* ROMANIA's WONDERS *

Corvin’s Castle – Hunedoara – Was build in XVth Century, and has reach his celebrity both for medieval legends about him, and for the rumours about Iancu of Hunedoara and Matei Corvin

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PSD bill against government reaches Parliament

The PSD (Social-Democrat Party) bill against the government reached the Romanian Parliament yesterday, due to the list of 139 signatures expressing support for this initiative. PSD members Ion Iliescu and Adrian Nastase signed for it too, although opposing the bill idea. Last Friday Ion Iliescu had mentioned that he would obey the party decision, still expressing hope the bill would fail. As for Adrian Nastase, he put it bluntly that he was "reluctant". Yesterday in the Parliament there was a large group of Social-Democrats also expressing skepticism about the odds of this PSD action. The document is to be debated in the Parliament next week and it needs 235 favorable polls in order to pass.
Adrian Nastase's reticence
After the meeting of PSD deputies yesterday, the ex PM Adrian Nastase said he had signed for the bill against the ruling Cabinet to abide by the rules in politics, although he was "reticent" about the political situation to emerge in case the bill passed. He also mentioned he was hopeful that it would help things become clear within the party. He commented: "Just like other colleagues in the parliamentary groups, I still think the same about this action. I am somehow reticent, since I haven't realized yet what will follow if the bill is successful". As for Ion Iliescu, he had said a few days before that he was hopeful the bill would fail. (...)

Roxana Andronic & R.P.
Ziua Marti 25 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

General Stanciu's connection

The documents Mugur Ciuvica, head of the Group for Political Investigations, uncovered had been drawn at the time when Radu Timofte was chief of the SRI (Romanian Secret Service). The link between the latter and Traian Basescu's former colleague in Anvers continued outside the SRI too.
According to the two documents unveiled by Mugur Ciuvica, the SRI is spying on the PNL (National Liberal Party) and on Liberal senator Norica Nicolai. The documents consist in two annexes to some materials authored by the SRI Group for Registration and they are signed by General Vasile Stanciu. One interesting detail is that July 20, 2006, the date mentioned on one of the two documents, was the very day when Radu Timofte, Gheorghe Fulga and Virgil Ardelean resigned at Cotroceni Palace because of the scandal emerging after Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam had fled Romania.
Even if one of the documents is signed by Colonel Florin Coldea, deputy of the SRI chief, given the SRI interior regulation, any document addressing the chief reaches one of the deputies first, depending on their attributions. In this case the document reached Colonel Coldea, at that time in charge of all the operative matters within the SRI.
As far as General Vasile Stanciu is concerned, he was several times reported to have been an under cover officer in Anvers at the time when Traian Basescu, now President of Romania, was head of the Navrom Agency in Anvers. Right after reaching Cotroceni Palace, Traian Basescu would tell the SRI generals that, if one of them wanted more information about him, they should ask Colonel Vasile Stanciu, whom he could see attending that very meeting. (...)
SRI under domestic inquiry
The SRI head George Maior argued yesterday that he could neither confirm nor deny the authenticity of the documents uncovered by the Group for Political Investigations, announcing that the SRI was under domestic inquiry for a week.
The SRI chief explained: "It is about alleged events that occurred in the summer of 2006. The SRI is looking into the matter. Right now we can neither confirm nor deny the documents presented by Mugur Ciuvica. We are analyzing them". He added he was categorically denying any prejudice or judgement on political police action and monitoring of parties blamed on the SRI. He argued: "There has been no monitoring of senator Norica Nicolai or of any political party, no matter which one, or of the Romanian President. After all, his name too is mentioned in one of the documents Mugur Ciuvica produced".
Liberals wants the guilty to step back
Liberal senator Norica Nicolai argued yesterday that she wouldn't voice accusations against the SRI since she lacked evidence, but she claimed the guilty should step back if the accusations were proved true.
The senator explained: "The SRI is enjoying the presumption of innocence from the PNL. Still we are hopeful that Romania is not turning into a state of the 50s, of the totalitarian beginning when communism succeeded due to the active support from some intelligence services". She outlined she was blaming no one, still commenting that what was unveiled now about some SRI officers' activity could mean break of personal rights and liberties. (...)

D.S.S. & Razvan Gheorghe
Ziua Marti 25 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Presidency informed about inquiry against ex minister Codrut Seres

The Prosecutor's Office informed Romanian Presidency yesterday about the case against Codrut Seres, a former minister of economy and commerce. According to the press release from the Public Ministry, the Prosecutor's Office demands that the President of Romania Traian Basescu should summon the special commission to analyze documents on a crime committed by Codrut Seres while a minister of economy and commerce.
The first case the ex minister is investigated in involves charges such as treason by sending secrets and making an organized crime group meant to unveil an economic secret. (...)
The second case is up to the Department for Fight against Organized Crime and Terrorism to handle and it concerns crimes such as undermining of national economy and supporting a criminal association. (...)

Bogdan Galca
Ziua Marti 25 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Labor minister investigated for bribe

Yesterday the DNA (National Anti-Corruption Department) asked Presidency for consent to the opening of criminal inquiry against Paul Pacuraru, Romania's labor minister, for bribe accusations.
The minister told the ZIUA journalists that he had no idea why prosecutors were asking for consent to the opening of criminal investigations against him. He said he didn't know what case it was about, adding that he would go to the DNA this morning to ask the head to show him the case. The minister claimed he had received no official announcement about anti-corruption prosecutors' case against him, adding it was in the newspapers that he read about the DNA head Daniel Morar asking Presidency to consent to the inquiry.
Minister Pacuraru denied the accusation that he had been bribed and he expressed his regret that, instead of handling more serious matters, he had to see to "a bad taste show with made up accusations". He commented: "I deny that ever in my life have I asked for something in exchange to favors. I deny that I have ever got or touched some money".
The Romanian minister claimed it was a political scandal meant to defame the government in power. He commented: "I will want to see if the DNA is somehow responsible. I have no doubt this is about different interests. I want to know who will take the responsibility for it if these accusations are proved not true".
He also argued that he should have been informed about it and he mentioned he would address the DNA today: "It is my right to learn what this is about. When they produce some recording, some demand I expressed or some person to prove I asked for something, I will resign and I don't need the President's consent".
The minister added the government he was a member of didn't and wouldn't have a corruption problem: "Anything can be made up. What matters is that they are inducing the idea that the government has got a corruption problem. This government will carry out mandate with clean hands".

A.G.
Ziua Marti 25 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english