Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has praised the role ethnic Hungarians play in Romania, emphasizing the importance of harmony both in inter-ethnic relations and in a common European future, in his "address to Romanian citizens of Hungarian ethnicity" on 15 March, published on the official website of the president s office on Monday.

„For you, Romanian citizens of Hungarian ethnicity, today is a day that offers the opportunity to reaffirm the values that you adhere to and that unite you as a people, as well as to proudly demonstrate your identity and lasting contribution to history and universal culture,” Romania s president wrote in his message.

On this occasion, President Iohannis recalled that members of the Hungarian minority and the political leaders of the community had significantly contributed to Romania s European integration, to the country s democratisation and to building a society based on respect for human rights and protection of minorities. This shows that Hungarians have understood the lesson of the past and know that these values are the cornerstones of a common European future, he added.

Romania s president pointed out that the fight against the pandemic and the solidarity shown in hard times also prove that Romanians and Hungarians are able to harness their talents in the service of overcoming difficulties. 

„By fostering inter-ethnic harmony, we will jointly develop and strengthen our society: this is a common goal, and the Hungarian minority in Romania also plays a remarkable role in its realisation” the Romanian president concluded his address.

Mr Iohannis is in his second term of office and has been Romania s head of state for more than six years. He addressed Hungarians living in the country for the first time on 15 March this year. During the 2019 presidential campaign, Hunor Kelemen, president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (DAHR) party, pointed out that Mr Iohannis was the first Romanian president since the fall of Socialism who had not sent a message to Romania s Hungarian community on 15 March.

Of the leaders of Romania, former Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea, leader of the first coalition government formed with DAHR s participation, was the first politician to greet Hungarians in Romania on their national holiday, in 1997. Since then, every Romanian prime minister has followed his example, and incumbent Romanian presidents have also addressed Romania s Hungarian minority on a number of occasions on Hungary s national holiday.