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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-05-21
May 21, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] Romanian President Met Representatives of Civic Alliance Coordination
Committee;
[02] President Emil Constantinescu on a Visit to Pitesti;
[03] As Far as "Operation 1" Is Concerned, SRI Fulfilled Its Duty, Virgil
Magureanu Says;
[04] Statement of New SPP Director;
[05] Cooperation Agreement Between PSDR and ApR;
[06] Romanian-Wallonian Talks in Bucharest;
[07] Austrian Foreign Minister on Necessity of Entry Visas for Romanians;
[08] MAE Position on Kosovo Crisis;
[09] Romanian-German Foundation in Timisoara to Participate in the EU
Leonardo Programme.
[01] Romanian president met representatives of Civic Alliance Coordination
Committee
According to a communique issued by the Civic Alliance (AC), Romanian
President Emil Constantinescu met representatives of the AC National
Coordination Committee on Tuesday. Tha AC said after the meeting that the
recent statement of Valerian Stan on May 18 included many of the AC
concerns about "the image of state institutions as, aMcording to press
reports or comments, most of them were under the sign of corruption". The
AC believes that all recent incidents were actually perpetuating an already
existing situation that the governing coalition could not solve. As the
communique points out, "the ruling power is disappointing only if compared
with its own image before the elections, but it could not be judged or
accused if compared with its political opponents". The AC has expressed its
further support of President Emil Constantinescu in his fight against
corruption. RADOR
[02] President Emil Constantinescu on a visit to Pitesti
Romanian President Emil Constantinescu has attended ceremonies celebrating
the 610-th anniversary of the city of Pitesti. At a festive meeting in the
City Hall of Pitesti, Mayor Tudor Pendiuc has requested the adoption of the
law on local public financing and the statute of public worker while the
director general of the Sc Automobile Dacia SA, Constantin Stroe, has
announced that the DMcia car no. 2,000,000 has just left the courtyard and
cooperation with a foreign car manufacturer was expected to start in one
year. The Romanian president was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of
Pitesti and then attended the opening ceremony of the Information Center
for Citizens. The president has also attended the inauguration of the
Mircea cel Batran Memorial (ed.n. ancient ruler of the country of
Muntenia). The president then went on a visit to the University of Pitesti
and, along with National Education Minister Andrei Marga, attended the
opening ceremony of the new rectorate building. RADOR
[03] As far as "Operation Cigarette 1" is concerned, the SRI fulfilled its
duty, Virgil Magureanu says
Former SRI director Virgil Magureanu says that, as far as "Operation
Cigarette 1" is concerned, both the SRI (ed.n. Romanian Intelligence
Service) and its chief between 1992-1993 fulfilled their duties. Virgil
Magureanu told a press conference on Wednesday that he reported the case tM
the Attorney General's Office, Supreme Council of Defence and the prime
minister. The former SRI chief ruled out any possibility for the SRI of
being involved in special operations covering cigarette smuggling affairs.
He admited he met Mike Nassar, the brother of Elie Nassar who got involved
into the "Cigarette 1", but he did not believe he used his influence when
he tried to convince Attorney General Popa Cherecheanu that Elie Nassar
should be set free and then judged. Referring to his alleged phone
conversation with Mike Nassar, the former SRI chief said it was no secret
about it but he however doubted the good heart of the man who sent the tape
to the "Evenimentul Zilei" newspaper. RADOR
[04] Statement of new SPP director
In a statement to the RRA, the new SPP Chief, General Anghel Stefan
Andreescu said the "SPP restructuring intended to promote competent and
clean people". He informed that some administration worker would be
dismissed, the number of Control Corps worker woulM be reduced by half and
two SPP deputies would be replaced by Interior Ministry officers. The
general said that the SPP personnel, himself included, should pass a 6-
month adjustment period and they could be repaced by more competitive
people. RADOR
[05] Cooperation agreement between PSDR and ApR
The Alliance for Romania Party (ApR) and the Romanian Social Democrat Party
(PSDR) are expected to sign an agreement on Thursday concerning their
future cooperation in parliament. The announcement was made by ApR leader
Teodor Melescanu at a press conference on Wednesday. The agreement - the
Social Democrat Action in Parliament - is seen as the first step to a
future pre- and postelectoral alliance and a possible merger between the
two parties, Mr Melescanu added. A protocol of political cooperation is to
be signed in a few weeks. Mr Melescanu, who was in Geneva recently, said
the recent rating of Romania abroad and its falling chances of NATO
integrartion were signs that Romania's image aMroad badly deteriorated.
According to the ApR leader, the governing coalition should assume the
responsibility for the failure. RADOR
[06] Romanian-Wallonian talks in Bucharest
While on a visit to Romania, Minister-President of Wallonian and French
Community Governments Robert Caulignon met Romanian Prime Minister Radu
Vasile at Victoria Palace on Wednesday. The Romanian prime minister has
expressed Romania's will and interest in maintaining and developing overall
relations with Belgium, direct connections between local communities
included. State Counsellor Victor Chiujdea has informed that the prime
minister insisted on the necessity of developing and intensifying economic
relations as Belgium's 14 position (ed.n. in the top of Romania's foreign
investments) was seen below the economic opportunities the two countries
could provide. Further official talks are expected on Thursday. A science
and technology cooperation programme for 1998-2000 is to be signed at the
end of the visiM. RADOR
[07] Austrian foreign minister on the necessity of entry visas for
Romanians
According to Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuster, Hungary and the
Czech Republic misunderstood the comments made recently by the Austrian
interior minister concerning their alleged obligation to introduce entry
visas for Romanian citizens. In an interview with the Czech magazine
"Pravo", Mr Schuster said the interior minister only wanted to point out
that both Prague and Budapest had to approximate their visa policies to the
EU standards. RADOR
[08] MAE position on Kosovo crisis
In a statement issued to the press on Wednesday, the Romanian Foreign
Ministry (MAE) welcomes the recent success by US special envoys Richard
Holbrooke and Robert Gelbart in achieving a dialogue for a peaceful
solution to the Kosovo crisis. MAE expresses the hope that the meeting
between Yugoslav Federal President Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova,
the leader of the Albanian minority in Kosovo, will turn into a sMbstantial
dialogue before negotiations between the two sides can start. MAE says it
is ready to bring an effective contribution to the effort of observing both
minority rights and territorial integrity of the Yugoslav Federal Republic.
At a press conference on Wednesday, MAE spokewoman Anda Filip however
mentioned that the Yugoslav Federal Republic did no request Romanian
support in mediating the dialogue though, according to Yugoslavia, an
exchange of opinions and experience between the two countries was mostly
needed. RADOR
[09] Romanian-German Foundation in Timisoara to participate in the EU
Leonardo Programme
The talks between representatives of the Romanian-German Foundation and
Duisburg Society in Hanover, Germany, have resulted in the selection of the
foundation in Timisoara as partner in the EU Leonardo Programme. The EU is
providing funds for the promotion of professional training in building
industry. The programme is to be completed next year. Among other things,
LeonarMo is providing access to information, exchange of experience and
joint education programmes. The foundation in Timisoara has also submitted
another project requesting a financial aid of 100,000 ECU to develop a
pilot-programme in cooperation with the Romanian-German Foundation in Arad.
RADOR
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