The Mayor of Zrenianin, Simo Salapura, welcomed on 31 March a delegation from the National Council of the Romanian National Minority in Serbia, led by the newly elected president, Dr. Valentin Ardelean. The delegation also included the two recently elected vice presidents, Dr. Traian Căcina and Marinel Mândrea. Dr. Căcina coordinates the Council’s Department of Culture, while Mândrea serves as a member of the Zrenianin Municipal Executive Council, responsible for agriculture.
Dr. Valentin Ardelean was elected president in December of last year, and the vice presidents assumed office a month ago. Thus, the visit to Zrenianin and meetings with Mayor Salapura represent one of the first encounters of the new CNMNRS leadership with local authorities. Zrenianin is an important center for the Romanian national community in Vojvodina, making this meeting with the mayor an opportunity to strengthen and enhance traditional cooperation with local authorities, especially considering that the Central Banat District headquarters are located in this municipality.
Significant numbers of members of the Romanian national community live in Ecica, Iancaid, Clec, and Zrenianin, and Romanian, along with Serbian, Hungarian, and Slovak, is one of the four official languages used in the municipality. Romanians in this area have always been represented across various socio-political and cultural fields, including remarkable personalities such as the writer, translator, and linguist Dr. Radu Flora, whose bust is displayed in the Alley of Distinguished Personalities in Karađorđe Park. His work is honored annually through a memorial organized in his name, celebrating the distinguished Romanian scholar.
Continuing the visit to Zrenianin, the delegation from the National Council of the Romanian National Minority in Serbia held a meeting at the Institute for Romanian Culture in Vojvodina with its president, Todor Ursu. Established in 2008, this institution implements and initiates projects promoting multiculturalism and interculturality in Vojvodina, while also preserving and cultivating Romanian cultural heritage in the region.