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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-04-29
April 29, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] House of Deputies Proceedings
[02] Laws Promulgated
[03] Hearings at the Commission of Defence, Public Order and national
Security
[04] Press Conference at the Senate
[05] Statement Made by Chief of Romanian Police
[06] Arrest Warrant for Gheorghe Trutulescu
[07] Daniel Tarschys on a Visit to Romania
[08] Romania-EU Annual Meeting in Luxembourg
[09] Norwegian Defence Minister on a Visit to Romania
[10] Fifth Conference of Youth Ministers
[11] A Plea for Suspension of Entry Visas for Romania
[12] Statement of UDMR leader Marko Bela
[13] The Czech Republic: Entry Visas for Romanians
[01] House of Deputies proceedings
On Tuesday, Romanian deputies has ended tha debates on articles in the
draft law concerning the SPP (Guard and Protection Service). Art. 13
stipulating the persaonnel duties was sent back to the special commission
for further debates. The deputies have passed the draft law on approving
the Emergency Ordinance concerning the raise in acciseAduties for oil
products, the draft law concerning the set up and functioning of the
Romanian Fund for Social Development, and the draft law on organising
referenda. Accordings to the same source, he deputies have also approved
the first six articles in the draft law concerning the public property
right and its legal system. RADOR
[02] Laws promulgated
Romanian President Emil Constantinescu has promulgated the law concerning
the raise in the salaries for some education personnel and the adoption
law. RADOR
[03] Hearings at the Commission for defence, public order and national security
On Tuesday, the Commission for defence, public order and national security
in the Romanian Senate has called Air Defence Chief of Staff General
Gheorghe Bucsa for questioning. At the end of the hearing, the general
declared that Commander Sociu was the only responsible for the incident at
the Otopeni military airport as he was the shoift coordinator and decided
to allow the landing of cigarette cargo-plAne. Bucsa says Suciu had no
information about the plane, but he did not get the approval to allow the
landing either. That is why commander Suciu was already dismissed, General
Bucsa said. Deputy Commissioner Radu Timofte claims that the responsibility
cannot belong to only one man; the importance of the affair would have
asked for the reignation of the defence minister, the foreign minister and
the chief of staff of the Romanian Air Force. RADOR
[04] Press conference at the Senate
At a press conference after a four-hour hearing, the Commission for the
defence, public order and national security in the Romanian Senate said
they only found out that there was no "flagrant" organised at the Otopeni
Airport, but a clear smuggling operation. Only some people, and not the
army, were involved into the operation. Neither of the commanders have
assumed responsibility for the incident. As the Romanian Service of the BBC
reports, General Bucsa and Colonel Nicu Anghel did not indicate they wereA
about to resign. SPP Chief Nicu Anghel has left the Parliament building
through the back door and, declining his previous promise, he refused to
make any statement to the press. RADOR
[05] Statement made by Chief of Romanian Police
Referring to the cigarette affair at the Otopeni military airport, Romanian
Police Chief General Nicolae Berechet said the police has extended its
investigation and new elements were discovered. As a result, it was
discovered that there was a resemblance between the affair at Otopeni and a
similar case in Constantza some time ago. A similar transport was
registered on March 23, when another Air Sofia plane landed on the Otopeni
Airport. That plane was also suspected of cigarette smuggling. Analysing
all the reports put together, General Berechet concluded that the whole
affair invloves an international cigarette smuggling network. RADOR
[06] Arrest warrant for Gheorghe Trutulescu
Romanian Police Chief General Nicolae berechet does not rule out the
posAibility that SPP officer Gheorghe Trutulescu, searched by the police
since Friday night for being questionned in connection with the sigarette
smuggling case, could have tried to leave the country illegaly over the
western Romanian border. Therefore, the IGP has issued an arrest warrant on
his name. Trutulescu could hide in an apartment in the Micalaga suburb of
Arad. The police intensified its searching operations in Arad county and
border areas. RADOR
[07] Daniel Tarschys on a visit to Romania
Council of Europe's Secretary General Daniel Tarschys met Romanian Prime
Minister Radu Vasile at Victoria Palace on Tuesday. The guest appreciated
Romania's efforts with a European instiution which, as Prime Minister
Vasile put it, granted the democracy certificate to each of its members.
The suspension of Romania's monitoring was one of the main topics during
the talks, but Prima Minister Vasile said that, actually, all problems were
solved over the issue. Daniel Tarschys said: "I have percAived the
remarcable progress Romania has made in the last 4-5 years. There is
progress in foreign policy, domestic policy and human rights policy. Each
European state has its own troubles, but we should cooperate to raise our
standards and solve the existing problems". After meeting Mr Tarschys,
Romanian Justice Minister Valeriu Stoica said they reviewed the cooperation
programmes betweem the CE and the Romanian Justice Ministry: "I have
considered the CE recommendations concerning some major draft laws".
RADOR
[08] Romania-EU annual meeting in Luxembourg
Romanian Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu has presided over the fourth annual
high level meeting of the EU-Romania Association Council. The EU delegation
included British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook as current president of the
EU and EU Commissioner Hans vand den Broek representing the European
Commission. A joint statement issued to the press says that the EU
enlargement was a step-by-step but developing process. The time will beA
different to each candidate, including Romania, depending on how fast they
meet the EU standards. As far as Romania is concerned, the country should
approximate as much as possible its laws to the EU legislation. It depends
only on the Romanian government to get a full profit from the accession
preparations and restart the reform. The EU believes that the country's
economic stability is still fragile, and this is why the Government in
Bucharest is encopuraged to consolidate its economic reforms taking into
account the recommendations made by international institutions. However,
the EU is interested in supporting Romania's efforts on its way to
democracy and rule of law, human rights included. The EU believes that
animal protection, Roma integration and improvements in court regulations
should be the first priorities for Romania. RADOR
[09] Norwegian defence minister on a visit to Romania
While in Bucharest, the Norwegian defence minister said that, according to
Norway, NATO expaAsion is a longlasting process and the 'open door' policy
will continue after 1999. At a press conference with his Romanian
counterpart Victor Babiuc, Norwegian Defence Minister Dag Jostein Fjarvoll
said his country supported the candidacy of any country meeting the NATO
accession conditions. Mr Fjarvoll added that Romania was an active
participant in the Partnership for Peace and continued its way to full
membership status. However, the minister warned that one could say how soon
would Romania be subject to accession discussions. In his turn, minister
Babiuc said the two countries shared the opinion that a political solution
should put an end to the conflict in Kosovo while violence should be
excluded. RADOR
[10] Fifth conference of youth ministers
The fifth Conference of European youth ministers on "Youth, Active Citizens
of a Future Europe: Human Rights, Participation and Solidarity" continued
its proceedings at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest. On Tuesday,
participants have pAesented a report concerning recent progress made by the
European Community in its policies dedicated to youth folowing the
conferences in Vienna and Luxembourg. A draft declaration was proposed, and
speeches were made by representatives of all countries involved. Most of
the speakers shared the idea that the adults of tomorrow were expected to
reject a Europe built without the youth of today. Further discussions are
expected on Wednesday when the conference continues. RADOR
[11] A plea for the suspension of entry visas for Romania
While in Luxembourg, Romanian Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu has reiterated
his plea for the suspension of entry visas for Romanians wishing to visit
the EU Member State - a measure which, as he put it, was unacceptable and
disriminating. At the end of the fourth EU-Romania Association Council, Mr
Plesu said: "We wish to be treated as other EU Applicant States are. On the
other hand, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook explained; "The EU is
concerned, and Ats concerns over illegal immigration are legitimate. We are
ready to discuss the issue with those in charge in Romania, and help them
to secure their border control and implement the best policy to reintegrate
those who come to Romania". RADOR
[12] Statement of UDMR leader Marko Bela
The leader of the ruling Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania
(UDMR), Marko Bela said that Hungarians outside Hungary could try to get
Hungarian citizenship, but such an option was not the best solution for the
2 million Hungarians in Romania. Mr Marko said that those trying to get
double citizenship for the community should think first about the rights
and the obligations the move involved. The statement was made after a UDMR
member said last week that the party should consult all its branches
throughout the country on the matter. RADOR
[13] The Czech Republic: entry visas for Romanians
The Czech interior minister has already initiated some restrictive measures
concerning entry visas. The PAague daily "Lidove Noviny" has published a
report presenting the opposite positions of Hungary and the Czech Republic
concerning the entry visas for Romanian citizens. While the authorities in
Prague already consider such an idea, Budapest does not want even to talk
about it. And more, the Hungarian authorities have urged the EU to suspend
entry visas for Romanian citizens. On the other hand, irrespective of
Austrian pressure, the Czech Republic is ready to take restrictive measures
for East-European wishing to enter the country. Though stopping short of
mentioning a deadline, the Czech interior minister has announced that his
ministry has already started to draw up restrictive regulations on the
matter. The project will be put forward to the government as soon as
possible. According to the Czech newspaper, the measures are expected to
affect Romania, Bulgaria and the Russian Federation. RADOR
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