Esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Radu Cristescu, a Member of the Romanian Parliament from the governing party, made inadmissible statements in his speech that were contrary to Romania’s membership of the European Union and, in our view, go against Romania’s foreign policy.

We ask the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to distance themselves from the statement made by MP Radu Cristescu and to confirm that:

1. They wish to maintain good relations with most Asian countries and are interested in deepening their diplomatic relations, which Romania intends to build on mutual respect.

2. Romania maintains their desire to become a member of the Schengen area, seeks good neighbourly relations with Hungary, and is aware of the simple geographical reality that the road to the Schengen area goes through Hungary.

Esteemed Minister,

We Szeklers, Romanian citizens of Hungarian nationality, are proud of the tradition of our Hun origin, which connects us to the Turkish people and most Asian nations. The statement by MP Radu Cristescu, in which he calls us primitive, armed hordes, is an insult, not only to us but also to the nations of Asia.

Today, the “savage Asia” produces 38.7 per cent of the world’s total product, making it the number one continent. It is in Romania’s national interest to maintain good economic relations with the countries of Asia in a spirit of mutual benefit and respect.

In the interest of informing them, we are forwarding this open letter to the Embassies of most Asian states in Bucharest.

Târgu Mureş / Marosvásárhely                                                        With respect,

December 20, 2021                                                                       Izsák Balázs,

                                                                                                   President of the Szekler National Council