The PSD (Social-Democrat Party) and the PNL (National Liberal Party) managed to agree on the pension law and the labor committee of the Parliament decided yesterday to rise pensions the way the PSD wanted, so that the minimum pension would reach 37,5% of the average gross wages starting with January 1, 2008 and 45% starting with January 2009.(...)
Satisfied with the outcome, the PSD members dropped the idea to come up with parliamentary bill against the Liberal government and keep the text in the drawer until the final voting on the project, due in the Chamber of Deputies today. The PSD leader Mircea Geoana threatened that PSD MPs playing truant today would be expelled from the parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies.
Roxana Andronic & R.I.P.
Ziua Joi 28 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Devil's advocate
Minister Cristian David used the government's Control Department against Romania in order to protect some lawbreaking Italian investors.
The fraud privatization of the biggest state-owned land company in Transylvania can't be annulled because of a document made up by the ex head of the Government's Control Department, at present Romania's interior minister.
At the end of 2006 the state of Romania asked the court to annul the process on the privatization of a considerable part of the state-owned company Dealul Ocnei. 1,120 hectares of agriculture land, 705 hectares of pasture, 176 hectares of forest vegetation and 18 hectares of roads got in the hands of a company called SC Agriful SRL in 2004. The Italians promised investments of hundred thousands of Euro, but all they did was prepare the land for sale.
The State Property Agency and the Environment Protection Agency became aware of the law break and the contract and addressed the court to annul the privatization. The Italians complained to the government and minister Cristian David ordered checks to deny the reports by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment Protection Agency. The lawyers working for SC Agriful intend to use minister David's report against the Romanian court tomorrow, after postponing the court session eight times. (...)
S.A.
Ziua Miercuri 27 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
The fraud privatization of the biggest state-owned land company in Transylvania can't be annulled because of a document made up by the ex head of the Government's Control Department, at present Romania's interior minister.
At the end of 2006 the state of Romania asked the court to annul the process on the privatization of a considerable part of the state-owned company Dealul Ocnei. 1,120 hectares of agriculture land, 705 hectares of pasture, 176 hectares of forest vegetation and 18 hectares of roads got in the hands of a company called SC Agriful SRL in 2004. The Italians promised investments of hundred thousands of Euro, but all they did was prepare the land for sale.
The State Property Agency and the Environment Protection Agency became aware of the law break and the contract and addressed the court to annul the privatization. The Italians complained to the government and minister Cristian David ordered checks to deny the reports by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment Protection Agency. The lawyers working for SC Agriful intend to use minister David's report against the Romanian court tomorrow, after postponing the court session eight times. (...)
S.A.
Ziua Miercuri 27 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
EU grows more demanding
The European Commission's report on the progress Romania has made in 6 months of EU membership doesn't mention the application of the safeguard clause, but EU authorities advise Romanian officials to draw an action plan with well-defined stages by October, in order to make the necessary reform accomplishments.
The report released yesterday includes some critique of the evolution in the Romanian Justice reform, but it does not recommend the activation of safeguard clauses. It only mentions the monitoring will go on. And Romanian Justice continues to be under Brussels watch and it is supposed to proceed to clear measures.
Practice is flawed
Apart from expressing appreciation for the progress of Romanian Justice, the European Commission explains that specific objectives are to be considered together, as parts of an ample reform of the judicial system needing long term political will. There are demanded ampler proves that theory is put to work so that the changes will prove irreversible. The Romanian government is described as committed to the Justice reform and to the elimination of corruption from the system. The European Commission estimates that Romanian authorities are well meaning and determined and they elaborated legislative projects, action plans and the necessary programmes. Still, there is added, Romania can pass the exam only if showing determination to carry out the measures each and every day. The document points to the flawed transformation of intentions into results.
Romania's intensifying efforts to fight against corruption enjoy appreciation, but there is added that a lot of things still need to be done, as the progress made is still not enough. (...)
The document emphasizes that the needed structural changes effect on society as a whole and call for progress that means more than the mere accomplishing of specific missions. Romania is supposed to prove constant determination and it will succeed if it shows respect for the strict separation of the powers, political will and a stable world of politics.
Justice staff problems
After a strict evaluation of Justice staff problems, the European Commission has concluded that more efforts are needed to complete the staff structure. There is estimated that the reform in the field hasn't been complete. EU officials say that the existing juridical guarantees on the mandates of judges and prosecutors are making the use of a staff policy based on needs more difficult.
The report mentions concern about the quality of the staff recently recruited for the Romanian Justice system and warns that magistrates recruited on a lower standard level may prove hard to eliminate, although unable to meet Justice system requirements. (...)
George Damian
Ziua Joi 28 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
The report released yesterday includes some critique of the evolution in the Romanian Justice reform, but it does not recommend the activation of safeguard clauses. It only mentions the monitoring will go on. And Romanian Justice continues to be under Brussels watch and it is supposed to proceed to clear measures.
Practice is flawed
Apart from expressing appreciation for the progress of Romanian Justice, the European Commission explains that specific objectives are to be considered together, as parts of an ample reform of the judicial system needing long term political will. There are demanded ampler proves that theory is put to work so that the changes will prove irreversible. The Romanian government is described as committed to the Justice reform and to the elimination of corruption from the system. The European Commission estimates that Romanian authorities are well meaning and determined and they elaborated legislative projects, action plans and the necessary programmes. Still, there is added, Romania can pass the exam only if showing determination to carry out the measures each and every day. The document points to the flawed transformation of intentions into results.
Romania's intensifying efforts to fight against corruption enjoy appreciation, but there is added that a lot of things still need to be done, as the progress made is still not enough. (...)
The document emphasizes that the needed structural changes effect on society as a whole and call for progress that means more than the mere accomplishing of specific missions. Romania is supposed to prove constant determination and it will succeed if it shows respect for the strict separation of the powers, political will and a stable world of politics.
Justice staff problems
After a strict evaluation of Justice staff problems, the European Commission has concluded that more efforts are needed to complete the staff structure. There is estimated that the reform in the field hasn't been complete. EU officials say that the existing juridical guarantees on the mandates of judges and prosecutors are making the use of a staff policy based on needs more difficult.
The report mentions concern about the quality of the staff recently recruited for the Romanian Justice system and warns that magistrates recruited on a lower standard level may prove hard to eliminate, although unable to meet Justice system requirements. (...)
George Damian
Ziua Joi 28 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
Romania under accusation
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed yesterday the second report authored by Swiss MEP Dick Marty, claiming that Romania and Poland housed CIA detention centers in 2003-2005. The resolution draft attached to the report released in June 8 in Paris was adopted due to 124 favorable votes in a long lasting session.
The numerous amendments from the delegations representing Poland and Romania were all dismissed. Given the decision, the Parliament of Europe is going to continue investigations and both states at stake may get severe sanctions in case they are found guilty of breaking human rights.
The accusations claiming that in 2003-2005 Poland and Romania housed CIA secret detention centers were denied by both Warsaw and Bucharest authorities. The report also claims that states like Germany and Italy opposed the search for the truth by invoking the secret of state. The resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly claims that national governments invoked the secret of state and national security in order to prevent judiciary or parliamentary procedures meant to decide on responsibilities.
The resolution also demands that member states should promise to play no part in authorizing the transportation and detention of detainees still in Guantanamo on their territories. The document insists on the rehabilitation of victims, reminding that secret detention is a break of commitments taken by the US and the member states.
Wall of silence
Dick Marty argued that European governments built "a wall of silence" to reply to accusations of complicity to the CIA programme on the secret detention of terrorist suspects. He added that a concept such as secret of state was unacceptable when it was about breaking human rights.
Polish senator Urszula Gacek commented this was a conspiracy theory fueled by a generous anti-American feeling. Romanian politician Vasile Ungureanu described Marty's report as resembling "a movie script" and he demanded it should be dismissed. (...)
George Damian
Ziua Joi 28 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
Prosecutors question ex Romanian President
Military prosecutors questioned ex Romanian President Ion Iliescu yesterday afternoon on the case concerning the 4 Romanians who had died during the coal miners' attacks in June 1990. The ex President reached the office accompanied by his lawyer Ion Neagu, after being summoned for the third time.
Before talking to the prosecutors he told the journalists there that there was nothing he could reproach himself for in relation to the events at stake. He also added having asked the Prosecutor's Office to materialize the facts that could incriminate him so that he would have something to talk about with the military prosecutors. He commented: "I have received nothing from prosecutors so far. This is investigators' duty before starting any inquiry".
The ex President was critical of the way he was charged, claiming that fishy persons were behind the action. He argued: "For now we know the complaints from people and groups who say all sorts of aberration. The accusations are the work of complaint authors on whose morality there is much doubt". (...)
T. B.
Ziua Joi 28 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
New Constitution wanted
A group of Romanian intellectuals wrote an Appeal for a New Constitution, claiming there is need of "a new constitutional order" to "enshrine and settle the reality of the third republic". Catalin Avramescu, Andrei Cornea, Gabriel Liiceanu, Mircea Mihaies, Horia-Roman Patapievici, Andrei Plesu, Vladimir Tismaneanu si Traian Ungureanu author the initiative.
The initiators of the document argue: "Together with a significant part of the public, we are asking for a new Constitution. In other words, we want normality to reign over public power. We are demanding a referendum to decide on the form of the regime. We are asking for a Constitution to respect the sovereignty of people". According to the authors, Romania needs "a Constitution compatible to European values and Romania's international status, a Constitution to limit to the number of mandates and provide society with means to have control over the elected". The fundamental law they are pursuing is described as a means "to separate the powers clearly and guarantee fundamental rights".
And there is also an urge to dialogue: "We are therefore pleading for public debate on the new Constitution principles. No one has got the right to impose to Romanians, like it happened in the past, a Constitutional project elaborated behind shut doors. The New Constitution must be the outcome of public and collective efforts".
Anca Hriban
Ziua Miercuri 27 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
The initiators of the document argue: "Together with a significant part of the public, we are asking for a new Constitution. In other words, we want normality to reign over public power. We are demanding a referendum to decide on the form of the regime. We are asking for a Constitution to respect the sovereignty of people". According to the authors, Romania needs "a Constitution compatible to European values and Romania's international status, a Constitution to limit to the number of mandates and provide society with means to have control over the elected". The fundamental law they are pursuing is described as a means "to separate the powers clearly and guarantee fundamental rights".
And there is also an urge to dialogue: "We are therefore pleading for public debate on the new Constitution principles. No one has got the right to impose to Romanians, like it happened in the past, a Constitutional project elaborated behind shut doors. The New Constitution must be the outcome of public and collective efforts".
Anca Hriban
Ziua Miercuri 27 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
Justice minister's new secret service
The SIPA (Independent Service for Protection and Anti-Corruption) is not extinct. It became the DPCMP (Department to Prevent Criminality in Prisons), a secret service plotted by Romania's ex Justice minister Monica Macovei, now serving the Liberal Justice minister.
The dismemberment of the SIPA was just a lie for the EU. Government Decision 127/ 2006 dismembering the former secret service wasn't carried out because the archive wasn't transferred to national security institutions. The archive is still in the headquarters of the National Administration of Prisons, just a few meters away from the office of the ex SIPA head Doru Dobocan. The latter is now head of the DPCMP, a department established when the SIPA was dismembered.
Given the minister's order in March 2007, Dobocan's department got 105 more officers, hired after "admission examination". The number of the new department's employees is identical to the number of SIPA employees. Dobocan told the ZIUA reporters that ex SIPA officers were admitted in his department, but he denied it was a secret service.
Tudor Chiuariu, Romania's minister of Justice, was the one supposed to see to the archive transfer and obedience to EU directives and he can make successful use of the new secret service. Dobocan provides the Liberal minister with daily information on the activity and results of the DPCMP. (...)
R.S.
Ziua Joi 28 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
Foreign minister denies having been humiliated at US border
According to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania's foreign minister Adrian Cioroianu was not under security checks when entering or exiting the US. The institution denies the information in yesterday's ZIUA report. But ZIUA sources still claim the checks took place.
In June 15, 2007, Octavian Andronic authored an article in "Buna Ziua Brasov" providing the following information: "When entering the US territory, the foreign minister was under the standard checks used by immigration authorities: he took off his belt and shoes for the antiterrorist check, he was fingerprinted and they took a digital photo of him". Octavian Andronic told us presently: "This is the usual antiterrorist check. They asked Mircea Geoana too to take off his shoes and belt and they fingerprinted him when he was a foreign minister".
Romania's ex PM Adrian Nastase claims in his turn that the fingerprinting and photographing when a citizens enters the EU for the first time have become compulsory. (...)
US Embassy claims the same
In the press release elaborated yesterday the US Embassy in Bucharest emphasizes that the information claiming the Romanian minister wasn't appropriately welcomed at the US airport by US officials is completely false. There is mentioned that it is the obligation of US airport officials to use etiquette on all high level visitors to the US. In case of foreign official delegations, there is added, special procedures are used at check points to hurry up the entry.
D.E.
Ziua Miercuri 27 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
This saddening face called Romania
During the EU summit on the new constitutional treaty I felt as humiliated as I hadn't felt for a long time. Romania's participation was national shame, like sad supernumerary carrying Germany's dress train. It was embarrassingly impersonal. An embarrassing picture showing what actress Oana Pellea calls Romanica ('small Romania').
Humiliation was greater in contrast with Poland, a country turning from a satellite of the USSR into an elite player for acquiring status as great power, a transformation due to its integrity. We don't even seem to dream about getting such a status. We do nothing that can make Romania regain its international dignity and reach the players' desk.
The return to monarchy would be a guarantee. Had PM Tariceanu been His Majesty's PM, he wouldn't have allowed Romania to carry someone's dress train, even if it belonging to the first economic force in Europe. We could have made a tandem with Britain and chosen Euro-American solidarity.
The Brussels summit ended up with the adoption of a constitutional treaty full of aberration (such as the appointing of a foreign minister of Europe, the EU as juridical person of international law, elimination of the Beethoven hymn, which was the only compensation to Europeans' cowardliness to mention their fundamental Christian roots in the Constitution, the proclamation of socialism as state religion in the EU by eliminating the competition principle and more). And Romania agreed without setting conditions.
Romania's participation to this historical European reunion was so weak because those top politicians supposed to take responsibility and represent our country's interests in the EU honorably have been busy with lynching each other for two years and a half now instead of reaching consensus on Romania's interests. It is on the other hand true that PM Tariceanu had to counter President Basescu's offensive to dismember the National Liberal Party. But it is just that the PM could very well fight against the President and prepare a new international strategy for Romania as well. Unfortunately, nor Presidency nor the government took interest in it.
As for the President's intellectuals, they were useless too. They have been concerned about President Basescu's progress, but at all about a strategy for Romania. They have pursued at least one more mandate for the President. As for the governmental side, it seemed to care only about Tariceanu's score against Basescu. And the result of it was national self-goals during the EU constitution summit. And the two of them got along, which is surprising. What a sad consensus on Romania's subordinate status in Europe !
But we can't blame it just one the present irresponsible officials. Romania as the poor family relative reaching the EU court is the outcome of an undignified history.
Unfortunately, Romania is the only ex Communist European country not housing active civil society. It also is the only ex Communist Europe state where dissidence moves coordinated from within the Romanian Communist Party didn't take place. The hundred thousands of ex anti-Communist political detainees lived secluded or exiled. A handful of brave, dignified and very lonely people were protesting in the void. Because of enjoying no support, they were arrested or exiled.
Romania can't be compared to Poland, the Czech Republic or Hungary. Romania didn't shelter a move such as the "Solidarity", civic opposition such as the Czech Republic had or national riots such as in Hungary. Romania led a coward's life. And therefore Romanians have got the rulers and the results they deserve.
Roxana Iordache
Ziua Miercuri 27 Iunie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english
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