MINELRES: Romania: Ethnic Diversity Briefs, No.44

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Mediafax <divers@mediafax.ro>


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No. 44 / February 24, 2003

DIVERS
- reporting ethnic diversity -

SUMMARY

1. ROMANIAN RULING PARTY AND HUNGARIAN ALLY EXTEND COOPERATION AGREEMENT
2. ROMANIA TO STIFFEN MEASURES AGAINST ELECTRONIC-MEDIA INCITEMENT OF
RACISM, ANTI-SEMITISM
3. LOW ACTIVITY FOR INQUIRES OFFICES ABOUT THE STATUS LAW
4. "THE ROMA'S WORLD" PHOTO EXHIBITION IN BUCHAREST
5. HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION OF LAUDER-REUT SCHOOL CHAIN
6. COUNCIL OF EUROPE EXPERTS BACK INTENTION TO REPLACE 'HISTORY OF
ROMANIANS' IN MOLDOVA
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ROMANIAN RULING PARTY AND HUNGARIAN ALLY EXTEND COOPERATION AGREEMENT

BUCHAREST � Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Hungarian
Democratic Federation of Romania (UDMR) on 19 February extended for one
year their agreement to cooperate in Parliament and at the
local-government level. The agreement was signed by Premier Adrian
Nastase and UDMR Chairman Bela Marko. Under the agreement's main
stipulation, the PSD is to consult with the UDMR on main legislation
proposals as well as on government ordinances. In addition, the UDMR is
to refrain from supporting in parliament any motion of no confidence in
the cabinet. The agreement also stipulates the allocation of greater
funds from the central government to Transylvanian counties; the
introduction of a local Hungarian-language television broadcast in
Tirgu-Mures and of two new Hungarian-language faculties at Babes-Bolyai
University in Cluj; the drafting by the cabinet of a law on restitution
of properties confiscated by the communist regime from national
minorities' associations; and other laws in which the Hungarian minority
has a particular stake.In the last two years, PSD-UDMR cooperation has
provided political stability domestically and facilitated successes at
the international level, such as the lifting of visa restrictions for
Romanian citizens traveling to EU member states and the increasing
likelihood of Romania joining NATO, according to Nastase. (DIVERS)


ROMANIA TO STIFFEN MEASURES AGAINST ELECTRONIC-MEDIA INCITEMENT OF
RACISM, ANTI-SEMITISM

BUCHAREST - The Chamber of Deputies' Cultural Commission on 19 February
empowered the National Audiovisual Council to withdraw the broadcasting
licenses of radio and television stations that "repeatedly incite
anti-Semitism, and racial, religious, or sexual discrimination" or which
"seriously and repeatedly infringe on the innocent-until-proven-guilty"
presumption, RFE reported. The commission also decided that licensing
might be withdrawn if broadcasts affect national security or incite
social disorder.


LOW ACTIVITY FOR INQUIRES OFFICES ABOUT THE STATUS LAW

CLUJ-NAPOCA � The number of employees from inquires offices  about the
Hungarian Status Law will go down by 15 per cent, announced Istvan
Szekely, the coordinator of the offices in Romania, quoted by MTI press
agency. According to Szekely, the number of people requesting Hungarian
ID stabilized to 3-4 thousand persons a week. By February 16, a number
of 355, 850 persons from Romania demanded Hungarian ID, the number
representing about 25 percent of the Romanians of Magyar nationality. In
addition there have been applied for 28 thousand pupil IDs and 4000
pedagogue IDs. (DIVERS)


"THE ROMA'S WORLD" PHOTO EXHIBITION IN BUCHAREST

BUCHAREST � The hall of French Institute in Bucharest hosted on February
18 the photo exhibition entitled "The Roma's world". The 58 photos in
black or white or colored, as stated their creator, Rares Beuran, chosen
out of a number of 1500 images, were made chiefly in Transylvania area
and they immortalize various aspects of the gypsies' life. The
manifestation aims at offering the audience a new perspective, "beyond
the tragedy or the exotic's or picturesqueness's stereotypes, which
usually overlap into the pictures presenting Roma people". The
photograph Rares Beuran expressed his wish for the exhibition to stand
for an open view to the Roma culture, for acknowledging a world of a
special charm, a system of values different from the majority� s.
(DIVERS)


HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION OF LAUDER-REUT SCHOOL CHAIN

BUCHAREST �Lauder-Reut School and Kindergarten from Bucharest will also
enclose a high school, as the primary and secondary education units are
highly wanted due to the quality of the courses held for the children
and to the open view towards all communities, said on February 18,
Ecaterina Andronescu, the Minister of Education. Ronald S.Lauder
Foundation, first of all, established a kindergarten in Romania, then
primary and secondary classes, while now it is preparing to open a high
school. At present, in Lauder-Reut School and Kindergarten from
Bucharest about 180 students do the courses, grouped in 20 members each
class. The children, of various ethnicities and denominations, are
accepted to get enrolled starting age three. (DIVERS)


COUNCIL OF EUROPE EXPERTS BACK INTENTION TO REPLACE 'HISTORY OF
ROMANIANS' IN MOLDOVA.

CHISINAU - A team of Council of Europe experts said in Chisinau on 18
February that the authorities' intention to replace the teaching of the
"History of Romanians" with "General History" is likely to ultimately
contribute to the strengthening of Moldova's statehood, Radio Free
Europe reported. The experts said experience in several European
countries shows that teaching history courses with a "multicultural
approach contributes to defusing interethnic tension and tension with
neighbors." The authorities' intention to replace the "History of
Romanians" with "General History" in the national school curriculum has
been criticized by the Moldovan Historians Association. President
Voronin on 18 February met with Alison Cardell, head of the European
Council team of experts, and told him the authorities wish to introduce
genuine European standards in teaching history in schools, and that
those courses must be "neither politicized, nor falsified, not
distorted" by "a genuine history of Moldova."


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