Romania: Information on the treatment of ethnic Germans
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ROM28616.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Romania: Information on the treatment of ethnic Germans, 1 January 1998, ROM28616.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acc94c.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A 19 March 1997 Reuters report states that Romania, "keen to boost its chances of early admission to NATO," was trying to improve its relations with ethnic Germans who left the country during the communist era. The report states also that the Romanian authorities and local community leaders, banking on the momentum created by the election of reformists in the 1996 election, were speaking of the return of ethnic Germans to Romania. The report quotes the Romanian public information minister as saying that "any repatriation would involve the right to housing and jobs" and that the government would adopt a "case-by-case" approach.
An 8 April 1997 Rompres report states that the German government would provide assistance to "Saxons and Swabians willing to stay in Romania and those who emigrated to Germany and now want to come back to Romania."
An 18 April 1997 Rompress report states that the German Federal Ministry of the Interior in March 1997 approved a DM 440, 000 program for the German minority in Romania. The aid would be granted to "farmers, as well as health care for old people and disabled persons, and the equipping of the German Democratic Forum's meeting places."
An 8 April 1997 Rompres report states that the senate of the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj approved "documents and decisions" on the development of multicultural structures to accomodate minorities among whom are Hungarians and Germans.
Attached please find a copy of a 9 December 1997 Rompres report on education in the mother tongue of national minorities in Romania
Additional information on the current situation of the German minority in Romania could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and doe1s not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Reuters. 19 March 1997. "Romania Woos Ethnic Germans Who Emigrated." (NEXIS)
Rompres [Bucharest, in English]. 18 April 1997. "Romania: Bonn Approves Financial Aid for Ethnic Germans." (FBIS-EEU-97-108 21 Apr. 1997). [Internet],
_____. 8 April 1997. "Transylvanian University Adopts Multicultural Activity Measures" (BBC Summary 10 Apr. 1997/NEXIS).
_____. 8 April 1997. "Bonn to Support Return of Germans to Romania." (FBIS-EEU-97-098 9 Apr. 1997). [Internet],
Attachment
Rompres [Bucharest, in English]. 9 December 1997. "Romania: Report on Education in Minorities' Mother Tongue Issued." (FBIS-EEU-97-343 17 Dec. 1997). [Internet],
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Files available at Resource Centre : Romania.
Country files available at Resource Centre : Romania. 1997
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1997.
News from Helsinki Watch. 1997.
Transition [Prague]. January 1995 - . Bi-weekly. 1997.
Searches for information in the Internet.
