Kelemen Hunor: The reactions of Budapest officials to decisions in Romania that harm Hungarians, correct

UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor believes that the reactions of Budapest officials to some administrative decisions in Romania that harmed the Hungarian community are right and of responsibility to Hungarians.

Asked on Wednesday during a news conference if he considers opportune the UDMR invitation addressed to the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, to come on Thursday in Satu Mare for talks, but also to discuss about the tensions between Budapest and Bucharest, the UDMR leader said that during the meeting with Orban he will make a call to mobilize the Hungarian community for the general elections in Romania.

“It is a highly desirable invitation and we will meet in Satu Mare, we will make a call to mobilize for the Hungarian community. I have regular meetings, three to four times a year with the Hungarian Prime Minister, it is not a bad thing but is normality. The tensions appeared as several administrative decisions have harmed the Hungarian community and have violated its rights. From this point of view the reaction of Budapest officials was correct, responsible towards the Hungarians in Romania,” Kelemen said.

The decisions during the past three-four years concern the Roman-Catholic High school in Targu Mures and the Hungarian symbols and the use of mother tongue.

Requested to comment on the statements of some Hungarian officials about the National Day of Romania, Kelemen Hunor said he is more interested in the future than in the past. “I do not comment on statements made by Hungarian officials or officials from other countries, I can only say that some issues in the past have placed us on opposite barricades, no Hungarian sees otherwise the events in 1918. What is joy for some, it is loss for others. In order to go ahead, I am interested in the future more than in the past, we have to be fair and correct,” the UDMR leader said.

Kelemn Hunor added he has no comments from the diplomatic point of view in regard to the Hungarian FM’s decision to ban Hungarian diplomats from taking part to the December 1 celebrations, but believes the decision “is logical, following all these attacks and statements.”

Hungary’s relations with Romania have deteriorated since 2012, Hungarian Vice-premier Zsolt Semjén and Foreign Affairs parliamentary committee chairman Zsolt Németh said recently, the officials suggesting that Budapest should have not tolerated some attitudes in Bucharest.

Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó said last month that the Hungarian people has no reason to celebrate December 1, the National Day of Romania, banning the diplomats from attending the celebrations related to this event.