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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-05-19
May 19, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] House of Deputies Proceedings;
[02] Cotroceni Stadium in Bucharest under Senate Debates;
[03] An Initiative in Parliament;
[04] Justice Minister on Property Rights;
[05] A Statement by PNTCD Leader Ion Diaconescu;
[06] A Meeting in London;
[07] Albanian Foreign Minister on a Visit to Bucharest;
[08] Meeting at Cotroceni Palace;
[09] Romanian Joint Chief of Staff on a Visit to Greece;
[10] Inspector General of French Armies on a Visit to Bucharest;
[11] Former Hing Kong Governor on a Visit to Bucharest.
[01] House of Deputies proceedings
The Romanian Government has submitted the project on amending and
completing the Penal Code to the Permanent Bureau of the House of Deputies
on Monday. Some stipulations in the article 200 on homosexual relations are
to be abrogated. Homosexual abuses against children uner 14 and people
unable to defend themselves remain however under penalty. The article on
offence against the authority is subject to further debates as some of its
stipulations are also to be abrogated. The insult is to be punished only by
fine while the calumny is to be punished by 2-month jail or fine. RADOR
[02] Cotroceni Stadium in Bucharest under Senate debates
The Romanian Senate has resumed its debates yesterday. The agenda included
emergency debates around the draft law on financing restoration work at the
Cotroceni Stadium on the occasion of the European Youth Football Cup Finals
taking place in Bucharest between May 23-31. RADOR
[03] An initiative in Parliament
The Romanian Minister for Relations with Parliament Alexandru Sassu has
sent a letter to the Permanent Bureaux in Parliament in support of an
extended daily programme for the MPs and measures aimed at ensuring the
necessary quorum when the Budget was to come under debate. Mr Sassu has
expressed the hope that the Budget law would be completed this week.
RADOR
[04] Justice minister on property rights
Romanian Justice Minister Valeriu Stoica said that recent intervention of
the police to get a family out of an apartment in Primaverii Boulevard was
absolutely legal, and the statement made by the opposition Party of Social
Democracy in Romania (PDSR) was only a proof pf the party's refusal to
accept the property rights according to the rule of law. The minister said
the police operation should not be seen as an evacuation but as house
exchange. "According to law, the court rulig should be observed even if
helped by police forces. If PDSR accepts the rule of law principles, then
it should admit that it should not interfere with justice affairs. As a
ruling party, PDSR did actually interfere with justice affairs. It makes
now similar attempts while in Opposition", the minister added. RADOR
[05] A statement by PNTCD leader Ion Diaconescu
At a press conference on Monday, the President of the ruling Christian
Democrat National Peasant Party (PNTCD) Ion Diaconescu said that the
government could use the 1998 Budget starting from June 1. He mentioned the
the parties in the governing coalition would vote for the Budget though
further debates were expected this week around the issue. Mr Diaconescu has
announced that coalition parties have agreed with a decision-making forum
made up by leaders of coalition parties. The new body is expected to meet
every Monday after the joint meeting of the Permanent Bureaux and the
discuss all the draft laws on the agenda. RADOR
[06] A meeting in London
The MP commissioners for European integration affairs in Central and East-
European countries met their EU colleagues in London on Monday. The topics
of the talks included the economic monetary union, transparency in fighting
organised crime and drug traffiking, the EU enlargement. Mrs Mariana Stoica,
the Chief Commissioner for European integration affairs in Romanian
Parliament, has mentioned some of the objectives the Romanian delegation
was expected to follow: "We hope to get a fair appreciation of our efforts -
and I mean Romania and Bulgaria as well - in securing the control of our
borders. We wish to express our full commitment to show flexibility in our
cooperation with parliaments in the EU Member States in order to be
excluded, along with Bulgaria, from the 'black list' of the countries whose
citizens are subject to such a strict visa regime". As the RRA recalls, at
their meeting in Calarasi on May 8, the European integration commissioners
in the two countries have decided to join their efforts in London and plead
for the free movement of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens in the EU space.
RADOR
[07] Albanian foreign minister on a visit to Bucharest
Romanian Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu met his Albanian counterpart Paskal
Milo on Monday. Their talks focused on bilateral relations issues and
recent developments in the Kosovo crisis. Mr Milo said that, according to
his government, the best solution to the crisis would be a Republic of
Kosovo within the Yugoslav Federation. He pointed out that the Kosovo
crisis was not an issue of Albanian concern only, but also a regional and
even international problem, and the overall duty was to get it solved. The
Romanian minister has welcomed the recent talks between Milosevic and
Rugova. The two ministers agreed that Romanian experts could go to Albania
and help it set up its democratic institutions. RADOR
[08] Meeting at Cotroceni Palace
While on a two-day visit to Bucharest, Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal
Milo has met Romanian President Emil Constantinescu at the Cotroceni Palace
on Monday. The Albanian official has expressed his gratitute for the
humanitarian aid Romania has provided as well as for the Romanian military
participation in "Operation Alba". He said his country was willing to build
its democratic institution with Romanian support and improve bilateral
relations. RADOR
[09] Romanian Joint Chief of Staff on a visit to Greece
Romanian Joint Chief of Staff, Division General Constantin Degeratu is on a
visit to Greece following an invitation by his Greek counterpart, Air Force
General Athanasios Tsoganis. Their talks are expected to include issues of
both bilateral and Partnership for Peace cooperation. The two officials
will consider their work together in order to ensure a growing stability
and security in the Balkan Peninsula and Europe. RADOR
[10] Inspector general of French Armies on a visit to Bucharest
The Inspector General of the French Armies, Air Force General Michel
Courtais is on a visit to Romania. He is expected to leave Romania on May
29 after several meetings with Romanian officials in the Ministry of
National Defence (MApN). His agenda includes visits to air bases and the
"Henri Coanda" Aviation and Air Defence Academy. The talks will focus on
issues concerning Romanian and French air force cooperation, the current
stage of the reform, technical and flight training of the military, the RRA
reports. RADOR
[11] Former Hong Kong governor on a visit to Bucharest
The former British Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, is on a visit to
Bucharest where he is expected to attend the presidential conference on
"Political and Economic Freedom" in the Aula Magna Hall of the University
of Bucharest on Tuesday at 11 AM. Romanian President Emil Constantinescu is
also expected to attend the event. A British Council communiques says that
it is the third conference of the kind. Lord Slin O'Hadley presided at the
first conference taking place in Bucharest in 1995 while Romanian Professor
Andrei Plesu presided over the second conference taking place at the Royal
Institute of International Affairs in London last year. RADOR
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