* Art Gallery * (Part Two - Computer Drawings)

*Arnold*

*Bronze Head*

*Carribean Pirate*

*Country Road*

*Black And White Draw*

*Grand Angulaire*

*Hand Two*

*Horror Character*

*King Kong*

*Eagle*

*Elephant*

*EvE*

*Blue Dress*

*Godess*

*Jack*

*Lost And Found*

*Lying*

*Modern Man*

*Mr. Bobby*

*Sepia Nude*

*Portrait of A Girl*

*Pretty Blonde*

*Scotsman*

*Soft Draw*

*Sunrise*

*Soap Draw*

*The North Wind*

*The Other Side*

*The Surfer*

*300*

*Water Face*

*Winter Alley*

*Swans*

*Young Girl*

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Zangy Comment Graphics

* Art Gallery * (Part One - Computer Drawings)

Zangy Comment Graphics

*A Kind of Me*

*Amber*

*The Assassin*

*Captain Jack Sparrow*

*Black And White*

*City Pulse*

*Woman*

*Cool Winter*

*Old Man*

*The Fire*

*Eye*

*Fire Flies*

*Hand*

*Foggy Winter*

[NOTE: All those drawings was made on PC, they being a part of my Private Drawings Gallery - mig007]

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Doina Cornea: Basescu makes us all feel insecure

In her interview to ZIUA, Doina Cornea comments on the latest political events, emphasizing she fears for Romania's fate, although, due to the government in power, life has become bearable.
As for the latest accusations against the Romanian Justice minister Tudor Chiuariu, she opines that the President of Romania Traian Basescu is involved in it, for the head of state has thus found a way to assault the government. In her opinion, the President is interested only in political dispute, a way he wants to use to overthrow the government. She describes the head of state as follows: "Basescu is a politician who makes us all feel insecure because of his moves. He has even managed to make the Magyars lose solidarity".
She argues that President Basescu enjoys popularity because people are misinformed and also because lots of intellectuals are unaware of how dangerous it is to praise a man "showing dictatorial tendencies, a man who wants no one to oppose him, a man who wants one single party and fake opposition". (...)

I.S.
Ziua Sambata 22 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Basescu and Geoana plot plan

The Social-Democrats' bill against the government is standing small chance to pass in the Parliament, although theoretical calculations are showing the opposite. The difference between the number of votes needed to overthrow the Cabinet in power and the coalition made to achieve it - the PSD (Social-Democrat Party), the PD (Democrat Party) and the PLD (Liberal-Democrat-Party) - is just 12 MPs. There are 5 PSD senators who will be absent because they are sick, there is Ion Iliescu who is against the idea and there are many other more MPs who think the PSD action is risky, which is why the bill is likely to be a failure. The bill is also critical of ministers from the PD, which can be a reason for the Democrats to dismiss it.
The PSD leader Mircea Geoana is aware that failure would mean not only a disadvantage to his image, but also a reason for him to get the sack and lose leadership over the party. He will therefore carry out a plan he plotted together with the President of Romania Traian Basescu, a plan to make him sure he will continue to head the PSD. In exchange to overthrowing the Tariceanu Cabinet and to PSD support for a minority PD government with Vasile Blaga as PM, Traian Basescu will help him settle domestic party problems. The President promised the PSD leader to uncover criminal cases on every potential enemy Mircea Geoana has got in the very PSD.
Secret voting, but in the open
Therefore the PSD leader threatened to expel the disobedient Social-Democrats and he imposed control over the future votes. He broke the law by announcing his intention to ask for voting in the open. According to article 34 in the regulation of both Chambers, "the withdrawal of confidence granted to the government by means of passing a bill against the government is subject to a procedure such as the secret voting by ballots". But the PSD leader is actually imposing censorship in the Parliament, as his party members will have to vote against their own beliefs and principles and implicitly against the citizens who elected them.
Mircea Geoana admits that party leaders are fearful because "the PSD MPs are right now a little nervous because the bill is standing real chances to pass". PSD member Nicolae Vacaroiu, a president of the Romanian Senate, commented briefly: "It is a policy parties take up to have control over the poll results. In my opinion, this is no longer secret voting, its is a vote out of fear. The PSD may go for it too". He added that sanctions against those party members opposing the bill would mean preference for dictatorship.

Roxana Andronic
Ziua Sambata 22 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

The secret not secret

If we take the Social-Democrats' bill against the government as a mere democratic exercise and we don't insist on the political mechanism that made Mircea Geoana open this procedure, we should normally consider the means of voting. According to the regulation of the two Chambers, the fundamental law on the Parliament, the voting that may decide to overthrow the Tariceanu Cabinet must be secret. But it would not be the first time a secret has turned into no secret by organized means. So what is the voting with ballots, in fact ? Is this a legal solution? Or is it a gross break of the regulation ? And is it also a test on disdain for electors ?
Sources from within the PSD (Social-Democrat Party) speak about tensions emerging because of Mircea Geoana's bill against the government, an initiative most of the party leaders have joined unenthusiastically. There is a first split between this staff, dominated by the representatives of local party branches, and the body that will in the end obey the political order coming after the start of the operation meant to dismiss the 2nd Tariceanu government. This body, meaning the reunited groups, is made of PSD parliamentarians only. The split has emerged because when they agreed to Mircea Geoana's initiative the MPs played a minor part. Most of them were simply ignored. And still it is them who will help the bill pass or be dismissed, after all. If all the senators and deputies representing the PSD, the PD (Democrat Party) and the PLD (Liberal Democrat Party) vote for it, there will be enough votes and the government will collapse. But the score will be very tight anyway. At least 5 PSD members are sure to be absent, because they are sick. And such cases are also likely with the PD and the PLD. And we must count those who will disobey the party decision as well. Ion Iliescu may be one of them. He has been against the bill so far, but when the voting time came he refrained.
Therefore the battle will be tight. Given this, I am convinced that, in order to have control on its MPs, the PSD will decide that the secret voting will be no secret: ballots used in the open. And more parties will probably do the same.
But is the ballot voting legal ? This is a common sense question the regulation answers negatively. The secret voting is not a right of the Parliament, but an obligation. Under certain circumstances, the secret voting guarantees citizens that the MPs they elected express themselves freely, under no constraint, that they may use the right to decide and vote in keeping with their own beliefs, with no party leaders forcing them into placing one ballot or the other into the urn. Had citizens' will been different from the one mentioned above, it would have been pointless to allow for secret voting under certain circumstances.
An overt law break that validates itself is a habit only in Romania and in such cases antecedents replace the law. It would not be the first time when, taking the orders from the party staff, the MPs break the Parliament regulation. And it would neither be the first time when the lawman there ignores it instead of annulling all such votes. Such a habit must normally be done away with. I am convinced both civil society and the Constitutional Court should take firm action, as this bill against the government is a good opportunity for it.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Sambata 22 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

We Wish You...

Zangy Comment Graphics

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Zangy Comment Graphics

* ROMANIA's WONDERS *

Black Church – Brasov - This Monument was finished in 1477, after hundred Years from the begining of build works, Black Church is the bigggest gothic church in the South-Eastern Europe (he can reach 5.000 people)

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Double play

A government of PSD (Social-Democrat Party) and PNL (National Liberal Party) members would have as obstacles only the leaders of the two parties, Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu. The long lasting talks of the main politicians in Romania, meant to find a structure for a stabile government, seem to be approaching the end. Even if political leaders claim officially that they can't estimate the outcome of the PSD bill against the government, and even if there is collaboration between the PNL and the PD (Democrat Party), the PSD and the PD or the PSD or the PNL, two identical moves are emerging. The main sides in the PSD and the PNL think that to give leaders Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu the sack is the solution for the making of a future PNL-PSD government.
PSD opinion leaders argue that reasonable analysis shows an alliance with the PD would be no good, because President Basescu, the unofficial boss of the party, has proved an unpredictable partner. Therefore a Liberal-Social-Democrat achievement seems more realistic. But Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu are the only obstacles. The former is a leader unable to impose himself on his party and even the PSD group in Cluj agrees this is so. Top PSD members reproach him for his naďve approach to the political traps set by the Romanian President. The latest confusion in the PSD and the existence of so many chaotic versions for negotiations have been reasons for dissatisfaction, according to top PSD sources. They claim that the sacking of Mircea Geona is just a matter of time. On the other hand, Calin-Popescu Tariceanu is reproached for failing to find stabile partners to support the government and also for the Liberals' diminishing score in polls. Given these, a PNL-PSD government is a solution the two parties can put up with, but above their leaders.
Mircea Geoana approaching the end
Mircea Geoana's days as president of the PSD are counted and some party members have got to talk about the end of his career as leader of the most important party in the opposition. His fate depends on the outcome of the bill against the government and of the election of MEPs in Romania. According to parliamentary sources, the bill may fail with help from the very Social-Democrat MPs. Not even in his meeting with President Basescu could the PSD president offer guarantees for his colleagues' votes.
As he is aware of what may follow if the bill is dismissed, Mircea Geoana has decided sanctions against those MPs who vote against the bill and he has been pleading for overt voting in the Parliament. A failure would give the PSD hard times, as the Social-Democrats have been focussing their energy to show they are the true pawn on the political boar. In case of defeat, Mircea Geona won't be in the position of expressing claims from the PD or the PNL and a loser's image would do the party no good. (...)
PSD sources say one idea negotiated was a reformed PSD to make a government. The reform wanted by the PD, the PNL and President Traian Basescu in particular would mean the elimination of those leaders in trouble with their credibility. Did this follow, there may emerge battle for supremacy over party sides. Furthermore, in his meeting with the head of state, Mircea Geoana was told that he wouldn't be appointed a PM to head a one single party government or even a government with Democrat members. (...)

D.I.
Ziua Vineri 21 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Two on the scaffold

Two top personalities will fall for two different reasons, both of them related to the struggle for power. Mircea Geoana and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu are these personalities. The first will lose leadership over the PSD (Social-Democrat Party) either after the bill against the government fails or because of his party's poor score in the election of MEPs. As for Calin-Popescu Tariceanu, he will lose his presidency over the PNL (National Liberal Party), even if he stays a PM. The reasons for it is his stubbornness, his obstinate refusal to make a long-term pact with the Socialist left.
Seemingly, Traian Basescu is making the rules again. More or less secretly, he is meeting with Mircea Geoana to plot the collapse of the 2nd Tariceanu government and either the establishing of a Democrat government or early elections. The PD (Democrat Party) has said it firmly many a time that they will have no collaboration whatsoever with the PD. Therefore a majority government to carry out the 4-year legislative government is out of question. If the 2nd Tariceanu Cabinet collapses, the Parliament will either accept a minority government of the PD and the PLD (Liberal Democrat Party), which is unlikely, because parties wouldn't join Traian Basescu's game and allow him to do what he pleases. Or the Parliament sticks to the other scenario, so far ceaselessly dismissed: the early elections, initiated by the same Traian Basescu. In order to put some gas on the fire the head of state is inciting the DNA (National Anti-Corruption Department) and the Prosecutor's Office too to a last assault. It will be the end of their credibility, but it will be efficient in blackmailing. Criminal cases are being opened against some politicians opposing the plans plotted in Cotroceni Palace. It is a focused attempt to make the government lose credibility and weaken the opposition Mircea Geoana is faced with in the PSD because of his mumbling dialogue with Traian Basescu. The latter lacks any foreign credibility, but he is extremely popular with people lacking basic education and knowledge of politics.
I have emphasized the President seems to be making the rules. Here is why. The idea is that for multiple reasons, some generous and ethical, others petty, the Parliament will avoid any scenario that may shorten the mandate and lead to early elections. Since politicians perceive Traian Basescu as public enemy no. 1, it is reasonable that the Parliament should struggle to avoid the second scenario considered by Cotroceni Palace: a minority PD-PLD government to grant Traian Basescu with unlimited powers.
Collaboration with the PSD would be suicide for both sides. Therefore the survival of the 2nd Tariceanu Cabinet is the only hypothesis left. Today's political crisis is fueled by three main leaders: Traian Basescu and we know what he pursues, Mircea Geoana, pushed from inside the party and lured towards suicide from Cotroceni Palace, and Calin-Popescu Tariceanu. The latter is obstinately dismissing the only way he can save his party on medium and long term.
Those who pushed MirceaGeona into the lethal scenario of the bill, which will obviously be dismissed, will soon do away with him from the leadership over the PSD.
As a PM, Calin-Popescu Tariceanu will continue in the recovery ward connected to the oxygen devices. But he will lose leadership over the party, in order to help the PNL survive in the future, and he will make room for a wing willing to make a left center alliance to open Liberals' access to power after 2008. If I am right, Traian Basescu will head failure.

Sorin Rosca Stanescu
Ziua Vineri 21 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Managers earn 11 average salaries a month

The earnings of top managers in private companies are 11,4 larger than the average salary in Romania, as calculated by the National Statistics Institute. A manager's gains reach over 3,500 Euro a month, according to the "PayWell - Salary and Benefits 2007" research authored by the PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The latter research is based on data in April 2006-April 2007. 1,027 RON is the average salary for April 2007, the National Statistics Institute says. Ruxandra Stoian, head of the consulting and human resource department of the PwC explained in yesterday's press conference: "We can notice a stabilization of the market, as in 1997-2000 the salaries of top management employees were about 20 times better than the average wages". The report mentions the salaries of experts employed by private companies are 3,1 times the average gaining. (...)
The research is grounded on interviews with 187 private companies on foreign capital, in 11 different fields: pharmaceutics, industry, IT, consume products, retail, banks, cars, distribution, agriculture, outsourcing and insurance. They employ a total of 150,000 people. Most companies participating have got business of over 10 million Euro. The PwC staff mentioned these companies were not representative for the entire market. (...)

Alina Stanciu
Ziua Vineri 21 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

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PimpingYourSpace.com Rules!

* ROMANIA's WONDERS *

Cristian fortified Church - Sibiu - This Church is one of the 21 medieval fortified church who was builded in XIII-XVIth Centuries, included on the UNESCO World Monuments List

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Bush presses Congress to extend domestic spying

FORT MEADE, Maryland (Reuters) - President George W. Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to expand the government's domestic spying powers permanently or risk leaving the country vulnerable to another terrorist attack.
The Democratic-led Congress in August temporarily expanded the Bush administration's authority to monitor phone calls, e-mails and other electronic communications between individuals in the United States and someone overseas suspected of terrorism ties, without obtaining court approval.
Critics warn the program could violate the civil liberties of law-abiding Americans if their private communications are scooped up by the surveillance net.
Bush said the 1978 law on surveillance was "dangerously out of date" and unable to deal with evolving technology such as disposable cell phones and the Internet. The law must be changed to give intelligence agencies the tools needed to prevent attacks on American soil, he said.
"Without these tools it'll be harder to figure out what our enemies are doing to train, recruit and infiltrate operatives into America", Bush said during a visit to the National Security Agency, which conducts surveillance of electronic communications on targets around the world.
"Without these tools, our country will be much more vulnerable to attack", Bush added.
The expanded powers expire in February. Many Democrats are wary of renewing them permanently and want more safeguards included in future legislation.
"Today, the president continues to seek unchecked surveillance powers that many of us in Congress cannot support", said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman John Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat.
"The president needs to step up to the plate and show that he is willing to work with Congress to get this important legislation passed. Political speeches deriding Democrats will not help get us closer to that goal", he said.
Rep. Jane Harman, a California Democrat who will testify at a House of Representatives hearing on the issue on Thursday, said "I have an open mind to some changes" to the current Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
But she opposed making the temporary expansion of powers approved in August permanent. "It basically guts the careful checks and balances in FISA", she said.
The White House also wants retroactive liability protection for telecommunications firms that helped the government in the warrantless spying program and now face lawsuits. Some Democrats also support protection for the firms.
"It's particularly important for Congress to provide meaningful liability protection to those companies now facing multibillion dollar lawsuits only because they are believed to have assisted in efforts to defend our nation following the 9/11 attacks", Bush said.
National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell said at a congressional hearing this week that no Americans had been targeted for warrantless eavesdropping since he took over the job in February.
The debate over domestic spying was expected to surface in the confirmation hearings of retired federal Judge Michael Mukasey, who was nominated by Bush this week to replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

By Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters
Reuters Joi 20 Septembrie 2007 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070919/

* ROMANIA's WONDERS *

Densus Church - It was builded in XVI-th Century on the debries of an Ancient Age construction and is the most older church in where are officed (orthodox) religious services

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Romania's population diminishes

The President of Romania Traian Basescu outlined yesterday that in the last 17 years Romania's population lost 1,4 million inhabitants because of international immigration and diminishing natality. He added that, if the same birthrate continued, Romania would have 16,5 million inhabitants in 2050.
He claimed that, despite warnings from statistics institutions, so far no serious measures were taken to counter this negative trend.
The President argued as follows: "In influence of this decrease is so great that, even if we take measures to improve fertility, the population will increase only after 2060. (...) This is a problem of the entire Romanian society, of the family, of the Church, of citizens and of present and future generations. Unless we do something to overcome this now, it may be too late for the future generation". He pleaded that "the few decades of demographic deserts" needed to be left behind.
The President insisted in his speech that the diminishing of the active population would have a special impact. In 2005 Romania had 10 million active inhabitants and in 2025 the active population will be 9,3 million and in 2050 the number will go down to 6,7 million. 40 is now the average age of the active population, but it will be 45 in 2025. He commented: "The mission of our children and grandchildren is very difficult. It is very difficult for any nation. Romania must revise the demographic policy as soon as possible. It can only be done in keeping with the solutions the Romanian demography school provides. But there are some problems functioning as resources for solution".
President wants very creative immigrants
As for the international immigration in general and the young labor force in particular, Paul Pacuraru, Romania's labor minister, mentioned authorities were working on a set of measures to persuade the youth employed abroad to return to work in Romania. The minister explained: "There is unofficially estimated that there are 2 million Romanians who work abroad. The official figures are smaller. Unfortunatelly, it is about active population. Romania is trying to bring these Romanians back home". He gave no information about the means to do this, since in Romania such people gain much less than abroad.
The President argued yesterday that Romania needed top immigrants and immigration should become a selective process: "We need migration fluxes from the demographic areas outside the EU in order to grant selective access to the country, especially to those people who can perform very creative activities, typical of knowledge-based economy".

Corina Scarlat
Ziua Miercuri 19 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Impossible bill against government is ready

The PSD (Social-Democrat Party) has finally completed the text of their bill against the government titled "1,000 Days of Chaos, the End of the Right Government". It was completed in yesterday's meeting of the National Permanent Committee of the PSD, when party president Mircea Geoana tried to convince his colleagues that he was in control of the situation and that the talks between the PSD and the other parties would start.
Just a sketch
Despite his promises on "transparent negotiations", all that Mircea Geoana brought yesterday is total mystery. The text was the only certainty. The title is on the entire rule of the Liberal-Democrat government, not only on the Tariceanu Cabinet, which is almost sure to doom the fate of the PSD initiative. Even PSD members have sabotaged it and now it stands small chance to pass in the Parliament. The party hasn't even mentioned the precise date when the bill is to reach the Parliament, as the final decision is due today. The fate of Adrian Nastase and Ion Iliescu is to be decided today too, when PSD members are to analyze the solicitation from the PSD branch in Bucharest, District 1, that the two should be expelled.
Problems inside the PSD
Because it is on the government's entire activity, the PSD bill is almost impossible to pass in the Parliament. First of all, the Liberals would never help their own government to collapse. Secondly, the Democrats, whom the PSD is taking for allies with view to overthrowing PM Tariceanu, are likely to dismiss a text critical of the activities they performed when in power. Thirdly, there are problems inside the PSD, as there is a side strongly opposing this initiative. Therefore the PSD may point to the Democrats' rule on purpose, in order to justify PSD members' votes against the bill. (...)
Mystery talks or bluff
Mircea Geoana announced his colleagues yesterday that he was going to have serious talks with top politicians, but he provided no details, claiming it was in order to make the press curious. PSD sources say he was to meet with the party members yesterday evening at 10 and inform them about the talks. Yesterday there was rumor about a meeting between the PSD leader and the President of Romania Traian Basescu or the Democrats. They say that in exchange to support for the bill the PSD would agree to do away with the top members. (...)
But more rumor reached the Parliament quickly. " Geoana is meeting with Basescu", "Geoana is having talks with the Democrats" and "Geoana has got nothing. He is playing bluff" were the three versions strongly voiced yesterday by the PSD members. (...)
Tariceanu's Cabinet is incompetent and lacks support
The bill asks that the Tariceanu Cabinet should be dismissed because of incompetence and lack of political support. According to the text, the dismissal of the government would open way for "a new team and a new programme to meet Romania's needs and get support from a transparent parliamentary majority". The party claims that, if the bill fails, it will encourage "the progress towards a non-European society pattern, a deeply divided society, which would harm Romania's development severely".
There is also argued that the Parliament is to make a choice. "We either want to restore stability in the country and put an end to these three years of successive political conflicts that triggered governmental inefficiency and social discomfort or we want to keep a government of amateurs, unable to find solutions to the main problems of Romanian".
The document denounces the existence of several crises: in politics, agriculture and economy. The PSD (Social-Democrat Party) pleads as follows: "If we take a look at the Romanian Parliament, we can realize this government has lost support. And therefore it no longer represents the will of the electors' majority. Most of the population no longer trusts the government in power".

Roxana Andronic
Ziua Miercuri 19 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

A tooth for a tooth

Daniel Morar, a head of the DNA (National Anti-Corruption Department), asked Romanian President Traian Basescu yesterday for consent to the opening of criminal inquiry against the Romanian Justice minister Tudor Chiuariu. Last Monday the latter official had denounced prosecutor Doru Tulus criminally, demanding that he should be expelled from magistracy.
The very department headed by the latter prosecutor is in charge of the Justice minister case and authorities have it that the criminal inquiry is necessary in order to check on the circumstances under which emergency ordinance 377/2007 was released.
But the DNA head's solicitation also regards Zsolt Nagy, a member of the Democrat Union of Magyars in Romania and a former communication minister. Minister Chiuariu and ex minister Nagy are accused of abuse at work against public interests, effecting in patrimonial favor. The above-mentioned ordinance is on the transfer of the ex headquarters of the MICM on Victoriei Avenue, Bucharest, from the administration of the Bucharest district council to the Romanian Post Office's administration. Minister Chiuariu's signature is not on this document, but there are the signatures of the Romanian PM Calin-Popescu Tariceanu and the Romanian economy minister Varujan Vosganian. Still Daniel Morar hasn't said a word about it so far.
The Justice minister signed a documentation note on grounds of which the ordinance was approved of. Furthermore, the minister is said to have forced his staff into consenting to it.
While in Brussels yesterday, minister Chiuariu claimed it was about "a silly revenge of the DNA prosecutors".
President Basescu summoned a meeting of the presidential committee for next Monday.
It is to be noticed as well that, according to Cozmin Gusa, leader of the National Initiative Party, business of 110 million Euro is behind the scandal between the DNA and the Justice minister.

Razvan Savaliuc
Ziua Miercuri 19 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

New status for 'spies'

Romanian senators voted yesterday for the new professional and career status of intelligence spies. The new document grants intelligence services' officers with special status.
Therefore from now on an intelligence officer has got the right to make use of private and public spaces and properties under exceptional circumstances and in keeping with the respect for the fundamental rights. He is also allowed to ask any people to support Romania's national security and the respective person must keep it confidential, even if he/ she agrees to help or not.
Due to an amendment belonging to senator Ilie Petrescu, an officer may 'sneak' to other public institutions for a definite period of time at the chief's request.
Even if senators' juridical and defense committed raised substantial amendments, the Romanian defense minister Teodor Melescanu agreed to the law, which is now to undergo debate in the Chamber of Deputies.

Adrian Ilie
Ziua Miercuri 19 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Political prosecutors

The phone calls and directions from Cotroceni Palace are no longer a secret to anyone. Apart from these, there are two important reasons why the DNA (National Anti-Corruption Department) has turned into a police-like Prosecutor's Office, now approaching difficult cases on political criteria. The two meek head of the DNA and that prosecutors' department of the CSM (Superior Council of Magistracy) that allowed some DNA investigators to go too far, but pretending not to see the negative clues on certain inquiries.
Let's start with the much-distinguished Laura Codruta Kovesi, a nice smiling lady who is a good listener. But whenever hearing about flaws in the DNA, she would complain about lacking enough means and attributions she could use to impose herself, although the DNA is subordinate to the Prosecutor's Office she guides. What did general attorney Laura Codruta Kovesi say when the scandal on the disaster the CSM uncovered in the DNA was very noisy ? She was not worried about the abuses committed under Daniel Morar's rule, which stunned public opinion, but she swore she didn't even unseal the envelop with the report sent by the CSM, promising she would return it as such, meaning unopened. She wanted to avoid any suspicion from whomsoever (is it Cotroceni Palace ?) that it was from her that the report leaked to the press. Given such a chief who doesn't even want to know what is going on in the DNA, of course the Tulus-Morar team can do what they please.
The second reason why the DNA is politicized is the prosecutors' department in the CSM. I don't think there is any CSM member who is afraid that Morar's prosecutors may draw him a criminal record. Mind you that judge Huza had to leave the CSM after being sued by the DNA. But I strongly believe that the CSM members fell prey to their own trap. Out of their wish to turn Justice into a totally independent power to report to no one, not even when it doesn't work, they ignored all the negative clues the DNA showed. In the last two years the CSM inspectors had no problem with muffling all the discipline cases within the DNA, with consent from the Council members and this is how they created a small monster: a Prosecutor's Office that breaks criminal procedure norms, proving it functions politically. Tough cases against leaders of Romanian Democrats were kept in drawers at the request of President Traian Basescu. Criminal cases were drawn against the adversaries of the Cotroceni group, also at request. The enthusiastic anti-corruption promises made during the electoral campaign were not kept. There is no sentenced and the cases that reached courts turned to dust. It is now obvious that only the ex mafia of the ex Social-Democrat regime is under inquiry, whereas today's mafia is carefully avoided.
The DNA has become not only obedient to Cotroceni Palace, but also a factor disturbing the independence of Justice. Because of its obedient prosecutors it gets Justice politically involved, as such prosecutors don't realize that Romania joined Europe and they may no longer invent criminal cases taking the orders of those who appointed them. The last proof is the solicitation of Daniel Morar, whom I call 'the President's servant'. Yesterday he dared ask President Basescu for permission to investigate on minister Chiuariu, the official who demanded the DNA heads should be dismissed.
What decision will the CSM members make when the check report is released in October 3 ? Some will have to prove what side they are on. Given the conclusions in the report, all the DNA heads should be dismissed. But the CSM may respond to the Justice minister's solicitation for revocation only by consultative consent. In fact, it is President Basescu who decides. Unless he wants to sign revocation decrees, Morar's team will go on. And why would Traian Basescu sacrifice his protegees, since so far he has been in no trouble because of cases such as the Fleet, the villa in Maihaileanu Street and more of the kind, to be found in the DNA's toy box ?

Razvan Savaliuc
Ziua Miercuri 19 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

German press: Romania is the most corrupted EU state

According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Dinu Patriciu, the controversial oil magnate in Romania, sold his company to a state enterprise in Kazahstan, claiming the transaction would bring Romania more independence, but his adversaries fear the opposite. The FAZ quotes Janusz Bugajski, a EU expert in Eastern European policies, commenting that imports from Kazahstan are an alternative to the Russian ones only if routes can avoid Russia. (...)

According to the report, the party of the Romanian PM has obeyed Patriciu's wishes for years, sabotaging the fight against corruption together with the ex Communist PSD (Social-Democrat Party).
A report published in the Austria daily Die Presse analyzes daily corruption in Romania, explaining that in this EU state citizens have to pay financial attention to doctors when needing medical care. There is also mentioned that bribe goes for teachers and authorities too, when some Romanian wants to avoid military service or paying a traffic fine.

George Damian
Ziua Miercuri 19 Septembrie 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

U.S. suspend "Blackwater" missions in Iraq