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Diplomatic Scandal Broke Out Between Romania and Hungary
A diplomatic scandal broke out between Romaniaand Hungary after Budapest decided to withdraw its support for Romania's accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development because of the cessation of any activity of the Roman Catholic Lyceum in the Romanian city of Targu Mures, media reports
"Hungary considers Romania's decision as an attack to the Catholic Church, the Hungarian minority, which is a very hostile and very serious unfriendly step in Romania," Hungarian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Magyar Levente said.
For its part, the Romanian Foreign Ministry described Budapest's attitude as "totally inadequate, hostile and counterproductive."
A press release of the institution states that the Romanian authorities "seek to find solutions for the provision of intercultural dialogue aimed at promoting tolerance and good inter-ethnic cohabitation", but it is also stressed that each institution must comply with Romanian laws.
"The Romanian authorities are sorry for the transformation of this issue, which does not in any way affect the right to education of the Hungarian minority in Romania into a topic of the election campaign in Hungary," the statement said.
About 2500 people took part in a protest last night in Targu Mures against stopping the work of the lyceum. "The school year is starting, and students and parents do not know which school to go to," one of the participants in the protest said. The Ziar information site notes that the school was created in 2014 at the request of the Hungarian community and the Catholic Church.
The Mures County School Inspectorate argues that from a legal point of view, the Roman Catholic Lyceum in Targu Mures does not exist anymore after a final court decision. In November last year, prosecutors from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate detained the head of the County School Inspectorate in Mures County on charges of abuse of office, and the director of the Catholic Lyceum was also investigated for the misuse of office position.
PM Tudose said on Wednesday he does not believe that Hungary will sever diplomatic ties with Romania, as Hungary said it would no longer support Romania joining the Organisation for Co-operation and Economic Development (OECD).
"I do not think that Hungary will sever diplomatic ties and common economic interests with Romania that badly, because it is not that only Romania has economic interests in Hungary, but Hungary has its own here. I do not think we will get there," Tudose told Antena 3 private broadcaster.
Asked about the conflict fuelled by Hungary, Tudose replied, "I think we are also fuelling it by talking about it."
He went on to say that the whole tense diplomatic situation is the result of a misinterpretation.
"Romania is an example in the world in terms of religious, ethnic tolerance and tolerance of every other kind. And that's what everyone knows," Tudose pointed out.
On Wednesday, Romania's ambassador in Budapest Marius-Gabriel Lazurca was summoned by the Hungarian Foreign Ministry after the activity of the Roman Catholic Theological High School in Targu Mures was suspended, the MTI news agency informs.