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The leader of the Hungarian radical nationalist party Jobbik, Gabor Vona, said on Monday that the Romanian media had misinterpreted his speech, and defined the reactions of the Romanian politicians as “hysterical.” President of Romania Traian Basescu said on Monday that Hungary has become “a hotbed of instability in terms of minority treatment,” and that Budapest’s policies are creating difficulties for the neighbouring countries with Hungarian minorities. The head of the Romanian state said this in the opening of the Summer University in Izvorul Muresului, Harghita County, in response to recent statements made in the central Romanian village of Joseni by Vona Gabor, the leader of Jobbik, a Hungarian far-right opposition party. According to Vona Gabor, Hungary should enter a conflict with Romania, if that was the only way to represent the interests of the Hungarian minority. The president of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania believes the response of the Romanian president was “disproportionate,” and the statement about Hungary was “neither fair nor welcome.” The Hungarian Union leader added however that his party rejects and takes a distance from the recent statements by Vona Gabor. Meanwhile, president Basescu said Romania wants its neighbours to treat Romanians the way Romania treats its own ethnic minorities, granting them rights such as preservation of their mother tongue, culture and representation in Parliament. He also called on Romanians abroad to show solidarity in order to allow Romania to help them more effectively. Taking part in the meeting in Izvorul Muresului, currently at its 11^th edition, are leaders of Romanian organisations in Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Albania, R. Moldova, Italy and France.

Ştefan Stoica, 12.08.2013, 11:42

The leader of the Hungarian radical nationalist party Jobbik, Gabor Vona, said on Monday that the Romanian media had misinterpreted his speech, and defined the reactions of the Romanian politicians as “hysterical.” President of Romania Traian Basescu said on Monday that Hungary has become “a hotbed of instability in terms of minority treatment,” and that Budapest’s policies are creating difficulties for the neighbouring countries with Hungarian minorities. The head of the Romanian state said this in the opening of the Summer University in Izvorul Muresului, Harghita County, in response to recent statements made in the central Romanian village of Joseni by Vona Gabor, the leader of Jobbik, a Hungarian far-right opposition party. According to Vona Gabor, Hungary should enter a conflict with Romania, if that was the only way to represent the interests of the Hungarian minority. The president of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania believes the response of the Romanian president was “disproportionate,” and the statement about Hungary was “neither fair nor welcome.” The Hungarian Union leader added however that his party rejects and takes a distance from the recent statements by Vona Gabor. Meanwhile, president Basescu said Romania wants its neighbours to treat Romanians the way Romania treats its own ethnic minorities, granting them rights such as preservation of their mother tongue, culture and representation in Parliament. He also called on Romanians abroad to show solidarity in order to allow Romania to help them more effectively. Taking part in the meeting in Izvorul Muresului, currently at its 11^th edition, are leaders of Romanian organisations in Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Albania, R. Moldova, Italy and France.

Romania has attracted almost 59% of European funds for rural development, with payments worth over 5 billion Euro to beneficiaries, according to the agency in charge of issuing payments in rural development and fisheries. European grants for private and public investment in rural development in Romania is handled by the National Program for Rural Development 2007- 2013. At the same time, the law regulating land sales is supposed to be voted by October at the latest, since Romania is supposed to come in line with European legislation by 2014. Once the law is in, foreign citizens would be allowed to buy land in Romania. Under the present law, this is only possible if foreign nationals act on behalf of companies. In Romania, around 8% of farmland is owned or held under concession by foreign citizens.

World Youth Day was celebrated on Monday, instituted upon a United Nations initiative 14 years ago. This year this day was marred by the deteriorating situation of young people worldwide, who face high unemployment, small wages and lack of job safety. According to the latest data from the World Labor Organization, over 70 million young people around the world are jobless. In Romania, the same source says, the situation is perplexing: 15% of young people are overqualified as per the market. They either take jobs beneath their training, or go for jobs abroad. Stay tuned for more on this issue after the news.

Radio Romania will be playing host in early October to the 25th edition of the International Radio Grand Prize, awarded by the International Radio and Television Union. The topic this year is ‘Frontiers’. The competition is expected to have 120 programs from all over the world entered, with the jury including international personalities. Each year, this international award rewards exceptional radio works contributing to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. For the last 15 years, Radio Romania has been a member of the board of the union, holding the presidency of the Radio Committee.

The EU Monday called on the Israelis and Palestinians not to undermine the resumption of negotiations, in spite of the announced new Israeli settlement constructions in East Jerusalem and West Bank.. Russia defined this decision of the Israeli authorities as “counter-productive.” The negotiations were resumed in late July in Washington, after a 3-year deadlock, and are scheduled to continue on August the 14th in Jerusalem and then in Jericho, in West Bank. The issue of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are illegal under international laws, led to the failure of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in 2010.