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RADOR: News from Romania, 97-01-31
JANUARY, 31, 1997
CONTENTS
[01] Press Conference in Bucharest
[02] Romania has equal chances to join NATO as other candidates
[03] The president of the Lower Camber of the Russian Parliament met with
Romania's president, Emil Constantinescu
[04] Task Force for the Romanian Army
[05] The American Congressman Tom Lantos visits Romania
[06] Weather
[07] Currency rates
[01] Press Conference in Bucharest
Romanian prime minister, Victor Ciorbea, held a press conference on
Thursday night in Bucharest. The conference was attended by the permanent
representative of the World Bank to Bucharest, Francois Ettory, as well as
Mrs. Karen Fogg, head of the permanent mission of the European Commission
to Bucharest. The press conference was focused on the presentation of
Romania's true economic situation. In his speech, Mr. Ciorbea said that the
real statistic data showed a more difficult situation than the one
presented by the former goverment last year. The deficit of Romania's
balance of trade is 2 billion dollars, while the total volume of arrear in
the economy amounts to more than 3 billion dollars. The main national stat-
owned companies, like the Railways and Electricity Companies, also have
important deficits. The Romanian prime minister also said that the
goverment is decided to follow the reforms, this being the only solution
for Romania at the moment. In her turn, Mrs Karen Fogg emphasised that the
European Union has increasingly better relations with Romania and it will
support Romania in overcoming this difficult economic situation. RRI,
January, 31st, 1997
[02] Romania has equal chances to join NATO as other candidates
Romania has, in principle, equal chances for joining NATO as the other
candidate countries, said NATO's secretary general, Javier Solana, in a
speech delivered in front of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe. Romania has taken important steps forward, both at home and in its
relations with its neighbours, emphasised mr Solana. This is worth taking
into account, because they are important facts; we want to build an Europe
free from sources of tension and that is why that is done to this end, in
order to decrease the possible sources of tension, said Mr. Solana. RRI,
January, 31st, 1997
[03] The president of the Lower Chamber of the Russian Parliament met with
Romania's president, Emil Constantinescu
The president of the Lower Chamber of the Russian Parliament, Ghenadi
Selezniov, restated Thursday, in Bucharest, Russia's total opposition to
NATO's enlargement eastwards. The statement was made after the meeting of
the Russian parliamentary delegation with the president of the Romanian
Chamber of Deputies, Ion Diaconescu. The Russian official said that
position met the consensus of the power in Rusia. He also said that NATO
was an outdated and costly organization and the main role in Europe should
be played by the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe. In
his turn, the president of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies said that the
talks with the Russian guests had focused on the relaunching the Romanian -
Russian relations, which are not at their best for the time being. Ion
Diaconescu said that Romania wanted to have good relations with all its
neighbours and to be part of a united Europe, which to include Russia as
well.The Russian official has also met with the Romanian president, Emil
Constantinescu. The Romanian head of state emphasised Romania's wish to
expand its good relations with the Russian Federation, which are especially
in the economic, political and military field, in the interest of both
countries. RRI, January, 31st, 1997
[04] Task Force for the Romanian Army
The Romanian Ministry of National Defence will set up a Task Force of the
Romanian Army, starting March, the 1st, 1997, announced the Press Office of
the Army. This is part of the process of modernization of the Romanian Army
and consistent with the conditions for integration into NATO's military
structures. The Task Force will participate in the fulfillment of the
strategic objectives of national defence and in humanitarian projects. RRI,
January, 31st, 1997
[05] The American Congressman Tom Lantos visits Romania
"Romania is on the right path and will become a NATO and EU member", said
the American Congressman Tom Lantos, at the end of his two-day visit in
Romania. Mr. Lantos added that if Romania will not be admitted in the first
wave of the countries to join NATO, this is not a tragedy, as Romania is
part of the process of integration. The American Congressman highlighted
the democratic changes made recently in Romania, including the co-option
into the Goverment of representatives of the Hungarian minority and the
equal treatment this minority enjoys. RRI, January, 31st, 1997
Weather in Romania will be mostly sunny. Some light snowfalls are expected
in central and southern parts of the country. The temperatures will range
between -8 and +8 degrees Celsius. This morning in Bucharest there were -5
degrees. RADOR, January, 31st, 1997
[07] Currency rates
1 USD = 5,932 lei 1 DEM = 3,612 lei 1 GBS = 9,605 lei 1 CHF = 4,176 lei 1
FFR = 1,071 lei. RADOR, January, 31st, 1997
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