Hungary’s Foreign Minister, János Martonyi, paid a one-day official visit to Bucharest on June 29, 2010, at the invitation of Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi.

The Hungarian foreign minister told Mr Baconschi that Hungary would observe all international norms when applying the amended citizenship law. Citizenship would not be given en masse to Hungarians living beyond the borders but only on the basis of individual requests. Mr Martonyi also stated that the new Hungarian law does not affect either the election law or territorial autonomy. He informed Mr Baconschi that the Hungarian government envisages providing the Romanian minority in Hungary with representation in the Hungarian Parliament. Mr Martonyi added that the cabinet is examining the possibility of giving the Romanian Orthodox Church in Hungary historic-church status.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister held talks with Prime Minister Emil Boc, Deputy Prime Minister Béla Markó and Anca Ilinoiu, President Traian Basescu’s senior foreign affairs advisor with ministerial rank.

The chief aim of the official visit was to confirm that the new Hungarian government is committed to the development of strategic relations between the two countries. The practice of holding joint cabinet sessions—which both the Hungarian and the Romanian governments wish to continue—contributes to this. Developing energy policy, in both regional and EU frameworks, a common agricultural policy and the European Danube Strategy are also specialist areas in which Hungary would like to cooperate with Romania.