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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-08-18
August 18, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] President Emil Constantinescu will take part into some government
meetings
[02] PNL about re-organization of government and change of CDR protocol
[03] MApN statement
[04] PD senator Trita Fanita accuses power for disaster of Romanian
agriculture
[05] Specifications of Minister of National Education Andrei Marga
[06] James Rosapepe US ambassador in Romania paying a visit to Pitesti
[07] International conference "Integrated urban systems and lasting urban
development"
[08] Details of the Bell Helicopters contract
[09] Problems at the Cernavoda Nuclear Plant
[01] President Emil Constantinescu will take part into some government
meetings
Concerning Romania president's decision to take part into government
meetings and to chair them Press Office of Presidency informs through a
statement president is to chair in next few days government meeting when
Ministry of National Defence (MApN) would present military strategy of
Romania drawn up upon strategy of national security approved by CSAT
(Supreme Council of Country Defence) on July 29 1998. President will also
take part into debate of national programme for adhering to EU in a
government meeting. Both problems are part of govrnment meetings when
problems of national interest are discussed and into which Romania's
president can take part from his initiative chaired them according to
Art.86 of Constitution. After President Emil Constantinescu's opinion
Romania does not need a president premier but institutions well outlined
and limited which to function based on Constitution it is said in
statement. RADOR, August 18
[02] PNL about re-organization of government and change of CDR protocol
The first vicepresident of National Liberal Party (PNL) Valeriu Stoica
appreciates in this moment it is not possible to speak about a re-
organization of government like fusing ministries and creating other new
ones because such actions would affect chapters of state budget on this
year which is to be modified. A discussion with concrete proposals becomes
adequateonly after adoption of budget on 1999 Liberal leader considers.
Speaking on Monday at seminar "Outlooks and basical concepts of Liberalism"
Valeriu Stoica has also affirmed his party wishes to remain in CDR (The
Democratic Convention in Romania) but CDR would have to change its protocol
so that each party to have a clear part in alliance and to be able to
present own candidates at local elections. RADOR, August 18
[03] MApN statement
Premier Radu Vasile's petition addressed to US President Bill Clinton for
getting 50-60 helicopters COBRA and 6-8 airplanes F18 used and retreated
from American Army's service does not exclude contract with Bell
Helicopters - it is specified in a statement of Public Relations Office of
MApN (Ministry of National Defence). MApN is convinced politic forces from
Romania are not against endowment of Romanian Army with helicopters Cobra
for attack but there are cautions concerning financial procedure. In
statement of Public Relations Office of MApN quoted by it is said no super-
state, obscure or underground force puts a pressure upon Bell Helicopters
project but it is a clear expression of national interest. MApN specifies
Romania needs helicopters Cobra for attack not taking into account she
would be or not member of NATO but much more if she would not be, presence
of Bell Helicopters, Textron and General Electric companies in our country
being a gain for the country. RADOR, August 18
[04] PD senator Trita Fanita accuses power for disaster of Romanian
agriculture
Responsibility for disaster of Romanian agriculture belongs to those who
are on power and not to drought or Romanian farmers senator Trita Fanita of
The Democratic Party (PD) affirms in a statement. He is president of
Commission for agriculture, food industry and sylviculture from Romania
Senate. He expresses his hope Premier Radu Vasile will action for changhing
agriculture in a priority of national economy. "We wish market economy but
in all developed countries agriculture is strongly helped by state. We have
remained the only from East Europe which were taken off foreign market of
cereals". PD senator has proposed to mayors from all Romania's communes to
send to special commission's address data concerning situation of
agriculture and recent steps which would have to be taken for its
improvement. RADOR, August 18
[05] Specifications of Minister of National Education Andrei Marga
Education year 1998-1999 will start with profound renovations Minister of
National Education Andrei Marga declared on Monday for the press. In
university year 1998-1999 number of seats for matriculation will be
substantial bigger than in previous years by increase of seats subsidized
from budget but also by creating possibility of studying in state faculties
on tax. During next school year it will also be applied specific steps for
education in languages of national minorities. School network will be re-
organized so that depending on necessities some classes are to be built up
as well as new sections in Poland, Serbian, Turkish, German and Ukrainean
languages minister Andrei Marga has specified. RADOR, August 18
[06] James Rosapepe US ambassador in Romania paying a visit to Pitesti
On Monday His Excellency Mr.James Rosapepe US ambassador was in Pitesti. He
was received at Town Hall by local authorities represented by Tudor Pentiuc
town's mayor and Ovidiu Marinescu deputy chief of regional administration
of Arges county. American ambassador has met the 75 volunteers of Peace
Corps whom he addressed speaking about US Government's and American
embassy's politics towards Romania. Then American ambassador made a tour of
the town and sustained a press conference followed by a meeting with
representatives of local trade-unions. He has also paid a visit to
Institute for research and fruit-growing production from Maracineni. RADOR,
August 18
[07] International conference "Integrated urban systems and lasting urban
development"
For five days Romania lodges world conference with main theme "Integrated
urban systems and lasting urban development". During open festivity whixch
took place on Monday at House of Scientists speakers stressed town has more
faces both positive and negative which need a scientific treatment. World
conference which gathers specialists from 21 states continues its
proceedings at Sinaia. RADOR, August 18
[08] Details of the Bell Helicopters contract
While attending the Miners' Day in Balan, Harghita county, Prime-Minister
Radu Vasile has presented for the first time the advantages and
disadvantages of the contract with Bell Helicoters. He said that the
economic factor was one of those that had to be taken into consideration
when speaking about this contract. At least four plants - Ghimbav in Brasov,
Turbomecanica in Bucharest, Bacau and Craiova would have to work as they
have highly trained workers. Another advantage is that 55% of the valu of
the contract says in Romania and the market for civil helicopters would be
ensured. About the negative aspects of the contract Mr. Vasile said that
Romania's foreign debt would increase a lot but that it won't reach a
critical level. The main problems in the contract with Bell Helicopters is
the number of helicopters that the Prime-Minister said it could be
negotiated, and the shcedule of the financing duration. The President of
the Senate's Finance and Banking Commission Senator Varujan Vosganian said
that the time for this contract was not good because of Romania's very
difficult economic situation: "It is possible that Romania's rating to get
worse soon and therefore the conditions for foreign loans would get
tougher". In response to the arguments by Mr. Vosganian the State
Secreatary in the Defence Ministry Constantin Dudu Ionescu said that the
contract extends on a 12 year time an that the most diffucult moment would
occur 5 tears after the program started and the the program itself was to
start on a year and 8 months from the moment the contract was signed.
Therefore, "in six or seven years we could reach the peak load that is some
300 mil. dollars". Mr Ionescu also said that he didn't see "any connection
between the peak load in six or seven years with this year's rating".
RADOR, August 18
[09] Problems at the Cernavoda Nuclear Plant
While many argue in favor of continuing works at the 2nd unit of the
Cernavoda Nuclear Plant, the 1st unit already producing power could be shut
down soon. Ant this because it cannot pay its debts to the National Nuclear-
Electric Company. At a first sight this could appear as an unwanted effect
of restructuring the RENEL public utility when the Cernavoda Nuclear Plant
separated from the National Power Company (CONEL) resulted after the RENEL
company began being restructured. In fact, the CONEL company could not pay
the power supplied by the Cernavoda Nuclear Plant. Another point in this
issue is that this started two months ago, before the beginning of the
RENEL restructuring plan. The Director of the Cernavoda 1st unit Ionel
Bucur Ionel said that they were in a very difficult financial situation
because the incomes from the power production were not collected. "These
incomes still have to be collected by the actual CONEL company but they are
probably not big enough or they are used in different purposes, for paying
other debts nf thetrefore the Cernavoda Nuclear Plant got for two months
only the wage fund money. We cannot understand how could we not get the
money for keeeping the plant working. If things go this way we have to shut
down the plant in a week or two because we would run out of spare parts".
RADOR, August 18
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