Resolution Regarding Autonomy for Hungarians from Transylvania

While, being aware:

· That the strive for autonomy of the communities of Hungarians living in Romania does not infringe upon the territorial integrity or upon the sovereignty of Romania,

· That the concept of community self-governing is based on the right to self-determination of the minorities within state borders and on the concept of “subsidiarity” and self-governance,

Furthermore, being convinced of the fact that:

· Solutions regarding community autonomies applied by the constitutional states of Europe are proof of the applicability and viability of such autonomies, and that

· Those minority communities that are historically linked to their birthplace are considering autonomy as the most efficient tool for the preservation of their identities;

We, the National Council of the Hungarians of Transylvania demand:

· “Personal Autonomy” for the members of the Hungarian community,

· Specific legal standing for the communities having Hungarian majority,

· Autonomy for regions having Hungarian majority,

· Inclusion in the law of the above forms of autonomy, and

· Approval of the statutes of the above autonomies.

We also declare that we wish to obtain the autonomy of the Hungarian community of Transylvania through processes of parliamentarian democracies. We plan to achieve this through means indicated by the principles of the European Council and the European Union and through means currently in use in democratic constitutional states.

We consider that practicing the principles of the European Regionalism is very important.

In the spirit of the above, we are empowering the Standing Committee of the National Council of the Hungarians of Transylvania to:

· Represent our standing on the issue of the autonomy,

· Finalize the statutes of institutions representing the principles, the spheres of influence, and the entitlements for these different forms of the autonomy, and

· By following the laws and regulations, to present the above mentioned demands to the Romanian Parliament.

It is our belief that legitimizing the different forms of community autonomy will guarantee the complete and effective equality between the citizens. This will create the terms for relations that are free from tensions between majority and minority communities. Also, it will strengthen the stability required for the country’s integration into the European Union.

December 13, 2003 Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár in Hungarian)

Appeal for the Support of Hungarians from Transylvania in their Pursuit for Self-Governance

Hungarians native to Transylvania are devoted to their centuries-old traditions for autonomy.

· On October 1992, we demanded the right for self-government in our “Declaration of Cluj-Napoca”;

· In 1998, during the “Forum of Cernat” (Alsócsernáton in Hungarian) we repeatedly declared our aspiration towards autonomy;

· In 2003 during the “Forum of Cluj-Napoca”,, those means of democracy were laid out, which are considered necessary to acquire the true and full equality for the Hungarians of Transylvania.

These democratic means are those forms of autonomy that are giving spheres of influence, entitlements and institutions to the communities of Hungarians. These forms would enable them to exercise territorial autonomy, “personal” autonomy, and self-governments having specific legal standings; all in conformity with historical, territorial and population conditions.

We, the representatives of the National Council of the Hungarians of Transylvania, are appealing to the Parliament of Romania, and to the European Council to give consideration to the right to self-governance of the community of Hungarians of Transylvania.

Our pursuit conforms to the practice in use in the constitutional states, and to the prescriptions of the international documents dealing with self-determination of communities of minorities.

We are calling upon the Parliament of Romania, the Government of Romania, as well as upon all representatives of the Romanian political and civilian and clerical spheres to support the achievement of  our rightful demand.

We are calling upon the Parliament of Hungary, the Government of Hungary and upon all players of the Hungarian public life to support our pursuit for self-governing that is required for survival of our community on their native land, and for maintaining their self-identity.

We are calling upon the European institutions, and the democratic governments of Europe to support the pursuit for territorial autonomy of the Szekler communities of Transylvania.

We are calling upon the European institutions, the democratic governments of Europe to support “personal” autonomy and specific legal standing for the communities of the Hungarian minorities of Transylvania.

We are calling upon the leaders of democratic states and democratic institutions to support the pursuit for autonomy of the Hungarians of Transylvania.

The Hungarians of Transylvania desire to join Europe as a full valued autonomous community.

Cluj-Napoca, December 13, 2003.

National Council of the Hungarians of Transylvania