Romania Targets Autonomy For Ethnic Minorities, Not Regional Autonomy – President Basescu

Schmitt said the issue regarding the territorial autonomy of ethnic Hungarians in Romania is to be discussed in bilateral talks, adding the issue does not go down only to rights and liberties, but it involves high responsibility.

Basescu said Romania does not target „a regional autonomy, but the autonomy of ethnic minorities in relation with the Romanian Government”. He stressed ethnic minorities in Romania enjoy autonomy at local level, since a significant percentage of national taxes is used at the level of local communities, which translates into a high financial autonomy and decision-making at local level, children can choose the language in which they want to study, hospitals were taken over by local authorities, the local administration can set up its own police station and the country’s new education bill also sets the transfer of schools to local administrations. The head of state went on saying it would be very good if Romanian minorities in neighboring countries could enjoy the same level of autonomy Romania offers to its ethnic minorities.

He pointed out that, according to Romania’s philosophy, Romanian citizens of Romanian origin, Hungarian citizens of Hungarian origin and Romanian citizens of Hungarian origin, they all equally need autonomy. Basescu also stressed there is no problem in Romania involving ethnic monitories, adding Romanian authorities do their best to make them feel better here and see their culture and customs are respected.