Székely Land has reached a decades-long high. And fear not! There is no need to spend several days in the forest to stumble upon well-developed specimens, as there are several companies who organize safe and comfortable bear sightings.

For lots of people, upon hearing the word ‘bear sighting’, their thoughts immediately go to a lash-up wooden construction, where one has to wait for hours, in the rain and in the freezing cold, while bugs bite them to death. In reality, however, there are so-called bear-watching stations.

bears Translyvania — Photo: Tropical Magazine

These are sealed wooden houses which are suitable for longer stays, equipped with toilets, electricity, heating, HVAC, and beds. Their enormous windows are covered by a one-way mirror, which enables them to observe the bears in their natural habitat without the animals being aware of human presence. It is a bit like watching a movie on an enormous silver screen. Most places provide the customers with a guide as well, whose job is to explain what exactly they are seeing, and tells interesting stories about the way bears live and their habits. This can make bear-watching interesting – and of course, safe – for children as well. Some ambuscades await nature photographers in particular, who are thus enabled to be near nature for days at an end. Moreover, they host photography circles at night.

And what are we to expect if we sign up for such an experience? First of all, it’s recommended to wear warm and comfortable clothes.

Degrees in Hargita can drop below 10 degrees Celsius even during the summers, and most bear ambuscades can only be accessed on foot or by jeeps. We can be sure, however, that we will be forced to trudge in mud at some point.

Even the youngest know that come the winter, bears hibernate, but this hibernation isn’t the same as for reptiles. Bears often wake up in search for food even after the snow has fallen. Therefore, theoretically, one can observe them year-round, but in order to make sure, it is recommended to visit one of the ambuscades during the spring or the summer. Tours usually begin at noon, as it is best to arrive 2 or 3 hours before twilight at the wooden houses. Ambuscades are usually constructed on clearings that are regularly frequented by the bears, and they attract them there with food.

bears Szeklerland — Photo: Tropical Magazine

This way, success is practically guaranteed. If we are lucky, we can meet even a dozen of bears in a couple of hours, or see them as they fight for the right to the land or for the right to mate. Of course, how close bears come to the windows depends on us, too. As their hearing is particularly acute, they can be scared off by barely audible conversations or the slightest of noise, and the flash of a camera is guaranteed to make them run off. It is also recommended to come without having applied strong perfume, as the bear may thus ‘smell something fishy’ and easily tell that something is not right. Attacks, however, need not be feared.

Going to an ambuscade – without the intention to hunt – is more of a fatherly than a manly challenge; nevertheless, it can make for the experience of a lifetime.

And if you don’t feel safe even behind the glass, or simply don’t want to huddle yourself up on uncomfortable chairs for hours, you can make yourself a cup of coffee, get cozy in your favorite armchair, and follow the happenings inside the forest through the online broadcast of one of the webcams stationed there. Time for bear-watching!

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/bear-farm-veresegyhaza/” color=”green” newwindow=”yes”] WE INTRODUCE YOU: THE BEAR FARM IN VERESEGYHÁZA, HUNGARY – PHOTO GALLERY[/button]

As we wrote before about the curious case of Vackor, a recently spotted bear in Hungary. Vackor (‘wild-pear’ in English) is a bear who appeared in the town of Abony, close to Szolnok. It looked around some houses, then said hello to the local primary school leaving the area through the schoolyard, read more HERE.

September 23, 2018

Flavours of Transylvania – Khurut soup, buffalo milk and summer savoury

It is hard to imagine a more enjoyable thing than sitting on a swaying wagon and getting ready to eat barbequed meat grilled on a metal grill disc, pancakes filled with cottage cheese and dill, and corn mush than flushing it down with a shot of blueberry pálinka. In Transylvania, all this is possible – Tropical reports.

It is hard to forget the summer I spent in the hospitality of a Székely family in a small village near Brasov, Romania. My hosts made sure to show Transylvanian hospitality at its best: they wanted me to really feel at home, so they decided to show me what does the ideal weekend program look like there. We went up by the carriage along the hillside beyond the haylofts and settled down at the edge of the forest. My hosts made a fire and then took out a large metal disc that was basically used in ploughing and made a majestic garlic roast. The meat was grilled in fat and baked fries was the garnish, and the dessert was pancakes made with local fresh cheese, a kind of curd made of whey and fresh dill. In addition, my hosts made a layered corn mush with sheep cottage cheese for those of us who still had any more room left in their stomach. I must say, it was a delightful feast but I must add that this amount of fresh and fatty dairy was a bit too much for my “urban” stomach.

The polenta was on the table not just this Sunday.

Grilled steak with baked vegetables and fresh rosemary

During the week I spent there, I was offered this food on two other occasions. Here in Transylvania, they treasure corn or “málé” dearly, which is serves as basic foodstuff. The attentive reader had probably noticed that corn, or the mush made from the pureed corn are both called “málé”. This isn’t an error or a mistake; in many places in Transylvania they still use this Romanian word for both terms, and for corn flour too. The Romanian word once referred to the millet, but when the American origin of corn appeared in this region in the 17th century through the mediation of the Balkan peoples, the name gradually passed from one plant to another.

In addition to pigs and chickens my host also had these robust animals with Indian ancestors, water buffalos. These tough but capricious animals do not only function as working animals in this area, people here are also keen on drinking the buffalo milk – in fact, these days the latter is the animals’ most important role. Buffalo milk is a very concentrated, nutritious drink and I can say from experience that I have never had such a fatty (about 8 percent) milk. In Transylvania, it is not only consumed raw, they also produce cheeses, curds, cream and sour cream from it. Interestingly, its colour is not yellow because it does not have the carotenoids responsible for this shade.

Nowadays, many famers make mozzarella from it too, as one of the most prestigious versions of this silky, fresh cheese is Mozzarella di Bufala, the raw material of which is the buffalo milk.

The water buffalo and the corn need careful attention but many people also often walk the woods in Transylvania where they collect wild berries. Those who take the risk to compete with the brown bears for these delicacies, can collect baskets full of cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, rose hips and hawthorns. From most of the berries they cook jam on slow heat with some sugar, whereas they usually add only spring water to the cranberries and make an odd, slightly neutral preserve. This red berry has an another traditional recipe; they grind the berries and add a lot of sugar to the cold grist. It must be mixed and stirred for at least one and half hours but the final product, surprisingly, are preserved just fine without heat treatment in the “borkan”, as they call the mason jars in Transylvania. They make not only sweets in the “borkan” but, for example, vinegar tarragon which is used for seasoning.

It must be added that the wild berries are not used only for jams and preserves but also as base for pálinka.

Needless to say, I did try the blueberry pálinka in Transylvania and I did not regret it. This region has a long tradition of pálinka distillation, however, it is not possible to sell it under this name. Only Hungarian producers are eligible to use the brand name under European Union regulations, so no matter how good Transylvanian pálinkas are, they cannot be sold abroad by the name pálinka; they must be marketed using the name of the distillate.

In Transylvania, not only Hungarians and Romanians love sour, meat filled, green spiced soups called ciorbă soups. Armenians also have a similar dish.

The Armenians came to Transylvania in the 17th century and then, since the end of the 19th century, more and more Armenian-Hungarian mixed marriages have been created, so many Transylvanians today have Armenian identity – in addition to being Hungarian. One of their most important meals, that many people make here is the khurut soup. The khurut, which provides its sour taste, is the heart of this dish. To prepare it, you need milk matured in a large pot for six weeks – the cream that condenses on top should be worked back in well every day, otherwise the food can get sour. If the milk is “mature”, they boil it really creamy in a large copper pan with a lot of grounded parsley, then small, green cones are formed. Any soup can be soured with the khurut, but in the most elegant version, the small cones are dissolved in broth and tiny dough pieces filled with meat are also placed in the soup in addition to mushrooms. Khurut may be an even more exotic ingredient than the cereal juice made from fermented grain, which traditionally provides the sourness of ciorbă.

Stuffed cabbage seems to be every Hungarian’s favourite meal.

This is no different in Transylvania where they are willing to prepare the “fasting” version, which is meat-free. Each house prepares it differently, but typically it is grain-based, they make the stuffing with wild mushrooms, carrots, onions, summer savoury and dill, wrap it into scalded cabbage leaves, then they throw chopped cabbage on top of them and the small buns are baked in an oven or furnace.

gastronomy food Hungarian — Photo: Tropical magazine

Finally, sticking with the cabbage, one thing is worth clarifying. The kind of dish with sauerkraut, sour cream and stew we call Székely cabbage, has nothing to do with Transylvania. We owe this dish to József Székely, the county’s Head Archivist, who was a contemporary and friend of the famous Hungarian poet, Sándor Petőfi (1823-1849). According to the legend, the two good friends once entered a restaurant but they found that the restaurant had run out of food. József Székely had an idea and asked the restaurant owner to mix the little remaining sour cabbage with the stew and – Székely cabbage was born. Perhaps no one is surprised that my hosts never offered me this meal.

Photos: Tropical Magazine

September 22, 2018

News from Szeklerland: Interview with Sándor Balogh, Economic Ambassador of Gyergyószentmiklós

According to Tropical Magazine, Sándor Balogh feels at home in the international business world. He is a businessman, chairman, and founder of the African-Hungarian Union and the International Trade and Cultural Center. Additionally, he is the Vice-Chair of the International Department of the National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers and Co-President of the Moroccan-Hungarian Business Council. He also plays an important role in several sections of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce. He inspired entrepreneurs in several regions of Transylvania and gave them lectures about business opportunities.

Hungarian Trade and Cultural Center (HTCC), which he founded, provides assistance for businessmen and enterprises who seek expansion opportunities in the global market as well as visibility in countries with less known business cultures and economies. HTCC prepares its partners for the special business conditions and unknown markets in remote continents. Local knowledge is the unbeatable advantage of the 17 representations in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Their associates working on location abroad have established decent acquaintances with the governmental and business sectors. They are aware of the local business opportunities and know how to negotiate in certain countries.

Why was the network of the Hungarian Trade and Cultural Center established?

By the time the idea emerged, my closest colleagues and myself had spent decades in the Hungarian foreign trade. We have seen that Hungarian entrepreneurs are not willing to go farther than 700 kilometers from their place of business. Even though they have products and services that would be in serious demand in distant markets, even in comparison with the saturated European Union. Seven is not some kind magical figure; 700 kilometers is roughly a day’s journey by car. According to the popular expression: they do not like to leave their comfort zone.

So the idea was to widen this comfort zone, to create places that are physically far from Hungary but still provide the homelike feeling and the security that is expected by Hungarian entrepreneurs. It is not only that such houses have Hungarian-speaking staff, but the people who work there know both the Hungarian and the local business culture and regulations.

They are part of the connection network that is able to solve problems efficiently in both Hungary and at the place of their business. It should be added that this task is different in each case, so it requires increased flexibility and creativity from us and those who work on the field.

How did you get in touch with foreign affairs and trade?

I graduated from a university in Moscow, which was popular among young people from all around the world. Such a place has a special atmosphere. No matter what you study, the environment itself, the students coming from many different places and different cultures broaden your way of thinking. These years can not go unnoticed, since they provide a global connection network. Of course, work experience came afterwards. It was the slow and systematic exploration of what Hungarians can contribute to the world economy and what we can sell abroad.

“THERE IS NO BUSINESS WITHOUT CULTURE” – Sándor Balogh

In addition to your economic activity, you are the founder of many charity organizations. Which one are you most proud of?

Charity is a strange thing. Donors always get criticized concerning the target of donations. Their selflessness or the situation of the receivers do not matter. Therefore, we have been trying to balance our charitable activity for a long time. The largest publicity is perhaps given to the medical missions of the African-Hungarian Union. We have sent 18 missions to many countries, ranging from Uganda to Malawi. In addition, we took our part in the charity work in Iraq and at the peak of the migration crisis in Hungary. We are constantly assisting the needy in the disadvantaged micro-regions of Hungary.

Also, we regularly participate the Csángó tour or organize donations to Hungarian schools in Transylvania or the Ukraine.

During your travels, what was the most important experience of yours that can be utilized in Transylvania?

The most important lesson is to be self-identical. Our culture and origins do not make us less. We should not assimilate but learn how the world works. Taking our own culture proudly and keeping our own traditions, we have to learn how to operate the technology of the twenty-first century.

How often do you go to Transylvania?

As often as I can. Of course, Hungarians in the motherland often have a romantic idea of Transylvania. I must admit that at first I felt the same. The history of thousands of years and the Hungarian identity is what connects us.

In Transylvania we often want to see our better, more beautiful self, without the corruption of the twentieth century. Today, this romantic idea is not enough. Just as Hungary, Transylvania also lives in the twenty-first century.

Businessmen come here to do successful business as anywhere else, to exploit the opportunities in a region that is close geographically and culturally but has different characteristics. They also have a high-tech industry with excellent software developers, there are also industrial and commercial opportunities here, as in other regions of the European Union.

What is your most important goal in the coming period?

Up to now, we have focused on non-European regions within the framework of HTCC. However, we need to see that we can not afford to not be present in Central Europe or in the Balkans. We want to show new opportunities to business people in the region. The interconnected neighboring area is a new challenge for us. Now, we would like to accept this challenge.

September 22, 2018

Hungarian mayor has to pay exorbitant fine for refusing to take down the Szekler flag

According to Mikó Imre Minority Rights Legal Aids Service, the mayor of Miercurea Nirajului/Nyárádszereda is one of many Hungarian local officials who has been caught up in legal battles in recent years for putting up the Szekler flag on the buildings of the local administration.

Mayor Sándor Tóth lost the case in court and was asked to remove the regional symbol of Szeklerland. He refused to comply because, like many others, he felt the systematic attacks against the symbols of the Hungarian community to be unjust and a double standard, considering – as our organisation has repeatedly signaled – that other historical regions in Romania, such as Bucovina and Moldova, can use their symbols freely.

For refusing to take down the flag the mayor of Miercurea Nirajului/Nyárádszereda was fined with 70,000 RON (around 15,000 euros).

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The ruling in itself is extremely unjust, given the above mentioned double standard, not to mention the extremely high penalty. This incident is further proof, in a series of many such cases, that despite numerous international recommendations to the contrary,

Romanian authorities continue to blatantly disregard the right of the Hungarian community to use its national and regional symbols.

September 13, 2018

Opposition parties slam Orban’s Szeklerland speech

Hungary’s opposition parties on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s keynote speech at the Tusványos Summer University, saying it was a “declaration of war on Europe”.

At the 29th Bálványos Summer University, in central Romania, a long-standing cultural event for ethnic Hungarians, the prime minister said that every European country had the right to protect its Christian culture and the traditional family model, as well as the right to reject immigration, read more HERE.

Jobbik

Conservative Jobbik‘s spokesman told MTI that Orban’s speech showed that he prioritised his own European political ambitions over Hungary’s fortunes. Orbán “has indicated more than once” that he sees himself as a potential leader of Europe, party spokesman Ádám Mirkóczki said. Orbán, he added, was cynical to declare that western countries are not democratic.

It is Orbán who has dismantled freedom of speech and the press, as well as abolishing public institutions which are the bedrock of democracy, he insisted.

Several “allegedly independent institutions” are “stuffed with party soldiers”, he said.

Socialists

Socialist leader Bertalan Tóth said that the Christian democracy outlined by Orbán in Baile Tusnad was “far removed from Hungarian reality”. In a video uploaded to the party’s Facebook page, he said that tens of thousands of families faced eviction, health care was in a state of “devastation” and the situation of FX loan-holders was still unresolved. Furthermore,

Hungary’s public media “spouts propaganda” and entrepreneurs connected to Orbán are “fed public funds from the EU and Hungary”, Tóth said.

Orbán’s Fidesz party is not independent from the European elite but rather belongs to a party family provides the majority of officials to the European Commission and the European Parliament, he said. The Carpathian Basin cannot be rebuilt without the EU, Tóth said. Without the EU, “we cannot speak of central European development, an economic region or the cooperation of free states,” he said. Tóth called for a cooperative, socially engaged Europe that protects its borders and finds common solutions to challenges.

DK

Commenting on the speech, the spokesman of leftist opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) said Orban’s speech was a “declaration of war on Europe, Hungarians and freedom”. Orbán created a picture of a Europe torn by a political and cultural conflict between nation states and regions, Sandor Ronai told a press conference on Saturday. Voters in the European parliamentary elections in 2019 will choose between “a Europe that follows the worldview and nationalism of the 1930s or the united, strong European approach of [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel and [French President Emmanuel] Macron,” he said.

“We do not need less Europe, but more of it … If Hungary wants to live and prosper in peace, Orbán must go.”

Párbeszéd

The opposition Párbeszád party said in a statement that Orbán “only offered” Hungary isolation and division along cultural divisions instead of “openness to explore the world around us”. Richard Barabás said that Párbeszéd backed Fidesz’s goal to make Hungary prosper but the route the ruling party was taking was a bad one.

LMP

László Lóránt Keresztes, the co-leader of the green LMP party, said in a statement that the European Union’s “severe operational problems” have to be addressed. “What’s really at stake in the coming period” is whether Hungary can make changes that make the bloc more effective, Keresztes said. The migration crisis is one of the most serious of these problems, he said. But the government should also take steps against a strengthening Russian influence, he said. Orbán “continues to build an alternative reality where propaganda determines everything,” Keresztes said.

Before attempting to rebuild the Carpathian Basin, the government should solve problems such as the emigration of hundreds of thousands of Hungarian youth, he said. “This is the real national tragedy.”

Photo: MTI

July 29, 2018

Orbán: Europe’s current leaders were “inadequate” and incapable of protecting the continent from migration

In a keynote speech, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said that every European country has the right to protect its Christian culture and the traditional family model, as well as the right to reject immigration.

Orbán insisted that Europe’s current leaders were “inadequate” and incapable of protecting the continent from migration. He said the European elite had become bankrupted, and the symbol of this bankruptcy was the European Commission, whose days, he insisted, were numbered.

Addressing a forum at the 29th Balvanyos Summer University in Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő), in central Romania, on Saturday, Orbán said the commission’s job was to be impartial and to guarantee the EU’s four freedoms. Instead, the commission has become biased “because it sides with the liberals”, Orbán said. “It is biased because it works against central Europe and is not a friend of freedom; it works to build a European Socialism instead of freedom.”

“The exclusively liberal European elite denies its roots and is building an open society instead of a Europe based on Christianity,” he added.

The prime minister said there was an alternative to liberal democracy and he dismissed the idea that Christian Democracy could also be liberal, saying that Christian democracy was “illiberal”.

Liberal democracy stands for multiculturalism and it undertakes the model of immigration and a flexible definition of the family. “Christian Democracy, on the other hand, gives priority to Christian culture, anti-immigration and the Christian family.”

The result of next year’s EP elections would result in waving goodbye to liberal democracy and to “the elite of the 1968”. Instead of the 1968 generation, the time has come for anti-communist, Christian, nationally committed generation of 1990, he proclaimed.

Meanwhile, Orbán said

the EU was currently pursuing a primitive policy towards Russia and “a nuanced policy is needed instead”.

The security of Hungary and the whole of the Carpathian Basin, as well as that of Europe, depends on whether Turkey, Israel and Egypt are stable enough to stop the influx of Muslims, he added.

Orbán set out five principles that were necessary for central Europe to occupy a “worthy place” in Europe. Every European country had the right to protect its Christian culture and to reject “the ideology of multiculturalism”. Also, the traditional family model and the principle that “every child has the right to a mother and a father” must be upheld. Further, central European countries have the right to protect their nationally strategic sectors and markets. Countries also have a fundamental right to defend their borders and to reject immigration, he said.

The principle of “one nation, one vote” on the most important issues should be insisted upon, he said, adding that this principle cannot be bypassed in the EU.

“We central Europeans hold that there is life beyond globalisation and that central Europe follows the path of an alliance of free nations,” the prime minister said.

Orbán declared that immigration would be the single serious issue in next year’s European parliamentary elections. He linked the outcome of the EP elections to the fate of its leadership, saying that when European citizens decide on the issue of immigration, they will have also passed judgement on the European elite and whether it has handled immigration properly.

“There is liberalism but there is no democracy,” he said, adding that this assertion was supported by a general tendency in western Europe to curb freedom of expression and introduce censorship.

The prime minister said that after eight successive years of a Fidesz government, in the April general election it received a two-thirds majority and with it “authorisation to build a new era”. The process of Hungarian unification has now turned into one of nation-building, he added.

Hungarians have shown they are able to understand complex situations, he said. “If need be, we have the will to decide on our destiny and move as a nation.”

“From Szeklerland, I can say that Hungarians from beyond the border have stood up for Hungarians of the motherland,” he said, adding that every vote was an undertaking of responsibility for Hungary.

He said Fidesz’s two-thirds majority won in 2010 had entitled the government to build a new system with a Hungarian model for the economy and a new constitutional order based on national and Christian foundations. In 2014, it was similarly endorsed to stabilise this system, he added. Following the outcome of this year’s election, Orbán said it was time to build a new era and to embed the political system into this new cultural era. “A new intellectual and cultural approach is needed,” he said.

Based on this stability, the government has set goals that could only have been dreamed of in the past, Orbán said. He declared that by 2030 Hungary would be among the top five countries in the EU for quality of life. Further, it will have stopped its declining population, he said. Motorways will have reached all its borders and it will have created energy independence, he continued, adding that will have built up its defence forces.

“Thirty years ago, we thought that Europe is our future, we now think we are the future of Europe,” the prime minister said, concluding his speech.

Fidesz will not leave European People’s Party

Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party will not leave the European People’s Party of its own volition, PM orbán said.

Orbán said loyalty was important and Fidesz wanted to contest the European parliamentary elections as part of the European People’s Party.

He noted, however, that the EPP contained parties with views that were far apart and bridging them would be “extremely hard” to do.

Fidesz represents the EPP’s Christian Democratic platform, he said, adding “we can be strong” by combining their forces together even at the cost of making internal compromises.

Talking about regional matters, the prime minister insisted that Serbia, just like Montenegro, “belonged” to central Europe rather than to the Balkans. Hungary, he said, must do everything possible to ensure they can join the European Union as soon as possible.

Asked whether support for Hungary’s ruling parties had peaked, Orbán said he calculated that between 63 and 65 percent of voters had taken part in some sort of “joint action” in the past and would consider voting for the Fidesz-led alliance in the future.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said the government was bound to consider both the motherland and the entire nation when it came to policymaking and nation-building. He said this is why the government had launched an economic development programme which encompasses the national community in Transylvania, too, and he pledged to continue it. He added that

it was also in Hungary’s interest that Romania should be strong and stable.

Photo: MTI

July 28, 2018

Deputy PM urges autonomy for Romania Hungarians

Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén on Friday called on Romania to fulfil pledges the country’s first national assembly made in 1918, under which ethnic Hungarians should be granted autonomy.

Speaking at the Baile Tusnad Summer University, Semjén said that Romania should “honour that pledge and stop seeing it as extremism if Hungarians demand self-determination.”

The answer to the Trianon Treaties, which severed Transylvania from Hungary, is “national mourning, celebrating national unity and openly representing the Hungarian standpoint on such historical events,”

he said, criticising the call for holding a “national consultation” survey on the revision of Trianon.

Hungary is open to cooperation with Romania, he said, citing the country’s “historic reconciliation” with Serbia as an example of good relations.

Hungary provides economic support for ethnic Hungarian minorities in neighbouring countries, and such a cooperation is a win-win” situation for both sides. Hungary and Romania are cooperation successfully in setting up “Europe’s north-south infrastructural axis” and opposing the Ukrainian public education law, which Hungary says curbs minority rights, Semjén said.

The 1918 national assembly in Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár) and the declaration signed there created present-day Romania by uniting Transylvania with Bessarabia and Bukovina.

It is that time of the year again when Hungarians mourn the great loss that the Treaty of Trianon. June 4 is the 98th anniversary of Hungary losing 2/3 of its territory and about 1/3 of its population, read more HERE.

Photo: MTI

July 27, 2018

Socialists: Motto of Tusványos should be ‘transition from democracy to dictatorship’

The Socialist Party has said the motto of the 29th Bálványos Summer University in Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő), in central Romania, should be “transition from democracy to dictatorship”.

Socialist MEP István Ujhelyi told MTI that his party would hold events at five locations in Transylvania and Szeklerland over the next two days. He said the tour presented an opportunity to meet with leaders of Hungarian organisations beyond the borders in Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda), Targu Mures (Marosvásárhely) and Oradea (Nagyvárad), so they could share their aspirations concerning policy for Hungarian communities beyond the border.

Referring to a speech Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made at the Baile Tusnad event four years ago, he said the place reminded Hungarians of the establishment of an “illiberal, anti-democratic system”.

Ujhelyi insisted that “the nation’s reunification” would be possible in the coming decades only within a united, strong and borderless Europe. He added that

the ruling Fidesz party, which has always emphasised its Hungarianness, wanted to dismantle the European Union.

Zsolt Molnár, the party’s deputy leader, accused Fidesz and the government of giving aid only to Hungarian organisations that cooperate and sympathise with them. Whereas it is right to support cross-border Hungarian groups, the funding should be decided by an independent body, he argued.

As we wrote last year about Tusványos: The European Union must regain its “independence from the empire” of US billionaire George Soros, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a speech to Tusványos summer university, in central Romania. Orbán said an “alliance” had formed in Brussels between “the European bureaucratic elite and the Soros empire in opposition to the people”. He said the “Soros plan” involved importing one million migrants to the EU and giving them 15,000 euros each. Moreover, migrants would be distributed among member states by a new EU agency, he said. Read more HERE.

Opposition parties also comment Orbán’s speech, you can read details here.

Photo: MTI

July 27, 2018

Minority-friendly legislative proposals under fire in Romania?

According to Mikó Imre Minority Rights Legal Aids Service, two legislative proposals containing minority-friendly provisions have recently been passed in the Romanian Parliament, both waiting to be officially signed by President Klaus Iohannis.

One concerns an amendment to the 2011 Law on Education, which stipulates that a linguistic minority must be consulted whenever the issue of establishing, re-organising or closing an educational institution of that linguistic community is raised.

This amendment is especially welcome by the Hungarian community in Romania, since it would preempt situations like the one of the Catholic school in Tîrgu Mureș/Marosvásárhely, the fate of which is still uncertain.

However, the President has so far refused to promulgate the law, invoking a few passages in the text of the law that are ambiguous, according to Iohannis, including the term “linguistic minority”.

We find it regrettable that the President, himself a member of a linguistic minority, namely the German/Sachsen community in Romania, would use his power to block a piece of legislation that would be beneficial to all minority communities in Romania.

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The other proposal concerns the new Administrative Code, which contains certain passages that would advance the issue of linguistic rights for minorities. The Civic Forum of Romanians from Covasna, Harghita and Mureș Counties addressed a letter to President Klaus Iohannis, in which they asked him not to promulgate this law, because according to them it will undermine the status of Romanian as the official language of the country. As formulated by Erika Benkő, the head of the Mikó Imre Minority Rights Legal Services Assistance: “I find it unacceptable that in the 21st century someone can be disturbed by the fact that others use their mother tongue. The Hungarian community in Transylvania represents a cultural asset for Romania. It is very hurtful and also unacceptable that there are people who would like to curb our basic rights.”

July 26, 2018

Academy of Sciences: Szeklers part of Hungarian nation

Szeklers are not an ethnic minority but an organic part of the Hungarian nation, a researcher of the Institute for Minority Studies in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences said on Tuesday.

The institute declared its position on the matter after a private individual initiated a procedure to have Szeklers recognised as part of the nation, Balázs Dobos told current affairs channel M1.

Parliament will have the final word in a vote on amending the law on national minorities, he said.

The original initiative required a thousand supporting signatures and the position of the Institute for Minority Studies was also sought.

The institute says it established that Szeklers were a part of the nation when torn away from Hungary.

If a community is part of the Hungarian nation it cannot be a minority at the same time, Dobos said.

Featured image: MTI

July 17, 2018

Developments with unfathomable consequences in the Romanian restitution process

Despite the numerous international commitments and the national legislation, as signalled several times by our organisation, Romania continues to be in debt regarding the restitution of property confiscated from the church during to communist regime. The restitution process in Romania has been stagnating for years and involves mostly the estates of Hungarian churches and numerous castles, mansions and estates formerly belonging to Hungarian landowners, Mikó Imre Minority Rights Legal Aids Service said in a statement.

One of the oldest libraries in Transylvania is the Batthyaneum Library in Alba Iulia/Gyulafehérvár. A 1999 government decision states that the library should be returned to its rightful owner, the Roman Catholic Church. In 2012 the European Court of Human Rights fined Romania for not settling this case within a reasonable amount of time.

The most recent development as far as this particular cultural heritage is concerned is a first degree court decision of the Alba Iulia Court of Appeals, in which the court rejected the request of the Roman Catholic Church to return the library that rightfully belongs to the church.

The point of the view of the church is that according to the testament of Ignác BATTHYÁNY, the library and the planetarium were left to the Roman Catholic Church and that in the testament the term “Province of Transylvania” – on the basis of which the Romanian state considers itself the rightful successor – signifies the church itself.

A recent similarly absurd decision of the Giurgiu Tribunal concerns the property of the BÁNFFY family, a woodland of 9300 hectares.

Although a 2007 restitution decision clearly stated that the property belongs to the BÁNFFY family, the decision was attacked in 2014 on the request of the former Mureș County Prefect, Vasile-Liviu OPREA. The decision of the Giurgiu Tribunal is final and states that the property of the BÁNFFY belongs to the state.

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It is thusly apparent that the restitution process in Romania is not only stagnating, but is rather reversed. These developments are an affront to the basic right of ownership and an open discriminatory campaign against certain religions and ethnic minorities.

July 13, 2018

Absurd jail sentences for two Hungarians on terrorism charges in Romania

Romania’s High Court sentenced two Hungarians from Târgu Secuiesc/Kézdivásárhely to 5 years in jail each on terrorism charges. István BEKE and Zoltán SZŐCS have been accused of attempting to detonate homemade, improvised explosives during the 1st of December 2015 celebrations in their hometown, Mikó Imre Minority Rights Legal Aids Service said.

The official accusations of the prosecution from 2016 stand as follows:

while BEKE was initially accused of attempted attack against the collectivity (also called “acts of terrorism”) and attempt to violate the rules pertaining to explosives, SZŐCS was accused of inciting to the above-mentioned two acts.

On first degree the court changed the legal classification of the two acts to attempt, and incitement to change the constitutional order, respectively, sentencing the two Hungarians to 11 months in jail for the second accusation (which was exactly the amount of time the two have already spent in jail).

BEKE, together with SZŐCS got his jail sentence raised from 11 months to 5 years without any new piece of evidence

Absurdly, the High Court, ruling on a second and last degree has changed yet again the legal classification of the acts back to the acts of terrorism. The Hungarian community stands shocked by these recent rulings, since it is a known fact that in between the second and first rulings no new piece of evidence arose and

the High Court still managed to change the official accusations and increase the sentence to a 5-year jail sentence for each of the two.

Mikó Imre Minority Rights Legal Aids Service is firmly convinced that trumped-up accusations and politically motivated court decisions will not lead to the peaceful coexistence of Hungarians and Romanians in the country, and they ask for the international community to condemn the partiality of the Romanian justice system.

As we wrote before, the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement (HVIM) on Wednesday organised a demonstration in Budapest to protest against the Romanian top court’s verdict sentencing two Transylvanian Hungarians to prison for what it called an attempted bomb attack in Targu Secuiesc (Kézdivásárhely) in 2015. Read more HERE.

July 13, 2018