The cancellation was made although the Romanian ambassador has sent invitations for the event, organised to mark Romanian Unification Day on December 1.

Fidesz said it is unacceptable that Alföldi does not sense the seriousness of the matter. The Fidesz caucus said the head of a prominent national institution should be aware that "the loss of Transylvania constitutes a deep trauma to the present day for the majority of the Hungarian nation. While we acknowledge that this historical event tragic for Hungarians is a national holiday for Romania, we do not expect it to be held in a symbolic space of our national culture".

Jobbik declared that it amounts to high treason that the National Theatre, a symbolic Hungarian public institution, meets the request of the Romanian embassy and provides a location for a "provocation" on December 1. The party said it will stage a demonstration outside the building on that date.

Alföldi said it was not his intention to hurt anyone's feelings, adding that he felt that the event could help Hungary and Romania approach each other, despite the stormy historical events, through art and culture. A performance and reception was planned for the occasion."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

This news item is one of many published daily by HATC, a premier subscription news service which distributes English-language info about Hungary via email or fax. For a free trial of HATC follow this link and click on 'Free Trial Subscription'.