New York Times: Hungarians in Romania are denaturalized, EU borders are arbitrary

US daily New York Times published on Monday an article on ethnic Hungarians and Szeklers and their heartened actions to seek recognition for the autonomy of their region. The author of the article argues that Kosovo’s independence proclamation will influence other ethnic minorities to push for their rights.

The article presents a short history of the region and its people, the history and desires of ethnic Hungarians in Sfantu Gheorghe, in the heart of Romania. Szeklers admit that their chances to receive autonomy are slim but their hopes are still alive.

Romanian ethnic Hungarian minority is the biggest in Europe totaling to 1.5 million and so is their wish for autonomy, the author pinpoints. Moreover, the article emphasizes the requests of the new radical party, the Civic Party.

Hungarian Democratic Union has been a part of the government since 1996 and is accused by the Civic Party radicals of selling their co-nationals out. Moreover, local Civic Party branch president Zoltan Gazda argues that if Romanians do not grant them autonomy, conflicts may arise.