Anti-Communist dissident Cornea laid to rest in Cluj-Napoca in military funeral

Hundreds of people attended the military funeral in Cluj-Napoca on Monday of well-known anti-Communist dissident Doina Cornea, in the foyer of the University House near the headquarters of the Babes-Bolyai University, where she used to teach years ago.

More than 400 people, including former Romanian President Emil Constantinescu and poet Ana Blandiana, attended the event.

"Life, and especially the posterity of Doina Cornea, must be seen at the scale of national history. At the same time, the way in which she transformed her life into destiny makes her the moral model that our society needs. Romania's recent history, after almost 30 years, is a collection of counterfeit truths, manipulations and lies, and the Romanian society is in an almost total moral drift, promoting false values and rejecting true ones, " said former President Emil Constantinescu.

Cornea's body was laid in state on Monday morning in the foyer of the Academic College (House of the Academics). The foyer floor was covered with flowers brought by those who wanted to pay their last respects, including wreaths sent from the Romanian Presidency, the Romanian Government and other public bodies.

Four service people of the 4th Gemina Infantry Division kept guard over the catafalque on which the coffin was rested.

Providing the church service was Bishop Florentin Crihalmeanu of the Greco-Catholic Diocese of Cluj-Gherla, accompanied by a group of priests.

After the end of the service, a funeral cortege accompanied the coffin to the Central Cemetery in Cluj-Napoca, where a funeral ceremony took place around 15:00hrs. As the coffin was being lowered into the ground, 4th Gemina Infantry Division fired a three-volley salute.

Attending the funeral were MEP Laszlo Tokes, philosopher Gabriel Liiceanu, historian Marius Oprea, former senator Peter Eckstein-Kovacs, president of the Pro Europe League, human rights activist Smaranda Enache, Vice-President of the Cluj County Council Istvan Vakar, Cluj Sub-Prefect Zoltan Gyorke, academics.

Cornea, which this month would have turned 89 years old, is a 2000 recipient of the Star of Romania in the rank of Great Cross state decoration. AGERPRES (RO - author: Elena Stanciu, editor: Nona Jalba; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)