From the outset, I declare that the analysis I make in this article in no way relates to the academic and educational institutions in which I work: Leiden University in the Netherlands and the Romanian School in Eindhoven. I am writing only from the position of a “Romanian everywhere” who feels a strong sense of injustice when the institutions of the Romanian state are taken over and used in flawed procedures to legitimize on behalf of “Romanians everywhere” a predetermined agenda that ignores the many other pains of Diaspora Romanians! What is the Romanian state ignoring in this way and where did it go wrong again?

I came with love between 24 and 26 May 2023 to Bucharest and took part in the “Tut-Tam” festival organized on the occasion of the Day of Romanians Everywhere by the Department of Romanians Everywhere (DRP). However, on June 16, 2023, the DRP website published a document entitled “Resolution” or sometimes “Resolution of Romanians Everywhere” drafted “with the help of Ms. Sandra Pralong, State Counselor in the Presidential Administration, and Mr. Gheorghe Carciu – Secretary of State for Romanian Affairs in to the entire Romanian government.” In the title of the document, state institutions are asked to “quickly resolve” the included requirements. A message accompanying the document states that festival participants “expressed their opinions on the main topics of interest to Romanians from the diaspora and historical communities,” that the document was formulated “after some debate” and “was subject to the approval of all participants.”

The problem is that the approach is based on deception: 1. The festival was not announced to the participants as a preparation for such an approach, 2. Our opinion was not listened to, because there was no debate at the festival, let alone on the proposed points, 3. Representative voting was not organized, 4. Other issues reported by participants were excluded, and 5. The document was adopted “quickly,” with tacit consent and 24-hour deadlines.

Although some of the issues contained in the document are real (for example, strengthening ties with Romanian historical communities in neighboring countries), the procedure by which the adoption of this document was attempted has discredited the whole approach and raised big questions about the agenda of the document . I informed the department about procedural issues in good faith and in a timely manner. They were ignored. The worst thing is that the publication of this document with serious procedural flaws discredits not so much the signatories as the institutions of the Romanian state that control it: the President, the Government and the Department of Romanian Affairs.

Procedural defects

First, the festival did not organize debates. The only announced debate did not take place! Another member documented very carefully the structure of the festival and the lack of debate.

On June 2nd (Friday), participants received a message asking us only whether to call the attached document (already drafted and essentially published) “Resolution” or simply “Conclusions and Recommendations”. According to DEX, a resolution is a policy document, “a decision taken after collective debate, a document adopted by vote at a congress, conference or plenary meeting”. None of that. At the same time, I was horrified to read that “the absence of a message from you implies implicit consent.” The text was to be discussed at short notice, on the Zoom platform, and at a time when most people of the Western diaspora are at work! Regardless, I lovingly explained to the department that:

“Document adopted by the Romanian Patriarchate cannot be represented by a title permission Romanians everywhere because

1. It was not passed after extensive and collective debate by those present at the Festival (the Zoom meeting excludes many of those who cannot come online or on the newly proposed day and time).
2. It was not adopted by a direct vote of those present.
3. It was not adopted in the Palace of Parliament, therefore under the auspices of a state institution that includes Romanians of all religions and denominations.
4. The festival was not announced as a preparation for this endeavour, and therefore does not lend sufficient legitimacy to the conclusions or recommendations that result from public debate on all these topics.”

On June 7, representatives of the DRP returned from “The survey event “Romanians everywhere, day 25-28 May 2023” is valid for 24 hours. This festival evaluation questionnaire again contained the same non-discussed points of the program document. I explained to the department in time that:

“The Festival Evaluation Questionnaire is not a sufficient solution for a document aimed at the importance of the Resolution or even any representative conclusions:

1. The chosen deadline (24 hours) is extremely short to legitimize a document with serious and long-term consequences for Romanian communities worldwide. Using a google form within 24 hours will legitimately delegitimize a document that targets the importance of the “Resolution of Romanians Everywhere”!
2. The festival evaluation questionnaire does not offer the rigor and representativeness required for a direct voting procedure of all Romanian associations, and even festival participants.
3. The content of the online form does not pay attention to other needs of the Romanian communities, which were already known and reported by the festival participants.

Therefore, I proposed to temporarily suspend this consultation process, to create a new festival evaluation questionnaire, separate from the questions in the document developed on May 28, 2023, and to open a wider and more transparent debate related to the needs of the Romanian communities. abroad. The release of the document on June 16 shows that these needs, complaints and arguments were completely ignored. The worst thing is that the method of legitimizing the document discredits not so much the document and its signatories, but the institutions that support them: the Romanian president and the Romanian government.

What other problems of Romanians does the document ignore?

I personally informed the department that the document ignores direct references to the support of Romanian libraries in the diaspora and science in the Romanian language:

1. The document does not contain a direct reference to support a Romanian libraries in the diaspora as a space of Romanian knowledge and community.

• The written word has always been a means of bringing generations of Romanians closer to each other and to the Romanian language. At the same time, libraries abroad have now become real centers of knowledge, community and communication with the younger generation. Equipping and updating Romanian libraries in the diaspora with digital tools is not only a possibility, but also a necessity in the 21st century. Thus, Romanian libraries are increasingly hosting events in the Romanian language to popularize the knowledge and spaces of the Romanian community.

2 The document does not contain any explicit references to support a Romanian sciences.

• In addition to language, spirituality and traditions, Romanian science is an integral part of Romanian culture. Romanian scientists and engineers such as Emil Rakovica, Ana Aslan, Henri Coanda, Angel Saligny or Stefan Procopiu are part of universal culture because of their scientific contribution to humanity, and part of Romanian culture and identity. They represent real models that made a significant contribution to the development of the modern Romanian state. According to the Pro-Science Proclamation from Timişoara 2023, which is the result of the debate at the Smart Diaspora Conference on April 10-13, 2023, we recommend explicit support also in the Romanian diaspora communities for activities that promote science in the Romanian language (Romanian language courses). scientists, science festivals, open days), without which the contribution and potential of the Romanian scientific community in the diaspora cannot be found in the vision of the document.

Many other issues reported by many other festival goers, but were known for a long time. On June 8, I participated in a debate organized by Romanian journalists from the diaspora. Here you can trace the whole discussion, which brought together a wide range of sufferings and problems of Romanians in the diaspora. None of the following were found in the proposed document. Here are just some of them:

“Organization a Congressyearbook of the diaspora to which must be Romanian associations in the diaspora implicitly in the organization and participation of elected representatives of the diaspora, from the diaspora.

Congresses and meetings of the diaspora should be organized modulationas conferences, with plenary and keynote speakers, and then real debate by topics, subtopics, and special topics.

support several forms of the Romanian community:

• Organization of cultural and social centers and protection for women who fell ill while working abroad (basic cooking classes for bathers, embroidery classes, etc.).
• Support of projects with the help of which young people learn civic values, understand the common good, develop their entrepreneurial spirit, prepare their mentality for concept of citizenship.
• Programs mental health information in the Romanian language. Romanians abroad often suffer from isolation, stress and anxiety.
• Program information for Roma which are ultimately exploited abroad. Programs that help them integrate.
• Significant support in Romanian libraries abroadas a space of community, knowledge and communication where such programs can be held.

Meetings with the authorities of Romania be announced in advanceand not just two days before.

Allocation of funds for care of graves and monumentsRomanian from abroad. – Read the entire article and comment on Contributors.ro