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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-10-26The Press Agency of the Romanian Radio (RADOR Society) Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: RADOR Press Agency <http://indis.ici.ro/romania/news/rador.html>October 26, 1998CONTENTS
[01] Army DayThe message of President ConstantinescuOn the occasion of the Army Day on Sunday, Romanian President Emil Constantinescu congratulated the military and civilians working with the Defence Department for their efforts in addressing their constitutional resposibilities. While praising the bravery, sacrifice, order, discipline and professionalism the military have always proved in the past, but also today despite transition difficulties, President Constantinescu is urging the Romanian ArmO to continue in full resposibility the restructuring and modernisation process along with the training for being able to defend the country's integrity, unity and sovereignty in any moment. The Romanian president calls on the military on duty under the three-colour flag to answer the people's expectations and defend the constitutional order and the democratic values. RADOR Military and religious ceremonies A series of military and religious ceremonies were reported in Bucharest and other Romanian towns on Sunday. Participants included state officials, war veterans and foreign military attaches. According to the RRA, President Constantinescu, Prime Minister Radu Vasile and Defence Minister Victor Babiuc have attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Unknown Soldier Memorial in the King Charles' Park. RADOR Army needs In a statement to the RRA on Sunday, Romanian Joint Chief of Staff division general Constantin Degeratu said that, for most of Romanians, the army was the Oymbol of their hopes. He said that, by the year 2005, the reform, restructuring and modernisation programme would allow the Romanian Army to cover all its domestic defence capacities, ensure the country's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures and answer any possible emerging crisis. Cosequently, the Romanian Army needs an appropriate budget and legislation to better answer the responsibilities the army is expected to assume. RADOR [02] King Michael's anniversaryRomania's former sovereign, King Michael I of Hochenzollern Sigmaringen who ruled between 1927-1930 and 1940-1947, was born on October 25, 1921. King Michael was nominated as candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 - a prize he may still win as the nomination is valid all life long. Asked to express his opinions about Romania's recent political developments, HM King Michael said he was deeply concerned: "I see what is happening and I feel very sad about it, because, as far as NATO and the EU are cOncerned, we are just imagining things - as I said many times before, and there's nothing new about it - as long as our country is not getting any better. My very wish is to see Romania out of all the troubles it is facing today, and I really want Romania get back on its former natural track. If I may help and be where I should be, then it would be only the God's will", King Michael concluded. RADOR[03] UDMR forum in Valea lui MihaiValea lui MIhai (ed.n. Michael's Valley) hosted a conference on the "Meeting of the Regions" organised by the branch of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR) in the Romanian north-western county of Bihor and the UDMR local branch in Valea lui Mihai. The conference on Sunday was actually a sequel to a previous meeting initiated by the Reformed Bishop Laszlo Tokes, also the UDMR honorary president, in Cernatu de Jos last month. The turnout was lower than the UDMR leadership expected as the meeting was supposed to continue the dialogue betweO the party's moderate and hard-line wings. Bishop Laszlo Tokes said the low turnout was due to the intimidations the UDMR members have been suffering. He said the UDMR decision to stay in the governing coalition was an insult to the Hungarian minority. Consequently, the forum was designed to change the UDMR policy and organise elections as soon as possible. At the Valea lui Mihai forum, seven decisions were made and the UDMR Council of Representatives was supposed to approve them in the very next future. The UDMR's participation in the government is seen as a historical mistake and the status of personal autonomy as well as the legal special status of civilian autonomy should be finalised. The return of church properties and confessional schools and a guarantee for the autonomy of religious beliefs were demanded as well. Actions such as the Valea lui Mihai conference are expected to continue. The next meeting is expected in the county of Mures on March 20, 1999. Its theme: "FutureOProgramme of the Hungarian Communty". RADOR[04] PUNR is urging the government to reject the Minority LawIn a communique issued on Sunday, the Romanians' National Unity Party (PUNR) says the decision of the National Minorities' Council to allow a draft law on national minorities is actually confirming the secessionist and autonomist obsessions of the Romanian Hungarian hardliners. The communique says PUNR is urging the Romanian Government to reject the draft law which, in its opinion, is badly affecting Romania's constitutional order. PUNR believes tha draft law is a UDMR initiative who confirms its support of anti-Romanian activities organised by Hungarian extremists in Cernat and Valea lui Mihai in its attempt to set up an autonomous Hungarian language teaching state university and legalise bilingual inscriptions. RADOR[05] Higher fines for taxidriversThe Bucharest City Council has ruled higher fines for freelance taxidrivers who fail to mention the name of the company tOey work for or do not turn the meter on. Some say the fines are too high while others believe the fines are too low as they expect the Bucharest traffic will get legal and more civilised. Taxidrivers trade unions believe the new fines are too high for them, and too low for the taxidrivers working on the black market. They threat to carry out big protests early next month. RADOR[06] CSAT decision allowing Romania to participate in OSCE monitoring of KosovoAt a meeting on October 25, Romania's Supreme Council for Defence (CSAT) has unanimously decided to allow Romania participate in the OSCE monitoring mission to Kosovo. The number of observers is still to be negotiatied at talks between the Romanian foreign minister and OSCE offcicials. President Emil Constantinescu has announced that CSAT has also decided to send a AN- 30 search-plane with crew and equipments on bord to carry out the aerial monitoring of the Yugoslav province. He said that Romanian Foreign Minister Andrei PlesuOhas provided details concerning the UN Security Council Reolution 1203 approving the agreements already signed between Yugoslavia, the OSCE and NATO. Romania's defence minister has presented the CSAT with a report concerning the NATO appeal to the Partnership for Peace countries to consider a contribution of non-combat planes to the aerial monitoring mission to Kosovo. RADOR[07] Romanian Senate speaker Petre Roman is back from ViennaThe speaker of the Romanian Senate, Petre Roman, was back from Vienna on Sunday after attending the meeting of parliamentary speakers in the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states seeking ways to fight organised crime. After arriving in Bucharest, Mr Roman said the debates focused mainly on ways to approximate the existing legislation innthe field and the need of closer cooperation between the member states in preventing and fighting such threats. The meeting also concentrated on recent developments in Kosovo and Dnestria as well as the NATO enlargement. RADOR[08] Romanian-French military cooperation agreementAt a cermony in Bucharest on Sunday, Romanian Defence Minister Victor Babiuc and his French counterpart Alain Richard have signed an intergovernment agreement of military cooperation. Minister Babiuc has announced that French officers were expected to work with Romania's National Defence Ministry (MApR) as advisers for the reform and modernisation process of the Romanian Army. In his turn, the French minister has praised Romania for its role in securing the stability in South-Eastern Europe. Referring to the conflict in Kosovo, minister Alain Richard has reiterated his country's position in support of a European solution to include as well the Russian point of view. RADOR[09] Tandarica Theatre - host of Puppet International FestivalAfter 33 years, Bucharest is hosting again the Puppet International Festival - a major theatrical event. Organised by the Tandarica Theatre, this year's edition is dedicated Oo the avant-garde trends of an art believed to exclusively address the children. Critics and puppeteers are expected to discuss the future of the puppet theatre in a symposium at the end of the festival. Tandarica Theatre is one of the founders of the International Union of Puppeteers created in Prague in 1929. RADOR[10] "Craiova Days"Writer Nicolae Manolescu was awarded the Grand Prix of the "Craiova Days" on Sunday. "At the Bats" - an outstanding work by Marin Sorescu - was awarded the Prize for Literature. The Romanian Broadcasting Corporation (SRR) was awarded a honorary diploma for its 70 years of coverage of major political and economic events. The first Romanian radiobroadcast was released in Craiova 70 years ago. 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