The State Secretary for Nation Policy was shocked to be informed that unknown offenders have defaced the Statue of Liberty in the Reconciliation Park of Arad commemorating the 13 martyrs of Arad during the day.

We find it outrageous that such an extreme act completely contrary to the spirit of the park could take place. We hope that the Romanian authorities will do everything in their powers to get hold of the offenders and to prosecute them. We are optimistic that with the approach of the anniversary of the 1848-49 revolution there will be no similar, ethnically motivated acts aimed at poisoning the Hungarian-Romanian relations.

Árpád János Potápi, Minister of State for Nation Polic

(Prime Minister's Office)