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RADOR: News from Romania, 00-03-10
March 10, 2000
CONTENTS
[01] Agreement on Visas between Romania and Slovenia
[02] Press Conference of the World Foundation for Environment Protection
[03] Legislative Project
[04] Meeting of the Governing Coalition Leaders
[05] The Defense Minister Handed the Prime Minister His Resignation
[06] Reactions to Victor Babiuc's Resignation
[07] Meeting of the PD Leaders
[08] Decisions Taken during the Government Meeting
[09] PDSR Leads in the Opinion Polls
[10] ApR Launched a Program Regarding the Consummer's Protection
[11] Foreign Loan for the Health Ministry
[01] Agreement on Visas between Romania and Slovenia
According to RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, Romania and Slovenia decided to
resume the visa-free circulation of people, as before January 22, 2000 -
the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced at a press
conference on Thursday. At the end of January, Slovenia decided to
introduce compulsory visas for the Romanian citizens wishing to travel to
that country, justifying the decision by a need to harmonize Slovenian
rules with those of the European Union. RADOR
[02] Press Conference of the World Foundation for Environment Protection
The representatives of the World Foundation for Environment Protection in
Hungary organized a press conference for a great number of foreign
journalists, to present their opinions on the present situation and on the
prospects of overcoming the consequences of the ecological accident
happened at "Aurul" Baia Mare. RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI reports that Janos
Gonczi, the commissioner designated by the Hungarian Government to assess
the consequences of the pollution with cyanides spoke in favour of solving
all problems by diplomatic means. RADOR
[03] Legislative Project
Deputies Sorin Dimitriu and Varujan Pambuccian forwarded to the Standing
Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies a legislative project regarding the legal
status of companies and the creation of special economic areas. During a
press conference on Thursday, the two MPs said the mentioned legislative
project could foster the development of some areas and the banking system.
Dimitriu and Pambuccian, quoted by RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, stressed that
Romania, due to its geographic position and existing infrastructure, could
have special economic areas, with a great number of companies and a
significant economic and financial dynamics. RADOR
[04] Meeting of the Governing Coalition Leaders
The leaders of four of the coalition parties signed an agreement according
to which their representatives in Parliament would adopt the soonest
possible, in the wording decided by the Government or agreed upon by the
coalition membres, the following draft laws: the draft regarding the
privatization of the former state farms, the laws regarding elections, the
draft of the state budget, the draft regarding local public administration,
the draft regarding the restitution of nationalized houses, the set of
drafts regarding the reform of the legal system, the draft regarding the
general pension funds, the draft regarding ensurance in case of work
accidents and professional diseases, and all regulations regarding the
acquis communautaire. All coalition parties agreed the Democratic Party had
the right to nominate a candidate to replace the defense minister. RADIO
ROMANIA ACTUALITATI informs the agreement was signed by PNTCD leader Ion
Diaconescu, PNL leader Mircea Ionescu Quintus, UDMR leader Marko Bela, and
PSDR leader Alexandru Athanasiu, while PD leader Petre Roman left the
meeting and did not sign the document. RADOR
[05] The Defense Minister Handed the Prime Minister His Resignation
The Government spokesman told the press that defense minister Victor Babiuc
handed the prime minister his resignation. He pointed out that, after the
Democratic Party nominated a candidate to replace Babiuc, the prime
minister would present to Romania's president both the resignation and the
suggestion to accept it. In a communique broadcasted by RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI, the Defense Ministry presented the text of the resignation. In
Victor Babiuc's opinion, "his action was well-intended, but was
misinterpreted", the consequences of this misunderstanding being some
actions that jeopardized Romania's image and interests. RADOR
[06] Reactions to Victor Babiuc's Resignation
PNTCD president Ion Diaconescu considered Babiuc's resignation as a normal
solution. He added PD should consequently sign the joint agreement of the
coalition parties, but stressed he disagreed with Petre Roman's statement
that the governing coalition had been created under the impact of political
ambitions. In a communique issued by the Alliance for Romania, this party
considers the crisis appeared in the governing coalition sends negative
signals both at home and abroad, and appeals to all party leaders and to
the President to do their best to overcome this crisis. In his turn, ANCD
leader Victor Ciorbea told the press the present crisis was to the
detriment of both the State and the parties in power. Ciorbea added, quoted
by RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI: "The interests of the Defense Ministry, the
interests of the country are being affected". A similar opinion was
expressed by the PNR leader Virgil Magureanu. He said it was regrettable
that PD's problems were transferred to the coalition, at a time when the
European Union showed an increased interest for our country. RADOR
[07] Meeting of the PD Leaders
About 60 PD leaders met on Thursday evening to decide upon the party's
future actions, RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI informs. The democrats questioned
the opportunity of being in power, and seriously considered the alternative
of leaving the governing coalition, but the party leader said a final
decision would be taken by the National Coordination Council, to meet on
March 17. In Petre Roman's opinion, the present crisis aimed at creating a
false image of his party, adding: "To govern means to faithfully work for
common objectives, and not to strike from the back". RADOR
[08] Decisions Taken during the Government Meeting
On Thursday the Goverment adopted an urgent ordinance establishing a
unitary method of applying the added value tax, to come into force on March
15. During the same meeting, the Cabinet ministers amended Law 114/1996
regarding buildings. Other decisions taken regarded the appointment of
Sever Voinescu Cotoi as Romania's consul general in Chicago, and of Lucian
Calin as prefect of Sibiu, RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI reports. RADOR
[09] PDSR Leads in the Opinion Polls
According to the latest opinion poll, the Romanian citizens are in favour
of a drastic reform of the political system. In the event next Sunday
people should vote in local or parliamentary elections, almost 42% would
vote for PDSR. The options for Romania's president would be devided as
follows: 43% Ion Iliescu, 20% Teodor Melescanu, 19% Emil Constantinescu.
According to the same opinion poll, most of the subjects considered
communism was a good idea badly implemented, adding though democracy was
the best system, RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI reveals. RADOR
[10] ApR Launched a Program Regarding the Consummer's Protection
On Thursday morning the Alliance for Romania launched a program regarding
the consummer's protection, as means to increase the economic performance.
ApR vice-president Adrian Balanescu told RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI the
mentioned program was the 11th program dedicated to a special field, and
was part of a wider program, in view of drawing up a consummer's white
paper. Balanescu said the program comprised over 140 measures amending the
existing laws, and might bring Romania to standards closer to the European
regulations regarding the consummer's protection. RADOR
[11] Foreign Loan for the Health Ministry
The Government authorised the Finance Ministry to state guarantee a 12
million dollars foreign loan to the benefit of the Health Ministry.
According to RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, the loan is necessary to buy
medical equipment for the surgery and transpant centers. RADOR
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