Anti-Armenianism in Romania?
Surprising for a county with such a rich Armenian heritage.
Discrimination body to probe remarks Romanian President made about Armenians
Published: September 11, 2007
BUCHAREST, Romania: Romania’s anti-discrimination organization said Tuesday it would investigate remarks made by President Traian Basescu to determine whether can be considered defamatory to the Armenian community.
Basescu who underwent surgery at the weekend on his thyroid gland on Sunday thanked doctors at a Bucharest hospital, especially the surgeon saying: “At last I see a kind Armenian, a competent Armenian.”
His remarks were apparently directed at a political rival, Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian, who is an ethnic Armenian and a member of the governing Liberal Party. Vosganian accused Basescu of being blinded by petty political squabbles and called him “a risk for democracy.”
Romania’s politicians from all parties have been embroiled in bitter political disputes for years, especially with the popular president, after no party managed to secure a majority in 2004 parliamentary elections.
Basescu’s office said Tuesday that his remarks had intended to highlight the professionalism of the surgeon who operated on him. “The head of state expresses his appreciation and recognition for the extraordinary contribution that the Armenian community has for years in the cultural and scientific life of Romania,” said Basescu’s spokesman Valeriu Turcan in a statement.
Romania has a few thousand ethnic Armenians who emigrated to Romania 1,000 years ago and are well integrated into society.
In May, Basescu was criticized after he called a reporter “a stinky Gypsy.” The National Council for the Fight Against Discrimination can rule whether Basescu’s remarks amounted to incitement to ethnic hatred or discrimination. LINK
The BBC has more.
Hrag on 12 Sep 2007 at 2:08 am #
There must be a better way to denote hatred of Armenians in English, Anti-Armenianism is such a cumbersome term that sounds didactic and clinical.
Joseph on 12 Sep 2007 at 6:01 am #
anti-hye?
anti-armeno?
Just throwing some ideas out there
The Myotis on 12 Sep 2007 at 7:11 am #
You could always try Anti-Armenism. Or, failing that, Armenophobia.
Emil on 12 Sep 2007 at 3:42 pm #
lazy journalists strike again:
“Romania has a few thousand ethnic Armenians who emigrated to Romania 1,000 years ago and are well integrated into society.”
Up to the 1850s everybody could gain citizenship in the Rumanian principalities (later to be united and become Romania) by:
– belonging to the Greek Orthodox, Armenian or Roman Catholic churches
– owning property
– paying taxes
In Rumania “Armenian” was primarily a religious denomination, not an ethnicity. Lately, with the exception of the “Armenian minority” activists, it’s mostly a conversation piece when talking about “grand-grand-fathers”: most “ethnic” Rumanians can boast a Russian, Bulgarian, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Albanian, German or Armenian ancestor within the last 150 years.
“well integrated” ? heck, there was an Armenian prince during the XVII century (princes were elective).
Vosganian and his pals are so keen to get rid of Basescu they use against him even his private conversations:
‘In May, Basescu was criticized after he called a reporter “a stinky Gypsy.”’
Basescu said that to his wife, while driving his car home, after being harassed by a journalist while shopping in a mall.
nazarian on 12 Sep 2007 at 11:13 pm #
Call me crazy but I see an asshole there and not an Armenophobe. Most of the people in the elites are assholes – they are disastrous without a well groomed public image. The guys was trying to sling some mud towards his opponent but didn’t do it in a more acceptable way.