Romania's Hungarians "demand autonomy"

Ethnic Hungarians from a part of Romania's Transylvania region have "adopted their anthem, coat of arms and flag", reports say. This is viewed as the first step toward achieving their territorial autonomy. Romania's Hungarians "demand autonomy" The town of Odorheiu Secuiesc saw a meeting yesterday of 400 representatives of the Citizens Party of Hungarians, who demanded that the "Secuimea province be given territorial and administrative autonomy, within its natural borders formed during history". The gathering decided to send a project of legislation related to this autonomy to the Romanian parliament, the Council of Europe and the EU. MEP Laszlo Tokes, described as "one of the most engaged Hungarian politicians in Romania", criticized the European Parliament for its "lack of interest in Secuimea". At the same time, Marko Bela, leader of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians (UDMR), stated that autonomy cannot not gained with proclamations; "instead, it is a matter of time and many undertaken steps". The party has been elected to the Romanian parliament and has participated in the government for almost the past 20 years. Recently, the local Hungarians heckled Romanian President Traian Basescu when he produced a citation from the country's Constitution, which says that Romania is a unified, national, independent and sovereign state.

Romania's Hungarians "demand autonomy"

The town of Odorheiu Secuiesc saw a meeting yesterday of 400 representatives of the Citizens Party of Hungarians, who demanded that the "Secuimea province be given territorial and administrative autonomy, within its natural borders formed during history".

The gathering decided to send a project of legislation related to this autonomy to the Romanian parliament, the Council of Europe and the EU.

MEP Laszlo Tokes, described as "one of the most engaged Hungarian politicians in Romania", criticized the European Parliament for its "lack of interest in Secuimea".

At the same time, Marko Bela, leader of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians (UDMR), stated that autonomy cannot not gained with proclamations; "instead, it is a matter of time and many undertaken steps".

The party has been elected to the Romanian parliament and has participated in the government for almost the past 20 years.

Recently, the local Hungarians heckled Romanian President Traian Basescu when he produced a citation from the country's Constitution, which says that Romania is a unified, national, independent and sovereign state.