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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-02-25
February 25, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] Letter of President Constantinescu to Parliament
[02] Meeting of the Political Coordination Council of the Governing
Coalition
[03] "Romania Does Not Break Her Relation withthe IMF", PD Vicepresident
Traian Basescu says
[04] The Address of the Romanian President on the Occasion of National Flag
Day
[01] Letter of President Constantinescu to Parliament
A communiqe issued by the Press Bureau of Romanian Presidency says that due
to recent encouraging developments in the Gulf crisis, Romanian President
Emil Constantinescu has sent a letter to the speakers of both Houses in
Parliament. In his letter, the president recommends the postponement of the
debates in parliament concerning Romania's participation in the
multinational intervention force in Iraq. The letter of the president says:
"I wish to express my satisfaction about the UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan's mission to Baghdad which opens the way to a political solution to
the crisis. As I already said in my previous statements, Romania considers
that a diplomatic solution is the only constructive way to end the crisis,
and I express my hope that the signed agreement will reach a consensus
within the UN Security Council and it will represent a longlasting solution
able to insure peace and security in the Middle East and into the world".
The 60-member multifunctional Romanian force was to include a medical
department, a department for nuclear, bioleogical and chemical protection
and a department of logistic intervention. At the same time, Romania was to
provide free access for all fighter planes of the participant states to fly
her airspace as well as free access to her airbases in Bucharest-Otopeni,
Jarmat-Timisoara and Mihail Kogalniceanu-Constanta for temporary landing
and refueling in case of emergency. The president has asked his defence and
foreign ministers to pay their attention to all developments in the Gulf
and provide permanent information to the government. RADOR, February 25
[02] Meeting of the Politcal Coordinatination Council of the Governing
Coalition
The Political Coordination Council of the Governing Coalition met on
Tuesday to examine ways of political support for the government in its
attempt to complete the draft law of the budget and put an end to existing
differences concerning its negotiations with the IMF. The council decided
yesterday to provide political support for the 1998 draft austerity budget.
In a statement to RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, the leader of the governing
Democratic Party (PD) Petre Roman said the tough restructuring programme
should be supported, but not by all means or unconditionally. The PD leader
siad the governing coalition should guaratee that "the light at the end of
tunnel would be seen at last". In his turn, Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea
said the leaders of the coalition have accepted proposals the government
has made in order to amend the draft budget. According to the same source,
the prime minister has asked for a trenchant solution to the political
crisis: his resignation should be accepted or the PD should put an end to
its attacks which have badly affected Romania's image. Victor Ciorbea says
his resignation was always available for the president, the Democratic
Convention of Romania or the Christian-Democrat National Peasant Party
(PNTCD). The prime minister warns that, however, the budget remains the top
priority. "I am convinced that, in the end, most of political leaders and
MPs will understand that the adoption of the budget is urgently requested
by the end of March at the latest. At the same time, I suppose everybody
will understand that the memorandum with the IMF should be renewed", the
prime minister said. RADOR, February 25
[03] "Romania does not break her relations with the IMF", PD Vicepresident
Traian Basescu says
The PD Political Committee met at the PD headquarters on Tuesday. The
meeting was aimed at analysing the reports presented by the PD leader Petre
Roman, vicepresident Traian Basescu and Bogdan Bujor Teodoriu concerning
the talks on Moday with Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea and other members in
the Cabinet. According to the statement of vicepresident Basescu to RADIO
ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, the reports issued by members of the PD Political
Council and PD National Permanent Bureau focused on the real situation in
Romania and the budget after a year of governing coalition rule. Mr Basescu
has stressed that the suspension of the memorandum with the IMF did not
mean that Romania has put an end to her relations with the international
body as Romania is an IMF member. RADOR, February 25
[04] The address of the Romanian president on the occasion of the National
Flag Day
On February 24, Romania is celebrating for the first time the National Flag
Day. Under col. Duta command, the Guard Brigade participated in a ceremony
at the Arch of Tryumph in Bucharest on Tuesday. Other participants included
troops wearing parade uniforms, the Army National Music conducted by lt.
col. Ion Croitoru and the Army Male Choir conducted by Gheorghe Popescu.
Romanian President Emil Constantinescu, MPs, Cabinet ministers, Prime
Minister Victor Ciorbea, generals and senior officers of the Romanian Army,
foreign military attaches and diplomats have also attended the ceremony.
Here are some excerps from the presidential address: "There is no other
symbol hollier and closer to our hearts that this flag. For too many times
in this century, the storms of history and mindless people have changed our
National Hymn, but, for more than a century and a half, nobody, no
temporary rule, and no other temporary command did ever dare to harm the
holy colours of our national flag. People of our land have died in wars and
revolutions to defend these three colours. Many people spent years in
prison to defend these colours and the high principles they represented.
Above all, these three colours are the symbol of the unity, sovereignity
and integrity of the Romanian state, and these supreme values absolutely
deserve an hour of our tribute together". The Romanian president has
welcomed the event and stressed that "it was not the consequence of the
initiative the government has made", but only an "immediate answer to a
well-sustained proposal made by the civil community". RADOR, February 25
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