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December 13, 2001

Romania is once again publicly wrestling with the regionalization issue. Often this is a code name for Hungarian autonomy in Transylvania. Radio Free Europe quoted several Romanian sources (including President Ion Iliescu) concerning the recent proposals by Transylvanian intellectuals (ie, ethnic Hungarians) to give local areas more local administrative control. Basically, the Bucharest government (ethnic Romanians) oppose it, and at least a significant minority of ethnic Hungarians prefer it. To Iliescus credit, he wants to concentrate on economic revitalization, not get bogged down in ethnic issues. However, the ethnic groups wont let him. What they seek is a "median governmental level" between the Bucharest government and local government. (See report of December 10 for what the ethnic Hungarians fear.)