With the help of our joint efforts, the statue can regain its original appearance by 2008, when Hungary will celebrate the 550th anniversary of King Mathias's ascension to the throne, Schneider said.
During talks in Cluj-Napoca with Mayor Emil Boc, Schneider noted that it had been agreed during the latest joint Hungarian-Romanian government session that the two countries would cooperate to renovate the statue.
Boc said a tender had been invited to assess the condition of the statue, made in 1902, and a joint bid by a company and a foundation was selected the winner. Only after the assessment work is carried out, can the cost of the renovation be calculated, he said, adding that the proportion of Hungary's and Romania's contributions to the project would be decided then.
Schneider noted that Boc had said he was open to the idea of Hungary organising an exhibition at King Mathias's birthplace in Cluj-Napoca.
During her visit to Romania, Schneider met representatives of the Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania and heads of various cultural institutions in Cluj-Napoca. They reviewed the support system for culture and education, and discussed the priorities of Hungary's Homeland Fund. Several institutions in Cluj-Napoca would like to apply for monies from the fund to organise theatre, puppet and opera performances.
Schneider also visited the Bánffy Castle in Bonida, which is undergoing a renovation supported with HUF 10.6 million from Hungary, and the nearby Zoltán Kallós Foundation.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
