PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BETWEEN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES

(800 years old Diploma Andreanum issued by King Andrew II of Hungary)

Tuesday, 01 October 2024 13.00 – 14.00 Room 3 Second floor

Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France

Speakers:

Mr. Ian Liddell- Grainger, Member of the UK delegation to the PACE

Mr. József Komlóssy, long time counsellor of the Hungarian Delegation

Moderator:

Mr. Zsolt Németh, Chairperson of the Hungarian delegation to the PACE

The main purpose of the event is to explore the message and lessons for the present of the 800 years old Diploma Andreanum, a medieval royal charter issued by King Andrew II of Hungary in 1224 and later confirmed by a number of Hungarian monarchs, a landmark document of outstanding historical importance that anticipated the spirit and values of the Council of Europe, and especially of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.

Old and recent historical experience shows the need for fair solutions ensuring a safe and peaceful coexistence and co-operation of neighbours within and between different countries. The event draws attention to one of the first historical documents granting special rights to an ethnic community within a given state, which helped the Transylvanian Saxons (German settlers) survive for centuries in prosperity, ensuring stability and cultural development in a multiethnic, multilingual, and multiconfessional environment. The Transylvanian Saxons, who, according to linguistic evidence, originated from the Rhine and Moselle regions, have contributed significantly to the economic and cultural development of their new homeland over the centuries.