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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW 04-10/02/2008 |
| (2008-02-08) |
| Last updated: 2008-02-08 14:52 EET |
On Monday, French president Nicholas Sarkozy paid a few hour visit to Bucharest, to render , quote “ the old and powerful friendship between the two countries more dynamic”, unquote. Brief, but significant; this is how Romanian president Traian Basescu characterised the visit:
“From a political point of view, the visit was very significant. We talked about the development of a strategic program, of a strategic relationship between Romania and France. The visit took place as part of an old tradition in the relationship between Romania and France, but also in preparation for France’s taking over the EU presidency on July 1st. France will have the entire support of Romania as an EU member for the implementation of all the objectives of the EU presidency.”
Basescu and Sarkozy struck a 5-year strategic partnership, the two countries committing themselves to co-operate politically, economically and culturally, and to support each other in joint projects. The French president then addressed the Romanian Parliament, promising that during the French presidency of the EU, France would make sure Romania became more visible in Europe. Also on Monday, the Romanian Parliament ratified the Lisbon Treaty, a fundamental document that replaces the so-called European Constitution, rejected by the French and Dutch citizens at the 2005 referenda. The document has this week been ratified by the French MPs as well.
2008 is not expected to bring significant changes in Romania’s foreign policy, said on Wednesday Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu, at a meeting he had with the media. He underscored that this year’s priorities continued to be the Diaspora, the vicinity policy and energy security. Romania wants to be a responsible member of the EU and a reliable partner, but it will also defend its own interests, Cioroianu also said. The Romanian foreign minister promised that Bucharest would further assist the Republic of Moldova in its attempts to come closer to NATO and the EU, but not only:
“In 2008, besides improving and diversifying consular services and facilities for movement granted by Romania to Moldovan citizens, we are also aware of the importance of a solution to be found to the Transdiestr conflict, a solution that should observe the sovereignty and integrity of the Republic of Moldova, and contribute to preserving regional security.”
Also in the former Soviet area, Cioroianu intends to support Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic ambitions, to strengthen the currently cold political and economic relations with Russia and to pay special attention to the countries in Central Asia.
Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the governor of the National Bank of Romania Mugur Isarescu and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian have discussed about the development of the Romanian economy in 2008, taking into account the turmoil on the international markets and the risks posed by the rather limping pace of economic development. Of late, the Central Bank has sent out numerous warning signals in this respect. It has increased the monetary policy interest rate from 8% to 9%, in order to curb inflation, which has increased in the last few months, and also to deter the loan and implicitly consumption growth. The upward trend will remain in 2008 too, proof thereof being the National Bank’s decision to revise the inflation forecast from 4.3% to 5.9%. The Governor of the National Bank of Romania has called on the Government to maintain a natural relationship between salary and labour productivity increases, to avoid the situation in which the price – wage spiral would become hard to control. Prime Minister Tariceanu has pledged not to take populist measures this electoral year. Governor of the Central Bank Mugur Isarescu:
“ I think that, following this meeting, we will be able to secure that coherence that will help us reach the targets set for this year, namely a steady economic growth of about 6% and a lower inflation rate, in the second half of this year, though these two objectives are not so easy to fulfil”
The National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives – CNSAS- will temporarily continue its activity under the emergency ordinance passed by the Romanian government on Wednesday, in response to the Constitutional Court’s ruling according to which the Council’s activity is not compliant with the Constitution, and therefore it is illegal. According to the ordinance, CNSAS will carry on its activity of investigating the former communist political police, but its prerogatives will be limited. The Council is no longer allowed to give verdicts regarding the collaboration with the former political police, the Securitate, of politicians, officials or candidates to public offices, but it will further ensure citizens’ access to their files, drawn up by the Securitate. The ordinance also eliminates the wording “the Securitate as political police”. Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu believes that, 18 years since the fall of the communist regime, the disclosure of crimes committed by communism must not be stopped.
(Andreea Bojoi)
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