The foreign ministry reacted harshly to statements by Hungarian politicians, denouncing the “rhetoric” of Budapest, which “seems” to question the treaties that ended World War I. In an answer to G4Media.ro, the Foreign Ministry welcomes the statements of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the Centenary of the Grand Union, made in the plenary of the European Parliament on 23th of October, after several Hungarian politicians said that his allegations are inappropriate for the function he holds.
According to G4Media.ro’s answer, MFA appreciates that Juncker’s message reconfirms the confidence and appreciation at European level of the Romanian state, which has over time adopted substantial measures for the benefit of persons belonging to national minorities, meeting the highest standards protection in the matter, a commitment that Romania maintains and which it will constantly pursue in all its policies.

“We also express our solidarity with the statements of the European high official that underline the importance of respecting the legal order built in Europe following the world wars, the guarantee of stability and security at regional level, and we are concerned about the rhetoric of the Budapest authorities, launching in the public space messages to question the efforts that have brought peace and understanding among the peoples of today’s Europe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly denies any attempt to criticize the legitimate and courageous actions of the representatives of the Romanian nation who led to the formation of United Romania in 1918 on the basis of the 14 points presented by President Woodrow Willson in the session of the Congress, US House of Representatives, January 8, 1918, “the MAE responds.

The MAE’s reaction concerns statements made by the Orbán government spokesman Zoltán Kovács and the chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Budapest Legislature Zsolt Németh. The Hungarian politicians, quoted by the Hungarian magazine “Kronika” from Transylvania, argued that Jean-Claude Juncker’s his statements on the 1st of  December demonstrate that the Luxembourg politician is inappropriate for the post of President of the European Commission, MTI reports. In his speech held in the European Parliament on Tuesday, in the presence of the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, the head of the European Commission, said that the 1st of December, Great Union Day, is not just a celebration of Romania but of Europe as a whole.

“So, on this day, we celebrate together a great historical event, which is important for both Romania and Europe,” the newspaper Krónika reports. At the request of the editorial office of the above-mentioned newspaper, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry press office responded to the statement of the spokesman of the Orbán Government  published on Wednesday. Zoltán Kovács said at a press conference in Budapest that the Hungarian government has even two opinions.
The “venomous” view refers to the fact that Jean-Claude Juncker “has spoken according to his state of affairs” and the most notable is the lack of historical knowledge, which confirms Juncker’s inadequacy as President of the European Commission.
Budapest’s Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Zsolt Németh has ironically mentioned that “Juncker has once again demonstrated political agility and profound empathy” over the sensitivity of European nations and national minorities.

“We, the Hungarian politicians, must not regret that from the first moment we spread the idea that Juncker is not suitable for this position and fought with all the means against his ideas, which I could not assume! It is from the right of his heart to celebrate together with Romania the centenary of the union, provided he does not require that this holiday be obligatory (…) The term of office of the President of the European Commission of Mr. Juncker will expire in May next year, and we Hungarians , we will open a bottle of champagne, “Zsolt Németh told the newspaper” Krónika.
The chairman of the UDMR parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies, Attila Korodi, said that “the commemoration of the celebration of the centenary of the Great Union at the European level shows irresponsibility from the part of the President of the European Commission.” “The events that took place 100 years ago, which led to the reconfiguration of Europe, are not happy moments for Europe,” said UDMR deputy, according to whom Juncker should have been more aware of this statement, “until Romania reaches at least the situation in which it complies with the provisions on national minorities in the Alba Iulia Declaration. ”

“In Romania, the centenary is a celebration, but it is not in Europe,” added Attila Korodi.
Full answer by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the statements of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the centenary of the Great Union and the significance of the 1 st of December for the Romanian people, made in the plenary of the European Parliament on 23 October, during the debate on the future of Europe.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly denies any attempt to criticize the legitimate and courageous actions of the representatives of the Romanian nation who led to the formation of United Romania in 1918 on the basis of the 14 points presented by President Woodrow Willson in the session of the congressional, US House of Representatives, January 8, 1918.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that Romania understands to celebrate the year 2018 – the Centenary of the Great Union – in a spirit of unity, tolerance and mutual respect among all its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, and condemns any messages or statements incitement to hatred or interethnical conflict.

Source: G4media (translation: TFP)