09/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - In a European people's press release, Wilfried Martens denounced Hungarian Socialists for stirring up nationalist sentiment against the agreement reached over Christmas between Hungary and Romania on the new Hungarian Status Law. The Hungarian Status Law accords special privileges to the large Hungarian diaspora in Central Europe. Mr Martens pointed out that Fidesz, the major partner in the ruling Hungarian EPP coalition, has been attacked by the Socialists, who accuse it of having opened up the doors to an invasion of "Romanians". Mr Martens declared that, "The agreement with Bucharest is nothing more than a common-sense accord between two EU candidate countries who have no desire to repeat quarrels of the past. It is all the more admirable that it has bee reached between governments of quite different political colours". (The accord facilitates employment opportunities for Romanians and native Hungarians in Hungary up to three months every year).