CIA checks on Bucharest

CIA chief Michael Hayden dropped by Bucharest at times when Romania is seized with political and secret service scandals. In one single day the US intelligence chief talked to the President of Romania Traian Basescu, to PM Calin-Popescu Tariceanu and to the chief of the SRI (Romanian Secret Service) and the SIE (Foreign Intelligence Service).
The visit was actually the response to the invitation expressed by George Maior, head of the SRI. Hayden eached Romania last Wednesday, just when the SRI is suspected of political police action.
Scandal in full swing
Whether by coincidence or not, the CIA official paid his visit when the SRI is facing both media crisis and domestic inquiry meant to uncover the way secret information leaks from Romania's most important intelligence service. According to official information from the SRI, the talks between the CIA chief and the representatives of the secret services in Bucharest focused on the evolution of international security, bilateral cooperation in particular, and also on the fight against terrorism. The process meant to transform and modernize the SRI was another issue raised. According to the SRI Press Office, both the Romanian party and the US one expressed appreciation for the two services' mutual trust, as well as for the very good intelligence cooperation between Romania and the US.
'Clarifications' from the US
Apart from the troubled waters in Romanian politics, this visit also ran into the very severe accusations against the SRI activity. The deadlocks in the activity of this institution, an active partner of the similar institutions in the EU and the US, may at a certain time do severe harm to the action in some conflict regions. And it is also about the influence of terrorist and paramilitary groups working in Europe, which is strictly related to the imminent declaration of Kosovo's unilateral independence. It may shake the Balkans' so weak stability from the very foundations. And, given the Romanian-Serbian border, the EU security is also at stake. Hayden's visit to Romania may not be separated from the evolution of the UN's Iranian nuclear case or from a possible military action on the east of the Iraqi border, in the state headed by Ahmadinejad.
Controversial view
After Tuesday's meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT), the Romanian President announced he asked both the Council and the government members to show respect for Romania's firm view on the future state of Kosovo. He mentioned the government was to continue Romania's already expressed approach and used at international level. The President argued: "We can't give it up because of both national and regional interests". He added that Romania wanted the solution to be found to the Kosovo issue to generate stability in the region instead of causing trouble in other regions of Europe, close to Romania.

Doru Dragomir & Marius Batca
Ziua Vineri 28 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english