Hungary "supports the Hungarians from UMF Târgu Mureş"

The Hungarian government considers important to have a medical university in Transylvania and supports the efforts in this respect of Hungarian teachers and students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMF) of Târgu Mureş.

According to Radio Romania Actualităţi correspondent, Emil Groza, the statement was made by the state undersecretary for Hungarian communities outside the Republic of Hungary, Zsuzsanna Repas.

Zsuzsanna Repas has expressed her hope that these efforts will be successful and also stressed the importance for Hungarians in Romania, which represents a large community, to be able to use their mother tongue when they call a doctor, it is shown in a statement on Hungarian government website.

Mrs. Repas also said that it is very important not only to remain but also to consolidate medical training in Hungarian language in Transylvania and stressed the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureş is a specialized institution of a high degree and serious tradition.

In her opinion, based on Education Law, the University of Târgu Mureş is considered a multicultural one.

Zsuzsanna Repas argues that the university autonomy should be respected and higher education institution must comply with laws.

Senator UDMR Marko Bela believes that it is difficult for the Union to support a government that promises, as a first step, the canceling of a Government Decision(HG) on minority rights and demands that the new Executive to review its position on UMF Târgu Mureş.

"Government support is a decision of the parliamentary groups. Probably before the voting, on Monday, we are going to have a meeting with the parliamentary groups and finalize our position there.

"But it's hard to vote for a government that promises you, as a first step, for example, canceling a decision of the Government on minority rights", said on Thursday, in a press conference in Deva, the UDMR Senator Marko Bela.

Marko Bela added that for the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Târgu Mureş, the executive has complied with the education law.

"Great regret that I have raised so high rejection and opposition to a fair and legal claim, as in the case of University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Târgu Mureş to apply those provisions of law which would give those who teach in Hungarian language decision making prerogatives . This and nothing more, "said UDMR Senator.

PNL president, Crin Antonescu, said on Wednesday that "it is agreed" that the first meeting of Ponta Government will be repealed the decision on UMF Târgu Mureş.

Ungureanu Government approved on 27 March the setting of a teaching line in Hungarian language at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Târgu Mureş, as requested by UDMR.

Education Minister, Cătălin Baba, said that in fact this does not suppose new departments, but compliance with the national education law.

"It is not created any new study program . All programs are programs that exist, and, which presently take place within the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureş.

"The faculty which has been set consists of programs in Romanian, Hungarian and English lines. If the government and the ministry, obviously had not implemented the national education law, we could have been accused of abuse of office", Cătălin Baba said at that time.

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University