MINELRES: Romania: Ethnic Minorities News 04/2004
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Original sender: Divers Buletin <[email protected]>
Divers Bulletin no. 4 (87) / February 9, 2004
News
SPLIT IN ROMANIA'S HUNGARIAN MINORITY
WIESENTHAL CENTER URGES ROMANIA TO CANCEL REHABILITATIONS GRANTED TO
CONVICTED NAZI WAR CRIMINALS
TWO NEW BOOKS ABOUT HUNGARIAN MINORITY IN ROMANIA
ROMANIA TOP-RANKING IN EDUCATIONAL BOOKS IN ROMANI LANGUAGE
UDMR AND PNL DISCUSSE ABOUT POSSIBLE COOPERATION
Opinions
MAIA MORGENSTERN: �GIBSON�S MOVIE NOT ANTI-SEMITIC�
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News
SPLIT IN ROMANIA'S HUNGARIAN MINORITY
ODORHEIU-SECUIESC - The Hungarian Civic Union (UCM) on 31 January
decided to run on lists separate from those of the Hungarian Democratic
Federation of Romania in the 2004 local and parliamentary elections,
RFE/RL reported. At its first congress held in Odorheiu-Secuiesc, the
230 UCM delegates approved a resolution establishing the UCM as an
independent organization that will promote the territorial and
administrative autonomy of Transylvania's Hungarian minority.
Reformed Bishop Laszlo Toekes said the Hungarian Democratic Federation
of Romania (UDMR) has "insolently" rejected demands that it promote
autonomy and has transformed itself into "a yoke...on Transylvania's
Hungarians, imposed from both Bucharest and Budapest." The gathering was
attended by FIDESZ Deputy Chairman Laszlo Kover, who conveyed FIDESZ
Chairman Viktor Orban's greetings. Kover said political competition
among Transylvania's Hungarian minority should be encouraged, but warned
against a Vojvodina-like split that might endanger accession to
parliament.
UDMR Chairman Bela Marko said in reaction to the decision that "we knew
from the start that behind all these machinations are the intentions of
Bishop Toekes to set up his own organization.... I believe that those
who wish to rupture the political unity of Hungarians in Romania will be
severely sanctioned by the Romanian Hungarian community." (DIVERS)
summary
WIESENTHAL CENTER URGES ROMANIA TO CANCEL REHABILITATIONS GRANTED TO
CONVICTED NAZI WAR CRIMINALS
BUCHAREST - The Simon Wiesenthal Center last week announced that it had
called upon Romanian Attorney-General Ilie Botos to cancel
rehabilitations granted by the Romanian Supreme Court to convicted Nazi
war criminals Colonel Radu Dinulescu and Colonel Gheorghe Petrescu. In a
press conference held in Bucharest to mark the opening of a
Romanian-language version of he Center�s �Courage to Remember�
exhibition of the holocaust in the National History Museum, Israel
director Dr. Efraim Zuroff revealed that he had turned to the Romanian
Attorney-General earlier this month to cancel the rehabilitations
unjustly granted by the Romanian Supreme Court to the two colonels
convicted after World War II for their role in the crimes committed
against Jews during the Holocaust.
�We urge you to take the necessary steps to cancel the rehabilitations
unjustly granted to those individuals and thereby make an important
contribution to the achievement of justice and the advancement of
historical truth in your country.�, Zuroff said.
In related news, unidentified "judicial sources" cited by Mediafax news
agency said that only the European Court of Human Rights may annul the
rehabilitation of alleged war criminals Colonels Radu Dinulescu and
Gheorghe Petrescu. (DIVERS)
summary
TWO NEW BOOKS ABOUT HUNGARIAN MINORITY IN ROMANIA
CLUJ-NAPOCA � The Ethnic Diversity Resources Center (www.edrc.ro) on
February 5 launched two new volumes part in the collection
�Ethno-cultural diversity in Romania�. The first one is called �Magyars
from Romania (1956-1968)� and it is edited by Andreea Andreescu, Lucian
Nastasa and Andrea Varga, while the second one, �Magyars from Romania
and minority ethics� is edited by Levente Salat and Lucian Nastasa. The
books can be accessed at the address
http://www.edrc.ro/publications.jsp. (DIVERS)
summary
ROMANIA TOP-RANKING IN EDUCATIONAL BOOKS IN ROMANI LANGUAGE
BUCHAREST � A recent report of the European Council pertaining the
production of educational issues as regards Romani language in Europe
indicates that Romania ranks the first in this respect, as 20 titles
have already been published since early 90s. According to the University
professor Gheorghe Sarau, EC bibliographers did not account all the
works published, namely another 40, �so as to avoid possible too large
gap after Romania�. Romania has the largest Roma minority in the Europe.
(DIVERS)
summary
UDMR AND PNL DISCUSSE ABOUT POSSIBLE COOPERATION
BUCHAREST - The leaders of Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania
(UDMR) and opposition Liberal Party (PNL), Marko Bela and Theodor
Stolojan respectively, have discussed on ways to support each other in
this year's local and general elections. The move prepares the ground
for a formal electoral alliance between the main opposition force,
PNL-PD alliance, and the ruling party's main ally, UDMR. With some 5% of
the votes, UDMR would help the alliance, rated at nearly 30%, to head
toward the ruling party that is still enjoying a strong 45% support.
Stolojan and Marko have discussed on a common stance regarding the
voting system and on mutual support in the local elections in certain
counties. The Hungarians' party might also support Stolojan for
President. Marko Bela mentioned that UDMR has not renewed yet the
support agreement with ruling Social Democracy party PSD for 2004 and
added that a possible post-electoral alliance with PNL-PD is possible.
The PSD-UDMR support agreement closed back in 2001 has to be renewed on
a yearly basis. (DIVERS)
summaryOpinions
MAIA MORGENSTERN: �GIBSON�S MOVIE NOT ANTI-SEMITIC�
BUCHAREST - The actress who plays Mary in Mel Gibson's passion-stirring
biblical epic "The Passion of the Christ" says her parents were
Holocaust survivors but she does not consider the film anti-Semitic. If
there is a message, it's more about how people can be manipulated by
their leaders, Maia Morgenstern said.
"Mel Gibson is an artist, a director. He never imposed his religious
convictions on anyone," Morgenstern, who is Jewish, said in an interview
with The Associated Press, rejecting criticism that the film will fuel
anti-Semitism.
The film is to be released on Wednesday, February 25. Gibson, who
directed, co-wrote and financed the $25 million film, has denied that
his movie maligns Jews. However, it has drawn complaints from those who
say it blames Jews for Christ's death.
"When people go and see the film, they will (primarily) see a work of
art," Morgenstern said. Muslims, atheists, Christians and Jews worked on
the film but race and religion were never an issue, said the 42-year-old
actress. Any political message the film offers is "about the
responsibility and impact political and military leaders can have in
manipulating the masses and interfering in people's conscience,
particularly at a moment of crisis as it was then," said Morgenstern.
"The Roman occupation was terrible and people were very poor. Pontius
Pilate was very afraid that there could be a real revolution," she said,
referring to the Roman governor of Judea who caved to the pressures of a
mob and allowed Jesus to be crucified.
Morgenstern, known both for her outstanding work in theater and film, is
Romania's most renowned actress, but her popularity has been generally
restricted to Europe.
She has starred in about 30 movies, the best known being "The Oak Tree,"
a Romanian-French production, and "Ulysses' Gaze," a Greek film.
Morgenstern, whose grandfather died in the Auschwitz death camp, spoke
glowingly of Gibson, praising his professional abilities and the
kindness he showed when her daughter became ill in Romania. Gibson sent
her home to spend time with the child, and then allowed the 3-year-old
to join her on the set. Gibson may be the star of international
blockbusters like the "Lethal Weapon" series, but he is not yet a
household name in Romania.
Morgenstern's mother visited her on location, excitedly telling friends
that her daughter was filming with "Gib Melson."
summary
DIVERS - News bulletin about ethnic minorities living in Romania is
edited every week by MEDIAFAX, with the financial support of
Ethnocultural Diversity Resource Center. Partial or full reproduction of
the information contained in DIVERS is allowed only if the source is
mentioned. You can send messages and suggestions regarding the content
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