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RADOR: News from Romania, 98-07-31
July 31, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] President Constantinescu's Letter to Ilie Ilascu;
[02] Cabinet Meeting;
[03] Letter to the Presidency;
[04] Further Dialogue between PD and Trade Union Leaders
[05] PSDR Angered by Slow Privatisation;
[06] PUNR Request.
[01] President Constantinescu's letter to Ilie Ilascu
The Romanian patriot Ilie Ilascu was born on July 30, and the Romanian
President, Emil Constantinescu, has sent a letter to Ilie Ilascu on the
occasion. Here are some excerpts: "I was very sad when I learned of the
death of your father, Stefan Ilascu, some days ago. An unfair ruling has
prevented you to share with him the last moments. I understand very well
your pain and I assure you of our deepest support. I hope with all my heart
that your wonderful family as well as millions of Romanians will provide
you with all the support you need in these painful moments. And because
today is your birthday, we send you, dearest Ilie Ilascu, our best wishes
and hopes of a better life in this new year Jn your life along with our
mournful thoughts". RADOR
[02] Cabinet meeting
At its meeting on Thursday, the Romanian Cabinet has started the debates
over the draft law on tenants' protection and the rent they should pay for
the place they lived in as well as the draft law on restitution (in nature
or equivalent) of buildings taken away by the state since March 6, 1945. As
such laws are of major importance, their authors - Justice Minister Valeriu
Stoica and Housing Minister Nicolae Noica - have proposed that all
ministers should submit their written opinions on the issue by August 15,
after previous consultations with the leadership of the parties they
represented. Between August 15 and September 1, the ministries authoring
the projects are to include the ministers' amendments into the text. A
Government Press Office communique says that, if accepted by both Cabinet
ministers and parties in the governing coalition, the draft laws may be
adopted at the Cabinet's next meeting plannedJin September. RADOR
[03] Letter to the Presidency
The chief commissioner for education in the Romanian House of Deputies,
Anghel Stanciu, has sent a letter to President Emil Constantinescu on
Thursday. Mr Stanciu is urging the president to specify if recent remarks
by presidential adviser Zoe Petre represent the official stand of Romania's
Presidency. The comissioner believes that Mrs Petre seemed to encourage the
persistent attempts by the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania
(UDMR) to divide the Romanian higher education system. "Your position over
this sensitive matter may avoid the persistent pressure made on education,
youth and sports commissioners to persuade them vote against their own will
as well as against the national interest and allow the setting up of a
Hungarian university in Cluj. Such a move may only divide the people in
their joint efforts for Romania's European integration", the letter says.
According to Mr Stanciu, the acceptance of UDMR demands, recJnt attemps by
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to solve some of Romania's exclusive
problems, such concepts as the "right to co-sovereignty" on Transylvania,
the persistent attempts to establish the Hungarian language as Romania's
second official language - all these are steps to the territorial autonomy
on ethnic criteria, and therefore an extremely dangerous threat against
Romania's national unity. RADOR
[04] Further dialogue between PD and trade union leaders
The weekly press conference of the Democratic Party (PD) on Thursday
focused on recent developments in the party's relations with the trade
unions. Speaking on the behalf of the PD, Bogdan Bujor Teodoriu said the
trade unions were expected to support the efforts of seeking best solutions
to achieve the reform. The PD official added that his party did not forget
the partnership it signed with the trade unions on the occasion of
elections in 1996. Therefore, the PD will continue its dialogue with the
trade union leadersJbut, at the same time, the party is not expected to
slow down the reform. Mr Teodoriu said he did not approve the fiscal policy
the Finance Ministry promoted as the decision to cut tax duties did not
choose the right time. RADOR
[05] PSDR angered by slow privatisation
At a press conference on July 30, the leaders of the Romanian Social
Democrat Party (PSDR) have expressed their dissatisfaction with the slowing
down process of privatisation. Deputy Dumitru Sandu said the unhappy
concept of algorithm did only succeed in building up a new nomenklatura
impossible to break off. The PSDR believes that, once the algorithm
eliminated, the promotion of competence and the fight against corruption
are best solutions to an accelerating privatisation. RADOR
[06] PUNR request
The Romanians' National Unity Party (PUNR) opposed and would oppose to any
involvement of the Romanian Army in internal conflicts and crisis abroad.
PUNR leader Valeriu Tabara says that recent attempts by President
ConstanJinescu to involve the Romanian Army in the Kosovo crisis are seen
as a fundamentally regrettable political and national mistake. The PUNR
does not share the NATO and the EU ideas of involving troops and military
equipments in the Yugoslav conflict and expresses its support for a
diplomatic solution to the crisis. The PUNR leader is urging the Romanian
president to exercise restraint and responsability by not involving the
Romanian Army in the conflict in former Yugoslavia. RADOR
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