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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-05-25
May 25, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] President Emil Constantinescu's Statement Before Leaving for Canada;
[02] President Constantinescu's Canadian Agenda;
[03] Canadian Ambassador to Bucharest on Romanian President's Visit to
Canada;
[04] Statement of Prime Minister Vasile Before Leaving for Istanbul;
[05] Romanian Interior Minister on Recent Developments in "Operation
Cigarette 2".
[01] President Emil Constantinescu's statement before leaving for Canada
"Canada is one of the most industrialised and prosperous countries in the
world, and, as NATO member, it is a country playing a similar major role in
drawing up political, economic and military strategies for the third
millenium in a world facing an accelerated globalisation process. This is
why the highest level visit today is a proof of Canada's interest in
Romania as a pillar of stability in Central and Eastern Europe and a
country of growing opportunities in the middle of a developing market.
Bilateral relations between Romania and Canada are now in the ascendant as
it is our cooperation mainly as French speaking countries and members of
international bodies. Canada is interested in developing its investments in
Romania, and we should not forget Canada's open and direct support for
Romania's Euro-Atlantinc integration. Last but not least, the visit is also
focused on strengthening relations with the Romanian community in Canada as
it could play a major role as a bridge between Romania and this important
country in the world today", President Constantinescu said on Sunday before
leaving for Canada. RADOR
[02] President Constantinescu's Canadian agenda
Presidential adviser Zoe Petre said the six-day tour of President
Constantinescu through Canada would include visits to five major Canadian
cities such as Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec and Edmonton. According to
Mrs Petre, the presidential visit is focused mainly on three aspectes:
"Politically, the visit will include meetings with Canadian federal and
local officials; economically, the conference in Montreal on "Business
Opportunities in Romania" is expected to be a major event while emotionally,
the most important event is expected to be the meeting with representatives
of the Romanian community". Talks will focus on ways of improving economic
relations, bilateral and multilateral relations as well as relations with
Canadian provinces. The Romanian president will meet the governor general
of Canada, the prime minister and other government officials as well as
representatives of the Canadian Nuclear Agency. The Romanian delegation
includes Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu, Privatisation Minister Sorin
Dimitriu, Industry and Trade Minister Radu Berceanu and Constantin Dudu
Ionescu, Secretary of State with the National Defence Ministry (MApN). A
Romanian delegation of businessmen is also accompanying the Romanian
president in his Canadian tour. Romanian Ambassador to Canada Gabriel
Gafita has pointed out that the Canadian protocol allowed around two
official state visits a year. "There are sources who indicate that we may
expect Canada to play the role of an advocate pleading Romania's cause for
the second round of NATO expansion", Mr Gafita added. RADOR
[03] Canadian ambassador to Bucharest on Romanian president's visit to
Canada
In a statement to ROMPRES news agency quoted by the RRA on Sunday, the
Canadian Ambassador to Bucharest Gilles Duguay said the talks on economical
issues would also include a project concerning Canadian participation in
the second stage of developing the Cernavoda nuclear plant. The Canadian
ambassador has also mentioned some other bilateral cooperation projects in
telecommunications, transports and oil and gas prospects. RADOR
[04] Statement of Prime Minister Vasile before leaving for Istanbul
Romanian Prime Minister Radu Vasile left for Istanbul yesterday to attend
an international conference on "Energy Future in the Black Sea and Caspian
Sea". The prime minister is expected to meet his Turkish counterpart Mesut
Yilmaz, President Suleyman Demirel and the governor of Turkey's National
Bank. The conference will open on Monday at 5 PM. Participants will include
presidents and prime ministers in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazachstan,
Ukraine and other countries in the area. The Tuesday agenda includes a
meeting with the president of the Association of Turkish bankers and a
visit to the stock market and the Tracsan tractor manufacturer assembling
tractors made in the Romanian city of Brasov. The prime minister will have
separate meetings with his Ukrainian and Georgian counterparts the same
day. While at the Otopeni International Airport, Prime Minister Vasile
pointed out that "Turkey was actually trying to exceed 1 billion dollars in
its trade relations next year". "Turkey is mainly interested in investing
in the agricultural and food industry, and my meetings with the Turkish
president and the prime minister are designed to create a new way of
approaching our economic cooperation. I should tell you that three Turkish
ministers have been visiting Romania in the last three weeks, and their
visit has proved that Turkey was ready and clearly expressed its support
for Romania's efforts to join the NATO enlargement process to be decided
next spring", Prime Minister Vasile concluded. RADOR
[05] Romanian interior minister on recent developments in "Operation
Cigarette 2"
While in Sibiu on Saturday, Romanian Interior Minister Gavril Dejeu
provided further details concerning the inquiry into the cigarette
smuggling case. The minister said that the main coordinators of the affair
were out of the country. The minister has recalled there were forces trying
to get him out of the ministry because, as he put it, "the people
supporting the president were under attack". Mr Dejeu pointed out that "his
dismissal would be a success for those wishing the battle to fail" as his
ministry played a "key role" in the fight against corruption". RADOR
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