Romania and Hungary Row Over Ethnic Minority Rights

Members of the Hungarian government on Saturday voiced support for territorial autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in Romania, a day after Bucharest unexpectedly imposed an unprecedented entry ban on several Hungarian nationals accused of being extremists.

“Autonomy is not secession. It is a normal reality within the EU. If others are allowed to have it, we [Hungarians], too, should be allowed to have it because we are just as worthy as any other nation,” Hungarian deputy prime minister Zsolt Semjen told a rally in the city of Targu Secuiesc/Kezdivasarhely in eastern Transylvania.

Thousands of ethnic Hungarians in Romania celebrated Hungary's National Day on March 15, the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Many who joined public rallies were waving the flags of Hungary and the so-called Szeklers (a Hungrian ethnic minority in Romania).

Over 1,000 police were deployed to keep maintain order during the events which were held in 56 places in Transylvania.

A day earlier, Bucharest unexpectedly announced it was imposing an entry ban on several Hungarian citizens it accused of involvement in extremist activities on Romanian territory.

"The Romanian authorities took precautionary measures to avoid events of a kind that affect public order and national security," a spokeswoman for the interior ministry said on Friday, explaining the entry restrictions.

The Hungarian nationals are members of the Jobbik party, the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement, the Outlaws' Army and New Hungarian Guard, but their names were not made public.

President Traian Basescu last Thursday called on Hungarian politicians visiting Romania to treat his country with respect, warning that anyone can be expelled for violating the...

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