Vákár István, Vice-President of Cluj County Council, is one of the best friends of the Republic of Moldova. He has promoted the partnership between local and regional authorities in Romania and the Republic of Moldova and supports Moldova’s accession to the European Union. Vákár István has been involved in supporting the Republic of Moldova in three capacities: as a leader in the local administration of Cluj, as a leader of the UDMR (acronim of the party called Hungarian Democrat Union from Romania), a political party member of the European People’s Party, and as a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. The latter operates under the aegis of the Council of Europe and provides a coherent framework for cooperation between local authorities in the Member States of the European Union, the candidate countries and those in some form of partnership with the European Union.
Reporter: Over the last decade, you have been one of the supporters of Moldova’s joining the European Union. Why this interest of yours, as you represent the party of the Hungarian community in Transylvania?
Vákár István: Yes, I am a supporter of the integration into the European Union of all those who are willing to fight for their freedom and democratic principles. Moldova has shown very clearly that it values its freedom, and the Moldovans have been shedding blood for the right to decide their own fate since the early 1990’s. Then, unfortunately, the free world did not react appropriately. Perhaps if we had shown solidarity then, many wars would have been avoided. Let me come back to your question. I do represent the Hungarian community in Transylvania, but my family history is a miniature representation of the history of this part of Europe. I am Hungarian, but I also have Armenian ancestry as well as Romanian ancestry. I come from a multicultural family, typical of Transylvania. But multiculturalism is also characteristic of Moldova. That is perhaps why Transylvanians and Moldovans get on so well. If I think of my Hungarian ancestors, I think they would have greatly appreciated the Moldovans’ desire to defend their freedom. The Hungarians did the same during the time of the Prince of Transylvania, Rakoczi Ferenc II, during the 1848 Revolution, as well as in 1956 and 1989.
We cannot honour the memory of those freedom fighters if we neglect the struggle of Moldovans for the right to decide their own fate. If I consider my Armenian ancestors, I discovered, when I came into possession of my family tree, that they came to Transylvania all the way from Moldova four centuries ago. So, I can say that I also have roots in Moldova. And if I consider my Romanian ancestors, it is clear that they would have been happy to see that today’s Moldovans want to join the European Union. There is also a strictly personal reason. Moldova’s integration into the European Union can be a moment of reflection and a return to the true roots of the Union, the Christian roots. Let us not forget that the European Union, in its early form, was founded by the Christian Democrats Robert Schumann, Konrad Adenauer and Alcide de Gasperi, and one of the main advocates of the European Union’s eastward expansion was Archduke Otto von Habsburg, son of the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor, the Blessed Karl von Habsburg, honoured today in the Catholic Church for his efforts to restore peace to our continent.
Reporter: How does Cluj County Council help the Republic of Moldova?
Vákár István: In many ways! First of all, Cluj is twinned with the Hîncești district. This twinning has given us the legal framework to support various projects in Hîncești. I would only mention here the financing of an educational centre or the pathological anatomy laboratory in Hîncești. But we are not limited to supporting those with whom we have signed formal twinning protocols. For example, in February this year, the County Library “Octavian Goga” in Cluj, which is under the coordination of the County Council, offered an important donation of books to the Library of Mașcăuți in the Criuleni district. I would like to mention that we organized this book donation in the context of the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania to Moldova.
Reporter: On the political level, what is the position of the UDMR regarding Moldova’s accession to the European Union?
Vákár István: We fully support this process. UDMR, through its ministers, through its MEPs, has always been in favour of Moldova. After all, it is a practical illustration of the principles we stand for in politics, including the right of each community to its own identity. UMDR is an active member of the European People’s Party, the most important political party in the European Parliament. The European People’s Party also supports, without any doubt, Moldova’s accession to the European Union.
Reporter: If we also refer to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, how can it help Moldova’s European course?
Vákár István: As you know, this Congress does not belong to the European Union, but to the Council of Europe, an organisation of which Moldova is a full member. In this case, the Congress favours the sharing of best practice models in public administration. In this way we can help local communities in Moldova: to transfer models that can help them to be stronger and more democratic.
