Cluj-Napoca deputy mayor János Boros noted that there are very few Romanian companies that have the necessary experience to undertake the project. Hungarian companies might apply as well, but checking their references could prove difficult, he added.
Cluj-Napoca, or Kolozsvár in Hungarian, was once part of Hungary and is still home to many ethnic Hungarians. The issue of renovating the statue of the Hungarian king in the city?s centre, however, has sparked some debate.
Boros said a new tender would be called shortly, and, if an offer still failed to materialise, the city could still organise a negotiated procedure. Completing the effort cold take up to two years, according to city authorities.
Cluj-Napoca?s leaders have long considered renovating the statue, which was designed by János Fadrusz and erected in 1902. Even the radical nationalist mayor Gheorghe Funar, who was widely known for his anti-Hungarian attitude, had recommended the renovation project, albeit with a shoestring budget.
Experts agree that the renovation, of both the statue and the foundation, is urgent. The most difficult part will be to repair the statue, considering all of the internal supports have rusted, according to art historian Jenő Murádin. Still, the statue can be repaired, he said, noting that another Hungarian monument in the Romanian city of Arad had been successfully renovated in spite of the fact a third of it was missing.
Source: Múlt-kor/MTI
