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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-02-16
February 16, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] PD Vicepresident Traian Basescu on monitoring the government
[02] CA First Vicepresident disagree with the PD monitoring of the
government
[03] PNTCD Vicepresident Vasile Lupu is preparing a new legal initiative
[04] Statement of ApR leader Teodor Melescanu
[05] PUNR proposal to evaluate FPS activity in 1997
[06] Romanian health system in its fourth day of general strike
[07] French minister for European affairs on a visit to Romania
[01] PD Vicepresident Traian Basescu on monitoring the government
The Vicepresident of the Democratic Party (PD) Traian Basescu explained his
party's opinion on ways of monitoring the government through the council
recently created. He said PD will not become a group only interested in how
ministries were doing their job: "We are interested in the documents aimed
at improving their activity, we are interested to see how they work as
institutions". Mr Basescu admitted PD was actually dissatisfied with the
current government as itShad too many members. In his party's opinion, a 17
member cabinet would be efficient enough. When asked if PD was to support
this idea in case it was to join the governing coalition again, Mr Basescu
replied: "Absolutely. This was one of the reasons why we have left it. When
the government was first reshuffled we have publicly pointed out that we
were not supposed to accept a parliament-style government, nor in number
neither in its acting manner. We have pleaded for an efficient and flexible
government reflecting both the current need and ability of making
decisions". RADOR, February 16
[02] CA First Vicepresident disagree with the PD monitoring of the
government
While in Targoviste where he participated in the meeting of the Civic
Alliance (AC) branch of Dambovita county, AC First Vicepresident Valerian
Stan said the PD way of monitoring the government through a fake one was
only aimed at increasing mistrust among coalition partners. In his opinion,
the PD move is artifical and inacSeptable as the party wishes to criticise
the government publicly while it is still a member of the governing
coalition. On the other hand, Mr Stan said the AC will support the idea of
early elections only in case there are no guarantees the current government
will resist. In that case, early elections should be organised as soon as
possible, he added. RADOR, February 16
[03] PNTCD Vicepresident Vasile Lupu is preparing a new legal initiative
At a press conference on Sunday, Deputy Vasile Lupu, Vicepresident of the
governing PNTCD party, expressed his support for hard penalties against
those who commit serious crimes. He said he is against any protection of
those who breake the law, irrespective of their political opinions. Mr Lupu
has announced he was preparing a legal initiative to amend reglementations
concerning the House of Deputies. He said that deputies should be subject
of inquiry if they were allegedly guilty of breaking the law. On the other
hand, the PNTCD MP said he was against early elections and he expressed his
belief that the current government will succeed in fulfilling its mandate.
Vasile Lupu said he shared the idea of raising the election threshhold to
5%. If there are to be fewer parties in parliament, then the ruling actions
are to be positive and the stability will be safer, Mr Lupu added. RADOR,
February 16
[04] Statement of ApR leader Teodor Melescanu
Teodor Melescanu, the leader of the Alliance for Romania party, the party's
accession to the Socialist International and closer relations with the PD
and the Romanian Social Democrat Party (PSDR) are among its main task. "We
have mentioned that if we were to hit these tasks, we should not only
contact such structures from abroad, but we should intensify our dialogue
with similar parties at home such as PD and PSDR. How shall we do it? By
discussing issues concerning our programmes and our structures and by
approximating them to those of the Socialist International", Mr Melescanu
said. RADOR, February 16
[05] PUNR proposal to evaluate FPS activity in 1997
PUNR MP groups have presented legal initiatives to the Permanent Bureaux in
both Houses of the Romanian Parliament. They propose the setting up of a
special commission to open an enquiry into the FPS (State Owneship Fund)
activity last year. The Romanians' National Unity Party (PUNR) would like
its proposal to be discussed during the join session of the parliament on
February 19. Both PUNR proposals are signed Valeriu Tabara and Ioan
Ardelean, leaders of the PUNR groups in the House of Deputies and the
Senate. RADOR, February 16
[06] Romanian health system in its fourth day of general strike
The general strike initiated by the SANITAS trade unions federation has
entered its fourth day. No incidents have occured until now, and actvity in
hospitals was not disturbed as a third of the medical personnel is doing
its job and solve most of the emergencies. SANITAS leader Marius Petcu says
he expects the MPs will react positively aSd amend the Ordinance 34/January
30 which stipulates a 25% raise in the salaries of health workers after the
meeting on Monday between trade union leaders and members of the Labour and
Social Protection Commission in the House of Deputies. RADOR, February 16
[07] French minister for European affairs on a visit to Romania
French Minister for European Affairs Pierre Moscovici has arrived in
Bucharest on an official visit following an invitation by the Romanian
Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu. The French diplomat said he has come with a
message of friendship aimed at stressing the commitment of France to
strengthen and improve political, economic and cultural relations between
the two countries. France will further support Romania in her efforts for
European and Euro-Atlatic integration, Mr Moscovici said. He mentioned that,
among all the EU Member States, France is the strongest supporter of
Romania's future. The French diplomat said that, in his opinion, Romania is
strongly engaged on heS way to the EU and NATO integration, and France
considers that Romania's future is in Europe. RADOR, February 16
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