Romania has made decisive steps to protect and promote fundamental human rights and cultural identities, President Klaus Iohannis said in a message sent on the occasion of the National Minorities Day, according to Agerpres.

„I reaffirm on this occasion our adherence to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and bring to mind Romania’s concern to adapt the national legislative and institutional framework in the spirit of these fundamental values that we have assumed, in order to make the most of the opportunities offered by ethnic and cultural diversity,” the head of state pointed out, in the message sent by the Presidential Administration.

He said that the three-decade period since the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution in 1992 has shown „how important it is for world peace and the social harmony of every country to respect the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.”

„In this period, Romania has made decisive steps to protect and promote fundamental human rights and cultural identities. In this process, the accession to the European Union was an important landmark, a moment that was also possible due to the cohesion shown by all national minorities from our country,” added Iohannis.

He appreciated that „in these complicated times, marked by serious crises that humanity is going through, Romania enjoys the advantage of harmonious inter-ethnic and inter-confessional relations, as well as the advantage of constant and constructive dialogue between representatives of national minorities and public authorities.”

Thus, the president points out, „our country can rightly be considered an example of respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.”

„This is also due to you, citizens belonging to national minorities, and to the indisputable contribution you have to the development of society as a whole,” Iohannis added.

Agerpres