Hungary is opened to any such initiative, Hatos said presenting the volume Personal Histories by László L. Simon, the writer who also chairs the Hungarian Parliament?s Cultural and Press Committee and the National Cultural Fund.
Simon said Cluj Napoca should be one of the first cities in which the next new Hungarian cultural institute will open. He added that Beijing should be one of the other cities in which a Hungarian cultural institute should be set up.
Hatos confirmed the need for expansion and said the establishment of Hungarian cultural institutes in Zagreb and Belgrade is underway. He added that there were also talks with China.
Hungarian consul general in Cluj Napoca Mátyás Szilágyi said there had long been a plan to establish a Hungarian cultural institute in Cluj Napoca. He said the institute would not only be useful for relations between Hungarians, but could also showcase Hungarian culture to Romanians. He added that the Hungarian cultural institute in Bucharest catered only to a thin layer of Romania?s intellectual elite.
At the weekend, the Transylvanian Hungarian People?s Party (EMNP) issued a statement welcoming the Hungarian government?s stand on the matter. At the same time, the party said it would ask Romania?s cultural and heritage protection minister to launch the process necessary for establishing the institution. The party noted that the establishment of the cultural centre could positively affect its chances for winning the European Capital of Culture title.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: MTI
