The President of Hungary, Katalin Nivac, is on a private visit to Romania, publishing on his Facebook page photos from the Vyrgishului gorge and from the hockey match between Korona Brasov and Merkur Čuk, writes News.ro.

Novak posted the first image along with the caption: “Extended weekend with family in Transylvania. A trip to the Virgishului gorges”.

Another series of images from Braşov, from the Corona Braşov v CS Miercurea Ciuc hockey match, where he chatted with Braşov Mayor Allen Coliban and took photos with those in the stands.

“This evening, an important guest, the President of Hungary, Katalin Novak, joined the Czuk Gallery. Mayor Allen Coliban welcomed the visit of the high-ranking guest and presented him with a Corona Braşov hockey team t-shirt with the signatures of Braşov players,” reads a post on CSM Corona Braşov’s Facebook page.

In May 2023, Katalin Novak took part in a traditional pilgrimage on the feast of Pentecost from Shumuleu Chuk, and later published a video on her Facebook page with the so-called anthem of the Sekel region. The post was accompanied by the message “Lord, do not let Transylvania perish.”

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Hungarian Ambassador in Bucharest, Zakonyi Botond, who was given a strong disapproval of inappropriate public messages, such as one targeting a historic region of Romania, which “does not correspond to the desired publicity”. pragmatic relations, good neighborliness and cooperation between the two countries.”

In response, the Hungarian presidency said, as reported by MTI, that the protest by the Romanian Foreign Ministry was excessive and unjustified, but not unusual.

According to the Hungarian presidency’s response, the post in question – which was inspired by the Szekler hymn sung during the pilgrimage from Šumuleu Čuk – can still be found on Katalin Novak’s social media page.

In October 2023, President Klaus Iohannis was in Budapest, where he met with his Hungarian counterpart. Then Katalin Novak, in joint statements with President Klaus Iohannis, said that the situation of national minorities is important for both countries.

“We are both determined to reduce this tension and also to contribute to the strengthening of the Hungarian language,” Novak said, stating that “both are convinced that maintaining and strengthening the position of Hungarian ethnicity is a common interest, and reducing tensions is also a common interest “.