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RADOR: News from Romania, 99-01-27
January 27, 1999
CONTENTS
[01] President Constantinescu on Concessions Following Recent Miners'
Unrest;
[02] Minister Traian Basescu on Government's Involvement in Miners' Unrest;
[03] Laws Promulgated;
[04] CSAT Meeting;
[05] Legal Action Against Miron Cozma;
[06] PRM Call for Justice Minister Dismissal;
[07] World Bank Loan to Romania;
[08] A Proposal to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly;
[09] Madrigal in London.
[01] President Constantinescu on concessions following recent miners'
unrest
In an interview with the British media on Tuesday, Romanian President Emil
Constantinescu said the recent incidents involving the miners in the Jiu
Valley started as a social unrest but, in the end, it turned into a
different matter: "It started as a social trade union conflict which turned
into a political crisis when an extremist party promoting national-
communist ideas was reported as being deeply involved in it". The president
said that the state institutions' authority came under doubt, and the fact
made him about to declare the state of emergency. He explained the decision
as an attempt to prevent the escalation of the conflict. In his opinion,
the state of emergency was expected to "ensure an immediate and convenient
negotiation for the government in charge". The results of the negotiations
in Cozia between the miners and the prime minister were not supposed to
damage the reform process the government just started, the president added.
When asked if the social costs were not expected to be higher than Romania
could afford in its attempt to comply with the conditions the international
financial organisations put forward, President Constantinescu replied: "It
is not us who decide that cost. It is the IMF who makes that price and
decide the conditions. I should point out that it was the former government
who got the debt we now should pay off as it used most of the foreign loans
for consumption. We should actually pay for the economic mistakes and the
lack of reform the former government administrated". Referring to the
violence last week, the Romanian president said that an inquiry was to
establish the facts. RADOR
[02] Minister Traian Basescu on government's involvement in miners' unrest
The miners' unrest raised questions about the role played by two ministers
representing the Democratic Party (PD): Industry and Trade Minister Radu
Berceanu and Transport Minister Traian Basescu. Minister Traian Basescu
said in an interview his position was justified while Radu Berceanu's
position "was really difficult as the government approved the programme he
then tried to achieve". He denied rumours about minister Berceanu's alleged
offer to resign. Referring to Prime Minister Radu Vasile's involvement in
the conflict, the PD minister said: "Considering the Prime Ministrer Radu
Vasile's position when the negotiations started, it is now crystal-clear
that he found the right solution" and "he should not be condemned despite
the concession he made when he renounced a major point in the mining
system's restructuring programme as it was the country's stability who
depended on him at the time". RADOR
[03] Laws promulgated
President Constantinescu promulgated on Tuesday the Law approving the
Ordinance 50/1998 on granting a 200 lei/kg bonus to commercial milling and
baking companies who purchase last year's crops for domestic use. Such
commercial companies as Comcereal SA, Cerealcom SA, Romcereal and the
National Agency for Farming Products as well as the private producers and
farmers are both expected to benefit from the bonus. The Romanian president
has also promulgated the Law approving the Emergency Ordinance 72/1997 on
establishing the debts of the former Romanian Oil Company. Under the law,
the state will take over no more than 4,500 billion lei of the company's
public internal debts and its hard currency debts to the Bancorex SA along
with its interests in the bank's account by June 30 1997. RADOR
[04] CSAT meeting
The meeting of the Supreme Council for the Country's Defence (CSAT) has
been taking place at the Cotroceni Palace on Tuesday. In his opening speech,
Romanian President Emil Constantinescu has announced that the meeting was
expected to examine the reports on the miners' unrest last week when the
police and geandarmerie forces failed to take action and prevent the
violence escalation. The counsellors were also expected to consider the
damages to both private and public property and the consequences for the
country's image around the world. The head of the Romanian Intelligence
Service (SRI) was expected to establish if the violence could be seen a
threat to the national security. The president of the Constitutional Court,
the justice minister and the attorney general were invited to establsih the
framework allowing legal actions. A communique is expected shortly. RADOR
[05] Legal action against Miron Cozma
The prefect of Valcea County, Nicolae Curcareanu, has brought legal action
against the miners' leader Miron Cozma for detaining, molesting and
insulting him during the miners' unrest. In an interview with the press, Mr
Curcareanu said his complaint also included some other people involved in
the conflict last week. RADOR
[06] PRM call for justice minister dismissal
The Greater Romania Party (PRM) believes Justice Minister Valeriu Stoica
should be removed. The party is accusing the minister of involving in
judiciary matters. In a communique issued by its managing committee, the
party says minister Stoica has repeatedly criticised the Appeal Court in
Bucharest for its ruling in the trial against Miron Cozma. The party claims
that, as long as the ruling is not final, the minister has criticised the
court in his obvious attempt to influnce the decision of the Supreme Court
of Justice. The PRM insists that Mr Stoica has badly damaged the image of
the judiciary with serious consequences for the country's rule of law.
RADOR
[07] World Bank loan to Romania
The World Bank delegate to Bucharest, Andrew Vorkink, told a press
conference on Tuesday that the World Bank would grant a 300 million dollar
loan to Romania for the reform of its banking system, step up privatisation
and improved businesses. Mr Vorkink announced that negotiations would start
and an agreement was expected this spring. He said that a second loan, even
larger, could be agreed in case the government would keep its promises.
RADOR
[08] A proposal to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly
A senator representing the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania
(UDMR), Mr Gyorgy Frunda, has presented the Council of Europe's
Parliamentary Assembly with the proposal of a resolution on setting up an
ad hoc commission to deal with the "national minorities rights" mainly
concentrating on their "collective rights". Vicepresident of the judicial
commission since Monday evening, Mr Frunda believes that the minority
matters are facing serious problems such as the recent developments in the
Balkans. He insists that the "national minority" definition should be
clarified and an additional protocol should complete the European
Convention on Human Rights. The ad hoc commission is expected to examine
such matters and their alleged "connections". The project was signed by
Walter Schwimmer, who runs for the Council of Europe's secretary general
seat, and Gunnar Jansson, the head of the Council's Judicial Commission.
RADOR
[09] Madrigal in London
The Romanian chamber choir, "Madrigal", along with other similar artists,
has attended a mass commemorating the former president of the "Daily Mail"
who died last year. Before the service at Westminster Abbey in London, the
"Madrigal" performed a series of religious songs originating in the
Christian Orthodox-Byzantine Church and the Holy Mount of Athos. During the
service, the "Madrigal" performed Anton Pann's Romanian version of "Our
Father the God". Another performance took place at the Romanian
ambassador's residence in London. The concert on Monday evening included
Byzantine hymns and Romanian traditionals. Participants included British
politicians and artists, journalists and representatives of the British
Romanian community. RADOR
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