NATO enlargement: Romania and the Southern Dimension of the Alliance 9735673568

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NATO Enlargement Romania and the Southern Dimension of the Aliance

Adrian NĂSTASE, Ph.O Prime Minister of the Government of Remania

N TO Enlargernent Romania and the Southern Dimension of the Alliance Edited by Roxana NICOLAE

-REGIAAllTONOMĂ-

MQNITQRUL OFICIAL Bucharest, 2002

Photos: Rompres; Ilie Bumbac, freelance photographer

ISBN 973 - 567 - 355 - X

CONTENTS Foreword .............................................................................................. ......... Romania's Road to NATO: Geopolitica! Posture, Democratic Values and Military Contribution.. ........ ... ... ... .. .... ..... ..... ......................... ... ... ... .. ... ... .

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15

CHAPTER 1

Romania and the Southern Dimenslon of NATO Speeches: New Threats, New Allies. Building the Stability of Tomorrow's World ...... The Southern Dimension of NATO Enlargement. Roman ia 's Vision . ... ... .. Romania's Outlook: Building Momentum ...................................................... Preparing for NATO Membership .... .. ....... .... ... .. .... .. .. ... .... .... ... ..... ... .. ... .. ... .. .. Romania and the Euro-AUantic lnstitutional Bodies afler September 11, 2001 ................. ............................ ... ..... ...... ................... Reliable Candidate for 'NATO.......................................................................... Europe and the lnternational Geopolitical Fluidity .... ......... .... .. .... . .. .. ... .. .. .... .. Remania and the Challenges of the 21 st Century ..................................... Overview on Romania's Achievements ....................... .................................... NATO and EU: A Romanian Perspective ...................................................... Speeding up the Process of Joining NATO and EU ...................................

25 30 34 42 45 50 55 61 66 72 74

CHAPTER 2

Strengthening Stability through Regional Cooperation Speeches:

Cross-Border Cooperation ............... ................. ........... .........•......... ...... ........... 81 Stability Pact . .... .. ............... ... ... .. ... ...... .... ....... .. . .. ............... .. ... .. ....... ........ ... .. ... Combating Transborder Crime ....................................................................... Europe's Time to Act ... .... ...... ... ... .......... ........... ... ...... ........ .. ......... ... ........ ... ... Fighting Corruption ....•..•....................................................•...................•..... ,...

84 88 92 94

EtJrpectri L.~al ~tcJ.riclarct~ ........................................•...............................•..•. ~6 Press Statements: Press Statements ............................................................................................ 101

Press Conference .........•..•..........................................................................•.... 103 Press S tatements .... ....... .. ...... ... ..... ........ .... .... ........... ...... ......... .. .... .. ... ...... .. ... . 106 Press Statements ......•..•..•............................................... , .. .. .. ....... .... ..... .. ....... 108

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Statements •..........•••• •••.•• ..•.••••.•. .•.•.•••••..•.••.••.••••••••.•• ..• .••.•.•• ••.••.••••••••.•.• 11 o l11t~F'v'Î~VV ••.•.•..•..•.•..•..•..•....•............•.......•.•..................•...............•...•................. 111

Press

Press Statement ..............•.................•..........•.•.............•.•.....................•.......... 113 Press Conference ............................................................................................ 116 Press Conference .•..•.•.....•.•.............•.........•..•.•..................•.......................•..... 118 Press Conference ... ......................................................................................... 121 lr,tE)f'\IÎEt'lt' ••••·•· ••••·•• •••••••••·•• •• ••••••••••••••••••·•••••••••••••••• ••·••••· ••••••••••••• ••••••••••• •••••••••••• 1 ~"' Press Statements ............................................................................................ 126

CHAPTER 3 Fighting the War on Terrorism Speeches: America 's New Allies ........................................................................................ 129

"'~\\' r~~~ ~t(it~fTlf3rlt~ ••.••••••..•.•.••••••••••••••..••••••••••. •.•••.•••..••.••••...•••.••••••••..•• ••••••••.•..• ~~()

Press Conference ............................................................................................ 222 lnterview .........................................................................•................................... 230 Press Statements ............................................................................................ 237

Press Conference ........................................................................... ,................... 239 lrltE!l'\fÎE!\\f •••·•·••·•··•••···••••·•···••·•••·•·•··••••·••·•••••••·••••·••· ·· ··•·••·•·•·• ·••••· ·••·•· ••··• ·•····••••·•• ~"'~

Press Conterence ............................................................................................ 244

Press Statement .............................................................................................. 249

f>r~~~ ~tc1t~111E!r1t •••••••••••••••••.•. ••.• ••••••.••••••••••••.• •••••••••••. .•••••••••••• ••• •••••••• ••••••••••••• ~Ei~ Press Conference ............................................................................................ 253 f>rEt~~ ::itc1tetrr,~11t ............................................................................................... ~~fi

Addendum Course on History of Holocaust ...................................................................... 259 Related Legal lnstruments ................................................................................ 261

ANNEXES Romania as NATO Candidate: Geostrategy and Democracy ......... 265 1. Participation of Romania în Peace Support Operations 2. Politica! Calendar Prior to Prague 2002 3. Natîonal Commission for Romania's Accession to NATO 4. Romanian Politica! Support for NATO Candîdacy 5. Romanîan Public Support for NATO Membership 6. Romania: Positive Trends 7. Military Budget 8. Regional Military Cooperation 9-10. Remania as Stability and Security Provider în South-Eastern Europe 11. NATO Candidates în Terms of Size and Population 12. Preparing for Tomorrow's Risks: Air Surveillance and Early Waming

Foreword This book is a selection of some of the themes I approached in my capacity as Prime Minister of Romania, in our efforts to support this country's integration into NATO. These themes express my profound belief in the merits of this impressive national solidarity which the citizens of Remania have been devoting to our strategic objective of our foreign policy: the întegratîon into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Our national efforts made over the last years can be properly appreciated and understood if one is well acquainted with the regional strategic framework of promotîng our candîdacy, as well as the consistent contributions Romanîa has made with a view to strengthening the cohesion of the North-Atlantic Alliance. These efforts are by no means the reflex of certain actions of circumstance, because one of the most valuable natlonal assets of the Romanîans îs solidarîty, which renders us strong enough to succeed în history thanks to the consistency of our European îdentity. The putting together of the themes included in this book demonstrates again how valuable our natîonal harmony is for articulating of our major foreign policy targets, as well as our wisdom which urges us to bear our European identity with dignity and also to assume our regional responsibility. ln February 1992, on the occaslon of his second visit in Remania, Manfred Werner, the Secretary General of NATO, participated in the official opening of the Bucharest Euro-Atlantic Center. This Euro-Atlantic Center represented the first non-governmental institution to be opened in Remania. The Center's main objective was to provide the Romanian public accurate information regarding the objectives and the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization within the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. On that occasion, Secretary General Manfred Worner recognized and reaffirmed the importance of Romania's contribution to the general European security system, an strongly encouraged Remania to continue its process of Euro-Atlantic integration. Some may think that by assuming European and Euro-Atlantic integration as the priority of our foreign policy we risk to underestimate precisely our

9

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargeme11t

distinctive vocation in our region. I believe an the contrary 1hat European and Euro-Atlantic integration encompass larger regional responsibilities and an increased engagement. Romania's strategic position and the openness of its good-neighbor policies qualify us as a bridge between the Balkans and European integration, a junction of opportunities for co-operation to the North and the East of our continent. Further EU integration and enlargement of NATO are necessary now, more than ever, if we want to consolidate democracy and free market economies in South Eastern Europe, and implicitly bring the region closer to mainstream Europe. A virtually existent border line must be crossed right now before it becomes legitimate. Our aspirations to become a member of NATO are sometimes perceived as purely emotional and uninhibited by reason. I believe that, like our Western partners, our recent history and our more distant memories have helped us to rationalize our emotions and pursue our aim pragmatically. We have learned, at enormous human and economic cost, the true value of democracy and sovereignty based an the rule of law and human dignity. Our politica! responsibility is to do away with old cliches and to face reality, however harsh this might sometimes be. With their mixed religious and ethnic populations, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are a bridge between the West and the East. We believe that the democracies of South Eastern Europe will continue to make significant contributions to European security as each of us has a unique role to play in fostering stability, security and freedom in a United Europe. ln the past decade, Romania has come a long way. We have learned lessons. And we have made tremendous progress. After the hard legacy of communism, our national identity - our European identity - is defined by an unwavering commitement to pluralistic democracy, free markets, respect for human rights and the rule of law, good relations with our neighbors and complete dedication to EU and NATO integration. Romania is a stable democracy, tested in three rounds of national elections and two peaceful transfers of politica! power. Ethnic tolerance and religious freedom are firmty rooted in our society. We have done this because it is right, because it reflects the values we share with the Western civilization. We respect our commitments, we can ensure stability, we offer a highly favorable environment to investors and we are placing the process of Euro-Atlantic integration on a "fast track~. Twelve years after the change of the politica! system in Remania, it is time to stop referring to Romania as a "country in transition" and place it in the economic and social parameters of a modern state. Remania would be a value added to NATO military capabilities as we have made very important progress in our military reform in making our armed forces compatible with the standards of the Alliance. We are reforming and adapting our military to be a professional. flexible force, fully inter-operable

10

Foreword

with NATO. Our armed forces have been reduced to one third of their level in 1989, while the military budget almost doubled in 2001. Romania has also proved that we can shoulder the burdens and responsibilities of a partner and ally in strengthening regional and international security. We acted in a resolute effort to support NATO actions towards the reinforcement of peace and stability în the Balkans, especially during . the Kosovo crisis. South Eastern Europe still remains a problematic region, and a country with Romania's potential îs an important provider of security îs this area. The Southern Dimension of enlargement will strengthen NATO pro-active action against asymmetrical threats. Remania made it clear once again that it acts as a ude facto NATO ally" in the fight against terrorism. We were among the first European countries to make available air, ground and maritime facilities for the ongoing war effort and we have recently sent troops to Afghanistan to assist in the war against terror. We do not see our accession to NATO as the end goal but rather as a further step în our commitment to sharing the responsibilities for bringing about a deeper security în Europe. We are an anchor of stability, a bridge to the East through which we can transfer security and stability to our neighbors în the Western Balkans and further. NATO enlargement îs not a challenge but an opportunity - an historic opportunity to strenghten NATO and build a United Europe. lnviting new European democracies to join NATO will consolidate stability and democracy în Central and Eastem Europe. lt will finally erase the old Cold War division and complete a Europe that is truly "whole and free". By embracing within NATO those nations who believe in a powerful Europe with a strong transatlantic link and a constructive partnership with Russia, we are ensuring the safety of our destiny. There is no better insurance against terrorism and unconventional threats than to enlarge NATO by inviting in stable, multi-ethnic societies that are based on the rule of law, thar share the same values that bind North America and Europe, that are the cradle of our European civilization. lnviting Romania to join NATO, straddling as we do both Central and South East Europe, will be the first step in crossing the invisible but everpresent fault-line that persists in this corner of Europe. But the Western Balkans need their own perspective of NATO membership that, together with their clear EU membership road maps, will prove to them the West is serious about their integration. lt is in the interests of the EU and NATO that the Western Balkans should be stable and self-sustaining, that these countries should develop democratically and that new threats to security like organized crime should be reduced or removed altogether. How to keep these countries on the right track, from a political, economic and security standpoint, how to put an end 11

Adrian Năstase - NATO Eulargement

to the dependency syndrome or to prevent a resurgence of instability. are likely to be an issue of concern to Western capitals in the next few month. This is an area where I believe Romania, as well as other countries in the region, can demonstrate its credentials as an important player and factor for stability in South-Eastern Europe in a very tangible way: by encouraging the kind of regional initiatives which will consolidate democracy, market economy and military security in South-East Europe, and ensuring that different initiatives are compatible and complementary. Areas of activity could be promoting regional security arrangements; using regional politica!, economic and security groupings to bring the Western Balkan countries to a common view of democracy and the rule of law; searching at the regional levei for solutions to contentious issues; making effective practicai use of regional mechanisms against organized crime. ln South-Eastem Europe, terrorism ls closely linked with organized crime. Countries in this region have already acknowledged terrorism as a challenge for their region within the SEE Cooperative Assessment Paper, in 2001 . There are some regional initiatives where Romania is either in the lead or has a unique status relative to the regional cooperation in 2002. For example, the Romanian participation in South-East European projects under NATO's South-East European lnitiative, the chairmanship of SEEGROUP and South-East Defense Ministerial Council, Romanian participation in SEEBRIG and SEESTUDY, co-chairmanship of Stability Pact WT III, Romanian participation in the South-East Europe Cooperative lnitiative (SECI) Center for Combating Transborder Crime. Romania could help with the process of interlinking different activities. Getting Western countries on board would help with this process, and might contribute at the regional level to the development of a coordinated strategy towards the Western Balkans. The more that can be dane at the regional leve! to consolidate security in the Western Balkans, the more consistent and profitable the partnership between West and the Balkan states and the more predictable their future Euro-Atlantic integration. NATO strategic contiguity would be also ensured, since new members would link Northem and Central Europe with Greece and Turkey. The Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey have recently expressed their support for a Southern dimension of NATO enlargement including Remania and Bulgaria. They understand that the Southern Dimension of NATO enlargement will increase stability, reduce the potential for conflict and strengthen European integration. Without playing the beauty contest game, there are comparative advantages Romania and Bulgaria offer to the Southern flank of the Alliance. A Southern enlargement makes a real difference for a Europe "whole and free" from the perspective of the NATO enlargement from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

12

Foretvord

South-Eastern Europe's connection with the Euro-Atlantic world brought to many young people the revelation of the "American dream" and the ~european dream" as an emblem of the spirit of freedom, chance and equal opportunities. These dreams should not be wasted. They should equally not be perverted by allowing them to forfeit the pride of their identity. Education is the foremost factor in creating a new generation of leaders, changing mentalities and developing the human capital. The intense will for change that is driving the nations of Central and South-Eastern Europe to design their future destiny is precisely the energy that Euro-Atlantic solidarity needs today. AII of us belong to a historic generation marked by the revolutions for democratic values and freedom. Ali of us belong to a historic cycle that has transformed the politica! map of a Europe once divided by the lron Curtain. Ali of us, each în our own way, have possessed the strenghth to introduce massive change in pursuit of those basic values that are the very essence of what the EU and NATO stand for. We have proved that we have the vision and courage. An unique courage and an ardent fe.rvor. lsn' t this precisely what the Alliance needs now, more than ever? On March 25-26, 2002 Bucharest will host the Summit of the Vilnius Group countries aspiring to NATO accession. The event represents an important moment of evaluation and assessment of the ten countries in their efforts to join NATO. lt is also a moment of celebrating common values, discussing common threats and expanding security cooperation in Europe. As we approach the Prague NATO Summit, our goal is two-fold: to prevent the deepening of discrepancies în security and stability levels between the two halves of Europe; and to respond effectively and in partnership to the new threats facing us all. lnviting new European democracies to join NATO will further consolidate stability and democracy în Europe; it will, finally erase the old Cold War division and complete a new Europe. As a partner country Remania has always tulfilled its duty and assisted NATO with all our might whenever and wherever necessity called. This is based upon our commitment to the shared values of the European and Atlantic community. lt is în this spirit that we have made all efforts to see the Bucharest V1 O Summit become a cooperative success. I am confident that the enlargement process of NATO and the EU will generate a new vision of a United Europe. We wish for Romania to contribute to this new vision through its merits and actions. Prof. Dr. Adrian Năstase Prime Minister of Romania

13

ROMANIA'S ROAD TO NATO: Geopolitica I Postu re, Democratic Values and Military Contrib,u tion

NATO Enlargement in a Changing World NATO enlargement has always stood for a basic mission of the Alliance. since promoting slability and security means, first and foremost, extending a democratic club to include those c,ountries thal can provide a real contribulion to this coalition both in politicijl and rnilitary terms. · Conversely Romania's candidature to NATO is a fundamental security objective in terms of being part of a group of states sharing th& same values and ready to defend them together . This vision has achieved a new substance following September 11 attacks when we came to apprehend 1hat exception had become th,e rule .and non-conventional risks, the conventlon of present times. The aew geopolîtics of counler terrorism has given a new meaning to democra1ic values and şyslems as firm establishm,ents agains.t a n~wly shaped principie of disorder or what Ancient Greeks called hybtis 1• What we all have considered as major achievements in the field of the rule of law and governmental accountability towards the citizens has now to be safeguarâed from an obscure subversive enemy that our na1ional securitY.. sy·ş._tems were noi prepared 10 counteract. "We all are Americans", as Eu[~l:?i~n newspapers outlined, meant that a new sense of s,olidarity h.ad been born. -not only among NATO nafions, but also amon_g partners and aspirants to NATO membership.

NATO has become more "global", as risks and threats proved to be global as. well. The invocation of art. 5 also generated a 'yje facto ally1• reaction I

Po1vel' of dt-s t1·11cUoJ1, vioJ,,ul'r. i11Hu:inP11 I f'Vil.

15

Adrian Nifstnse - NATO Elllargement

among NATO candidates and transformed the deep meaning of their preparation to enter the Alliance with a direct impact on armed forces, national managements and direct contribution to the war against terrorism. While NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force was send to patrol US skies and its naval forces the Mediterranean, 24 hours after the September terrorist attacks, Romania offered overflight rights for an antiterrorist intervention and further opened its land and naval space to allow troops deployment in Afghanistan. We are the first Eastern European state to contribute to the security assistance force in Kabul and we are currently analyzing future involvement in Enduring Freedom Operation. Furthermore Remania is aware that its contribution to NATO stands for a constant and long term involvement in crisis management operations all over the world and that approaching the new security risks requires a deep analysis of the role of existing national capacities and institutions. While the democratic ideal always stood at the foundation of the North Atlantic Alliance NATO enlargement during the Cold War was clearly based also on geopolitica! and strategic assumptions. The Madrid wave established a genuine sense of morality and restoration, fundamentally connected to democratic values, which continues to be relevant in today's context. Prague summit could combine the twofold NATO dimension - axiologica! and geostrategic - in a new synthesis. Bring us back where we belong and give the Alliance a new security and military dimension. Geopolitica! vectors of force projection combined with a new ethics, enforced by the fight against terrorism - this represents the translation of the fundamental NATO mission into a new world. lt is said that Prague will be about enlargement, but also about adaptation and transformation. lnherently, NATO transformation comprises the Alliance extension, while both are directly addressing NATO future in a changing world. From this perspective, I believe it is now obvious that Remania needs NATO as much as NATO needs Romania.

Romanian Candidacy to NATO: Geopolitics and Common lnterests What I would like to point out is a twofold prerequisite: while speaking about Romania and NATO, one should take into account both the given geopolitica! realities and the challenging political and economic processes. The first lies in an entire culture of being part of South Eastern Europe, where Romania has been for some time a flank pivot for the Europe of liberal democracies. ln this respect, our presence în the Balkans, as a regional stability provider, both politically and militarily, goes in the sense of continuing

16

Ron1a11ia's Road to NATO

a tradition of safe keepers at Eastern gates of Europe, while enlarging NATO southwards means enlarging the mental boundaries of Western Europe, as Bruce Jackson outlined during one of his visits to Romanîa. By enlarging, "NATO can become an even more potent protector of transatlantic and global security. lt can become a better facilitator of regional conflict resolution, and a more influential incubator for democracy."2 Moreover, basic strategic requirements with regard to force projection and necessary surveillance în countering new security risks cannot avoid the conceptualization of NATO southern dimension. ln this respect, areas that were previously considered as a "new arc of crisis" such as Mediterranean, the Black Sea and Caucasus have to be addressed in a joint allied strategy, which could be difficult to develop while "bridge regions", like Romania, are not part of NATO. Southern Europe PfP members possess the means to become poles of stability and economic growth in a new Europe. Thls will reverberate towards Caucasus and Central Asia. Basic human and logistic potential of these regions is huge. The Black Sea area represents a major pillar in any transportation or energetic infrastructure project while both Romania and Bulgaria are indispensable partners in securing Central Asian supplies to Europe. What Remania stands up for is using the given geopolitica! framework as a support for developing coherent regional security strategies. As Friedbert Pflueger, a member of the German Parliament. noted "Bulgaria and Romania are key actors in the Balkans, as stabilization of the region finally stands a chance after the end of the Milosevic regime. The two Balkan states also hold a geostrategic advantage for NATO and the United States by securing a broader access to the Black Sea and its energy supply routes."3 Enlarging NATO towards south will alsa provide an extension of Allied surveillance and air space management systems with a positive impact on the monitoring and interception capabilities of the Alliance in a vital region for any future involvement in Asia or Middle East. Our national air surveillance system is in a process of connection with the Alliance specific structure and other neighboring countries' air sovereignty centers. We are the largest candidate country for NATO membership, in terms of territory, population and military capabilities, similarly to what Poland represented for the first wave of enlargement. This was considered on different occasions both as an apriori advantage and as a weakness, because if Romanla as a NATO member could really provide a noticeable contribution to the Allies' security, it is also more difficult to be defended and to be "assimilated". What could be stated without doubts is that Remania will make 2 Excerpt from senator Josep/1 Lieberman 's inteivention in US Senate Armed Services Committee l1earings: "The future of NATO" (Febn1ary, 28, 2002). 3 "Wlio's afroid of roulld two?", Was/1i11!{lo11 Tli11es, Marcl1 19, 2001.

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Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargement

a ditference. Our size and strategic location did us a lot of harm during the falls and rises of historical empires, but we believe it îs now the time to be transformed in a positive asset and catalyst for a different geopolitica! posture, în a transformed world.

Values of Cooperation and Political Dimension of Romania's Membership Nowadays, dividing the world in "ins" and "outs" is obsolete. lt is time to relieve the world from what Kennan called the "burdens of bi-polarity" and think forwards to security solidarities and commonly shared interests. We are already a part of the democratic community, we are not in an "out" area or a gray zone and we perceive NATO de jure membership as a natural prolongation of an existing reality. Romania's security policy has a major regional dimension, based on the assumptlon that we are able to extend stability to neighboring areas. ln this context, governmental strategies envlsage a correlation between different means (diplomatic, economic, military, social) and an adaptive approach to balance between politica! and military engagements in the region. Romania has participated to all NATO politica! military initiatives in South Eastem Europe (SEECAP, SEEGROUP etc), has coordinated a lot of projects in the area of security, diplomacy and internai affairs within the Stability Pact and has opened in Bucharest, within a US initiative, a South-Eastern Europe Cooperation lnitiative {SECI) center for countering trans-border organized crime. Last September, Romania took over the presidency of leading committees of South East Defense Ministerial and of the Multinational Peace Force in South-Eastern Europe, two of most successful initiatives in ensuring appropriate regional military cooperation and involvement. Most of the multilateral arrangements proved to be very effective in developing a culture of communication, transparency and regional ownershlp. Moreover, we are directly participating în European and Eurasian infrastructure projects to improve overall regional assets of strategic importance and possible dual use. Successful strategic dyads such as Romania - Bulgaria, Romania - Hungary or the emerging Remania - Yugoslavia are already starting points in the wave of positive pressure towards ensuring long-term security in difficult areas. European cooperative security approach was translated in the southern flank through interlocking institutions and bilateral networks that are now encasing Romania in a circle of peace and stability. lt is only pending on us all to enlarge this circle towards Black Sea, Caucasus and the Balkans regions. ln international relations, there is a common inclination to take the existing achievements for granted. As everyone agreed on NATO importance and strength, no one asked what the world or Europe would have been 18

Ron1ania's Road to NATO

without NATO enlargement. Central Europe îs now safe and secure because the enlargement of the Atlantic Alliance has been in tact a powerful catalyst for positive change. lf we only reflect deeper what the politica! treaty between Romanla and Hungary (1994) had brought to stability in Central and Eastern Europe, we would be able to understand better the significance of such a process on a larger scale. This brings me to the second point in my arguments. Pure geopolitical assessments are not valid unless significant internai reforms outcomes are substantiating Romanian regional approach. Cur commltment to NATO and its quasl-unanimous political and popular backing (more than 85o/o of the population in 2001) were never questioned. Democratic politica! requirements such as minority representation, governmental accountability or civilian oversight of the military have been successfully developed at the institutional and legal levei. Romania's foreign and security policy evolved în a bi-partisan or, more precisely, a pluri-partisan pattern wherein basic international arrangements and commitments remained the same irrespective of ditterent governments' politica! color. No legal constraints exist towards force deployment to fulfill NATO misslons, from peace support to collective defense. Cur vote in NATO will represent the vote of a politically mature state that already assumed severa! responsibilities as if it were a full-fledged member of the Alliance.

Military Reform: an Added Value to NATO We have used the politica! wave of opportunity and the internai stability to fasten our security sector reform, whereas armed forces restructuring and modemization benefited largely from the Washington Summit's bilateral mechanisrns of consultation and evaluation. The more enhanced and operational PfP framework, the Membership Action Plan offered direct input from allied countries on each and every military force plan. We might say that direct contact with both NATO capitals and the Alliance international structures gradually created a new thinking and a new approach to basic security requirements and processes. Continuous exposure to Western security philosophy through NATO member states' counseling ancl training allows us today to continue the reform at a completely different leve!: while previous legacies are continuously diminishing, the reform especially in the security framework has translated to a higher qualitative stage designed to adapt national management systems to new security environment in the same manner as NATO states currently proceed while professionalizing their own forces and prepare for new types of contingencies.

As security presently implies a spectrum of features ranging from politica!, social and economica! fields, correspondingly defense has dilated and this has generated ineluctably additional missions for the armed forces, ranging from defense 19

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargement

diplomacy to confidence and security building measures, prevention and stabilization of crisis. Romania' s first National Security Strategy adopted in 1999 inciuded the main principles of the Alliance Strategic Concept. The second National Security Strategy has gene forward in incorporating the main aspects of NATO approach towards risks and missions of the armed forces. We are currently experlencing a major shift from previous standard type of policies in the field of defense, while the concept of war and aggression has gained new meanings and dimensions, hard to imagine some years ago, as the fight agalnst global terrorism confirmed. According to Chris Donnelly, "Experience demonstrates that when soldiers are cal/ed on to meet a security challenge nowadays they have to be able to do more /han merely fight. The peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo have shown that, in addition to the ability to fight, soldiers require a range of skills to fu/fiii a wide spectrum of stressful and demanding roles, from diplomat through policeman and arbitrator to first-aid worker. hospital manager and city administrator. " 4

Romanian armed forces have turned into a security and defense system, in which besides the traditional role of conducting war and ensuring homeland defense, our soldiers must be prepared for different types of peace support or crisis response tasks, including participation în art. 5 operations. New missions. requiring new capabilities oriented towards expeditionarism and commitment, are being developed as main requirements of the new defense postura. Meanwhile. Romania managed to keep the necessary level of readiness and commitment in the military body, as a particular institution within the society, based on what Huntington defined as "expertise, responsibility and corporateness".s Romania had to deal with a considerable military legacy and a tradition of popular participation to larga-scale wars. An extensive downsizing process started at the beginning of the 90s. uOfficially numbering 320 OOO at the time of the revolution (... ). the Romanian armed forces were cut to 143 028 by the end of 2000" 6 - all figures including conscripts. Wartime strength decreased from more than haJf a million to 230 OOO in 2001 . Military personnel on active duty was approximately 100 OOO at the end of 2001. Defense plans have been developed ever since to increase the number of professional military and to re-shape the entire force system. ln order to reduce the negative effects of the restructuring process, a reconversion system has been established together 4

Chris Donnelly - "Shaping soldlers for tlie 21st centu.ry". NATO Review 2000 No 2, pp. 28-51. 5

Samuel Huntingtou - "TJ1e Soldier and the Stnte. T11e Tl1eory aud Politics of Civil - Military Relations", tlie Belkuap Press of Ca111bridge Uuiversity, Cambridge, Massacl1usetts. 1957, pp. 8-12. 6 Larry Watts - "Tl1e crisls in Romanian civil·military relations", Proble.1ns ofPost-Com1nunis111, voi. 48, no. 4, July-August 2001.

20

Ro1na11ia 's Road to NATO

with NATO and funded by the World Bank. The plans have been refined and changed du ring the years, but the goal of Romanian military reform remained the same: to establish a Jeaner, more effective and flexible force structure, one that is NATO-compatible, yet affordable. Following the reconsideration of security environment comprised în the National Security Strategy as a resuit of the September tragic events, a comprehensive force structura review is now conducted with the aim of further decreasing the manning level while improving the operational capabilities and the force readiness. This new force thinking pushes forwards some major military reform priorities that will allow us to re-shape the military establishment and adapt it to operate in a deeply changed environment. I will refer here to the capabilities definition used by General Ralston 7 : deployability and mobility, sustainability and logistics, effective engagement and survivability of forces, consultation, command and control. Basically Romania's new military philosophy is shitting from static-structures or assets thinking to flexible capabilities-oriented force, as long as we understood that it is not enough for example to buy an aircraft, but to focus on its capacity to operate both at home and in a hostile environment, probably far away from the national territory. Military force review follows other national security arena holistic re-conceptualizations, which includes the building of an efficient and rapid-reaction crisis management system, the delimitation between interior forces missions and the armed forces ones in difficult fields such as civil emergencies or terrorists attacks or the adaptation of legal framework to current transformations. As we have the largest number of forces made available for NATO peace support operations from all candidate states (at the levei of 3500 personnel), we are focusing with priority on their training, equipment projection capacities and interoperability with NATO. This has been a constant significant financial effort. ln the organic process of force capability building for art 5 and other than war operations, a conceptual approach has been used to let us match classical requirements of national territory defense with the new needs in an integrated force planning process and to gradually proceed în increasing the number of forces made available to NATO. Any analysis of probability proves that this type of involvement will be the hard core of military missions in the next decades. As the force size will decrease in the medium term, substantial savings will occur particularly in personnel expenditures and în infrastructura overheads, freeing additional resources for force training and modernization. Therefore, Romania will have a smaller army, but a stronger one. Counting numbers or just adding equipment cannot shape credible force. They need an internai structura fashioned to allow effective combat and support unlts and reduced administrative functions. A pyramid structura is 7

State1nent ofGeneral Josepl1 W. Ralsto11, US Air Force Comn1aJlder-iu-Cl1ief, Uuited States European Con1mand on "NATO e11largeme11t". Se11ate Armed Services Committee, Febn1ary 28. 2002.

21

Adrlnn Năstase - NATO E1llargement

under implementation within the Romanian Armed Forces that will be developed based on a Western-style military career management system. The structura of personnel reconfiguration will establish a ratio of officers/NCOs 1/2.4, by decreasing the number of officers and increasing the number of NCOs and contract enlisted personnel. The level of professionalism will be improved by downsizing the number of conscripts with the final goal of at least 90o/o professional soldiers. Romania needs a strong, reliable and competent cadre of non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Armies reflect the social structure of their societies. As Romania progressively develops a strong stratum of middle management (small businessman, farmers etc) with independence, initiative and education, we will dispose of a strong material for increasing the number of Western-style NCOs, as currenUy planned for the next years. Moving forward, a public debate will be opened to address the complete professionalization of our mllitary, following the pattern already experienced by some NATO countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, or recently France. With respect to interoperability, jointness and sustainability, much has been done by engaging major acqulsition programs in criticai areas for command and control systems, air space control, air and navy forces capabilities. 80°k of our Air Forces, 70°10 percent of our Naval Forces and a substantial number of the Land Forces units designated for NATO-led operations have NATO compatible communications. One of our Rapid Reaction heavy brigades has 100°10 of its command and control systems and another one will be fully equlpped by the end of this year. We are continuing to expand our satellite communications capability, to include support of our forces deployed in internatlonal missions. Important progress has been made in improving our deployability and host nation support. We have already provided the Constanţa port for the rotation of US troops deployed in the Balkans. We have identlfled four airports to support air cargo operations, three airports to support air operations, two harbors with excellent port and naval facilities and services to support naval operations, and a number of training facilities that can be made available to NATO forces.

Military lnvolvement and Financial Su stai na bil ity Military Ideal as Huntington put it in his masterpiece ·rhe Soldier and the State" embodies "... a bit of Sparta in the midst of Babylon". Probably truer than ever this could become the motto of our troops sent abroad in peace support operations, as they are hlghly trained and organized and they operate în difficult Babylonian environments. Old thinking of threats-oriented defense

22

Ronuulia 's Rond to NATO

policy has been transformed to a new approach în which Romanian military role switched from classical defense of the territory to the protection and promotion of Romania's interests of stability abroad. This principie has constantly been expressed in Romanian involvement in peace support missions from the Gulf War in February 1991 to Somalia, Angola until the participation to first NATO missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. Since 1991, Romania has contributed more than 7000 people to peacekeeping operations and has gained a valuable experience. The more difficult the environment, the larger and steadier our commitment to promote stability and ensure the respect of basic human values în different areas, together with NATO countries. 2002 represented not only first Romanian military presence in Central Asia, within ISAF and in the next months to Enduring Freedom, but also the increase of our contribution to KFOR and SFOR in the Balkans. Additionally, first contingent of gendarmes has recently been deployed in the UNMIK special police force în Kosovo. A conceptual change in the role and tasks of our contingents after the 11th of September leads to further deployment of national intelligence cells with an increase in cooperation with NATO structures in the Balkans theatre. Moreover our engineering, communication, psychological operations or military police units have successfully completed their tasks in a challenging environment, where rules of engagement of multinational forces have transformed along the years to encompass more and more difficult operational requirements. lnvolving in multinational processes and initiatives, sustaining a number of forces abroad and maintaining at an adequate level the homeland defense troops need a standing financial effort that has to be pursued în a dynamic process of balancing between threats and capacities. While the other or the enemy has become more elusive, less and less distinguished from us, resources are visibly tightened by the economic transition countries în Eastern Europe, such as Romania, are engaged in. The need to clearly explain to taxpayers, parliamentarians and servicemen what defense is about în this century has increased. While consensus is already built on the necessity of joining NATO, responsibilities deriving from membership are still to be learned, as we have discovered from the new members' experience. To make the best value for money, a plannîng, programming and budgeting system (PPBS) patterned on the US Department of Defense model îs now in operation while resources management has been adapted to NATO planning process timeframe of 6 years. The current government has committed itself to maintain the defense budget at 2.38°/o of GDP between 2002-2005 growing in line with the GDP increase, which is expected to reach more than 4°/o yearly until 2005. I would finally appreciate that there are now strong mîlîtary and politica! reasons for Remania to become a NATO member. For us it is not a sprint

23

Adrian

Năstase

- NATO Eularge1nent

to catch miracles, but a legitimate vision about durable necessity to be fulfilled. Being a NATO member is not only benefiting from the collective defense umbrella, but also invotving in a common security endeavor, in which Prague is not an end of the road, but just a new beginning. NATO is transforming and we are transformlng alongside but our common objectives have remained the same. Furthermore, what Kaplan has described as the "coming anarchy"8 or Glucksmann defined as the new "urbicides"S appeal for long-standing authentic solidarity between democracies. We are bound to be together and get stronger together.

8

Robert Kaplan - "The coming anarclJy: sl1attering tl1e drea,ns of UJe post

Cold War", Rando1n House Inc., New York, 2000 9 Andre Glucksmanu- "Dostoievski aManl1attan", Editions Robert Laffo11t.

Paris, 2002. 24

CHAPTER I Romania a11d the Souther11 Dimensio11 of NATO

Nevv Threats, Nevv Allies. Building the Stability of Tomorrovv's World* Both as a professor and as a politician, it îs a special pleasure for me to share with you my vision of Remania and our contribution to the peace, security and freedom of the transatlantic space community. September 11 opened a new chapter in our history. We have completed the cycle of transition from the era of confrontation to that of solidarity, from the Cold War to the lnternational Coalition. That security îs indivisible and is, nowadays, more obvious than ever. The North-South or East-West divide has become, at least in security terms, more and more blurred. This is even truer at the European levei, where interdependence and integration means that distance from trouble spots is no longer a security guarantee. lnternational support and solidarity are essential in the multi-faceted theaters of the war on terrorism or asymmetric threats: military operations, diplomatic coalitions, financial countermeasures, intelligence sharing, and law enforcement coordination. We should build on the momentum created în the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11 to develop an effective response to the new security challenges through a new type of cooperative security model to which all nations contribuie and through which all can share the benefits of a lasting, stable and secure internatfonal environment. Fundamental to the building of a new global solidarity is the vision of a united Europe. Europe has a tremendous chance to spread commonality, in democracy, economic and politica! terms, among European states. I believe that Euro-Atlantic integration is and will continue to be the cornerstone of our current and future stability.

* Speec/1 of Mr. Adrit111 Năstase, Ro111a11ia11 Prin1e Minister, at tl1e Atla11tic Treaty Association, Tlle Netl1erlands. February 27. 2002.

25

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargement

The closer relations between NATO and the Russian Federation do not represent a temporary adjustment to present circumstances. They mark the beginning of a lengthy process of re-evaluation of foreign policy by the United States, by the EU and NATO, and by Russia, with consequences that we could not have predicted a year ago. The anti-terrorist action puts into a new context the strategic process of NATO's enlargement. Lord Robertson has said that the events of September 11 have brought profound changes but have not invalidated the existing agenda for NATO as regards enlargement. I would go further and say that a new enlargement of NATO îs now more valid than ever. Extending the boundaries of NATO will bring to the Alliance operational robustness, in particular on the southern flank. We are still some distance from our common vision of an internally and externally secure European continent that aspires to politica! and economic harmony. I do not subscribe to the thesis that there are several Europes. I prefer to believe that there is but one Europe, albeit still scarred in places by long-standing fractures that have not yet healed. The rebuilding of a united, stable and secure Europe is one of the key challenges and priorities for all the European institutions. A new drive to deliver security in depth for each and every European citizen must determine our future agenda. This is the fundamental motivation for the enlargement and consolidation process underway within the European Union, its development of a European Security and Defense Policy, including strengthened capabillties for conflict prevention and crisis management, and for the new focus on outreach to the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. As we approach the Prague NATO Summit, we have a twofold goal: • to prevent the deepening of discrepancies in security and stability levels between the two halves of Europe; • and to respond effectively and in partnership to the new threats facing us all. lnviting new European democracies to join NATO will further consolidate stability and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. lt will finally erase the old Cold War division and complete a Europe that is whole and free. There is no better insurance against terrorism and unconventional threats than enlarging NATO by inviting stable, multi-ethnic, rule of law-based societies that share the same values that bind North America and Europe. Moreover, Europe's new democracies have already acted as de facto allies. Without the pressure of treaty or law. they freely chose to assume the central obligation of NATO - Article V - that an attack on any member of the Euro-Atlantic community is an attack on all. Concrete support to military operations was provided: we opened our airspace, airfields and port facilities to allied forces; we committed our intelligence assets, search and rescue 26

Roma11ia and tl1e Soutl1ern Diniension of NATO

personnel. and military forces to the campaign. ln my view. a new alliance emerged from September 11 when the 19 NATO members and Europe's new democracies joined as de facto allies for a shared purpose. After the hard legacy of communism, our national identity - our European identity - is defined by an unwavering commitment to pluralistic democracy, free markets, respect for human rights and the rule of law, good relations with our nelghbors and complete dedication to EU and NATO integration. With their mixed religious and ethnic populations, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are a bridge between the West and the Islamic World. We believe that the democracies of South-Eastern Europe will continue to make significant contributions to European security as each of us has a unique role to play in fostering stability, security and freedom from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Romania and Bulgaria are the most populous of the new European democracies. We are the tested partners în Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and the war against terrorism. From a geostrategic perspective, including Romania and Bulgaria în NATO will consolidate the southern flank of the Alliance and strengthen its ability to address current security needs. Challenges remain in the Western Balkans. Surrounding the territory of the former Yugoslavia with stable and democratic NATO members will increase the prospects for economic and political success in the region. NATO's strategic contiguity would be also ensured, since Romania and Bulgaria would link Northern and Central Europe with Greece and Turkey. The Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey have publicly expressed their support for a southern dimension of NATO enlargement including Romania and Bulgaria. They understand that the Southern Dimension of NATO enlargement will increase stability, reduce the potential for conflict and strengthen European integration. The Southern Dimension of enlargement will also strengthen NATO's pro-active action against asymmetrical threats. Remania is already working cooperatively in the region against transborder crime. The Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime located in Bucharest, Romania, for example, has seen success in dismantling regional human and drug trafficking networks. Our inclusion in NATO would strengthen the European barriers against criminal and terrorist activities flowing from Central Asia and Caucasus. The inclusion of Remania and Bulgaria will bring NATO to the Black Sea and provide the Alliance with permanent forward bases for air, land, and maritime traffic towards the Middle East and Central Asia. We have already proven our utility in the campaign in Afghanistan, by opening air, land and maritime space, and placing port and airport facilities at the disposal of the United States and its allies. 27

Adrian Năstase- NATO E11largen1ent

I am proud that Romania was one of the first countries to join the lnternational Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan with military police, transport aircraft and liaison officers. We are ready to provide further support: doctors, a specially trained military chemical unit and elite mountaîn troops. Our offer was endorsed by the overwhelming approval of the Romanian Parliament on Oecember 21, 2001 . lt demonstrates our commitment to act as a de facto ally of NATO in the war against terrorism. Romania's goal to join NATO is ·fundamental and irreversible. lt is based on our commitment to the shared values of the transatlantic communîty. ln the past decade, Remania has come a long way. We have learned lessons. And we have made tremendous progress. Romania is a stable democracy, tested in three rounds of national elections and two peaceful transfers of politica! power. Ethnic tolerance and religious freedom are firmly rooted in our society. We have dona this not because we were under pressure from abroad. We have done this because it is right, because it reflects the values we share with the Western civilization. After a decade of difficult economic reforms, 2002 should see the third consecutive year of economic growth. A stand-by agreement has been concluded with IMF and major privatizations were completed last year. We are encouraged by the upgrade of Romania's credit rating. Romania would be a value added to NATO military capabilities. We are reforming and adapting our military to be a professional, flexible force, fully inter-operative with NATO. Our armed forces have been reduced to one third of their 1989 level, while the military budget almost doubled in 2001 . Clear challenges remain however. We need to lower inflation, speed up privatization, and improve the business climate. I will not speak in code about this last point. Corruption is a drain on cur economy and a threat to the values we hold and the freedoms we worked so hard to acquire. Fighting corruption is the number one priority of our politica! and economic agenda this year. Remania would directly strengthen NATO security role through cur experience in peace-keeping operatîons and cur role in promoting stability and cooperation in South-Eastern Europe. Last year, the Romanian Parliament approved a tripling of Romania's participation in SFOR and KFOR. We are at peace with our neighbors and seek to promote diplomatic cooperation beyond our immediate borders. We launched the "Partnership for Europe" with Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have important roles to play in the new international solidarity and we believe the logic of engagement is the means to definitively dismantle Cold War divisions in Europe. On March 25-26 this year, Aomania will be honored to host the Prime Ministers of Europe's new democracies to discuss the future of the new 28

Ro111ania and U1e Soutl1ern Diine11sio11 of NATO

Europe. lt will be a meeting to celebrate shared values, discuss common threats, and expand security cooperation. Each of us aspires to NATO membership and each of us understands the dramatic challenges facing NATO in the 21 st century. We do not see our accession to NATO as the end goal but rather as a further step in our commltment to sharing the responsibilities for bringing about a deeper security in Europe. We expect to be an anchor of stability, a bridge to the East through which we can transfer security and stability to our neighbors in the East and in Western Balkans. ln our view, NATO enlargement is not a challenge but an opportunity - a historic opportunity to strengthen NATO and build a Europe whole and free.

29

The Southern Dimension of NATO Enlargement. Romania's Vision* Thank you, Professor Micgiel, for your hospitality and kind support în organizing this event. You are a friend of Remania, with profound understanding of our country and our region. You lent instrumental help in opening the uNicolae Iorga Chair" that, through the dedicated work of Professor Mihaela Albu, as well as of other Romanian academics, is a fulcrum of Romanian language and literatura in this university of hîgh repute. I would also like to commend Romanian Society for the hard work in promoting Romanian culture and traditions while building friendship between Romanians and Americans. Both as a professor and as a politician, it is a special pleasure for me to share with you my vision of Romania and our contribution to the peace, security and freedom of the transatlantic space community. The attacks of September 11 touched our souls because they assaulted the very essence of our humanity. Along with thousands of Americans and hundreds from around the globe, eleven Romanians fell victim that day. The magnitude of the trauma in the United States generated shock, emotion and sympathy among the Romanian people. Thousands of Romanians gathered on September 14 in Bucharest to convey - through their presence and prayers - solidarity, compassion and support for the American people. Those atrocities made clear that terrorism is the most insidious and immediate threat our nations are faced by. They also generated the antidote: for those who share common values to unite the cause of defeating evit. lnternational support is essential in the multi-faceted theaters of the war on terrorism: military operations, diplomatic coalitions, financial countermeasures, intelligence sharing, and law enforcement coordination.

„ Speecl> of Mr. Adrian Nlrstase, Ron1anian Prime Minister, at the Colun1bin Unlversity, Ne,v York. February 1, 2002.

30

Ron1ania aud tlle Soutllern Dilnension of NATO

The lmportance of NATO Enlargement Although some questioned the rationale of NATO existence after the f all of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union, wiser voices said that the alllance that was so criticai in winning the Cold War could be even more central in securing the peace. How? First, by thwarting a dictator's desire to conquer neighbors. exploit ethnic unrest and use mass murder as a tool of policy. ln Bosnia, in Kosovo and now in Macedonia, NATO acted, NATO fought and NATO worked. Secondly. NATO began a historic process of enlargement to invite qualified new democracies to join the alliance. The 60 million people of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic were the first beneficiaries of NATO role în consolidating the new Europe. lt is no surprise to them or to Romanians, that NATO invoked the Article V mutual defense clause în its charter for the first time in its history after the attacks on September 11. ln November this year in Prague, NATO members will meet in a historic summit. NATO will consider momentous issues: the evolving relationship with Russia; interaction with the European Union's nascent defense capabilities: and how best to meet the security challenges of the 21st century. NATO will also issues invitations to Europe's new democracies for full membership in the alliance. The scope of NATO enlargement was boldly defined by President Bush în his historic June 2001 speech in Warsaw: "from the Baltic to the Black Sea". lnviting new European democracies to join NATO will further consolidate stability and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. lt will finally erase the old Cald War division and complete a Europe that is whole and free . NATO enlargement will also enhance NATO ability to meet the challenge of terrorism. As NATO's Secretary General Lord Robertson pointed out at the November 2001 Sofia Summit of NATO candidates countries, there is no better insurance against terrorism than enlarging NATO by inviting stable, multi-ethnic, rule of law-based societies that share the same values that bind North America and Europe. Moreover, Europe's new democracies have already acted as de facto allies. Without the pressure of treaty or law, they freely chose to assume the central obligation of NATO - Article V - that an attack on any member of the Euro-Atlantic communlty is an attack on all. Concrete support to military operations was provided: we opened our airspace, airfields and port facilities to allied forces; we committed our intelligence assets, search and rescue personnel, and military forces to the campaign. We froze financial assets linked to terrorist groups and denied terrorists' access to Europe. ln my view, a new alliance emerged from September 11 when the 19 NATO members and Europe's new democracies joined as de facto allies for a shared purpose. The democracies of Central and Eastern Europe are reliable allies in countering the 21st century threats to the transatlantic community: terrorism, 31

Adrian Nifstase - NATO E11largeme11t

transborder crime and ethnic or religious intolerance. After the hard legacy of communism, our national identity - our European identity - is defined by an unwavering commitment to pluralistic democracy. free markets, respect for human rights and the rule of law, good relations with our neighbors and complete dedication to EU and NATO integration. With our mixed religious and ethnic populations, we are a bridge between the West and the Islamic World. We believe that the democracies of South-Eastem Europe will continue to make significant contributions to European security. We remain firmly committed to the integration of the Baltic and Central European countries in NATO. Each of us has a unique role to play în fostering stability, security and freedom from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The Southern Dimension of NATO's Enlargement As President Bush said în Warsaw, "the expansion of. NATO has fulfilled NATO promise. And that promise now leads eastward and southward, northward and onward". Romania and Bulgaria are the most populous of the new European democracies. We are the tested partners in Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and the war against terrorism. From a geostrategic perspective, including Romania and Bulgaria in NATO will consolidate the southern flank of the Alliance and strengthen its ability to adress current security needs. Challenges remain in the Western Balkans. Surrounding the territory of the former Yugoslavia with stable and democratic NATO members will increase the prospects for economic and politica! success in the region. NATO's strategic contiguity would be also ensured, since Romania and Bulgaria would link Northern and Central Europe with Greece and Turkey. The Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey have publicly expressed their support for a southern dimension of NATO enlargement including Remania and Bulgaria. They understand that the Southern Dimension of NATO Enlargement will increase stability, reduce the potential for conflict and strengthen European integration. The Southern Dimension of Enlargement will also strengthen NATO pro-active action against asymmetrical threats. Romania is already working cooperatively in the region against transborder crime. The Regional Center against Transborder Crime located in Bucharest (Romania), for example, has seen success in dismantling regional human and drug tratticking networks. Our inclusion în NATO would strengthen the European barriers against criminal and terrorist activities flowing from Central Asia and Caucasus. The inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria will bring NATO to the Black Sea and provide the Alliance with permanent forward bases for air, land, and maritime traffic towards the Middle East and Central Asia. Romania and Bulgaria have already proven their utility in the campaign in Afghanistan, by opening air, land and maritime space, and placing port and airport facilities at the disposal of the United States and its allies.

32

Ron1a11ia aud tlle Southeni Din1e11sion of NATO

I am proud that Remania was one of the first countries to join the lnternational Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan with military police, transport aircraft and liaison officers. We are ready to provide further support: doctors, a specially trained mllitary chemical unit and elite mountain troops. Our offer was endorsed by the overwhelming approval of the Romanian Parliament on December 21, 2001. lt demonstrates our commitment to act as a de facto ally of the United States and Remania is inspired and motivated by President Bush's vision of NATO enlargement from the Baltic to the Black Sea. I personally heard him when I met him last November. Remania has a road map to success, as we have important friends, partners and supporters. We have learned from experience not to take anything for granted, mindful that everything ls achievable through hard work and that grand objectives are ours to achieve - or to lose. I can assure you that Aomania wlll do whatever it takes to be prepared for the rendezvous with history in Prague, that we will be ready to defend our common goals and values, and contribute to a larger, stronger NATO able to meet the challenges of the 21st century as ably as it met those in the last one.

33

Romania's Outlook: Building Momentum* The Government of Romania was voted in office by the Parliament of Romania at the end of December 2000. Taking responsibility is a conclusive proof that it succeeded in securing a normal functioning of Romania's public institutions, that the Aomanian Govemment acts according to democratic principles and in full transparency. • We have taken upon us the task of managing the proper running of Romanian society at the beginning of the third millennium, after a period of deep recession, in order to gain the confidence of Romanians at home and to rebuild the credibility of the Government's actions abroad. • The Governing Program has set five major goals: -

to re-launch growth and restructure the economy;

-

to reduce social polarization; to restore the authority of the state and of its institutions;

-

to cut down on bureaucracy, to fight corruption and crime;

- to consolidate and lncrease our country's opportunity of joining the European Union and NATO. • The most powerful arguments in support of these statements are: - the results of the multiple politica!, economic and diplomatic contacts; - positive evaluations by international and European institutions, rating agencies and professional associations. After one year of implementing pro-active policies, the main economic indicators show an improved position of Romania: • GDP (preliminary) growth was 4.9 percent in 2001, i.e. the highest rate in Central and Eastern Europe;

„ Speecl1 ol Mr. Adrian Nifstase, Roma11ian Prinie Minister, at tl1e Century

Association Club, New York, Februa:ry l, 2002.

34

Romania nnd tl1e Soutl1ern Di111eusio11 of NATO

• Gross fixed capital formation was up 6 percent; • Industrial output grew by 8.4 percent over the previous year; • Labor productivity in industry grew by 16.5 percent through JanuaryNovember 2001 (compared to the 2000 average), while real wage earnings stood at 7 percent; • The revival of the economy has led to a shrinkage of unemployment from over 1O percent at the end of 2000 to about 8 percent twelve months later. Part of thls is due to the incentives created for small and medium-sized companies during 2001; • From January to November 2001 export rose by 11 .1 °/o compared to the previous year, with almost three-quarters of the overall exports going to OECD markets. Pre-September 11, export growth stood at 15o/o. One of the most important achievements in the conduct of our macroeconomic policies was curbing the inflation. Consumer price inflation has dropped from 40. 7°/o in 2000 to 30.3°/& in 2001 and is set to reach 22% for the presant year. We have met the inflation target agreed with the IMF, despite the need to increase domestic energy prices, and the carry-over effect of higher food prices from 2000. On the fiscal side, we closed 2001 with a consolidated budget deficit of 3.5 percent of GDP, i.e. 0.2 percentage points lower than projected at the beginning of the year, and a considerable improvement over the 4.1 percent figure for 2000. The trend stability of the dollar exchange rate of the domestic currency in nominal terms is a testimony of the smooth functioning of the domestic FOREX market. ln real terms (deflated by consumer prices), the leu has continued its moderate appreciation versus the US dollar, with 5% in both 2000 and 2001. This sustainable real appreciation îs both supportive of disinflation and taster real convergence, and - due to high productivity gains - in no way impinges upon Romania's externai competitiveness. The current account de ficit stands under 6% of the GDP, i.e. within the target, and îs largely reflective of higher imports of capital goods due to Romanian's strong investment drive; it îs also autonomously financed. Official foreign exchange reserves are at a historical high of almost 4 billion dollars (gold reserves are worth another $900 million) and equal 3.5 months of imports, while the stock of public and publicly guaranteed debt stands at 28°/o of GDP (of which only about 8°/o is domestic). Public foreign debt service going forward into 2006 is moderate and manageable. Remania 's externai sovereign issues have done very well. lts latest, a 7-year 600 million eurobond, has not only won three major awards so far (placing Romania as the best sovereign issuer in Europe, the Middle East and

35

Adrian Niistnse - NATO E11lsrgeme11t

Africa), but has shown a tightening of the spread curve of almost 200 basis points since its launch, thus outperforming higher·rated countries. This not only shows that investors are aware of Romania's improving credit story, but also that - amidst a turbulent period in emerging markets - Romania is increasingly valued for its EU accession progress, and as a safe haven for investment. Moreover, real domestic and foreign borrowing interest rates have begun converging on a downward trend. This has not failed to impact Romania's improved international perception. Rating agencies have în 2001 acknowledged Romania as a less risky country. Standard & Poor's has upgraded Romania from B- to B and, importantly, has maintained its positive outlook. Moody's has upgraded Remania to 82, with a stable outlook. Fitch IBCA has maintained its B rating, while changing its forecast from stable to positive. Privatizatîon has advanced further. 121 companies were privatized during 2001, with a capital stock of $312 million. Among them, the most important were Banca Agricolă (the third largest bank in Remania) by the Austrian group Raiffeisen and the steel mill Sidex to U.K. based ISPAT. Accordîng to approved strategies, privatization în 2002 and 2003, I mention:

among

the

largest

deals

for

• Banca Comercială Română (the largest bank în Central Europe yet to be privatized, and the largest bank în Aomania, with around 30o/o market share); • The aluminum smelter ALRO and the profila manufacturer ALPROM; • 25 °/o of the capital stock of companies under the Ministry of lndustry, including two power distribution companies, hydro-stations and the gas distribution networks. There is a renewed commitment to reforming the energy sector, through the unbundllng of electriclty, gas and oii sectors and the initiation of actions to achieve cost recovery through tariff adjustments and efficiency gains. At the beginning of this year, we raised to 33°/o the threshold of market opening for power according to a program of privatizing the whole power distribution by 2004 and power-generating up to 40°/o. For the hydro sector, we are opened to privatize it by BOT (Build Operate Transfer). 800 (Build Own Operate) or public-private partnership. Together with the World Bank we prepare the privatization of the largest oii company in the whole Central and Eastern Europe, PETROM, with onshore and offshore activities and with a presence not only in Romania, but also in Central Asia. 36

Roma11ia and the Soutllern Dime11sio11 of NATO

For the years 2002 and 2003 the Government îs committed to adopt measures to consolidate the revival of the economy, but at the same time to push restructuring and privatization ahead, as well as progressing in accession negotiations with the European Union. The Government has already approved a set of policy actions aimed at reducing bureaucracy and creating a friendlier environment for the business community. The baseline scenario provides for a GDP growth between 4.2 to 5.0o/o over the next two years, with a continuous decline of inflation rate from a projected 22°/o in 2002 to a single digit level by 2004-2005. The economic program for this year provides a 9. 7°/o real growth of investment and a further containment of the fiscal deficit to 3.0% of the GDP. We continue to benefit from the IMF and the World Bank's support during the period; a new 18-month IMF stand-by agreement was concluded in October 2001, while a PSAL li program, covering reform in the financial sector, social protection, business environment, privatization and the energy sector, has been negotiated with the World Bank and îs pending board approval. lt is also worthwhile to stress that the more we advance în the negotiations with the European Union, the deeper and broader becomes the compliance of the Romanian economy and its regulations to those of the EU members. [Remania has concluded 9 chapters and opened 17 of the 31 needed for the successful conclusion of EU accession negotiations, and is aiming to substantially speed up the negotiation process by closing most chapters during 2002.J Addressing corruption is one of the main policy goals. We have witnessed, during the transition years, bankruptcies in the banking industry and mutual funds that drove a sizeable number of depositors to lose their savings. We learned that it was not the market condition that led to such defaults, but rather the existence of fraud and corruption cases. Last December we revised the banking legislation and brought it în line with the latest rules approved by the Basel CommiUee, strengthening, among others, the supervision function of the central bank. This February we will thoroughly amend laws on capital and securities' market. We have enforced transparency of public procurement and privatization in compliance with EU standards. This January the Government has set a National Anti-corruptlon Office of the Prosecutor (meant to conduct resalute action under one umbrella), in order to ensure a coordinated action against such practices. The legal system began a process of self-evaluation and to remove from its structura those that involve a corruption risk. Hence, 25 search warrants

37

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlarge1nent

and 5 advisory notes to institute proceedings were issued, 4 magistrates were brought to justice. • Approval of the action plan to reduce bureaucracy and speed up registration procedures. After the "one stop shop" for company registration. we prepare a similar unique shop for foreign investments. The draft bill is now in the process of approval by relevant ministries. • Revised VAT and profit tax bills are in the Parliament providing more transparent and universal procedures, as well as speedier return of VAT for entitled operations. together with simplified procedures. reduction of tax brackets, and lowering of taxation. • Guarantees of the Ministry of Finance were taken over by the Banking Claims Resotution Agency. Accordingty, past due credits will be traded on the market in full transparency. • Ministers and thelr deputies are prohibited to hold positlons on the boards of companies. • E-commerce has become compulsory for public procurement of goods, except where agreements with înternational financing institutions provide different rules. Wîth the same preoccupatîon, we will amend this year the bankruptcy taw. This will make easier and smoother the proceclures for the exit from the market. Certainly, we are lookîng to further improvements în the business environment, for which we keep a ctose cooperation with the Foreign lnvestors' Council în Romania and the AmCham (the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania). The Govemment has already approved a set of poticy actions aîmed at reducing bureaucracy and creating a friendlier environment for the business community. Advances in strengthening the business environment are worth mentioning. These refer to the simplification and systematîzation of legislatîon, improvement of regulatîon and supervision, inctudîng the broader financial sector, and actions aimed at establishlng a level ptaying field for investors. To improve the market conditions, the Government has enacted in 2001 two sets of measures: • encouraging SMEs; • providing incentives to învestments over $1 million. The SMEs benefit from: wavering of customs duties for imported machinery, lower tax on profits, and preferential treatment for open tendering

58

Ron1a1ua nnd tl1e Sot1tl1ern Din1e11sion of NATO

of assets sold by state-owned companies. As a resuit of those incentives, 20,000 new SMEs were created during 2001. For larger investors, the incentives provîde for wavering of customs duties, deferred VAT payment, tax allowance for fresh investments and accelerated depreciation. Since mid-2001 , 58 significant investments with a total of about half million US dollar field for facilities in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, natural gas, communications and IT. The stock of FOI în Remania rose to $7.4 billion at the end of October 2001 . Year 2001 preliminary figures show estimated FOI flows of about US $1 .2 billion, together with portfolio flows of about US $600 million. Supplementary facilities are given to IT industry, as well as to industrial parks. Startlng this year, we decided to convert most of facilities previously used by the defense industry to industrial parks. No need to mention that labor in those areas is among the best skilled. 2002 will be for Romania also the year when large infrastructura projects will start: highways, power generating and distribution, together with increased market openness for fixed land telephones. For our part, the economic governance will be flexible, pro-active and results-oriented. We have a clear goal: to create a vibrant, competitive and knowledge-based economy, capable of supporting the aspirations of the Romanian people to join NATO and the European Union; and a clear strategy how to get there. We are perfectly aware about the two options ahead: (i) to push forward privatization and secure increased investments along, and (ii) to stimulate growth via increased consumption. While privatization is not going to produce expected results on GOP growth immediately, consumption account deficit grows, as does the difficulty of sustaining rapid disinflation. We have therefore made the decision to speed privatization of remaining state-owned companies in order to secure increased financial discipline of those companies and reduce the adverse effect of poor manag@niqnt on the budget. The Government has fundamentally changed the approach to reform from a managerial point of view, as well as ln what concerns the speed of the process, taking into account the objectives set for the Prague Summit. ln 2001, we implemented 17 of the objectives related to the Romania- NATO Partnership, up from only 5 in 2000. 39

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargement

Compared to the assessment macle în 2000, the analysis of Romania's preparation activities for accession to NATO, performed by the Alliance Secretariat, has evinced a favorable attitude and positive results. The preparation of the 3rd Cycle of the Annual Program for Accession to NATO was delivered last October and was appreciated for the coherence of the actions proposed. Remania was the first candidate to submit the abovementioned document to the NATO Secretariat, after consultations with members of the Alliance. Since early 2001, action was taken to improve the administration of the military body, while efforts to integrate with the EuroAtlantic structures were intensified. The strategic objective taken under the Government Program was approached last year by restructuring our forces in order to create a credible army, fully compatible with the NATO forces and capable to contribute to regional security. At the same time, a system was put in place, containing compensation, professional retraining courses and conventions with state agencies for the redeployment of the dismissed personnel. As a consequence, in 2001, the army reduced its ranks by over 4, 100 officers, including 44 generals. ln this context, all objectives assumed under the Second National Plan for Accession were fulfilled. ln the following period, we shall focus aur attention on priority domains such as: -

restructuring and rendering operational our forces în the context of NATO compatibility; - participating in NATO-led operations, multinational structures;

including those involving

- the management of our air·space, communications, IT, logistics and infrastructura systems; -

the reform of the military education system.

• ln order to support the preparation for accession, medium-term budgetary provisions were secured. lt îs clear, solid and sustainable, and lt has been approved by the Parliament of Remania. The results accomplished in a short time and with considerable effort make Romania a candidate with better chance to join NATO. • Romania's reaction to the creation of the international coalition against terrorism was prompt and solid. Romania shall live by the responsibilities

40

Ro111nnia and tlle Soutllen1 Di111eusio11 of NATO

involved by its belonging to those democracies that share the Euro-Atlantic values. • We were the first of the candidates to make a concrete offer and send troops to the operationaf forces in Afghanistan. lt was not a decision of circumstance. The Govemment and the Parliament have proved that alongside the Alliance members, Romania understands to take responsibility for the values on behalf of which it wishes to join NATO. Our reaction to the September 11 terrorist attack was unequivocal. We made available to the international anti-terrorist coalition the land, the air and maritime space of Romania, as well as an offer of armed forces, which proves our capacity to act as de facto members of the Alliance. The roles of the President of Remania, of the Parliament and of the Government were essential in this context, and Romania's attitude was appreciated by NATO and the United States.

41

Preparing for NATO Membership* 11 is a pleasure to welcome Lord Robertson, the Secretary General of NATO, to our meeting. He has come to Bucharest as part of a tour that includes all candidate countries. This is a double beginning: Lord Robertson's first visit to Remania and the first time that a NATO Secretary General takes part in a meeting of the Romanian Cabinet. I am not a hundred percent sure that Lord Robertson, himself a former member of the British Cabinet, will find our Government meetings interesting enough to make him want to come back to Romania. The young people he wifi meet later on might be more successful. ln any case, we are all looking forward to a frank discussion about our preparations for NATO membership, about our successes - those we have achieved and those we are working for - and about the shortcomings and our plans to address them. This Govemment is determined to do everything that needs to be done to prepare Remania for NATO membership. Our objective is twofold: first, we are aiming for an invitation, at Prague, to joln the Alliance: second/y, we want to make sure that, when we are invited, we are prepared for a smooth and successful integration into NATO's structures. We are convinced that Remania is important for the future Alliance. ln its turn, Remania needs to prepara so that her inclusion will make the Alliance stronger, more effective and more cohesive. The fight against terrorism is high on everyone's agenda, including that of NATO. Remania reacted promptly to the tragic events of September 11 and has otfered its unconditional support for the anti-terrorist campaign. We activated almost immediately all of Romania's existing internai mechanisms, legal and practicai, so that we could make a concrete contribution to NATO ~

I11troductory Staten1ellt of Mr. Adriau Năstase, Ron1ania1J Prin1e Minister, at tlle Goven1n1e11t 111eetiug atteuded by Lord George Robertson, NATO Secretary General, Bucharest, December 13, 2001.

42

Ro111anin and tl1e Sout11er11 Din1ension of NATO

response to terrorism. The Romanian Parliament decided to grant full access tor United States troops and those of their allies to Romanian territory (land, maritime and airspace). We have taken all the necessary measures to make available, at short notice, all the technical and human resources that Romania could efficiently provide for the anti-terrorist campaign. We are ready to revîew this as the campaign evolves and to respond to any concrete request we might receive from NATO or a particular ally. We have adopted legislation meant to prevent terrorists from illegally depositing funds în or transferring funds from Remania. The OSCE Ministerial Council in Bucharest, last week, adopted a Plan of Action against terrorism, designed to contribuie to global action. I shall invite our colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to speak more on this and other foreign polîcy issues. Romania's economy is on the upturn. lnternational agencies continue to give us better ratings. The Budget Law was adopted on time, for the first time in 11 years. GDP's growth is strong - we expect it to be well over 4.5°/o for the current year. The army reform for the year 2002 is fully budgeted. Funds allocated to defense are 29.4°/o higher compared to last year. So we have a double increase: an increase in GDP and an increase in the percentage of GOP marked for defense. Some of the funds allotted to the Ministry of Defense include reimbursement of credits. However, the bottom line is that, in real terms, the defense budget will increase. As the economy gets back on track, there are good prospects for meeting all our objectives within the framework of Romania's Annual Plan of Preparations for NATO membership. We have adopted the Plan at governmental level and we monitor its implementation· on a regular basis. We have adopted laws. strategies and plans of actîon on various issues, from terrorism to money laundering, from human trafficking to eliminating discrimination. More importantly, these are now being implemented. We know implementation is the difficult part, so we are paying particular attention to this stage. Parliament is preparing to adopt the Law on protecting classified information which will enable us to adopt all NATO standards and practices for ensuring security of sensitive information. Ours is a "joined-up" Government. We are all rowing in the same direction. We know that NATO is not only about defense and diplomacy, but also about values and improvement in virtually all aspects of Government activity. The National Commission for Romania's lntegration into NATO is up and running. 2.5 ministries represented in this commisslon gather on a monthly basis, at the level of ministers, state secretaries or experts. We discuss the issues, we report on achievements and we look at what still needs to be done. NATO integration - just like EU integration - îs a job for us all. 43

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargement

We have made tremendous progress during this year. People do sense this. As a resuit, we, as a Government, still enjoy high ratings in public opinion. As an aside, I would mention that the Government does not yet enjoy the same high level of public support as the Armed Forces which, alongside the Church, rank first în public opinion polis. Despite our progress, which begins to be acknowledged internally and internationally, we are aware of our shortcomings and of the way ahead. Public administration is one area where problems have not yet been addressed properly. We plan to do this. I am particularly looking forward to welcoming in my Cabinet a British advisor to help us with the public administration reform. On the positive side, we have already started to select and train a pool of experts who could take up positions in the lntemational Secretariat and in NATO command structures, when Romania is invited to join. The fight against corruption is another key area where we need to do more. We have adopted legislation. We have a National Plan to combat corruption. I shall invite my colleague, the Minister of Justice, to speak about how we implement our plans. She will also describe the measures to fight corruption, to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and to restore people's confidence in justice. The European Commission has acknowledged our successes and our efforts to make up for lost time. We are partîcularly pleased that, as a resuit of committed efforts by many ministrîes, especially Internai Affairs, the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council has decided to lift the visa requirement for Romanian citizens with effect from January 1, 2002. Psychologically this is a great gift for the Romanian people. lt îs an important incentive for them to continue to support EU integration etforts. For the Government it is equally important to continue along the same path, and strengthen border services, especially since a visa-free Romania will be more attractive for illegal immigrants. To conclude, I want to reassure you that our efforts to prepara for membership are steady and committed. We are looking with hope to Prague, but not as the end-station, but rather the beginning of a road. We are grateful for all the support we receive from you, Mr. Secretary General, from the allies, as well as from NATO lnternational Staff.

44

Romania and the Euro-Atlantic lnstitutional Bodies after September 11, 2001 * I am greatly honored to present you, today, a Romanian point of view, I am not saying the Romanian point of view, because I am aware of the tact that, aven in a country în which the ideas are clear enough and are supported by 85°/o of the population, with regard to European integration, there may exist opposite opinions, alternatives, formulas that could be debated within the Romanian society. Therefore, I shall try to present a point of view on the relations between our country and the Euro-Atlantic institutions, especially after the dramatic events of September 11. My words are, without doubt, those of an observer strongly committed, which is but normal knowing that Remania has undertaken, as a fundamental objective of its foreign policy, the joining of NATO, in 2002, and the achievement as soon as possible of the negotiations for accession to the European Union. That is why our implication îs concrete and direct, because for our country the European and Euro-Atlantic integration constitutes the only option guaranteeing a better future. lt is about an axiologica! choice. lt is a concrete option that goes beyond the possible mechanisms and actions. The intemational relations are now at a turning point, similar by its significance and by its impact to that which marked the beginning of the European construction. The concept of security and solidarity between nations has once again acquired new dimensions under the presant situation. The interdependence of peace, security and well-being at national levei and în international relations is more obvious than ever. Not long ago was telling my colleagues that Brussels had become a kind of constituency for the Romanians as well as for the rest of the candidate countries. lt îs important to go to Brussels as if you were going to Timişoara or to laşi. This is already part of ,.. SpeecJ-1 of Mr. Adrian

Năstase,

Romanian Prime Minister, at tl1e CERI

Conference, Bucl1arest, November 29, 2001 (excerpts).

45

Adria11 Năstase - NATO E11larg-en1e1Jt

the joint politica! space and it is not too well known if, speaking about Europe, of the European Union, one speaks about internai affairs or about foreign affairs of international policy. ln Romania's OL!tlQOk, the expansion of the European Union depends on three factors: the internai preparation of the candidate states, the EU's internai preparation and the actual accession negotiations. ln as far as the internai preparation of a candidate state is concerned, there are two aspects that would require a more careful analysis: the motivation for accession (including the problems of the popular support for this option) and the contribution which a candidate country can bring to the European construction. By its accession to the EU, Remania joins a union that is, at the same time, politica! and economic. The economic integration represents more than the fulfilment of the accession criteria or the conclusion of the negotiations over the Acquis chapters. ln tact, it îs about a total accession to the model of society and civilization that are specific to Europe and which make it unique worldwide. To be an integral part of the European politica! construction means to share the same system of principles and of democratic values. On the other hand, a crucial element of the approach of a country's integration into EU is that of the support this objective enjoys among its own citizens. The ensuring of a high level of acceptability of the idea of integration, in parallel with the putting into practice of an accelerated rhythm of ample economic reforms, with high social costs, constitutes a challenge that all the candidate states are facing. The European integration is a kind of answer to this challenge. The European and Monetary Union represents an economic model, the discipline and the well-being we aspire to. These wifi be achieved only through an open social dialogue focused on the job creation programs, by the orientation of the economic growth towards the citizen's interest and the creation of a durable system of social security. Romania is in tuli process of assimilation both of the European and Monetary Union criteria, and of the principles of the economic and social model. ln this regard, the national economic strategy of the Action Plan, of the Pre-accession Economic Program are as many examples. (...) Remania fulfills the politica! criteria for accession. One may also say that the Romanian economy has registered an important recovery and that real developments were achieved în a relatively short period with regard to the fulfilment of economic criteria, as has been recently menlioned by the European Commission in its annual Report. For the second consecutive year, Romania will register a growth rhythm superior to the European average rhythm, which points out the beginning of a period of catching up at economic level. (...)

46

Romauin a11d the Soutliern Din1ension of NATO

ln another line to thought, with regard to the contribution of the candidate states to the European construction, within the accession process, Romania holds a privileged position. Concomitantly with the creation of a functional market economy, Romania is gradually acquiring the most important potential - both human and material - after Poland, out of all the candidate states under negotiation. Romania constitutes a vital point of the link with the area of the Balkans, the ICE space and the Mediterranean area. Our country is a connecting point between the main regional and sub-regional initiatives. The activity of Romania during thls year, in its capacity as incumbent chairman of OSCE, of the CEFTA Joint Committee, as well as within the Stability Pact in the south-east of Europe, or in the cooperation of the states in South-Eastern Europe is an undeniable proof of this tact. We have initiated and have participated during this period in important inter-institutional actlvities, aiming to strengthen security - politica! and economic - and to fight against the biggest threats to the security and prosperity: intemational terrorism and organized crime. Recently, on November 20, 2001, on the occasion of the Brussels Meeting on the improvement of the European defensive capacity, Romania has offered to participate in the future European Defense Force, with important naval. air and ground operational forces, totaling 3 902 military men. As regards NATO, the events of September 11 have strongly pointed out into bold relief the fact that an effective contribution of the candidate states is useful, even before their accession, with a view to consolidating the antiterrorist coalition. lt is significant that one year before the Prague Summit, the partner states have the chance to prove that they can concretely contribute to this process. Romania was the first of the candidate countries to accession that made a concrete offer of contribution to the operational efforts of the Alliance, a decision that was immediately approved by Parliament. This is not about an occasional decision, but, as it was proved on the occasion of the Kosovo crisis, Romania does understand to assume, together with the other members of the Alliance, the responsibility for the values în the name of which it wishes to integrate into NATO. The developments of anti-terrorist fight put in a new strategic equation the process of NATO's enlargement. The consultation mechanism in the Vilnius formula - 1O candidate states to accession in 2002 - has proved that the reactions of these countries and their involvement in the anti-terrorist campaign, together with the member states, confirms the commitment without reserves to the Alliance and the legitimacy of the enlargement process. The thesis according to which the NATO enlargement will lead to the increase in the predictive character and operational robustness of the Alliance, 47

AdriaJJ Năstase - NATO Enlnrgement

especially on the Southem European flank, is confirmed once again. I would like to remark, again, the generous support that France has granted us in our efforts to join NATO at the Prague Summit. The reality of the last two months shows that there were deficiencies in conceiving the planned collective security, until the dramatic moment of September 11. For example, NATO does not have police, intelligence services to cover the spaces where the sources of terrorism are proliferating, it does not control the borders, does not hold databases in this field and, for the European Union, it does not operate as an integrated structure, capable of managing a coordinated etfort against terrorism. Against a global threat, perverse and impossible to foresee, NATO and the other cooperation bodies have their own limits at global level and the necessary transformations have to be made caretully and gradually. Likewise, I consider as essential the turning to account, more efficiently, the mechanisms of regional and intra-regional activity. One could avoid in this regard certain deficiencies in the field of cross~border cooperation, informational or operational. ln the absence of a responsible attitude at regional level, no country shall be able to really contribuie to the common European identity. Debates on the future of Europe The Romanian society has launched from the very spring of this year an ample internai debate, with the substantial participation of the civil society and of the academic personalities for the defining of a representative position of Romania on the future of the European Union. Thls debate expresses the vision of a country which is not yet a member of the European Union, but which aspires to the statute of "the smallest big-sized country" of the European Union. The declared stake of this vast exercise of the Union's reform is to make the European construction more democratic, to bring it closer to the interests and needs of the European cltlzens, who must benefit from equal opportunities. We also wish a more active structura, more visible and more efficlent at international levei. The majority of the European citizens are always animated by strong feelings of national identity and show a deep attachment to the state these citizens belong to. Romanian citizens are no exception. The national interests still represent an important reality of everyday life at the level of the European Union. This is the reason why the future politica! union shall have to develop upwards, from citizens to states and from states to community. The means of building should be those that have already proved to be extremely efficient during the last years in the fields in which they were allied (for example the workplaces), namely the consolidated coordination and cooperation of the member states. 48

Romanin a11d the Soutl1en1 Dime11sion of NATO

Romania aspires to a European Union constituted as a federation of nation-states, built on two pillars: the first, community, consolidated, and the second, intergovernmental, restructured. A European Union that aims at stability (for example in the Western Balkans), prosperity (for example in the states of Eastern Europe) and which promotes cultural, ethnic and religious tolerance în its close vicinity and even farther, and which becomes more and more interesting as a model for these areas. The principie of equal chances - of universal vocation in the sphere of the European Union's preoccupations - must be applied in all the future developments of the European Unlon. lt is vital, more than to remain open to new members, that any form of cooperation maintains the principie of equal chances for all, by applying the same accession criteria. These approaches shall gain in consistency by the access of the citizens of the future united Europe to modern education, free travel and social cohesion, to new business and investment opportunities, that give a meaning to solidarity and participation. (...)

49

Reliable Candidate for NATO* As the first Romanian to address the CBI Annual Conference, I am honored to share the floor with so many outstanding personalities of the politica! and business community. Let me thank you for inviting me today. When you last met, you were looking at a different global economic situation than the one we face today. The tragic events of September 11 în the United States have changed that. We are now faced with a global economic downturn. Markets which looked like a safe bet before September 11 look less attractive now. You, the business community, will be looking more carefully at strategic investment decisions. I invite you to look at Romania. I believe we have a good case. Let me explain why. First, Romania is a safe place to do business in because it îs a country defined by Euro-Atlantic standards. We can be a secure host to Western investment, to your investment. Aomania should no longer be thought of as a ''former Communist country". The Communist regime teii twelve years ago. The past îs gone. What defines Romania now is not that it used to be a country on the wrong side of the lron Curtain. What defines Romania now is that lt is a future member of NATO and the European Union. We've made important headway. We're making huge strides and we'I! make sure that we join both EU and NATO on time. We welcome the ratification of the Nice Treaty by the British Parliament. This is a significant step towards enlargement. * Speecl1 of Mr. Adrian

Năstase,

Ron1anian Prime Minister, at tlle CBI Nationnl Confere11ce, Birn1inglu11n, Nove1nber 6, 2001.

50

Roma11i11 and t11e Southern Dime11sion of NATO

I was particularly pleased to read Minister Peter Hain's comments in the House of Commons that the EU candidate countries are already embryonic members of the European Union. Remember that a country like Romania is large by European standards. lt is second only to Poland in terms of size and population. We will bring another 23 million consumers to the EU single market. That is an important gain. To quote Minister Peter Hain agaln, enlargement is not a favor that you are doing us, the candidates. lt is a favor your are doing yourselves. Secondly, Romania has some unique advantages for foreign investors, Our geographical position, at the crossroads of national trade routes, facilitatas accass to ovar 200 mi Ilion consumers, over a range of 1OOO km. We can offer safe access to energy routes in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Romania has immense natural resources, fertile land for agricultura, high tourist potantial. We have a well-educated people, highly-skilled labor and talented IT specialists. Production in Romania could prove to be cost-effective and offer better value for your investment. Thirdly, and most important, Remania îs a safe place to invest in because of the irreversibility of our economic reform program and our commitment to stimulate investment. We know we have been often criticized for the way we have managed our transition. Unquestionably, some of that criticism was justified. But there is no unique way of doing things - because every case is unique. That is to be seen here in Birmingham, a city which over the past three decades has seen as much, if not more, transition as any other in Europe. As heavy industry declined and high unemployment raged Birmingham, facing a barrage of problems, it looked the future in the face and changed. Birmingham is a place where those responsible for its future understand the pain accompanying an economic collapse. Nobody told Birmingham how to do it. Nobody knew all the rules. Birmingham had to develop many of them to suit the circumstances as it went along. Birmingham did not shake oft its problems overnight and suddenly emerge as one of the most vibrant, modern cities on the continent. lt had to work hard at it and keep on working until it came right. That is precisely what has been happening in Romania! We may have made mistakes and delayed it too long. But those amongst you who have taken the tough decisions necessary to restructure large businesses, will understand the pain of many thousands of people. ln Romania, the same decisions affected the life of every single working person in the country.

51

Adria11

Năstase -

NATO E11largen1ent

We have been working at it, and now it's coming right. My Government took office in December 2000. We've made it our goal to ensure a flexible, pro-active and resultoriented economic governance. We have a clear four-year strategy for further rapid economic reform, which will transform us into a fully functional market economy. One of our central objectives is to create a vibrant, competitive and knowledge-based economy, capable of supporting the aspirations of the Romanian people to join the European Union and NATO. an economy which can adapt rapidly to the extraordinary global challenges that confront us all. ln November 2001, the economic results speak for themselves: Our growth rate is the fastest in the whole of Central Europe - nearty 5°10 so far this year, our highest GOP growth în 5 years. Productivity has increased by 10°lo this year. Exports are up by 1So/o, with the private sector accounting for two thirds of our GDP. We have kept the budget deficit within manageable limits while reigningin inflation to the parameters agreed with international financial institutions. After complex negotiations, a new stand-by agreement was completed and endorsed by the IMF's Board last Wednesday., Remania is not stuck in the past. lt has made progress. lt is going in the right direction. As we gather pace, the international business community and international financial institutions will have serious expectations conceming the coordination and sustainability of our policies. Let me assure yout that we are determined to fulfill alt our commitments. As a Government, our responsibility towards business is to improve fair competition and transparency, and reduce bureaucracy. I don 't have to teii you that investors want to work in a predictable environment with a clear, stable regulatory framework. White it îs true that Remania has often changed its economic legislation in the past few years, remember that we have been mapping out an entirely new legislative framework which will harmonize with Western norms. As part of getting the climate for investment right, this year we have introduced the Law on the promotion of direct investment. The law provides for equitable treatment, as well as the unimpeded freedom to repatriate profits annually, transfer abroad profits yielded by shares, dividends, bonds or any other income sources related to the investment. lt offers important facilities for investments over US $ 1O million, and incentives for investing in free trade areas. There are no customs duties or value-added taxes on imported capital goods.

52

Roniania and tlle Soutl1er11 Din1e1Jsion of NATO

There is tax exemption for up to 4 years for investments in information technology and communications. agriculture, the food industry, trade and utilities. We are particularly proud of our IT sector which is developing into a star performer. This is why we introduced income tax exemption for IT professionals together with software park legislation and other measures designed to support the growth of this sector. But, no matter how favorable our investment laws, we are well aware that they mean nothing if business is mired in bureaucracy. Let me send this message loud and clear to every potential investor in Roman ia. My Government will not allow red tape to choke off our potential as a nation, or create opportunities for corruption. The twin fights against corruption and bureaucracy are key priorities. Administrative procedures for those wanting to do business in our country are being simplified. We aim for a leaner, more efficient public administration which, with .the British and European Commission's support, we are already beginning to achieve. With this in mind, and directly subordinated to me, we have created a special department for relations with foreign investors, to ensure that major foreign investors have the assistance they need, and easier access to decision-makers. We are strengthening law enforcement and have adopted our AntiCorruption Program, based on the analysis by the World Bank. We are serious about cutting out the cancer of corruption from the body of our country. ln our first four months of government, 195 people, including senior public service officials, hava been charged with corruption. Remania is not stuck in the past. Romania has made progress. Romania is going in the right direction. That is why I have no hesitation in adding this - if you are a potentlal major investor în Romania and you believe tha1 red tape or corruption is hampering your progress - call me! With the measures we are taking, I don't believe it will be necessary but, if my phone does ring, be sure that something will happen. This year we have concluded some major privatization deals: Banca Agricolă, a major Romanian commercial bank has been sold to the Austrian group Raiffeisen. SIDEX, the largest steel mill în Eastern Europe, has been sold to the British-lndian consortium ISPAT, the world's 4th steel producer, in a deal worth US$ half a billion. 53

Adrian Năstase - NATO E11Jargen1ent

Prime Minister Blair called this a major step forward in restructuring the Romanian economy. and expects it to stimulate additional direct foreign investment. Next year, the focus will be on privatizing the largest Romanian bank, the Romanian Commercial Bank, as well as two regional energy distribution companies, and the large aluminum smelter ALRO. Also high on cur agenda are the sale of the remaining stock in the national phone operator, ROMTELECOM, and the offer for sale of the vast majority of enterprises under the PSAL I program with the World Bank. ln the energy field, foreign investors will be invited to establish joint ventures with thermal and hydroelectric power producers. We are particularly interested to see British companies, with their innovative management methods, coming in to the energy field, especially as we privatize PETROM, our national oii and gas company. These examples - and there are many others - are hard proof of cur commitment to speed up economic reforms, to provide investors with profitable opportunities which will keep them în our country for many years to come.

54

Europe and the lnternational Geopolitical Fluidity* l'm honored to be the guest of the prestigious University of Cuiu today and to presant seme aspects of the Romanian vision on the challenges that Europe has to face within the present international envîronment. The balance of international relations is changing at a pace which would have been inconceivable 10 or 15 years ago. By and large, the transition from the Cold War system is over in geostrategic, politica! and economic terms, though work is still needed to maintain the momentum. Who ten years ago would have foreseen the enlargement of the EU and NATO to former Warsaw Pact countries; the move towards institutional reform within the EU; the emerging relationship between the EU and NATO on European defense and crisis management; the new relationships the EU, NATO, and the US are buîlding with Russia? Finland can be proud of the constructive and active role played by her many representatives, offîcial and non-governmental, in building confidence on our continent and in promoting OSCE as a permanent contributor to European security. We are seeing two conflicting trends in Europe, a movement towards integration on one side, dîsintegration and fragmentation on the other. On the one hand, many countries and their citizens are anxious to embrace a common European identity, to break down the frontiers between them. On the other, we are witnessing pressures for nationality to be recognized as statehood, a demand to create new borders and new barriers, using ethnicity as a criterion for redrawing borders. Synchronizing the development of the Eastern European states with the European evolutions is not a smooth process, deprived of obstacles, especially against the present background of globalization. Meanwhile, anti-globalization feelings are increasingly acknowledged în many Western countries as likely to mark Europe's future cohesion itself. "' Speech of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Romauian Prime Minister, at tl1e University of Oulu, October 16, 2001.

55

Adrian

Năstase

- NATO Enlargement

Another notable trend is that the major powers are no longer the only directors on the European stage. More and more, they have been forced to react to events initiated by much smaller actors. The war in Bosnia, the Kosovo crisis, the Macedonia experience are all evidence of that. lt is widely recognized that the best cure for a potential crisis îs to identify the symptoms at an early stage and to treat the root causes. But it seems that the only time the international community acts effectively together is when a crîsis is în full fJood. What we should be doing is working together to prevent the crisis happening in the first place. We should be thînking of the Euro-Transatlantic security community not as the Emergency Room for Europe but as a sort of Health Clinic offering inclusiveness in the politica!, economic and security spheres, and shared values. lt is clear that no organization can do everything on its own. We should draw on the lessons learnt from managing the Macedonian crisis and from the mixed success of our experience in Bosnia and Kosovo, and apply them not only in the Western Balkans, but more wîdely in the Caucasus and Central Asia. These developments require a quick and imaginative response, which is not always forthcoming. I am a strong believer in European and Euro-Atlantic întegration as the bedrock for stability of the Europe of the 21 st century. The EU and NATO enlargement process is generating a new and exciting vision of a United Europe. lt has inspired us, the countrîes of Central Europe, to persevera with the difficult process of transition. We are now recognized as stable. politically mature, responsible European democracies. The 1999 Helsinki European Union Summit was for Romania one of the most significant events in our modern history. The NATO Prague Summit next year will be, we hope, another auspîcious moment for us. For the Western Balkans, the prospect of European integration is a major incentive for politica! and economic reform. However. there are fears that integration could create new fault-lines in Europe, EU/NATO on one side; the rest of the continent on the other. The EU and NATO can in theory influence developments in the Western Balkans but what is the real influence of these institutions în Central Asia and the Caucasus? The Russian factor is an undeniable realîty in the geostrategic equation, both politically and economically. President Putin during the State Visit to Finland spoke of the need to create a common security architecture for Europe which would not bring about new lines of division: a security system that is

56

Ro1nanin and the Soutl1er11 Di1nensio11 of NATO

common to all countries. While we may not agree with some of Russia's solutions, we do agree that we are all responsible for designing our future security environment. Countries like Romania or Poland could be a bridge to the East, to provide an anchor of stability, to radiate security outwards to our Eastern and Southern neighbors. EU and NATO integration does not mean transplanting a country form one regional grouping to another or renouncing the traditional ties. lts future security lies not only in its own destiny but is touched by events beyond its own borders. The Central European states can and should use their membership of the EU and NATO to forge a new and positive relationship with their Eastem neighbors. Pro-West does not mean being anti-East. Let us not forget for a minute that the strength and tremendous draw of Europe îs its very own diversity. Romania, as part of the spirit of Western Europe, believes that the significance of EU enlargement is not just a geographic extension of the EU's externai borders eastwards. lt enables the EU, through the states on the eastern and southern borders of the enlarged EU, to act as a launching pad for spreading European values to the adjacent regions. The new EU members can reconnect the Western Balkans to the European spirit. They can împart a European vocation to the Republic of Moldova. They can irradiate European values towards Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. I am convinced that the EU will be better able to project its role and potential as the driving force of the global economy beyond the Black Sea by making full use of the capabilities of Romania and the other new European democracies. Western Balkans are the current challenge for the European stability. Historically this region has developed a syndrome of dependency on the great powers. Now we are seeing a second generation of dependency, the need for massive international involvement and assistance. What lessons can we draw from our experience there which we can apply throughout the Western Balkans? The Balkans' case calls for a double responsibility. First, the responsibility of the SEE countries to shape their future on the solid foundation of European values. This is a bold undertaking and one for which presant means and resources are limited. lts success would remain a simple politica! exercise however, if it weren't matched by the broader, integrative responsibility of Europe as a whole. Mutual mistrust is the permanent danger that we should overcome as an ultimate proof of European emancipation. However deeply entrenched in the regional psyche, this danger can be thwarted through responsibili1y. Regional responsibility and respect for good-neighbor relations are not secondary obligations but an essential test of cur being part of the European community of values.

57

Adriau Năstase- NATO Enlargemeut

There is a need for a broader process of reconciliation orchestrated by high-profile leaders who inspire confidence and respect and can dislodge the emotional prejudice of the past. They will need to exercise tremendous politica! wisdom and courage to conquer the sense of defeat and to put aside the temptation of playing the nationalist card. The international community, especially the European Union, can do more to support such leaders by applying a truly regional approach. The EU Stabilization and Association process îs one such instrument; the Stability Pact could be another. But these are long-term programs and the immediate benefits are not obvious to the individual citizen. Politica! and economic support and assistance need to be delivered now, not in 2 or 3 years' time. What îs required is imagination and ambition on access to markets, free movement of labour, less restrictive visa regimes, investment in educational and human capital. The weak integration of ethnic minority groups has been a major source of politica! and social tension and outright conflict. Vicious intolerance provoked the disintegration of former Yugoslavia and resulted in ten years of bloody conflict. But the violent nationalism pursued by armed extremists, which we have seen this year in southern Serbia and Macedonia is no better. Romania's model of inter-ethnic relations based as it is on European standards shows the benefits of inclusive policies. Empowering local administrations; involving and giving free access to ethnic minorities în the decision-making process; respecting the fundamental rights of the individual citizen; and making the citizen's prosperity and progress the central objective of public policy; these are the steps towards an integrated society. And we should not neglect the Romany. Special efforts are needed to address the problems faced by Romany communities, where poverty and inadequate access to education and health services have broken all records. This is not only a national or a regional issue, but is also a European problem that requires genuine solidarity. Tolerance needs to become standard practice throughout Europe. Towards ethnic Albanian minorities in the Balkans, the Serb minority in Kosovo, the Russian minority în the Baltic States. Perhaps we should be aiming for a code of standards to be applied to minorities everywhere, along the lines of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, instead of designing ad hoc solutions în response to a specific problem or crisis, as we have seen in Macedonia. We should be applying a common standard, instead of creating disparate solutions for desperate situations. ln the Balkans, the sad truth is that no one wants to be a minority. lf minority rights are fully respected, the push to acquire majority status by redrawing borders loses its appeal. We run the risk of creating a new double standard in Europe if pursuit of minority rights through violence is rewarded 58

Ron1a1Jia aJld tlie Soutllern DiJne1Jsion of NATO

by recognition. Romano Prodi said that in the new Europe we are all minorities. This is the right approach. Another challenge for the United Europe is poverty and social polarization. They can destroy the human fabric of aur society. Half-hearted, or worse, non-existent politica! and economic reforms contain the germs of future uncertainty. Historically weak states and corrupt bureaucracies combined with new or quasi-statehood are handicaps to the necessary modernization of government. South Eastern Europe's meeting with the Western European world brought to rnany young people the revelation of the "European dream" of the uAmerican dream" as an emblem of the spirit of freedom, chance and equal opportunities. Their dream should not be wasted. lt should equally not be perverted by allowing them to forfeit the pride of their identity. Education is the foremost factor in creating a new generation of leaders, changing mentalities and developing the human capital. The educational capital is an essential priority of our project of the United Europe; to invest in it îs în fact to finance stability in Europe. Larger access to education and employment for the younger generation, free movement within the European space, along with the sense of sharing in the European values should be the starting point in this effort. The welfare of the citizen should become the main European goal. No corner of Europe can remain a prisoner of the past. There can be no free and whole Europe when black holes of social and economic exclusion still exist. Curing the social and economic fractures throughout Europe is the surest way to tackle the enerny that is social and identity exclusion. The Stability Pact for South East Europe was designed to address these issues but it still has to produce results. Romania is hosting the Regional Conference in Bucharest at the end of October. We do not want this conference to be just another occasion for politica! debate. We want to see a concrete outcome in terms of very clear priorities for projects: what kind of regional transport and energy infrastructura projects are needed, fundable and deliverable; public administration reform; the whole area of law enforcement. We should be working on strengthening vulnerable border services; intensifying law enforcement cooperation ; pooling information and experience. The EU border control initiative for the Western Balkans is a valuable contribution. We have argued that this should be extended beyond the Western Balkans, making use of the South-Eastern European Center for Combating Transborder Crime hosted in Bucharest. Let us build barriers against organized crime, not against each other. The black holes of corruption, organized crime and lawlessness are diseases, which threaten stability throughout Europe. Human trafficking has become the third most globally lucrative activity of organîzed crime. The threat

59

Adrian Niistase - NATO E11large1ne11t

in Central Asia from religious extremist movements and terrorism has potentially serious consequences far beyond the immediate region. Horrendous terrorist attacks against US affected not just America but the whole civilization. An attack on freedom, attack against humanity and security of the individual, contrary to all human values. The most effective response îs a strong and broad coalition for a long-term global process to fight these threats. A Europe whole and free cannot be divided into those who pose the threat and those who feel it. lf we want to cure the ills of Europe, we should examina the common threats and fight them collectively. There is no reason why we should tolerate those who want to resort to new ways to impose their will by using force, terror, extremism, nationalist doctrine and fundamentalism. A united Europe will be born first at the educational and cultural level, which impCJse a new synchronization of learning, a modern education. The investment in the educational capital and the continuous impetus to their tireless democratic spirit are necessary inputs for any future European construction. The foundation of our social cohesion cannot be achieved without riew jobs, which should be secure and compatible with the exigencies of the global economy. For this purpose, the good governance should be based, in an intelligent and predictable way, on both economic reforms and social responsibility. We should adapt the education and training system, initiate the institutional reforms, which would bring, on the long term, internai stability and jobs, individual securlty and social Justice, the preservation of national economica! interests, resources and environment. The enlargement of the EU represents not only a politica! and strategic act. but it can bring that level of education and that mobility on the labor market that gives the social cohesion which is so necessary to the new process. A European community in solidarity will be able to be a solid building as long as all its citizens will feel represented in a democratic way and will be part of the ambitious project of the future Union.

60

Romania and the Challenges of the 21st Century* lt gives me particular pleasure to be the guest today of the Paasikivi Institute, named after one of the greatest statesmen of Finland and an outstanding promoter of international peace. The visit of our delegation is intended to give a fresh impetus to Romanian-Finnish bilateral relations, not only at a governmental leve!, but also in the cooperation of our business, academic and civil society communities. Out meeting today is equally an excellent opportunity to launch a joint debate on the new challenges of the 21st century. As these are challenges that affect all of us, I think it is essential for us to be able to share views, find a common language and develop coordinated approaches. Beyond our individual characteristics, only a joint effort to identify, understand and respond to such challenges can be successful. We have selected as the subject of this discussion Remania and the Challenges of the 21 st Century, so as to try and explain our analysis and preoccupations, as well as to suggest practicai lines for action. There are în my view a series of issues and major questions that will inevitably shape our future and therefore need to be addressed.

1. Beyond the horizon of transition. The synchronization of the Romanian society with global developments The first question, and an extremely difficult one, îs how to synchronize the transition processes în the East European countries with the ongoing transformations in the global economic system, how to reconnect ourselves to the current cycle of modernization, how in other words to shoot ahead in this process. To make myself clear, allow me to digress a little. As we all know, the development of states, including the East European states, has been remarkably uneven, as was the pace of their historical evolution towards a

„ Speech of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Roma11ia11 Prime Minister, at tl1e Paasikivi

Institute, Oulu, October 15, 2001.

61

Adria11 Năstase - NATO Enlargement

modern society. Romania is no exception. Starting with the 17th century, we have embarked on a succession of projects for modernization, none of which has been brought to achievement, as unfortunately the slings and arrows of history, wars and dictatorships always seemed to come in our way. This historical lagging behind the more developed zones, where modernization went at full speed, has gradually accrued. Any comparative analysis of economic and social dynamics will give an accurate picture of how this gap developed. The transition begun after 1989 had severa! clear-cut objectives: on the one hand, democratization and the reconstruction of the rule of law institutions. On the other, the economic dimension, focused on reform and privatization, or shifting the structura of ownership from an overwhelmingly state-controlled one to a largely private one. As it should have been expected, the two dimensions of transition have not kept pace with each other. lnstituting the rule of law has been rather smooth and rapid and we are now in the process of consolidating it, while the economic transition has been tortuous, sJow and had more mixed results. This is because every state had its own starting point, different advantages or disadvantages, specific approach, but also because the international environment influenced every state in quite different ways. Romania and its Government have set themselves as a major objective to complete the process of economic transition as soon as possible, that is, to be able to have the Romanian economy operating by 2004 within the framework of a functional market. I think we are doing all our best to attain this objective, in both the legislative component and the transfer of ownership towards the private sector and its subsequent consolidation. Completing the transition, however, will not in itself solve the more difficult problem, that of bridging the gap separating us from the core of the developed world. For almost ten years, we have striven to "de-construct" the state control in the economy, which had proven its utter lack of effectiveness. But in the meantime the developed world has also evolved and transformed itself. Just think what tremendous changes we have witnessed in the economic sphere, or in communications, over this last decade. Think of the information society, the e-commerce, the upsurge of the Internet. Our fundamental problem therefore is to find the means to become synchronized with precisely this kind of development, to overhaul both our economy and society so as to make them compatible with the global dynamics in real time. I believe the solution is to be found in a vision for the post-transition development. Such a vision will hava to clearly delineate our targets, as well as the means to reach them. Without a vision, Romania's integration in the European Union will be an extremely difficult process.

62

Romanin nnd the So utller11 Dinieusion of NATO

Synchronizing the Romanian society with the pace of globalization entails urgently adapting it, as a major national priority, to the most innovative information and communication technologies, so as to enjoy a democratic and responsible access on the European and global markets. Only the economic progress can remove the economic and social barriers that still separate our citizens from the citizens of the developed world. ln order for us to succeed, we need policies capable of otfering our citizens a modem education and means that are compatible with the emerging information environment. 2. A new cohesion - a new social solidarity A second major challenge for us is to re-construct the cohesion and solidarity of our society. Both the communist dictatorship and the subsequent transition have profoundly affected the social fabric, human relationships and identities. Poverty and social polarization have been the painful lot of the entire social strata. Restoring social trust, reconstructing identities, cohesion and solîdarity are all enormous challenges, and so much so, I have to emphasize it, from a social democratic perspective. Efficiency, economic growth and bridging the above mentioned gaps are indisputably vital. But they can be achieved only against a background of cohesion and solidarlty, as any economic process has a social finality. From this perspective, Finland's experîence, as în tact the experience of the entire Northern Europe, is extremely relevant to us. The path towards a new type of society, the society of social cohesîon and solidarîty, passes through good governance and buîlding a solid educational capital. Social cohesion cannot be achieved without proper employment, stable and compatible with the exigencies of the global economy. Governance must combine in an intelligent, predictable manner economic reforms and social responsibility, adapt the system of education and professional training, initiate institutional reforms capable of leading to stability and employment, individual and social justice, of protecting the national economic interest, natural resources and the environment. 3. Romanla's contribution to the European construction Let me conclude with a few words on the contribution of Romania to the construction of a United Europe. European integration is probably the most important challenge for us in the foreseeable future, as well as the most effective instrument in responding to the other challenges: bridging the economic gap and rebuilding social solidarity. 63

Adrian Năstase - NATO Elllargen1e11t

The enlargement of the EU is not only a politica! and strategic gesture. but also a solution for attaining the level of education and labor flexibility in the absence of which social cohesion is impossible. Our common goal should be to obliterate the discrepancies in prosperity, by encouraging equal chances and access. without weakening national identities. I am a strong believer in a European community built on solidarity, in a Europe where every citizen wifi feel equitably represented and involved în the great project of a new Union. A certain school of thought will try to presant the European identity on the one hand and national identities on the other hand as opposing principles. ln my view however, the re-founding of the EU cannot be accomplished through a dissolution of national identities, but rather through creating a great European democracy, based on our shared values. lts institutions will have to be judged by their capacity to act effectively in addressing the problems of its citizens without discrimination. A cultura of pluralism will in tact enhance national identities, the cultural and human diversity of the European nations. They must be equally defended, strengthened and appreciated. Let us not forget for a single moment that the biggest strength and potential of Europe lie in its diversity. A real contribution of our intellectual, cultural and human potential to the European construction will be possible only when our citizens have unhindered access to the geographical, cultural, educational, professional space of mainstream Europe. The key factor in this process is trust. Citizens' trust in the new European construction can be weakened either by a perceived risk to national identities, or by the lack of a clear, predictable timeframe for EU integration. lt can also be weakened by the perception that, until we become a full·fledged member, living standards are doomed to stagnation. Remania shares the spirit of Western Europe, and is prepared to translate what could be considered a mere map location at the so·called Eastern border of the United Europe into a launching pad for European values în the adjacent geographical areas. · Romania can play an essential role in reconnecting the Western Balkans to the European spirit, in helping the Republic of Moldova to develop its European vocation, in spreading the European values towards the Caucasus. I have the strong conviction that the EU will be able to extend its role as a driving force of the global economy beyond the Black Sea. Romania will thus have the chance to associate its potential with that of the new European democracies. 64

Rom:111ia and the Soutl>er11 Diluensiou of NATO

Romania can play a major role in the debate on the new European architecture, thanks to its harmonious, unitary structure and equilibrium of national and regional characteristics. The tact that we have been able to address most of our internai difficulties în a European spirit and on the basis of the European values and norms îs of vital relevance. Remania is today a pillar of regional stability and inter-ethnic respect. The European Council în Gothenburg validated the "irreversibility" of EU's enlargement, by reaffirming the political wifi to speed up the negotiations with the candidate countries, so as to allow the most advanced among them to crose negotiations by the and of 2002. They will thus be able to take part as members in the forthcoming European elections, in 2004. This is a generous process, a powerful incentive to build a new momentum in negotiations, so as to have our homework prepared for 2004. But this is not only about gaining momentum. lt also demands a strong improvement in the quality of our preparation for negotiations, to the best of our capabilities. This is perfectly compatible with Romania's long-term interest for completing economic and social reforms at the earliest possible moment. I wanted to share with you some of Romania's most immediate preoccupations, in the belief that the ensuing discussions will prove extremely useful both for you and your Romanian guests.

65

Overvievv on Romania's Achievements* I am particularly honored to attend this meeting and address the North Atlantic Council. The aim of my presentation is to provide updated information on Romania's progress in preparing for NATO membership. I will brieffy review some of the main politica!, economic, and military issues since the new Romanian Government is in office. I will then be happy to answer your questions. NATO is a cornerstone of Romania's foreign and security policy. Reinvigorating Romania's candidacy for NATO membership, restoring credibility and recuperating the lost time are our priorities. We understand it is mainly through steady and verifiable progress în the MAP context that Romania will increase its chances to be invited to join NATO in 2002. I am here to talk about achievements, contributions, difficulties and solutions. We are well aware that the time for rhetoric has passed and the time for action is at hand. The message I want to convey is that we are ready and willing to rise to this challenge. Continuity, responsibility, transparency and credibility are the overarching guiding principles of our approach towards NATO membership. Predictability will define the evolution of our internai reform and externai endeavors: from now on. you can indeed count on us, as, we know, we can count on you. The Progress Report regarding MAP second cycle provided for an accurate description of how we stand. My Government fully understands the problems Romania is facing especially now, when the reform process has become more painfut than ever because of accumulated delays. We are trying to develop a business-like, pragmatic, and coordinated effort in order to prove that we mean what we say. Two democratic changes of power have proved the stability and good functioning of our politica! system. The elections of last year were yet another challenging test for our capacity to assimilate Western patterns of politica! ,.. Speech of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Romanian Prime Minister, at the NAC 1neeting, Brussels, May 14, 2001.

66

Ro1uania a11d tl1e Sot1U1ern Diniension of NATO

behavior. Romanians said no to extremism but they signaled a deep concern over economic mismanagement, corruption and lack of coordination in addressing internai security risks. Dealing with all these problems is at the top of our internai agenda. The ongoing negotiation for EU membership has been an invaluable incentive. Internai reform has been postponed for many years and has become more painful and difficult to implement as time passed. We have tried our best to reverse this trend, building upon the population's trust in and commitment to change for the better, as asserted by recent polls. We have been able to consolidate internai politica! consensus as demonstrated by the recent declaration of all politica! parties to support AomanÎa's NATO membership aspÎrations. We have also been able to reconfirm public support for our candidatura. AccordÎng to a recent poll, 85o/o of the population supports Aomania's bid for NATO membership. A poll conducted wÎthin the military shows the same resuit. We have also sought to explain and discuss our policies regarding NATO integration with a wide community of academics, NGOs and the media, as the NATO 2002 Forum demonstrated. NATO membership ÎS about capability, contribution and responsibilÎty. We are in cornpetition with nobody but ourselves. Preparing for membership ÎS a way to speed up the reform process we must pursue for the sake of modernizing the entire Romanian socÎety. When asked why Romania was not invited to join the Alliance in 1997 and 1999, 80°/o of those polled said "because the criteria had not been met". This indicates a deeper understandÎng by the population of the responsibility incumbent upon NATO membership. After a period of romanticism, we know better what NATO means and what are the obligations of a member. Our expectatÎons for becoming a member of the Alliance are indeed high but so is our commitment to work for that. Coordination at national levei is improving. Since 1997, we have been told that the economy is the greatest challenge for us. lt seems that this is still the case. Today, however, the economic trend is finally positive. Although some may consider we are overoptimistic in our forecast, I expect that Romania will stay the course with a steady economic growth of around 4°/o per year. Privatization has reached a new stage. One of the most important state· owned banks, Banca Agricolă , has recently been privatized. The Government is also on the brÎnk of finalizing the privatÎzation of the biggest steel mill, SIDEX. Another 15-20 medium-sized enterprises will follow soon. Small and medium-sized enterprises are currently granted special facilities. Positive developments are expected concerning inflows of foreign direct investment, reduction of the current account deficit, growth of the central bank's reserves and exports' revival. We are working on reducing inflatÎon, as stipulated În 67

Adrian

Năstase -

NATO Enlargement

the Medium-Term Economic Development Strategy. Several infrastructura projects, including highways, have been re-launched, as was the second reactor of Romania's nuclear power plant, among the safest in Central Europe. The personal safety and well-being of our citizens are also among our priorities. However, fighting corruption is more difficult than we expected. We must address the sources of this phenomenon, thus facilitating accelerated privatization, while downsizing the public administration sector and implementing law enforcement measures. The fight against organized crime is coordinated with our regional and European partners. We have initiated a review of the judiciary with the aim of its genuine adaptation and reform according to EU standards. The most difficult part is yet to come, since the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary should be preserved while addressing corruption and other criminal activities. Your countries' support and assistance in this respect are welcome. lmplementing democratic practices for protecting the rights of persons belonging to minorities is another main priority. New laws and regulations on local administration and education are being implemented. The good cooperation with the Hungarian minority representatjves at local and national leve! is lmproving constantly. We have just adopted a 10-year Strategy for improving the situation of the Romany minority, a document elaborated în cooperation with foreign experts, NGOs and, most important, with politica! representatives of this minority. We are fully committed to continuing and improving the programs for child protection and we welcome the intemational support provided. Romania can further contribute to the security of the Alliance and to that of Europe. ln fact, Romania contributes intrinsically to security în a turbulent and unpredictable region, where it promotes the values, democratic principles and practices which are the basis for long-term peace and stability. Romania stood shoulder to shoulder with the Alliance during the Kosovo crisis. Recently, we have incresed our contribution to KFOR. Just one week ago, a Romanian military police unit reached Kosovo. We are considering the possibility of sending an additional combat company no later than July this year. We will continue to contribute to SFOR. At the same time, the draft of an expanded SOFA Agreement is ready for submission to NATO and we are prepared to start negotiations as soon as possible. We are all tired of the far too many regional conflicts. But to sit and wait is not enough. Regional responsibility in finding a lasting answer to the Balkan question can be the key to an enduring solution in the area. ln order to do that, we need an all-encompassing, cohesive vision, and Romania is committed to contribute to that vision. We believe that regional cooperation through a rapid exchange of information on security risks, early diplomatic intervention and a more effective

68

Romania and tl1e SoutllerJJ Di111e11sio11 of NATO

use of resources in conflict prevention and crisis management can be instrumental în promoting positive change. This is also the spirit of the SouthEastern Europe Defense Ministerial. The establishment of a Multinational Peace Force for South-Eastern Europe îs a demonstration of regional commitment to confidence and security in the Balkans. Last but not least, the South-Eastern Europe Common Assessment Paper on Regional Security Challenges and Opportunities (SEECAP) - an activity developed under NATO SEEI and coordinated by Remania - is almost completed and will be endorsed within tha margins of the NATO/EAPC Foreign Ministers' meetings at the end of this month. We are determined to make the SEECAP a valuable instrument for cooperative solutions to regional security challenges. We are grateful to all NATO allies and to the lnternational Staff for their support in developing this initiative. The SEECAP was the first regional security endeavor to involve postMilosevic Yugoslavia. Working together with Allies and partners to fully reintegrate Yugoslavia in regional security cooperation networks is one of our priorities. We are also paying particular attention to improving on a pragmatic basls relations with Moldova, Ukraine and Russia and we will deepen our cooperation with Hungary and Bulgaria. The OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office provided Romania with the opportunity to enhance its cooperation with NATO members and partners towards finding solutions to pending problems in the Euro-Atlantic space and especîally in South-Eastern Europe. We are particularly engaged through our Chairmanship in promoting measures - such as the establishment of a multi-ethnic police force in Southern Serbia and the Formar Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to reduce or remove soma of the root causes of conflict. With its geostrategic position, its size, population and military potential, against a background of democratic stability, Remania has not been a security concern for the last 11 years, but rather a constant source of stability and a provider of regional security în an area of risk. Some might think that by setting NATO and EU integrations as the top priorities in our foreign policy, we rîsk underestimating our distinctive vocation in this area. We believe on the contrary that integration means increased regional responsibilities and engagement, Romania's strategic position and the openness of its good-neighbor policies qualify us as a linking bridge between the Balkans and Europe's integrative route, a junction for the opportunities for cooperation to the North and East of cur continent. We trust therefore that Romania will be invited at the Prague Summit în 2002 to join NATO. While the principie of NATO enlargement is already accepted, we believe that further enlargement of the Alliance is all the more necessary today, if we want democracy and market economies to be consolidated throughout South-Eastern Europe. We are prepared to use our means and

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Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargeuient

potential to the full and proceed on the course agreed with the Alliance, through carrying out the Membership Action Plan established by the Washington Summit, as developed în our National Annual Plan. For Romania the MAP process îs not only a very useful road map for NATO accession. lt also represents an important instrument, translating into concrete objectives our own national interest for consolidating our national security and a fully democratic society with a self-sustaining economy. Preparation for meeting the NATO requirements in the military field has been speeded up, building on the progress achieved so far. The implementation of the National Annual Program 2000- 2001 and preparation for the next MAP cycle remain the backbone of Romania's endeavors towards reaching interoperability in the broadest sense of the notion. Our recent defense review has resulted in new policies for strategic reform of the military. Respecting previous commitments while better correlating objectives with resources will be at the core of Romania's preparation for NATO membership. Remania will continue the reform of the armed forces according to the plans already agreed with the Alliance. Consultations with the allies on implementation will be broadened. We will continue the process of downsizing our armed forces during the next three years while creating a structura that reflects an efficient officer/NCO ratio of 1 to 3 and a western style pyramidal hierarchy. We are confident that this can be achieved by reducing the size of the administrative tail while maintaining the operational teeth and improving the education and training of military personnel. The administrative bodies of the MoD will be reduced by 40°/o, as already approved. The Parliament and the public opinion are kept informed about progress and implications of military reform. The reform of the armed forces reached a criticai point. Before December of this year, more than 4000 officers will leave the active duty. There will be also a reduction of 306 positions of general rank.Since the last meeting of the Politica! Military Steering Committee with Remania, one territorial corps has been disbanded. The implementation of the approved new force structura will start in August this year. Social protection measures and vocational training programs are envisaged, such as those organized by NATO and sponsored by the World Bank. We will also take necessary measures, in the second stage of the reform, so that cur armed forces are equipped with modern weaponry obtained through an efficient and cost effective procurement strategy. The defense resource management system introduced in January this year will be fully implemented with effect from 2002. ln order to achieve the reform objectives consistent with NATO integration goals, the Romanian Government has determined that defense will be properly resourced both in the current year and for the remainder of the reform program. This year, the Government has made a substantial effort to 70

Ron1anin aud tl1e Soutller11 Di1ne11sion of NATO

agree the budget as quickly as possible so that cash is made available to drive forward the process. The total size of the defense budget is US$ 981 million. As to future years, the defence budget will grow in line with the overall increase in GDP and, in any case, will be no less than 2°/o of the GOP, as set out in the last Government's White Paper. For the first time, transparency has been closely observed during the entire process of setting up the budget. ln order to speed up the reform process, we have focussed on 13 key areas. The associated implementation plans were set out in the revised version of Chapter 2 of the NAP, which Minister Paşcu will be happy to discuss in detail. These are fundamental to the short-term goals of reform, so they will be properly resourced and fully implemented by the beginning of the third MAP cycle in September. ln conclusion, all we ask is that you note the progress Romania will make during the next months. When decisions are made, we ask you to consider Romania's candidacy on its merits. I am confident that Romania will join NATO and the Alliance will invite Remania. The sooner the better. Our choice for Euro-Atlantic integration is irreversible, whatever decision is made in Prague.

71

NATO and EU: A Romanian Perspective* lt is indeed a privilege to sit on a panel with my colleagues Prime Minister Laar, Prime Minister Berzins and Prime Minister Drnovsek. I would like, first of all, to thank Prime Minister Dzurinda for the gracious hospitality and his eloquent opening remarks. I am not sure it is particularly helpful to examine the relationship of Europe's new democracies to NATO and the EU at the levei of leve! of theory. I will leave that to the distinguished academics here with us today. I am a politician and politics, as we know. is the art of the possible and the practicai. Therefore, I would like to share wlth you the experience of my country in its relations with these two central institutions. I am going to focus at the levei of practice where I have four major points. 1. There is no competition between EU and NATO. Somewhere between 80°/o and 90°/o of Romania's 23 million citizens have consistently supported the integration of Remania into NATO and the EU. When I was campaigning last year I had the opportunity to talk with numerous Aomanians about this shared aspiration. What I heard over and over again was that they viewed the EU and NATO as two sides of the same coin. They understood intuitively that security without free trade and markets is sterile and prosperity without security is a fool's paradise. 2. The process of accession prepares us for both institutions. One of the interesting things that we have feamed in the course of our dual candidacies is that the work we do in preparing for one membership process strengthens us as a candidate in the other institution. While l'm certain the NATO allies did not design the Membership Action Plan with 1he intent to accelerate our EU accession negotiations. But this is what has happened. Any step forward on the preparation for EU membership is an asset for preparing NATO integration and the other way round. Up to a certain point. the same

* Speecl1 of Mr. Adrian

Năstase,

Ro111anian Prime Mi11ister , at tlie International Confere11ce "Europe's New Den1ocracies: Lendersl1ip and Respo11sibility" (Panel 1: "EU and NATO: Con1ple1uentarity a11d Partnership"), Bratislava, May 10-12, 2001.

72

Rou1auin and tl1e Soutbern Din1ension of NATO

criteria apply for both preparation processes. As mutually reinforcing entities, NATO and EU integration require mutually reinforcing approaches. 3. The combination of NATO and the EU causes a third effect. lt has often been remarked that NATO and the EU are mutually reinforcing institutions; în a way they depend on each other. NATO created the conditions of peace that were essential for the great project of the Treaty of Rome. Now, years later, the EU is sharing the burdens and the costs of European security. This is all true, but for a country that has been excluded from European institutions by history, the prospect of accession has a transforming influence on how we see our future and how others see us. 4. The impact of these complementary and parallel institutions is so profound in the Euro-Atlantic space that membership îs an urgent and immediate concern for all of Europe's democracies from the Baltic to the Adriatic and to the Black Sea. I will discuss this at greater length this afternoon. Both structures have changed their profile du ring the !atest years: NATO has increased its politica! dimension, while the EU has developed security mechanisms. Yet, they remain different and provide the candidate countries with a serious chance to attain the same goal - namely, enforcing democratic values and countering the same threats against security. Democracy itself îs a clear and obvious resuit of the relationship between NATO and tha EU. Democracy provides the proper ground for a healthy economic development. A strong economy stands as the fundamental basis for building and preserving a stable environment, which is the most needed component of security. At its turn, security is the fundamental prerequisite of democracy. Breaking this self-sustained construction or any of its components would certainly lead to irrevocably jeopardizing the chance to foster democratic development and cooperation. Young and restored democracies running up for integration into NATO and EU should closely follow the line of regional cooperation prior to engaging themselves in more complex and intricate mechanisms. Remania has successfully exercised its skills for regional cooperation during the last decade. This test resulted in unique and highly valuable assets, which make it possible for us to handle the challenges of the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office. lt has been more than a decade since Remania expressed its desire to join NATO and the EU. Membership in either structura means getting rid of the bad habits of the past, while building a safe and scund future by taking into account the lessons learned during the hard times. Membership means democracy. Democracy, in most cases, means reform. The Romanian society is carrying on a wide reform process aiming, in the first place, at fulfilling its own needs. Yet, the primary focus of the internai reforms lays upon the fact that we need it anyway - NATO and EU integration will only certify that we succeeded in our endeavors. 73

Speeding up the Process of Joining NATO and EU I am particularly honored by the invitation to address this special meeting of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy. lt is always a pleasure for me to meet again old friends from the European Partiament, an institution for which I have developed a personal attachment these last few years. I would like to mention, at the outset, that this is my first visit abroad, in my capacity as Prime Minister of Romania. The fact that this visit is taking place in the capital of Europe is certainly not a coincidence. On the contrary, it proves that Brussels is indeed a place of primary importance for us. lt is already an established custom for Romanian leaders to visit Brussels at the beginning of their term of office in order to explain and present their programs just as the Presidency of the EU Council comes at the beginning of its term of office in Brussels or Strasbourg to inform European institutions about its priorities and the measures envisaged for fulfilling those priorities. As you all know, in November 2000, presidential and legislative elections were held în Aomania. For the second time since 1989, a normal transfer of power has taken place peacefully and democratically. Our democracy proved to stand solid while our electorate proved its maturity and wisdom. Romanians went to the polls determined to vote for a change, a change that includes a better performance în speeding up the process of joining the European Union and NATO, the organizations which best reflect the democratic values and prîncîples we have în common in Europe. That ÎS why my maîn message to you ÎS one of continuity, reinforced with change în our drive towards Europe. ,.. Speech of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Romania11 Prime Mi11ister, at the 1neetiJJg of the Comn1ittee of Foreig11 Mfairs, Hun11u1 Rights, Con1n1011 Security and Defense Policy, European Parlian1ent. Bn,ssels, January 25, 2001.

74

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and t11e Souther11 Dilne11sio11 of NATO

lt is one of continuity since we will pursue internai reforms across the board. We will continue to place European integration at the very heart of our policies. We hava already begun to restructura our administration in order to get closer to the expectations of our own citizens and act more coherently, more decisively and effectively in the EU accession process. On the other hand, my message is one of change because the Government will approach internai problems, society and the citizen from a new perspective. We are perfectly aware that the next few months will be crucial if we are to achieve our fundamental goal - accession to the European Union in a reasonable period of time. We are fully aware that we have to gain credibility in delivering on our electoral commitments, and we need to address the enormous problems that lie ahead of us with pragmatism and determination. ln brief, we will talk less and deliver more to our people and to our partners. Ours îs not a simple task. These last two days I have met with high officials from all EU institutions and we have discussed a wide range of issues. Alt of them assured us of their support. I know that the European Union and its Member States have done a lot for Romania in the last decade and they are prepared to do even more for us in the future. Romanians value and will continue to appreciate this substantial support. What do we intend to do on our part? We will instill a new dynamism in our efforts to prepare the country to become a reliable EU Member State. This means that we will focus our efforts and actions on the economy, on the administration and on the citizen. After a!I, our electoral slogan has been "Together with the people for the people". Since I have the floor before the Committee of Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy allow me to follow on with some reflections on international relations, a realm to which I am particularly attached. The next four years appear to be a period of high diplomatic profite for Romania. lndeed, în 2001, Romania holds the Chairmanship of OSCE, concomitantly with that of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. lt is a very challenging job for our Minister of Foreign Affairs and his team. I trust that their ability, energy and innovative ideas will secure Romania's successful running of an increasingly complex Organization, in an ever more challenging politica! environment. 75

Adria11

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- NATO E11Jnrgen1e11t

Remania wishes to brlng its contribution to the strengthening of OSCE as a forum for dialogue and to better shape up its potential for interaction and cooperation with relevant European and Euro-Atlantic organizations, among which the EU figures prominently. Next year, NATO will hold a new Summit, where we expect a decision to further enlarge the Alliance, in the spirit of the uopen doors" policy. And I truly believe that there are all the reasons to state that Remania expects and deserves to be invited to joîn the Alliance in the next wave. I do nat need to explain here how important accession to NATO is for Remania. I would like, however, to confirm the Government's willingness and determination to pursue the reform of the Armed Forces, to increase the budget for military expendîtures and to further strengthen cooperation with both NATO and the EU. Our country follows very closely the development of the European Common Security and Defense Policy and is willing to contribute to the fullest possible extent to this project, which for the first time in the post Cald War era, brings together European countries from the West and from the East in a joint effort to preserve security and stability on the continent. ln 2003, Romania wifi seek a two-year term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. That will represent a new opportunity to assert Romania's vocation and capacity to assume heavy responsibilities in the international arena. We will continue to engage in developing close cooperation with all neighboring countries. The Republic of Moldova is of special importance to Remania and we feel that it deserves greater attention and increased support from the European Union. We are willing to contribute to a politica! settle_ment of the conflict in Transnistria and we call for an acceleration of the withdrawal of Russian troops from that region as agreed at the OSCE Istanbul Summit in November 1999. At the same time, we call on you, distinguished Members of the European Parliament, to support the Republic of Moldova in its efforts to recover from the economic crisis and in advancing towards progressive integration with the European Union. An area calling for our highest attention is the Western Balkans. Romania wishes to make the fullest use of its capacity as OSCE Chairman in office and the advantages which derive from its excellent relations with all the countries in South-Eastern Europe in order to project stability in this region, to bring about its economic recovery and its progressive reintegration into the mainstream of Europe. These are just a few of our top domestic and foreign policy priorities in the years ahead. I trust that mast of these issues are also placed at the top of the priorities of the European Parliament agenda and we look forward to a period 76

Ro1nauia and t11e Soutller11 Din1ensio11 of NATO

of fruitful cooperation that proves equally challenging and rewarding both for Romania and the European Union. ln the economic sector, our efforts are aimed at consolidating the macroeconomic stability, at achieving a durable growth and at preparing our economy to respond to the requirements of its integration into the lnner Market. The Medium-Term Economic Strategy to which we shaJI remain firmly attached - considering the politica! support we have granted to its objectives in the year 2000 - is the very spine of our Governmental Program. The Action Plan has been amended and completed in certain respects, so as to render it compatible with aur own targets. I would like to thank the Commission again for its valuable support to and substantial cooperation with the Romanian authorities. Allow me, please, to present the priority themes as included in our economic program: • Privatization. This process will hava to become fully accomplished during our term of office. The Government has turned the formar State Property Fund into the National Authority for Privatization and Management of the State's shares in economy; among its competencies we should underline the one regarding responsibilities during the post-privatization period. • The Banking Sector. The banking sector ought to become the very

heart of the durable growth, meaning its better adaptability to the present needs of our economy: an upsurge of exports, proper support granted to the SMEs and steadily dynamic investments. • The Fiscal Policy. The taxation system îs going to be readjusted, with a view to stimulating the SMEs. The purchase power will also grow, following the cancellation of contribution payments to certain special funds. A better distribution between direct and indirect taxation will bring about the establishment of a more proper business environment, as well as an enhanced motivation for higher per1ormances. • The Business Environment. We are fully aware of the fact that the

economic growth and the modernization of the economy can by no means be achieved in the absence of the solid participation of foreign capital. We intend to proceed to the promotion of legislative and practicai initiatives apt to stimulate foreign investments, to simplify the procedures and to improve business environment. As regards administration, important changes have already been put into practice, in order to better approach the issues outlined in the European Commission's Regular Report. We have founded two new ministries: the Ministry of European lntegration, which is meant to act as guardian of the process of joining the European Union so as to better coordinate our home efforts towards this goal, 77

Adrian Năstase- NATO E11lnrgeme1lt

and the Ministry of Prognosis and Development. At the same time, every ministry has a special department within its structure, which is also concerned with the European integration and is supervised by an undersecretary. The Government's determination to solve an outstanding issue which has been signalled by the Commission ever since 1999 - i.e. the state of the abandoned and institutionalized children - is also reflected in a new administrative attempt to better cope with this matter. We have thus founded a new structure having a unique responsibility, which wlll act harmoniously and effectively, we hope, towards solving the issues regarding both these children's protection - as most of them are quite vulnerable - and the rather delicate situation of the adoptions. Through the agency of the newly set up Department for lnter-Ethnic Relationships, the Government will be able to actively follow up the impfementation of an effective integration strategy of the Romany population. As far as the protection of our national minorities is concemed, we are entirely open and willing to achieve the proper development framework as well as a normal politica!, juridica! and practicai climate which would by all means observe their own ethnic identity. These are not mere statements of principie. last week, our Parliament has passed a draft law on the local public administration which includes a number of facilities enabling the use of one's mother language in the relationship with the local administration bodies, there, where the people from national minorities amount to more than 20 per cent of the entire population. Our slogan during the last electoral campaign - and which will be available for the following four years - refers mainly to the citizen's welfare. The citizen will remain în the center of our main preocupations. The social dimension of our Government's policy is going to be reinforced. Romanians need a social policy directed towards creating jobs and securing equal chances, an effective and coherent policy, fully compatible with the economic program's provisions. We have leamed a lot from our past experience and we consider that now, at the beginning of our term of office, a social agreement covering a pre-established duration îs the way we ought to engage upon. For us, however, the social dimension is only one facet of the issue we are concerned with in terms of the community welfare. lt has already been unanirnously agreed that Romania's preparation for the admission in the EU cannot succeed without its citizens' direct participation in and effective contribution to this process. The Govemment decided to grant tuli priorlty to the citizens' access to the activities carried on by the State institutions, including the communication and information strategies concerning 78

Ro1uauia and tl1e Soutl1er11 Di111eusion of NATO

the European matters, the advantage of being admitted in the European Union, and the tasks to be accomplished in their capacity as future European citizens. I would now like to refer to a matter we have been concerned with for years - the free movement of Romanian citizens within the European Union space. As you already know it, on January 15, the Government sent our answer to the European Commission's questionnaire on visas. We hope that this answer, which îs our first contribution to the Commission's assessment activity, will lead to a favorable final report in June 2001, having as a concrete outcome the elimination of the compulsory visas for cur citizens. I am also convinced that the European Parliament, which has traditionally sustained the equal treatment to be applied to the candidate countries, having also pleaded constantly for the free access of the Romanian citizens to Europe, will act in favor of the revised proposal on the issue of visas formulated by the European Commission. The European Union has made in Nice the necessary decisions for the observance of the enlargement calendar previously established at the European Council meeting in Helsinki. As far as we, the candidates, are concerned, we are going to do our best in order to advance as rapidly as possible on the way towards the integration into the European Union. The newly appointed Government of Remania is decided to give a new impulse to the preparations for joining the European Union, so as to bridge the gap still separating us and to catch up with the more advanced candidates. ln this race against time we count on the substantial support on the part of the European Union and of its member countries .

79

CHAPTER I I Strengthening Stability throogh Regional Cooperation

Cross-Border Cooperation* I am honored to join the previous speakers in expressing my gratitude to the Italian Government, personally to H.E. Mr. Silvio Berlusconi, President of the Council of Ministers, for the outstanding arrangements made for the successful outcome of the Central European lnitiative events that are taking place în Trieste under his able Chairmanship. Much has happened since our last meeting. The international context has changed dramatically. The most horrendous threat to our common values, to our security and stability is what we have witnessed two months ago in the United States. Against the backdrop of the terrorist attacks, we all need to reflect on the new meanings of our concept of security as well as on the true sense of solidarity. I am confident that this meeting, with the participation of the Heads of Government of Central Europe and representatives of international organizations will complement other regional efforts pertaining to the curbing and elimination of threats, which the scourge of terrorism poses to the contemporary world. lt will also emphasize our solidarity, partnership and cooperation on issues of crucial importance. There must be no safe haven for those sponsoring, organizing, harboring and supporting the execution of such criminal acts. lnternational terrorism, whatever its motivation or origin, has no justification. lt is a threat to peace and security throughout the world. lt attacks the security of the individual and, as we have witnessed, it attacks indiscriminately. Terrorists cannot operate globally without funds, without training, without support, whether active or passive. What are we doing to track down the source of those funds, to identify the location of that training, to stifle the sources of support? Are we paying enough attention to the links between terrorist organizations and organized crime money-laundering activities and illegal arms trafficking? * Speecl1 of Mr. Adrian Niistase, Roma12iau Prime Minister, at tlle Central European Initiative Summit. Trleste, Noven1ber 23, 2001.

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But we must be certain that terrorism will not be used as an excuse for a war against religions, peoples or specific groups. We must hold in equal esteem those celebrating Thanksgiving yesterday and those honoring Ramadan during this holy month. We consider that the most effective response to this global menace is a broad-based coalition on a long-term period. The existing framework - UN, OSCE, EU, CoE - provides us with valuable instruments to approach the problem of international terrorism in a comprehensive way. As a sub-regional grouping, the CEI could also manifest solidarity and coordinate its actions in fighting terrorism. This could be done by strengthening the legislation, by exchanging information and expertise in the field of fighting terrorism and other illegal activities, by intensifying the co-operation between agencies in the CEI area. The Bucharest SECI Center for Combating Transborder Crime could alsa provide consistent support for combating terrorist activities building upon the practicai results already achieved and the existing facilities. As to the events în the CEI region the situation in Macedonia has given us a clear lesson that conflict can still erupt unexpectedly. The situation has stabilized for now thanks to the concerted and intense efforts of the Macedonian Government, the EU, NATO ant the OSCE. We commend our Macedonian colleagues for the recent inauguration of the multicultural University in Tetovo. Another lesson to be heeded is that institutional Europe shall not tolerate sources of intra- or interstate instability. However proud we are to be nationals of our countries we are geared to become citizens of Europe. ln this context, we reaffirm our attachment to the stipulations of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and also call for a constructive dialogue in order to achieve a mutually acceptable constitutional arrangement within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The participation of all ethnic communities and the peaceful conduct of the electorate in the Kosovo's first assembly election are a sign of politica! maturity. We hope this maturity will also translata into genuine support for the elections' resuit. Current events have changed not only our global perspective, but also our regional one. New challenges pase the necessity of a redefined CEI. We want to be part of this process and influence the CEI role in the larger European context. And I am here today to share our ideas on a different CEI. On the mid-term, I see a threefold politica! role for the CEI: First: Ensuring interaction between EU members and aspirants, by undertaking joint projects and facilitating lntegration; Second: Establishing a consultation forum inside the EU, for voicing common concerns affecting our region; Third: Setting-up an outreach program for countries outside the EU, and assisting them in achieving their European vocation. 82

Strengtl1ening Stability throug11 Regional Cooperation

Unfortunately, to date, the question of a regular politica! dialogue between the CEI and the EU has not yet been answered. Although various CEI-EU areas of cooperation have been identified (cross-border cooperation, SMEs, transport and environment, the enlargement process, PHARE and Stability Pact programs) we should pursue other regional infrastructura projects, increased intra-regional trade and the improvement of legal and institutional frameworks. From its own national perspective, Remania is interesed in increasing cooperation, in the rehabilitation of the Danube basin, tourism, agricultura, transport, SMEs, environment and combating organized crime. By the end of the month we shall co-chair with Croatia the Working Group on Tourism. We will look into modalities to promote a field where our assets are inadequately used. The project on rehabilitation of the Romanian railways, co-financed by the CEI, is proceeding accordingly and we are encouraged to seek similar projects. lt gives me great pleasure to be able to praise today the Italian Chairmanship for organizing the CEI Summit Economic Forum, with the active participation of the ministers of economic sectors, an the first CEI Youth Forum. The Fourth Summit Economic Forum, carried out under the generic topic "Growing together", has focused our attention on the CEI role in areas of common interest for sustainable development in the region. I encourage the organizers to follow up the new proposals and involve a broader European and international audience in the economic cooperation of the CEI. I have noted with satisfaction that the lmplementation Report of the CEI Plan of Action 2000-2001, prepared by the Executive Secretariat for this Summit, illustrates a substantial increase in CEI activities during the past two years. I am fully confident that the "CEI Plan of Action 2002-2003" we will approve today will further promote new fruitful initiatives for our regional cooperation. I sincerely believe that conditions are more favorable today for regional cooperation than ever before. The world is different. Our region is different. The CEI will keep moving on. lt is up to us all to make sure that "different" will always mean "better". lt is such an approach that will allow us to identity further opportunities leading us towards a shared vision of common prosperity and security in an enlarged and united Europe. Before concluding, let me commend the outstading performance of Ambassador Dr. Paul Harting, during his tenure as Director General of the CEI and welcome Ambassador Dr. Harald Kreid, as his successor. We also welcome Macedonia, as the new Chair of the Central European lnitiative, and assure the full support of Remania during their term of office.

83

Stability Pact* On the opening of the 2nd Regional Conference for South-Eastern Europe, I would llke to address you a warm welcome on behalf of the Govemment of Romania. I express the hope that this event will set a new stage in tha consolidation of the partnerships between the countrias of the region and the international community în the sense of the objectives established two years ago by the Stability Pact. I have the pleasure to welcome the presence in Bucharest of the high representatives of tha European Commission and of the World Bank, who generously and with impressiva availability prepared the proceedings of this conference. I would like to thank, on behalf of the Government of Aomania, the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for the afforts and abnegation with which he upheld before the international community the organization of this event so much awaited by the countries in our region. I welcome the presance in Bucharest of the high representatives of the international organizations and institutions, contributors to the activitias of the Stability Pact. Likewise, I welcome the presence of the representatives of the contributor countries as well as of the representatives of the private business circles and of the nongovernmantal organizations that support tha regional efforts in the three areas of the Pact's activity. Last but not least, I wish to address a friendly walcome to our friends in the Central, South-Eastern and Eastem Europe, with whom we are connected by strong feelings of solidarity and our common aspirations to a United Europe. Two years have passed since the launch of the Stability Pact. During this interval many of our hopes hava turned into reality. ln spite of that, it is quite difficult to weigh whether now in South-Eastern Europe we hava much more democracy, much more stability and prosperity. "'Speecl1 of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Romanian Prime Minister, at tl1e Regional Collference for Soutl1-Easter11 Europe, Bucl1arest, October 25, 2001.

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Stre11g't11eui11g Stability tl1rougll Reg1oual Cooperntio11

One thing is, however, clear: we have now in South-Eastern Europe a common understanding of the road to be covered for the region: together and ln the sense of Europe's evolution. A united and solidary Europe is the only road on which the countries in the region may find the way of acquiring the stability, security and prosperity of their citizens. This regional conference was necessary now and it should represent a turning point în the perception of the region as a partner for the international community. The conterence was necessary now in order to prove the seriousness of the commitment of the international community to the region. The problems of South-Eastern Europe can no longer be solved only in emergency situations or as an answer to crises. lt is the moment to abandon for good the interventionist logic of occasional solutions. There is no need for another crisis in order to convince ourselves all that Europe will be more stable and more united and the Balkans safer and more peaceful by means of long-term solutions, confirmed and upheld by consistent politicaJ commitments. We estimate that this conference was organîzed at the right moment as a strong support for the stability of the region. Security in South-Eastern Europe cannot exist but in a context of social stability, of trust of our citizens in the benefîts of the economic, institutional, social reforms, of trust în the benefits of cooperation. Poverty and the lack of real chances for a decent lîfe in many of the communities in the region constitute a heavy burden of the years of transition from dictatorship to democracy, from war to cooperation. We are still far from the necessary baJance of a region equally synchronized with the rest of Europe. The ethnic and religious intolerance, the organized crime or corruption, the old nationalist obsessions of the past are obstacles nat only for the progress of the citizens of a country or community. These have become unacceptable burdens for the development of the entire region and for its connection to the rhythm of the European Union. We expect this Conference to strengthen the trust of private investments ln the region: by investing now in stability, the long-term profit will be much stronger. We wish the Stability Pact to fulfil more efficiently its role of an anchor for attracting the partners in the international communities towards the opportunities offered by this region. Together with them, by efficient goveming and strong partnerships with the private sector and with the civil society we shall be able to avoid the syndrome of dependence on the simple financial assistance în the South-Eastern and Eastern Europe.

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Năstase

- NATO Enlargement

From our point of view, this Regional Conference shall have to mark a turning point in our identity. After the two years of experience of the Pact, the moment has come for the modification in the region's behavior from assisted zone to involved partner în formulating the strategy of stabilization and development in the European sense. For that it is necessary for the national and regional expertise, as well as for the private sector in the region to have a visible and consistent contribution. The construction of a new European identity for this region wifi depend in the first place on the responsible commitment of each government to reform and the respect for the European values. Starting with this conference we should fix more advanced joint goals, that should give the young in our countries the confidence in their country, in their region, in their neighbours and friends. ln preparing the Conference a series of arguments were formulated owing to which this reunlon is not called the Donors' Conference. I express the hope that the efforts made by the initiators of this Regional Conference will confirm the initial commitment of the Pact by the continuation and finalization of the economic projects on a short term. Likewise, I believe it is necessary to discuss and to ratify also other projects of regional impact, projects concerning infrastructure, transport, communications, the financialbanking zone. That should be the main action zone, the development în these directions being one of the best ways of really linking the region to Europe. At the same time we hope that this Conference will confirm the deep sense of the partnerships: an active and responsibile interaction on everybody's part, through which shall be brought to light the values and the national and regional potential, the expertise, the local culture and aptitudes. lt is difficult to anticipate economic or security benefits isolated from the regional interdependence. The positive experience from the so far activities of the Pact will have to be further amplified and promoted towards the Eastern zones of the continent, by solid bridges of interregional cooperation. One of the most important challenges we can answer together by the Stability Pact is the strengthening of the regional capability of the nonconventional threats: combating organized crime, combating the traffic in human beings, illegal immigration, the arms traffic. Our answer will not be efficient without solid partnerships with the European Union and with the other contributors in the European and EuroAtlantic space. There are certain instruments at our disposal which we shall have to turn to good account: the Anti-Corruption lnitiative, the regional mechanism of assessing the security risk, the cooperation within the SECI Center regarding combating transborder crime. We have to render consistency and firmness to our action.

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The adoption of the Dec/aration on the contribution of the South-Eastern Europe countries to the international fight against terrorism proves our strong politica! will to be a part of the global coalition against terrorism. But the first proof of this commitment are the national and regional efforts to fight any form of organized crime, the strengthening of legislation at the levei of international standards and its rigorous application. We believe that the Stability Pact, with its pluses and minuses, has confirmed the mission it was meant for. The tendencies to direct the regional coopera1ion in the South-Eastern Europe towards alternatives to EU integration have proved to lack realism and support on the part of the countries in the area. The Pact must continue to be an instrument in the processes of European integration, which our countries have to cover. I express the hope that the objectives for convening this Conference wifi not be marked by collateral debates, that would delay the concrete answers which the citizens of our countries are awaiting now from the international community. Of course, we shall net be able to offer all the solutions. But I believe that we are facing priorities for which the Stability Pact has proved that it can gather energies and commitments capable of turning the situation to the better. That is why, if this Regional Conference will succeed in re-launching our commun trust in a European and stable future for this region, then we will reconfirm together the usefulness of the cooperation promoted by the Pact. lt is the moment to acknowledge the merit of the special coordinator, Mr. Bodo Hombach, for having tlrelessly promoted such a joint, European commitment, to the interest of the region. We believe that, maintaining this commitment on the part of the European Union, in collaboration with the other partners in the international community, in the direction of European integration of all the states in South-Eastem Europe, is the best way to a new identity of this region. With these thoughts, I wish you success and to obtain as many concrete results as possible, according to the hopes set by the citizens in South-Eastern Europe in this Conference.

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Combating Transborder Crime* I want to thank all the ministries of the interior in the Center, East and South-East of Europe, all the governments in the partner states în Europe and the USA as well as the representatives of the international organizations that accepted the invitation of the Government of Romania to participate in this working conference dedicated to combating one of the most serious defiances of security and human dignity. The traffic of human beings as well as the illegal immigration tend to become today a threat to the social and human cohesion of our societies, as serious as the risk of confrontations and aggressions that eroded peace and stability of our continent. ln a Europe of unity, democracy and human solidarity, the traffic of women, the traffic of children, the illegal traffic of labor force and the exploitation must no longer be treated with indifference or tolerance by any government, by any local community. The emancipation of .our citizens, the same as those in the European Union, calls for action, educatîon and safety. Our governments will succeed or not in this fight only through the solidarîty and firmness of our joint work. We are convinced that the accession of Romanîa to the European Union involves the rapid adoption of the community standards in the field of migration, asylum, borders control. Our efficient action in these areas is not only a measure of compatibility with the rigor and the operating system of the EU but also a measure of strengthening the trust in our national stabilîty and security. To be firm and not make any compromise under any form with the traffic of children is first of all a measure of national dignity. We are committed for this to be a national priority and we shall fight day after day for this criminal phenomenon to disappear forever from Romania. The joint actîon of the European Union and of the countries in the region regarding the combat of the traffic of persons and of illegal immigration is now ,.. Speecl1 of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ron1anian Pri1ne Minister, at tl1e Regio11al Conference on con1bating tlle traffic in liun1an beings a11d illeg'al i1n1nigratio11, Bucl1arest, May 21, 2001.

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essential. I think that this is alsa one of the main messages of our conference. Alone, no matter what our regional politica! commitment would be, we would not succeed in putting in motion the entire system, which the fight against organized crime involves. A good example in this regard is the project launched by the Brîtish and Italian governments regarding the combat of the illegal immigration in Europe, which also involves the consistent partîcipation of the countries in the region. Remania is not only a transit country but it also risks to become a source for networks of traffic of persons. I wish to stress here the concrete support which Remania receîves on the part of the European Commission for the strengthening of the control at the borders as well as the substantial assistance, on a bilateral plan and by twinning project. on the part of the EU member states. Likewise, I would like to emphasize the excellent collaboration which the Ministry of the Interior of Romania has with the FBI as part of the assistance that the USA îs granting to our region for combating organized crime. I want to thank director Freeh for his involvement in the success of these programs. Romania is benefiting from a consistent collaboration with the international organizations that act in the field of combating these phenomena: the Bureau in Romania of the lnternational Organization for Migrations, the representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the other specialized institutions. We are decided to put into practice with rigor the UNO Convention on transnational organized crime and the additional Protocols on combating the illegal traffic of persons as well as the commitments in the Palermo Oeclaration of the South-Eastern Europe states against the traffic of human beings. Recently, the Ministry of Justice, în collaboratîon with the lnternational Organization for Migrations has initiated the drawing up of a draft law on preventing and combating the traffic of human beings, a draft that represents a priority in the National Plan of Romania's Accession to the European Union. We pay utmost attention to the excellent activity carried on by ODIHR and we support the implementation as soon as possible of the instruments adopted by the Council of Europe on the traffic of human beings and sexual exploitation. I want to welcome the participation in the conference of the leaders of the Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime of SECI initiative. By promoting the activity of this Center, Romania intends to uphold a concrete and efficient instrument of strengthening stability and security în South-Eastern Europe. We shall continue to contribute through the national and intergovernmental activities to the proper functioning of the task-force for combating the traffic of human beîngs, that started functîonîng wîthin the Center. The co-

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operation activities between the ministries of the interior, between these and the specialized international agencies for the implementation of the law has already produced concrete results. I express my conviction that the link between the Regional Center's activity and the project of the Stability Pact on the dimension of combating crime will further strengthen the coherence and the efficiency of the European action in these areas. Romania participates in the initiatives of the Stability Pact dedicated to combating organized crime, including the projects of the task·force for combating the traffic of human beings. We have assumed the responsibilities which are incumbent upon us from the participation în such projects: we have established and it started working, the Interministerial Group, and the National Action Plan has been drawn up for combating the traffic of human beings. The success of this plan will depend not only on the rigor and firmness of the actions of the institutions for applying the law but also on the success of the cooperation between these institutions and non-governmental organizations. The education and the support that mass media offer in this regard are essential for the consolidation of a national campaign against the traffic of women or children. I want to thank on this occasion the non-governmental organizations for their dedicated work. I know that we have here, close to us, the representatives of two of the most active of such organizations in Romania: the manager of the "Aeaching Out" Foundation and Shelter in Piteşti, Mrs. lana Matei, and Mrs. Oina Loghln, the president of the Organization "Equal Chances for Women" in laşi. I thank them for their work full of humanism. We cannot ignore the fact that the proliferation of the traffic of persons în the South-Eastern or Eastern Europe in recent years has coincided with the weakening of the companies affected by the poverty brought about by the armed confrontatlons. The ethnic cleansing, resulting in thousands of refugees, has dislodged thousands of communities. Pauperization has deepened în the communities lacking the perspective of concrete chances of economic recovery or where the reforms have ceased. The lesson of the ten years of instability în the Balkans shows that the lack of individual, social and economic security inevitably brings about the most profound crisis and human dramas. Against this background, organized crime tends to pervert not only economic systems but, more recently, the very social and human fiber of our society. That îs why, I consider that the traffic of human beings îs the most perverse defiance the networks of organized crime display to the European civilization of today. The Government of Remania is decided not to accept any compromise with such defiance and I am sure that for the governments represented here today, too, the answer is firmness and solidarity.

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The alternative to the traffic networks is social security and emancipation. More chances of honest work, unhindered access to education, new workplaces by productive investments, trust in laws and defense of the law, more order and less corruption. I do not believe in the stability of certain isolated territories in order to be free of organized crime. But I believe with all my conviction in the stability of a project of the common, solidary and active European space, in which criminal activities should no longer have chances of reverting and in which citizens should, at the same time, assume their dignity. That is why I address you, esteemed participants, an appeal to solidarity and action in the name of human dignity and to the interest of each citizen of our countries.

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Europe's Time to Act* Europe ls not yet whole and free. We have never had a better chance to accelerate our quest for unity and freedom. At present, Europe is not free from discrimination. abuse, poverty, organized crime, corruption, conflicts, separatist tendencies and exclusions. Europe is not yet free for all Europeans. At the same time, Europe has been freed from obsolete ideologies, dictatorships, and blatant disregard for human rights. Europe is becoming safe for democracy. Little by little, democracy has taken across the continent. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is a telling example. lt îs now being integrated in our world, welcome to institutions and structures that its dictatorship prevented it from joining. Yugoslavia is struggling at times painfully to revive democracy and to fend off new threats. Remania, clase neighbor of FAY, has offered assistance and advice. As a resuit of our joint efforts, FAY eventually joined in the process of drafting a document identifying common perceptions on risks to the stability and security of South-Eastern Europe as well as possible solutions for addressing them. (This document initiated by Romania and endorsed by NATO member states, as well as by regional countries, will be adopted at the end of this month.) I see this as a small but meaningful step towards a Europe whole and free. When one asks citizens of Romania what Europe whole and free rneans for them, the answers cover a wide range. Some mention the possibility to travel freely, others the opportunity to exchange ideas and thoughts, and many others think of escaping poverty and being able to lead a safe and dignified life. AII our citizens, however, see a Europe whole and free as a guarantee that their lives and the lives of their offspring wifi be better and safer. For Romanians things are clear-cut: the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Romanians are embodied in the processes of Euro-Atlantic and ,.. Speecl1 of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ro111ania11 Pri111e Minister, at tl1e I11tern11tional Co11ference "Europe's New Democracies: Leadership and Responsibility", Bratislava, May 10-12, 2001.

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European integration, in NATO and EU enlargement. Europe cannot be whole unless NATO takes in new members and EU expands and deepens. Complementary to the processes of Euro-Atlantic and European integration and supportive of our vision of a Europe whole and free is stepped up regional cooperation. For some time, Remania has been actively engaged in promoting regional and sub-regional cooperatiqn as a criticai instrument to prepare the ground for successful integration into NATO and the EU. A myriad of sub-regional structures bring their respective contribution to building the continuum of security, stability and prosperity on our continent. The Central European lnitiative (CEI), Central European Free Trade Association (CEFTA), South-Eastem Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP), South East European Cooperative lnitiative (SECI), Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (SP), Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (OBSEC), Danube Commission, all these structures help us understand each other better and develop a culture of cooperation. Some of these structures may need to be streamlined, some have to be made more efficient and others will simply be absorbed in the larger Europe. Nevertheless, I believe în their usefulness, as they set the stage for day when all our countries will be full-fledged members of Europe. Of particular importance for our common goal is the Organization for Security and Cooperation în Europe. lt includes countries having a stake în Europe's future, the U.S. and Canada, as well as states that will border a future Europe whole and free. As Chairman in Office of OSCE, Remania helps the organization to move to the right direction. Of all the objectives which we have set out for our Chairmanship I would particularly stress the importance of deepening of the ties with other relevant organizations and structures: NATO and EAPC, EU, the Council of Europe. Romania îs committed to promoting a new levei of interaction between these organizations. To conclude, building a new Europe is our responsibility, which we undertake together with our WestEuropean, and North-American partners. But we also need our aspirations to be understood and our membership applications acted on, sooner rather than later. We need to help our partners seize the opportunity and realize the risk of making us into perpetuai candidates. We have to accelerate the processes of integration into NATO as well as the EU, for all the countries here today. At the same time, we should be mindful of the need to preserve the cohesion of these valuable institutions. Now is the time to act.

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Fighting Corruption* lt is a great pleasure for me to welcome the participants in the Consultative Meetîng of the Countries în Central and Eastern Europe on the Subject of the Fight Against Corruption, a preparative reunion of the AntiCorruption Global Forum li. Corruption has acquired, for some time, a transnational feature. The high level that corruption has reached in Romania compels us to consider fighting it as one of the priorities of the present governing. ln Romania, the phenomenon of corruption was fed by a multitude of factors: the profound change in the legislative system, the unprecedented modification of certain social policies and practices, the redistribution în a massive scope of the state property to private property, the virtual absence of the institutions from inside or outside the public sector that could control the abuse of public position during the transition. There îs the danger that without an analysis followed by a strong action on the etiology, this scourge comes to distor:t the politica! and economic development of the social organism. Corruption undermines the governing and weakens the state's credibility. ln taking over after the elections of November 2000 a state affected by severe economic dysfunctions and visibly eroded by the high levei of corruption the Government of Romania îs obliged to take firm measures for diminishing the corruption and the phenomena connected to it, such as tax avoidance, contraband, money laundering and the manifestations of the underground economy. ln this regard, in the governing program measures have been included for: - Completing and hardening of present legislation for the purpose of eliminating bureaucracy and for ensuring certain clear formulations that should eliminate the possibilities of arbitrary interpretation of the legal provisions; - Stimulating fair competition and ensuring transparency to public acquisitions, in view of preventing the appearance of the clientele procedures; ... Message of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Romanian Prime Minister, to tl1e Soutl1Easter11 Europe Consultative Meeting~ Bucharest, Marcl1 29, 2001

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- Restructuring and modernization of the customs procedures and system; - Reforming management in the public system, by revising the governmental and functional structures in ministries and agencies: - Ensuring the integrality and control of the budget; - Efficiency of internai and externai financial control; - Simplification of the fees and taxes policies and elimination of discretionary exemptions. We are determined to enforce these measures and, taking up the main challenges we are confronted with, to launch an efficient, credible and global anti-corruption program. The creation, development and upholding of an anti-corruption program are a hard provocation, and its success derives not from noisy campaigns, but from a sustained commitment of the politicians and a pressure permanently applied by the civil society. At the same time, we shall ensure the politica! and juridica! conditions for the international extensions of our efforts, being convinced that the globalization tendencies of the manifestations of corruption are not answered to the same ex1ent but by global, internationalized and institutionalized harmonized measures by agreements and treaties for preventing and fighting this phenomenon. Your reunion has this very role of finding, in the polyphonic concert of the national anti-corruption programs and strategies, the joint theme which, developed through cooperation, should lead to the configuration of a European and international system of countering corruption. The ratification of the European Conventions on corruption îs for Romania a priority included in the Goveming Program. At the same time, we believe that the initiation of a global convention of the United Nations Organization opens the horizon of an even more productive cooperation between the countries and nations of the planet for the elimination of the immense risk which corruption represents for the development of civilization. Trusting that the ways will be found for the harmonization of the points of view and of the options, as well as for the formulation of a joint position of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe, I wish you success in the carrying on of the proceedings of this regional consultative meeting!

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European Legal Standards* I am very glad to be today among my old colleagues of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Allow me to express to your President, Lord Russell Johnston, and to the members of your Sureau, my entire gratitude for the invitation to address today the most authorized representatives of democracy, the quintessence of the European spirit. I retum to Strasbourg on the occasion of my first visit abroad in the capacity of Prime Minister of Romania. This meeting is not the resuit of a chance, it is the logica! consequence of the permanent attention granted by the Govemment of Remania to the development of a privileged relation with the Council of Europe. During the last years, the Council of Europe, as well as other international bodies have found in Romania a credible partner in their joint efforts for consolidating democracy and stability on the European continent. The admission of Romania in the bosom of the Council of Europe confirms that the Strasbourg Organization does not offer blank cheques. Remania îs firmly decided to observe all the commitments to the Council of Europe, harmonizing its legislation with the European standards. There are only seven years since Romania has become a member of the Council of Europe. During this entire period, the other member countries of the Organization have assisted us to reconstruct the edifice of democracy. We started by signing the most important juridica! instruments of the Council of Europe: the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Convention for the Prevention of Tortura and lnhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Social Charter. Today, our country is among the most active members of the European community, working for the permanent assertion of the Human Rights in Europe and all over the world. The observance of the commitments and obligations undertaken towards this Organization is a permanent preoccupation of Remania, as by strengthening the democratic norms in Remania, the politica! criteria for the • Speecl1 of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Romanian Prinie Minister, nt the 2001 Session of the Parlinn1entary Asse1nbly of d1e Council of Europe, Strasbourg. January 23. 2001.

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accession to the European Union are arso consolidated, this being one of the major objectives of action of the Government. Less than a month atter the forming of the government which I have the honor to preside, due to an action aiming also at the fulfillment of the exigencies expressed within the subsequent dialogue, the Romanian deputies have already finalized the debate on the draft Law on the juridica! regime of the buildings confiscated after 1945. Another very important draft law, the one referring to the general regime of the local public autonomy, is in the final stage of adopting - after four years of lengthy sterile discussions at the level of various parliamentary committees. The Romanian Government will continue decidedly this effort, being convinced that the activities carried on in the Council of Europe are in line with the strategy of accession to other Euro-Atlantic bodies, and with preference to the European Union. I would like to submit to your attention the extraordinary transformations that marked Romania since 1989. The daily routine sometimes prevents us from seeing how long is the road that we covered from the totalitarian regime to democracy. The human rights which 11 years ago were infringed without any scruple are today deeply consolidated and rooted. We do not always succeed to remember that these rights have been obtained and maintained in an incessant struggle against the inheritance of the communist regime. Although it really represented a much bigger effort during the first years after the December Revolution, the respect for the human rights involves even today a permanent struggle. As one of the most recent members of this grand family, which is the Council of Europe, Romania involved herself enthusiastically in the building of a democratic European society. The admission of our country to the Council of Europe has represented an extraordinary impulse and a decisive moment on Romania's road to democracy. We endeavor to promote our joint democratic principles, as well as the principles of human rights on the entire European continent. I want to use this opportunity in order to stress our satisfaction for the fact that within a few days we shall accept two new members. Due to our joint efforts, including those of Remania, Armenia and Azerbaijan will become members of the Council of Europe. Reasserting our conviction that the future of the continent lies in the unity and in the power of its diversity, we welcome the decisive role of the Council of Europe in this process. Europe is known in the world as a family of democracies also due to the decisive role played by the European Convention on Human Rights. Europe is building itself a new identity. We have to turn our look towards the spirit and philosophy of the project for our continent of 50 years ago, towards the vision of a Europe looked upon as a community. The Council of

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Europe - the first organization of pan-European vocation - had the clear vision of starting firmly on the road to a rapid expansion towards the Central and Eastern Europe. The European Union and NATO were more cautious, but the moment has come to undertake the challenge of a unîfied continent. I look upon present Europe as a project under development. As the Council of Europe is looked upon today as a key organization in promoting cooperation between the governments on the continent in an innovating and courageous way, we, as member states, have the responsibility to consolidate the credibility of our organization, especially as regards the protection and promotion of human rights. Within this context, we especially appreciate the intense activity of the Council for the establishing of clear standards în the field and for the improvement of the existing mechanisms. The establishing of the legislative framework in the case of the countries that recently became members is one of our most important activities, meant to ensure the bases for a real unity - de jure and de facto - of our continent. The beginning of a new century poses in front of Romania a double challenge: the success of full integration lnto the European Union and into NATO. ln this way, the satisfying of the own exigencies peculiar to any democratic state, stable and prosperous, becomes one of the fundamental criteria. The program of the new government democratically elected is built on the basis of a firm social-democratic vision. The concrete reflex of this fact is proved by the stress laid on social solidarity, the traditional values of the family and on the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and of the European Social Charter. We have decided to enrich the practice of the market economy by its human dimension, upholding a Program of modernization and durable development of Remania. This concept aims at turnlng to account the human potential of the country, the resources of the private sector, the partnership between the public sector and the private one, as well as the foreign relations and lnternational cooperation. The economic growth and the ensuring of the macroeconomic stability will be achieved by putting into practice an ensemble of budgetary, economic and fiscal policies, which implies a permanent and adequate dialogue with the lnternational financial institutions and with the European Union. For that we count on the technical and financial asslstance of the European experts, as well as on substantial foreign investments, în an economy that in a few years will be an integral part of the unique European market. The social policy of the government shall be the object of profound changes, starting from a balance between competition, co-operation and solldarity for the purpose of ensuring a decent life for all the Romanian citizens, in accordance with the European standards.

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The profound reform of justice ls a priority on the agenda of the government in view of a real democratization of the act of justice, by the building of an independent and responsible system based on respect for the princlples of the law-governed state. ln other words, justice based on a functional and efficient system put to the service of the citizen. The restructuring of the local and central public administration is oriented towards the consolidation of state authority, as well as towards the decentralization and demilitarization of police and of other public services, the diminution of bureaucracy and depoliticizing of the administrative structures. The full assertion of the identity of the minorities and the inter-cultural co-operation based on civic model of tolerance and mutual respect are the consequences of applying our principie according to which the minorities represent an important resource for the development of a modern society. As the young generation symbolizes the very future, the turning to account of its creative potential will be promoted by elaborating and applying unitary legislative measures and a national program of public education, following up the protection of the rights of chlldren and youth. The fight against corruption, the reducing of certain phenomena such as tax avoidance, money laundering and organized criminality are major tasks of the government action in a close cooperation with our European partners. The firm will expressed by Remania in speeding up the preparations for its integration into the European Union has to meet, for this purpose, a favorable answer to its request of correcting the injustice of maintaining the Romanian citizens out of the free travel in Europe. I should like to quote here Nicolae Titulescu, illustrious Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and president of the league of Nations who, in 1930, said the following: "ln a last analysis, the League of Nations is not supported by states but by each of us. To doubt the League means to doubt the man himself. Your president will be devoid of the trust, which you have the kindness to grant him if, at this moment of severe difficulties, our creed will not be declared to the world: 'Here, we do not doubt!'. Mutatis mutandis, we say the same thing: in Bucharest we do not doubt!" During the last eleven years, the European continent underwent some experiences, which we had thought deeply buried in the past. Major crises and conflicts erupted in the Republic of Moldova, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo. The threat of new instabilities of proportion ls sighificant, if we do not succeed in bringing democracy and stability to these regions, too. We have to understand what are the real borders of Europe, otherwise we shall not benefit from the stability so much needed for the building of the future that we desire.

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Remania has assumed this year the leardership of OSCE. From this position, Romania will uphold enlarged mechanisms of cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The international bodies must be natural partners in case of crisis situations, when human rights are openly infringed. The joint action is more efficient and renders a larger transparency to the efforts of the intemational community. We all welcome the democratic transformations in the Federal RRepublic of Yugoslavia. I have to add that the numerous contacts of the Romanian authorities with the former democratic opposition in Yugoslavia, which completed the activity of the non-governmental organizations in Remania, have substantially contributed, together with the entire international community, to the democratic changes în Belgrade. Remania has brought its contribution to the opening of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the democratic world, a process within which the Council of Europe has to play a role of maximum importance. The future cooptation of Yugoslavia into the Council of Europe has to guarantee the irreversibility of the democratic changes that take place in Belgrade. More than that, Romania is decided to play an active role within the Stability Pact for South-Eastem Europe, for the imposing of democracy, of stability and prosperity in this region, part of the future united European community. Remania is acting as a full member of the Council. Based on her experience of eight years, Romania is today in a position of not only to receive, but also to offer assistance, wherever this is needed. ln my double capacity as Prime Minister and President of the governing party in Romania, I wish to reassert our firm decision of observing the politica! and juridica! commitments assumed în Strasbourg. I can assure you that Romania is a trustworthy partner, you can count on.

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Press Statements* Wim Kok: First of all I would lîke to express the pleasure for the officîal visit of Mr. Adrian Năstase to our country, which is the continuation of the visit that I paid in June, 2000; of course, more important was the official visit of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, in the second half of last year. During this visit I could see directly the remarkable changes that are taking place in Romania, as well as the revival of the hope for a better future of the people. Remania is also attractive for the business sector, for investors, buslnessmen, for enterprises, as well as for a considerable increase în the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises before the big ones. Holland is an important investor in Romania, the figures of the exchanges are impressive although there is room for better. (... ) Tomorrow a business seminar will take place and we all have seen that the perspectives are good. On the other hand, we have discussed the future of Remania as a member of the European family, of the transatlantic family. We are aware of the justîfied ambitions of Romania to become a member of NATO. lt is obvious that you are making progress in this regard, a tact that needs to be turned to account at the most. lt is also about the capacity as EU member. Of course, everybody knows that time is necessary, but not too much. We have to use the moment in order to work out a roadmap for Aomania to become a member of the European Union. I repeat, Romania has to contribute to the setting up of the European Union, it belongs to the European Union, undivided, complete. Therefore, we express again our desire to help you in all these fîelds, to render assistance wherever necessary; it is not always a matter of money but, sometimes, personal advice, projects are needed. We have already started actions in this area and we wish to continue this way because we think that the process of integration into the international family has to be concluded within a period of time as short as possible and we shall be happy to be able to help in this regard. • Press statements of Mr. Adrian Năstase. Ron1a11iaJ1 Prinie Minister, and Mr. Win1 Kok, Netherlander Prhne Minister, tlle Hag11e, Februa,y 26, 2002 (excerpts).

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Adrian Năstase: lt is a privilege for me and my colleagues to be here today and be able to discuss with Prime Minister Wim Kok and his colleagues. lt is important to debate upon a series of crucial elements such as NATO or EU but it is at least as important to discuss about the bilateral relations which are in a very good situation. (...) As far as NATO is concemed, we consider that we need the permanent and ever larger support of all the members of the Alliance. We wish to support our candidacy and to make public our desire of becoming a member. We consider that the Southern flank may represent a geostrategic advantage for the enlargement process of the Alliance and we believe that our actions will contribute to this end. There are many things to be done until the Prague Summit but we count very much on the friendly support of the Outch Government and shall continue to work with the Prime Minister and his colleagues in the attempt to send messages and to supply information in order to help them be on our side when the decision in Prague îs taken. (...) Reporter: What is the future of NATO and what is the place of Romania în this perspective of the Prague Summit? Wim Kok: First of all, Aomania already offers a very good example as regards its performances, by modernizing the budget, participating in military operations outside Aomania for keeping peace and stability. ln Kosovo, for example, we worked together with Romania within SFOR, a fact that represents a very good illustration of the desire of your country to assume responsibilities and contribute to the collective effort. You referred to the Prague Summit at the end of this year. I think that very precise preparations are needed; the relations between NATO and Russia are changing, nobody knows how they are going to develop, but they are developing and we have leamed a valuable lesson from the preparations for Madrid a few years ago, namely that you can make the process less controllable by creating disorder and therefore we shall be very precise in the process of enlargement. You may count on us as regarc:ls our will of being helpful in the sense of upholding the Romanian cause, because the stability of the Southern flank is extremely important. However, it is too early to give more concrete elements of what will happen by the end of this year. (... )

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Press Conference* Zoran Djindjic: I am pleased to be in Romania. The last time I was here in 1999 in a situation when we fought for democratic changes. I discussed with personalities of the politica! and cultural life în Romania; we noted sympathies for the then opposition in Serbia. I am sure that we will be able to create a very good future for this regîon of ours. I would like to thank you for the support granted. The moment has also come when we can think of a better future în Europe. There are many fields in which we can work and collaborate, from the cooperation in the field of industry, commerce and în as far as intemational policy îs concerned, with the European and international forums. ln the talks we had we noted very many common points that we can apply. A more special theme that represents a more special quality is the agreement on free trade. I think that the Balkans can be competent for the rest of Europe. lf we form a Balkan common market, the economic conditions will be identica! in Bosnia, Serbia and Romania, and we can set up a common economic system. We shall draw up, at experts level, a draft agreement of free trade, we have agreed with Mr. Năstase to intervene in this regard. Thus our traditional friendly relations will be strengthened. Adrian Năstase: Ladies and gentlemen, we are very pleased to give a joint signal, a very strong one, about the re-launching of the economic relations between Aomania and Serbia, between Romania and Yugoslavia. lt is important to understand that our geographic proximity, our economic potential, our common interests will take us quickly beyond the $ 200 million to which amount at present our trade exchanges. That is why today I had the privilege of handing to the Prime Minister a package of 20 concrete proposals of economic projects and we shall meet again during the coming weeks în order to add also other projects to this package. The agreement on the free trade zone will amplify, will improve the conditions for our bilateral exchanges. Our experts have met to examine various concrete aspects, bilateral projects or European projects from university zones to the zone of transmission of power resources, transports, petrochemistry a.s.o. • Press conference of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ronianian Prin1e Mi11ister, and Mr. Zoran Djindjic. Serbia11 Prin1e Minister, Bucllarest, February 8, 2002 (excerpts).

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At political levei, our relations are very good, it îs about a very strong tradition of friendship between the Romanian people and the Serbian people. lt îs our duty, now, to turn to account this opening and this potential. (... ) ln the end I want to say that this visit represents a message în itself which we want to give together about our will of converting our common traditions and the geographic proximity into economic advantages for our two countries. Reporter: For Mr. Năstase. (... ) Vor are upholding the integrity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Kosovo province included. Adrian Năstase: As for the second question, Romania has supported and continues to support the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia, Kosovo included. Our point of view has been constantly inspired and we have had numerous opportunities to explain that the attempt to change the frontiers in Europe, especially in the Balkans, would only generate new hotbeds and new zones of conflict. That is why, Romania's point of view, in principie but arso in concrete terms, with regard to Yugoslavia, remains that of supporting the territorial integrity. Reporter (ProTV): First question: if you discussed how the countries can collaborate in order to better use the money that might come from the European communities for the solving of the problems in the area, I am referring to joint projects that we could develop. The second question: if you discussed about the free tratfic on the Danube and about the clearing of the Danube? Zoran Ojindjic: Of course, if we tend towards a better collaboration, it would be easier for such funds from the European Union to find some joint projects in the field of traffic, within the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, as Yugoslavia is a member thereof. There are very many possibilities for such projects. About such projects we have discussed also before becoming members of the Stability Pact. Any kind of regional collaboration allows the use of such funds on the part of the European Union. Our position îs that we have to raise qualitatively this zone of the Balkans, for it to become attractive to major investments. Here are various problems both in Remania and with us, problems of infrastructura, well-trained cadres, stable institutions, and we, too, must join these standards and for that we could obtain the support of the European Bank for Development within the Stability Pact. ln due time we shall be capable to offer a few similar projects. Adrian Năstase: As I have nothing to add to the first question, I would like to refer to the second question - the transport on the Danube. We are equally interested in the clearing of the transport on the Danube that could bring benefits to both countries. That is why, it îs important to see farther,

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both bilaterally and within the Danube cooperation, how to accelerate the works that should allow an efficient transport on the sectors that suffered from the bombings. Reporter (Radio Romania News): From what I know, Bucharest has always supported Yugoslavia and Serbia in difficult moments. Was Bucharest requested to intervene in this matter, that is to support Yugoslavia within the Stability Pact? For Mr. Prime Minister Adrian Năstase: what was the answer of Bucharest in the case of a request by the Serbian side with regard to the support for the integration of Yugoslavia into the European institutions? We refer, first of all, to the Stability Pact as first objective established in Belgrade. Zoran Djlndjic: I can confirm with pleasure that Mr. Adrian Năstase has said that Romania supports the efforts of Yugoslavia and of Serbia with regard to European integration. I thank him very much for this support. Adrian Năstase: I have not much to add. Naturally, Romania will support Yugoslavia în all its projects of reconnecting to the structures of the European institutlons. Reporter (BBC): Next week will start the trial of Slobodan Milosevic and many of the key witnesses refuse to appear before the Tribunal. lf you wish to teii us your point of view as you are one of the artisans of the arrest of Milosevici. Zoran Djindjic: lt was our duty for Milosevic to be in the Hague and the other things fall under the competence of the lnternational Penal Tribunal.

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Press Statements* Constantinos Simitis: I had a very interesting discussion following the one I had with Mr. President Iliescu. Three were the topics discussed: the accession of Romania to NATO, the economic problems and the accession to the European Community. As regards the accession of Romania to NATO, the same thing I discussed with Mr. Prime Minister în America. The decisions have not been taken yet. We consider as indispensable the accession of Romania to NATO, as this will help very much, further, both as regards peace and the economic problems, in assisting Romania in economic problems. That is why we agreed to have a high level meeting of the ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey aimed at the accession of Remania to NATO. We consider that the integration of Remania into the European Community is absolutely necessary. I had the opportunity to have brief discussions within the European Union with my colleagues and other competent cadres, agreeing together that, indeed, the integration of Romania into the structures of Europe is indispensable, also discussing în this context the way in which this will be done. Roman ia will have to open all the chapters for · negotiation within the European Union, and Greece, which will hold the Chairmanship of the European Union during the first semester of the year 2003, will do everything to contribute to this integration. You have to know that the European Union îs in a stage of transformation, of change and it has not yet been decîded what its final aspect will be, but, within this framework certain situatlons will be examined and the necessary decisions will be taken also with regard to the necessary framework. The economic relations between the two countries are, really, very good, but they can be greatly enlarged. I agreed with Mr. Năstase to examine together and to follow up the implementation of the reconstruction program for ' Press statements of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ro1nnnian Prilue Minister, and

Mr. CoJJstantinos Sinlitis, Greek Prin1e Minister, Bucl1arest, February 5. 2002 (excerpts).

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the Balkans, so as to see what can be done and how investments can be made in Romania, toc. Greece shall have the amount of over US$70 million for Romania and the two parties will agree on how to use this amount. Another thing I want to point out, is the fact that, lately, the necessity of visas has been abrogated for the Romanian citizens who wish to enter the space of the European Union, of the Schengenland. We shall collaborate together, so as to be able to fight organized crime and the illegal traffic. I am of the opinion that the relations between the two countries are very good and, especially beneficent alsa for the space of South-Eastern Europe. At the same time, my opinion is that this general collaboration has to be institutionalized, obtaining, in the end, the aspect of a body that should be able to prevent and manage the problems of this area. Our efforts for peace, stability and collaboration are constant and we hope to continue in the same way. Adrian Năstase: Very few things remain to be said, very few things to be added. I shall start by saying that we greatly appreciate the visit to Bucharest of the Hellenic delegation, led by the Prime Minister, Mr. Simitis. This visit represents, in itself, a message of consolidation and development of the politica! and economic relatlons. This message we shall also give in the next minutes to the Forum organized by the businessman from Romania and Greece. Greece plays a very important role în the Balkans and an especially important role for the Southern wing of NATO. Likewise, Greece plays a special role within the European Union and we have a lot to learn and to organize together in the process of stimulating our negotiations with the European Union. We especially count on the support of Greece as regards our candidacy to NATO. The initiative that will be launched in Istanbul, of support on the part of Greece and Turkey for the candidacy of Romania and Bulgaria, represents a very strong signal as regards NATO enlargement towards its Southem zone. lt is important for us, also, to work together with our friends in Greece with regard to the concrete elements that we have to salve until the Prague Meeting. Our relation with the European Union and the way în which we shall manage to place ourselves in connection with the negotiations will depend very much on our collaboration with the specialists from Greece, whom we wish to assist us with regard to a more professional dimension of the negotiations and, also, to a development to an extent as great as possible, of the projects financed by the European Union. As to the bilateral relations, the Hellenic program of reconstruction and development in the Balkans will represent a basis for achieving certain common far reaching projects. (... ) Jn the end, I want to say that we consider Greece not only a partner, but also a frîend as regards the achievement of our common projects in the Balkans and in Europe.

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Press Statements* Walter Schwimmer: 1 have congratulated Mr. Prime Minister for the succes of Romania's Chairmanship of OSCE. I think that this has represented a proof of maturity on the part of Remania, as a European state. The first European institution Romania joined was the Council of Europe. We are very proud of this fact. Remania is an active member of the Council of Europe with which we had an excellent collaboration during the Aomanian Chairmanship of OSCE. We cooperated very well in the zone of Yugoslavia, bringing that country on the way of democratic transformations. We also cooperated in Kosovo, for the organization, which I consider successful, of the recently held elections. ln these elections, the Council of Europe, at the request of the OSCE and of the United Nations, managed the monitoring process. Another example of excellent cooperation is that of Macedonia. I am grateful for this remarkable cooperation during this year, tuli of achievements. I consider that Romania has made, on this occasion, very many things for herself because, firmly committed to the process of accession to the European Union and to NATO, Remania has proved her capabillties on the internatlonal stage. Adrian Năstase: I was pleased to continue a dialogue, initiated long while ago, with Mr. Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. Mr. Walter Schwimmer is an old friend of ours; we had excellent relations during an extremely fruitful period, when the delegation of Romania succeeded in learning a lot from the colleagues in the Juridica! Committee and from other committees. Mr. Walter Schwimmer was one of the outstanding members of the Assembly and I am extremely glad to be abia to welcome him, here, in • Press statements of Mr. Adriall Năstase, Romanian Pri1ne Minister, aJJd Mr. Walter Scl1win1mer, Council of Europe Secretary General, Bucl1arest, Dece1nber 4, 2001.

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Bucharest. We discussed about Remania, about the Council of Europe, about the most important subjects taken into account within the Council; we also discussed about the relations of the Council of Europe with other European organizations, about the files under debate, at present, by the Council. That is why I consider that this visit was extremely useful and I wish to thank once again Mr. Walter Schwimmer for his visit.

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Press Statements*

\

Joschka Fischer: I was in a position to assure Mr. Prime Minister that the German Government îs prepared and interested in the improvement of the bilateral relations and the we uphold Romania on the way to integration into the European Union and NATO. We consider that Romania is an extremely important partner in this region, it is an integral part of Europe, of the transatlantic family and we shall do everything in our power in this direction. Adrian Năstase: I would like to add, in my turn, a few elements. I had an excellent discussion with Mr. Joschka Fischer. ln short, I have submitted to Mr. minister a report on the progress of Romania, explaining what has been achieved so far, since my visit to Germany a few months ago (... } I have to point out the tact that we are highly grateful to .Germany, as well as to aur colleagues in the German Cabinet for their stand (... ) There îs still a lot to be done, we count very much on our German colleagues and I am convinced that together we shall succeed in recording a more rapid progress in the process of accession to the European Union and NATO.

• Press state1uents of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ron1ania1J Prin1e Minister, nnd Mr. Josclika Fisclier, Germau Foreign Minister, Bucharest, Dece1nber 3, 2001 (excerpts).

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lntervievv* Reporter: Could you mention to us the subject matters you discussed today with Mr. Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister? (... ) Adrian Năstase: We discussed about NATO's enlargement and the Prague summit in 2002 and about Romania's wish to be accepted as a member of the North-Atlantic Alliance and I have the confirmation of Prime Minister Berlusconi that ltaly will support this application. We discussed about Europe's future and about the European Union (EU) enlargement and we have agreed that the enlargement process which will mean, to a large extent, a signal towards the unification of Europe should imply the establishment of a very clear callendar, not only for ten countries, but for all, Romania and Bulgaria included. ln this view we hope to have ltaly's support at the European Council in Gothenburg. We also discussed about the bilateral relationships between Remania and ltaly. Mr. Prime Minister has accepted to visit Romania in the first trimester of the following year and, considering this, I feel that through this visit and through the businessmen who will accompany him in Remania we will be able to give a signal for the even stronger launch of the strategic partnership between Remania and ltaly, initiated four years ago. Alsa, we discussed about various economic projects, but also about fields where we wish to have the support of Italian enterprises. I wifi send to Mr. Prime Minister an aid-memoire in the following two weeks, approaching all these fields. ( ... ) Reporter: Remania is the largest country in South-Eastern Europe. ltaly's cooperation with Romania is on the increase. How do you think that this cooperation between ltaly and Romania may favor peace în the Balkans? Adrian Năstase: The Balkan area is being very agitated in the last ten years. Romania has been the most stable country in this interval. lndeed, after Yugoslavia's dividing, Remania has remained the largest country in the area. There are no explosive issues in the Balkans at present, however there stil! exists a latent potential. That is why Remania and ltaly, as important countries • "11 Giornale" Newspaper, I11terview witl1 Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ro111anian Prin1e Minister, Trieste, ltaly, Nove1nber 23, 2001 (excerpts).

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Adrian Nlistase - NATO Enlargen1ent

to NATO's southern flank are equally interested in ensuring peace and gîving solutions to the Balkan area, which may, to a large extent, represent such an instrument. I met thîs very morning Yugoslavia's Prime Minister. I saw him here, at the hotel, and I talked with him. I think that a democratic Yugoslavîa may arso be învolved playing a particularly posîtive role into what concerns the peace process evolution. That is why I believe strongly in the role that our countries may and must have as regards the developments in the Balkans. Reporter: The number of countries în the West favorable to a possible inclusion of Russîa în the European Union and NATO increases. What is your posîtion? Adrian Năstase: I have watched very carefully the development of the relationships between Aussia, the United States, the European Union and other large NATO states. lf the îssue were simply a passage from 19+1 to 20 countries at the moment now, I do not think that would be a problem to pose yet. lt îs a partnershîp relation which should also imply common military actions. This should not cause a possible use of the right to veto for the adhesion of other countries. We wish Remania become a NATO member as early as from the Prague summit in 2002. Our assessment îs that the evolution of the relations between NATO and Aussia will not block the Atlantic Alliance expansion. Reporter: There were talks in Trieste about fighting back international terrorism also. What is your contribution? Adrian Năstase: Fighting back international terrorism is a common fight, a fîght of all the countries which share the same values. Aomania has accepted at Parliament and Government levei to support it loglstically and with the necessary infrastructure, it has also opened its air, maritime and terrestrial space to the necessary operations against international terrorism. Aomania has also ranged in step with the international policy of blocking the economic and financial operations which might support terrorist groups and the Government has recently adopted an Emergency Ordinance allowing the blocking of accounts, should !imit situations occur. At the same time, cooperation also exists between the information services in Romania and ltaly or between Romania and other NATO member states. The information exchange is, perhaps, one of the most important elements as regards the fight against international terrorism. Certainly, should other demands occur, Romania is ready to cooperate with its friends and allies.

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Press Statement* Five years ago, în Timişoara, on September 16, the Prime Ministers of Remania and the Republic of Hungary signed together the Treaty of mţitual understanding, cooperation and good neighbor policy between our states. The anniversary of that moment gives me the opportunity today to notice that the conclusion of the Romanian-Hungarian basic Treaty has been a very important politica! event as regards our bilateral relations and for the reason that it significantly marked the opening of our two states toward cooperation, and through this toward the consolidation of the regional stability. Today, Remania goes on being fully attached to these approach and view. The 1996 politica! Treaty was and goes on being for Romania an essential judicial instrument within the system of good neighbor policy Treaties concluded by the Romanian state, a flexible and modern document, part of the newest "generation" of European documents within this category. ln this sense, Remania gives a high appreciation to the European spirit of the 1996 politica! Treaty, which is based on the principles good neighbor policy, reciproca! respect and cooperation between the two states in every field, this expressing in the most adequate way the fundamental interests of the two countries. ( ... ) lt îs remarkable that through the very text of the Treaty the neighbor states engage themselves to reciprocally support the efforts for the integration in the EU and NATO. The Treaty underlines at the same time, the attachment of the two countries to observing the supremacy of the law to the generally accepted principles and norms of the international laws, as well as to the obligation they have undertaken to observe them. The Romanian Government remruns the steady carrier of this wish, and I express în this sense the certainty that the Treaty provisions represent today * Press statement of Mr. Adria11 Năstase, Ro,nanian Prime Miuister, ou tlie occasion of tlie Stli a1H1iversary of UJe Romanian-Hungarian Politica/ Trenty, SeptenJber 16, 2001.

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more than ever solid ground and a reference point. Starting from the reassertion of the inviolability of the common Romanian-Hungarian border and of the territorial integrity of the two countries from a broad regulation of the behaviour and obligations of the two countries with respect to the protection of the rights of persons belonging to the national minorities of the other party living on each own territory, generous cooperation mechanisms have been developed between Romania and Hungary through creating the joint lnterGovernment Commission for an active partnership, with 11 Specialized Committees, whose annual session takes place în this period and within which the Committee specialized in issues of the minorities plays a very important role. However, the article within the Treaty regarding the protection of the persons belonging to the national minorities holds a central place, being the most detailed, which clearly expresses the option made by the two states when singing the Treaty în favor of open, unreserved cooperation in the issue of the protection of the natîonal mînorities, seen as a belonging party of the society where they live, in strict and full accordance with the nowadays European and international standards. On the occasion of celebrating today five years since the singing of the Romanian-Hungarian politica! treaty and in the light of all the developments that have taken place in this interval at regional scale, I wish to reassert these provisions of the Treaty which most exactly correspond to the firm belief of the Romanian Government that it is only through observing the international and European norms and principles that a relevant contribution can be made to the stability and understanding in Europe - and mostly in our region as well as to the consolidation of democracy in our countries and to their full integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. (... ) Remania has acted and will continue to behave as a fair neighbor and a trustee partner of Hungary both in the bilateral and in the European plan respectively, Romania will go on considering Hungary an European partner willing to maintain and develop very good relationships with its neighbors. Remania and Hungary must represent a stability pillar in the region and encourage the deepening of the regional cooperation in all the fields of regional interest, including în the fight against the non-conventional threats to security, which, as has been proved recently are able to generate unprecedented hazards to stability. ln this first year of the thîrd millennium and of the 21st century, when five years are celebrated since the signing at the Romanian-Hungarian basic politica! Treaty, Remania wishes of the most sincere way, together with the

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Republic of Hungary, through strict observation of the provisions of this key document to the relations between the two states and peoples, as well as through the full use of the mechanisms and opportunities created by this instrument of the reciproca! trust, to build a true European model for understanding, cooperation, good neighbor policy and partnership, apt to surpass any difficulty and to promote the system of values and standards of the integrated Europe.

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Press Conference* Adrian Năstase: First I would like to acknowledge the importance of this visit from the standpoint of the signal we transmit to the people on the cooperation between neighbors. ln a period of crisis în the Balkans, our exemple of cooperation is so much the more important. This is the reason why it is very clear to us that a model based on cooperation, a model in tandem, must equally help us achieve our objectives - I am referring to the integration in the EU and NATO - is the best way to follow. We talked about our projects for future, about the need for a reciproca! support. For instance, as regards Bulgaria's interest connected to OSCE chairmanship in 2004 or to Bulgaria's nomination for 2002 as a non-permanent member of the security Council, Remania will support Bulgaria to reach these objectives. For all these reasons I consider that the visit I made to Bulgaria, the meetings I had, especially those with the President and the Prime Minister are an important moment as regards the re-definition and relaunching of our bilateral relations. Several important conferences will follow where we will support one another, the Vilnius Conference 10, here, in Sofia, in October, in Bucharest, the Reunion organized under the auspices of the Stability Pact; also, a new Vilnius 10 Reunion next spring in Bucharest, the CEFTA Reunion, again in Bucharest. AII these multilateral reunions will allow us to prove once again our capability to cooperate. (...) Reporter (Darek Radio): What did you have in mind when you stated that the Romanian party should work in tandem with the Bulgarian party: did you discuss that with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria? Adrian Năstase: I had thought these things are implicit. When a fire occurs it is very clear that it is important to cooperate to put it out. ln the Balkans this should become usual. Our support for the Skopje Agreement .. Press co11ference of Mr. Adria11

Năstase, Ro1nru1ia11

Prilue Miuister,

following tl1e meeting witl1 tlle Bulgarian President Peter Stoiauov, Sofia, Aug·ust 14, 2001 (excerpts).

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proves that. I had the impression that we had all reached maturity and that we have already understood that it îs important, when we relate ourselves to the EU, to NATO, which hold very clear solidarity values, to prove first of al! as regards good neighbor policy and our capability to cooperate, that we deserve to become members of the Atlantic Alliance of the EU. Reporter: I would like to ask, if you allow me, when will you discuss issues like pollution, like the building of the bridge over the Danube, the transportation of the Romanian electric power to Turkey on the Bulgarian territory and when do you think that these issues will be solved, since it is said that it will take a while? Adrian Năstase: We have decided, together with the Prime Minister to make up a group of sîx persons - three of each party - our ambassadors to Bucharest and Sofia respectively, one minister and one counseller from each party, so as to buîld up an inventory of each of the concrete issues and try to enlist them on the agenda of the two cabinets in the following weeks. We felt that it was important for this meeting to represent a message in itself and also to get organized so as to solve the concrete issues in the near future.

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Press Conference* Lionel Jospin: First allow me to express my joy to be here in Bucharest, in Remania, on this official visit. Relationships between Remania and France are old and deep, but they are relived today with renewed warmth. Remania lives a fresh period of its history. lt has succeeded its economic transition and seeks the path of a new economic and social development, having set two objectives to its home policy, but also for politics in general, namely the accession to the EU and NATO. Remania has no better advocate than itself in these two respects, but Remania knows that it can rely on the support of France also, and, together with Prime Minister Năstase the two French delegations accompanying us were talking themselves about these two important issues. ln this respect we also talked about the short stay visas issue, about how the French enterprises could participate more to Romania's economic development and we certainly also talked about the bilateral relationships between Remania and France. France is the third commercial partner of Romania, our exchanges are balanced and we are the first investor here, in your country. We are connected by cultural, technical and cooperation ties, which are equal ties and we are convinced that the moment Romania is within the EU, it will bring to that ensemble the weight of its historical assets as well as the weight of its creativity. Adrian Năstase: The visit of the Prime Minister of France to Romania is first of all a message about continuity, the continuity of a relation of friendship. We rely on a further support of France, on the support of the French Government as regards the catching from behind of the delays on our side in the process of negociations at the EU. We rely on the support of France in understanding our efforts conceming the permission given to the Romanian cltizens to learn more about the world they live in, as well as about the continent they inhabit. lt îs important for us to have the support of France, Press conference of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ron1ania11 Prin1e Minister, and Mr. Lionel Jospin, Frencl1 Prime Minister, Bucharest, July 23, 2001 (excerpts). ~

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supplying undoubtedly the necessary warrants for seriousness and stability as regards the visas issue for the Romanian citizens in the Schengenland. Also, it îs important to be together with France în the reorganizing effort to ponder on the future of Europe. We also wish to have the support of the French Government as regards Romania's integration in the Atlantic Alliance and in the security system which common-shared values will create for our country. The European Union is, to a large extent, a final objective, bui, at the same time, an opportunity to make efforts in the line of the economic and social reform. We rely on the support of France in this long lasting process. ( )

...

Reporter: I have one question for each of the two Prime Ministers. The first question is for Mr. Prime Minister Jospin. Next year the Prague NATO summit will take place, and it is very likely that more countries will be invited to join the North Atlantic Alliance on that occasion. What are, in your opinion Aomania's strong arguments compared to other candidate countries and which are the progresses Remania has already made on this way? Also a question for Mr. Prime Minister Năstase: Mr. Prime Minister, has an agreement been signed today for the settling of the Mixed Society Eurocopter Romania? Could you supply more details about this cooperation? Does it have any connection with the privatization of IAR Ghimbav? Lionel Jospin: Maybe I shall answer the first two questions as early as now. My understanding is not to give now an evaluation not only of the progresses made by Remania, but also a comparison with progresses made by other countries. Undoubtedly, I will not be as careless as to do that, to perform such an exercise, but I can teii you that France has been supporting Aomania's nomination with NATO eversince 1997 and since the Madrid summit and we hope that Romania will be able to integrate in NATO as early as from the Prague summit in 2002. The military cooperation also between Romania and France aims exactly at easing the approaches in this sense. Since you already benefit from the French support, maybe you should direct your efforts towards convincing other NATO and community members. ( ... ) On the other hand I must teii you that we share preoccupations Remania, France, the other countries within the Schengenland, to fight together against illegal immigration. The two Home Affairs ministers of our countries will talk upon this issue tomorrow too and Prime Minister Adrian Năstase has committed that his country will make all necessary efforts so that the engagements undertaken in relation with the EU are properly finalized and we think this will take place the way we propose it to you. 119

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Adrian Năstase: As regards the question you have asked me, it îs obvious that the signing today of the Eurocopter contract is very directly connected to the privatization of the IAR-GHIMBAV enterprise. The creation of the society is something positive apt to pertorm in Romania a cooperation in the field of helicopters, of aviation, and this is important to us, because, as l've said in other occasions also, it does not suffice to sell a finite product, a plane, a helicopter. lt is much more important to have where to sell it. That is why the participation at an important production line warrants the existence of jobs at IAR-GHIMBAV in future, that the neccessary transfer of technology will take place, and that a cooperation relation will exist ensuring the development of this project in the coming years. (... )

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Press Conference* Shimon Peres: We consider the visit of the Prime Minister of Romania a very important one in the relations between Israel and Remania, not only from that standpoint but also from the view of a much larger consideration. The Prime Minister comes from the disciplines of Academy and from the district of the future. ln many ways he really represents, what is so important, the potential of Remania, not only its past. Remania was on many occasions a victim of uninvited circumstances, whether geographic or politica( and it paid a very heavy toll on those conditions in its freedom, in its develompent, in its destiny. lt is for the fîrst time that Remania can fee! free in the double sense of freedom, mainly free expression and free to express its own human talents, which are very impressive. When we look to the Balkans, Remania is a message of stabilîty. When you look to Europe, Romania is a contribution to its unity. We, in Israel support full-heartedly the acceptance of Remania to NATO. We think Remania is entitled to enjoy collective security. Remania never intiated a war it was victim of wars that it did not invite and it should be given a chance to enjoy the sort of security Europe together can offer, and I am sure that it will become a contributing partner to the conective security of Europe. Then we believe, that Remania will enjoy full-heartedly not only the European cultura of which is a part of, but also the European economy in the way of becoming a member of the Union of Europe. I think again it will add strength and future to a different Europe, a Europe that was tom to pieces by conflicting interests and ideologies which have had to disappear and made room for a new age. We support fully also the acceptance of Romania as a member of the united Europe. We think Europe îs a message, not only a continent and we ourselves believe that the vision of having the Union of Europe including past conflicts in order to transform them into a new future is a great message. As far as Israel is

„ Press conference of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ro1nania11 Prime Minister. and Mr. S1Jin1011 Peres, lsraeli Foreign Minister, Jerusalen1. July 17, 2 001.

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Adria11 Năstase - NATO E11lnrB"e111e11t

concerned we have special feelings concerning Romania for different reasons. Romania kept all the time diplomatic relations with Europe. We have an important Jewish emigration from Romania. We think it is a great contribution to Israel and may I say so, they have a very deep feeling and a warm feeling towards Remania. ln any way we can enhance and enrich our relations, either by the way of water, or by the way of technology, we will gladly do so. We think that cooperation between Israel and Remania will contribute to our two countries. We see în you an envoy of the future of Remania, not only on the bitter part of its past, and it is in this spirit that I welcome you as a great friend and a great leader of your country and our relation. Thank you. Adrian Năstase: Thank you so much, Minister. lt is a great honor for me and for my colleagues meeting you again. We came here to learn and to share. We came here to learn from a country which after difficulties, learnt how to relaunch its future, how to redesign its destiny. We came here to share with you our potential, our interests, our values. We are very glad that we have succeeded during these hours to assure our friends and our colleagues here that the tradition is very important but that we are ready to build our common future as well. I remember your visits to Romania, especially the visit when you gave a fantastic lesson for all the Romanian politicians during your meetings and your particîpation in the Crans Montana conference in Bucharest. lt was a very special occasion for us to learn that politics means not only a day-to-day management of crises but also vision and imagionation. We have learnt today from you that beyond the concrete issues we have to pay attention to a new world, a world of communications, a world in which networking is much more important than to build islands. Concentrating on our own countries it is not enough. We belong to a very complex world where we depend on each other. That is why we appreciate so much the tact that we could discuss not only our bilateral relations. The only thing that we can do is try to expiere new opportunities. We do not have to deal with crises or tensions of difficult problems. We have to invent new opportunities, new possibilities in the economic field and to learn from cultural links. What îs very important for us and I want to thank you very much was this complete and very sincere support for something that we consider in Romania as being essential for our own security: becoming a member of the Altantic Alliance next year and the meeting, the summit in Prague will have a fantastic importance for us Romanians, will have very much importance for Europe and for the world. That we have felt from you that there is a 100 °/o support and a very friendly support l'd say for something which we consider very important. Of course the decisions will be long and difficult. There will be criteria to be met, there will be new situations and another context next

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year in which the final decision will be taken. But for us your direct support it very important. We have discussed also about Romanians. or Romanian Jews living în Israel. Their contribution to the state of Israel, to the universities of Israel, to the culture which is a common heritage and I want to say after discussing also about our own environment, the Balkans or the Middle East that I am very satisfied and happy with the discussion that we had, as every time, because, once again, we came here to learn and to share. lt was a great privilege for me and for my colleagues to be with you today and I want to thank you very much again. Reporter (Radio Kol Israel): (... ) How can Israel practically support the integration of Romania in the Euro-Atlantic structures? Shimon Peres: Israel will use all our influences we have to meet the need for Remania to become both the member of NATO and EU, because I think it serves the world politics and the world economy and the future of Europe. (... )

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lntervievv* Adrian Năstase aged 51, Prime Minister of Romania and leader of the Social Democrat Party (SDP). He leads the minority government, supported in the Parliament by the deputies of the strong Hungarian mînority. He was in Lisbon last Friday, on the occasion of the anniversary of 50 years of the Socialist lnternationale. A Latin and Balkan country, of Orthodox religion, surrounded by Slavs and Hungarians, Romania is in full NATO and EU accession process. The Prime Minister in Bucharest views that his country may have a decissive role in the management of regional conflicts (... ) Reporter: As for Romania's application for an accession to NATO, does your government expect a formal invitation to the Prague summit next year? Adrian Năstase: Yes. I am optimistic. First of aJI, it is obvious that the first stage of taking the decision is ovar. The US and the Europeans agree to open the gates of the Alliance. The message is the following: there will be an enlargement at the Prague Summit. Then, I think it is important to review the arguments of the various countries. For the Baltic countries, monitoring the discussions between Americans and Russians is important. For the Balkans, it is important that one country should become a very important partner for managing the conflicts. After Yugoslavia's disintegration, Romania has remained the targest and most stable state in the area. We may notice that Yugoslavia remains in a very complicated situation, mosUy after the "Milosevic episode" and the tensions that followed, ellections in Albania are always very complicated, the post-elections situation in Bulgaria hasn't clarified yet, the situation in Macedonia is very difficult, the Montenegro issue persists ...

Reporter: Can it be stated that the internat politica! situation in Romania is stable? "' "Publico" newspaper, "Ro1na11ia as tlJe larţfest and 1uost stable state iJl tl1e Balka11s", interview witl1 Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ro1nania11 Prin1e Minister, Lisbou, July 3, 2001.

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Adrian Năstase: We have a minority govemment, however cooperating excellently with the party of the Hungarians in Romania. This is another argument to the politica! stability. There is a stable majority in the Parliament, which allows us to pass very important laws. As for the European Commission, it has adopted a report recommending to abolish visas for Romania. Reporter: Which would be the ideal date for Remania to join the EU? Adrian Năstase: Our agenda stipulates that all the negotiation chapters should be opened until the end of 2002 and we wish to finalize negotiations around mid 2004 to be able to participate, if such be the case, to the ellections for the European Parliament. lt is obvious that we will still have a long way to go. Reporter: Once again, regarding NATO, the US help has recenly been remarked for the reformation of the Romanian Armed forces. Your country was highly praized for the position it assumed during the allied attacks against Yugoslavia, through opening its air space to the Alliance's aviation ... Adrian Năstase: Yes, we have a strategic partnership with the US, and Romania holds a decissive strategic function in the Balkans. NATO is a cultural organization, it is a military alliance, and Romania cannot remain outside it. We "do our homework", we try to modernize and reform the army, a cooperation programme with NATO is ongoing ... However, I must add that we feel very frustrated, because we have considered that a positive position toward Romania could have been adopted after World War li, but the then "division" did not include Romania in the western party. Then, at Madrid, NATO expansîon decision once again did not take Remania into consideration and Romanians hope that this time, în Prague, things will happen differently. Certain countries, which took part to the invasion of Prague together with the Warsaw Pact forces are NATO members already, while Remania, which did not participate in this invasion is not a member. There you have another paradox of Europe's politica! history. (... )

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Press Statements* Adrian Năstase: I am very pleased to participate to the opening of this important reunion, organized în Bucharest on a vital issue for the life of our societies. Now. more than 130 years from the moment when the problem of slavery and the trade with slaves was pased we discover that the modern world has found, unfortunately, sophisticated means through which the assets of the human being are again doubted. That is why we are trying here, today, together with our friends from the countries in the area and with our friends from the North-Atlantic countries to find solutions to the new defiance that has taken shape. The Bucharest reunion tries to perform a snapshot as accurate as possible of a phenomenon with a cross-border development. Our wish to find solutions is already based on a peculîar experîence the SECI center in Bucharest - which has succeeded during these years, owing to an initiative of ambassador Shifter and to a good cooperation with the Stability Pact to achieve the putting together of some experiences at national levei în the field of preventing and punishing the human being trafficking, of the fight against drugs and, in general, agaînst organized crime. We feel very happy for the participation to this reunion of Mr. Louis Freeh, the FBI Director, together with many other personalities from the world of those who fight for the stabîlity of the law, its enforcement and for a correct enforcement of the standards aîming at the protection of the assets of the human being. I am very pleased to notice that, at the initiative of the Romanîan Government, numerous personalities are present în Bucharest. numerous govemments are represented, wishing, together with us to participate to the difficult fight against the traffic wîth human beings, and at the same time at achieving the crossborder cooperation on issues which represent at this time, " Press state111eJJts of Mr. A.drian Năstase, Ron1anin11 PriJJie Minister, and Mr. Louis Freel1, FBI Director, at tl1e Reg1011al Co11ference 011 co111batiug tl1e trafficking in JuunaJJ being aud il1egnl 1uigratio11, Buc/Jares t, May 21, 2001.

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Strengtl1e11ing Stability tllrougl1 Regional Cooperatiou esential elements of a new defiance at the personal and group security in the South-Eastern European area. Louis Freeh: We are very pleased to be here, today, and we convey our warm thanks to our hosts. The fact that this conference is being organized shows as clear as could be the extraordinary importance which the authorities in this area attribute to this topic. The US fully supports the efforts directed in this sense and we shall support them in future too. We discussed with the decision makers at home and we are all very interested. Efforts here are directed toward the protection of those most vulnerable to exploitation, children and women, a protection against a type of offence affecting all of our countries, irrespective of borders and regions. There is no one country, large or small, unconfronted with this problem and the cooperation is necessary of all the police and security organisms from all the countries represented here. We discussed this morning about the ratification of the various protocols of the United Nations as regards this topic, discussing further about the topic of harmonizing and putting into practice the legislation in the field. As regards our police-type activity we must legally use all those legal instruments available to fight back the phenomenon. I would also like to praise Romania for having hosted and organized the SECI initiative in Bucharest, with the very strong support for doing it by the US and many other countries. When I was here in September 1999, SECI was a concept. As I came here now, it îs not only settled but also fully operational. SECI will be a particularly valuable tool not only in the field of the cross-border criminal activity in the area, but also in the other fields of criminal activity. I would also like to send my thanks to my colleagues from the 11 countries participating in the SECI center, for their initiative and efforts. With my 27 year experience in this activity, I can forecast that not a very long time will pass until this center will have become a formidable force, not only at regional, but even at European level and that it will promote not only the European initiatives and projects, but also the final aim, to give substance to the state of law over this whole region. Thank you, once again, Mr. Prime Minister! The US are very proud to congratulate you for this initiative.

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The first visit of the Secretary General of NA ro, Manfred Womer, in Romania, where establishment of the Euro-Atlantic Center· Romania 1was initiated, Buchar~st, Jufy 4= 5, 1991. The Euro-Atlantic Genter-Roman;a was founded on February 21, 1992.

The politica! aonsensus towards Romania's accession to NA TO was strengthened at the "NATO 2002· F,orum, Snagov, M11rch 31, 2001.

Worfsition group was crowned by victory in last November's elections and the much prized Presidency of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), vacated by the re-election of Ion Iliescu to the Presidency of Romania. Combining the role of Prime Minister with that of governing party leader creates a new precedent in Romanian politics promising a more efftcient and accountable implementation of the goveming program. Năstase leads a young, energetic and, most importantly, unified governmental team, determined to make progress in the domains of economic, social and political reforms as weU as integration into NATO and the European Union. Năstase holds a Ll.M. in Law, an MA in Sociology and a Ph.D. in lnternationat Law, and has taught lnternational Law in both Romania and at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris. He has authored over 20 books and more than 150 scientific articles concerning human rights protection in Europe and other legal issues of oomestic and international law. While balancing the leadership roles between government, PSD and academia, Năstase finds time to spend with his family, collect art and hunt in the Carpathian Mountains. ln this exclusive interview conducted by LEADERS Magazine, Prime Minister Adrian Năstase discusses Romania's old and new economy, plans for integration into NATO and talks about his recent visit to the Untted States. Reporter: A new team has taken over the reins of the Govemment of Romania. How would you characterize this new team of individuals and what is new about the thinking, the agenda and the functioning of this new govemment? """LEADERS" magazj11e, "Năstase' s New Team". exclusive l11terview witll Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ro1nn11ia11 Prime Minister, January 1, 2002. 230

Ron1anin's Road to NATO: Refor111 and Preparation !01· Integ1·atio11

Adrian Năstase: A new generation of politica! leaders has come of age in the past decade. Many of them have successfully taken over the reins of politica!, business and all aspects of modern society. Many more are still preparing at home and abroad. The criteria that I had in mind when forming a new Govemment refer to competence, cohesion, dynamism and politica! vision. We want this team to be the motor for economic and social transformations, based on a clear vision on where Aomania stands now and where we want Romania to be four years from now. Our aim is to be a government that guides the process of transttion into the new millennium with vision and pragmatic attitude that the world around us has changed and it is us who are being called upon to lead this change.

Reporter: Past govemments have been plagued by ineffectiveness, weakness and being "out of touch" with the people. How are you trying to redefine the role of Prime Minister and of the Govemment in general during your term of office? Adrian Năstase: Part of building and strengthening democratic institutions is learning from past mistakes and building on the work of those before you. I believe that the criticism of past govemments îs justified, although other objective factors have to be also acknowledged, such as the weakness of institutions, acute social and economic problems following the fall of communism and at times an unfavorable international context. ln the last ten years, governance has accumulated several handicaps. At home, there was a chronic lack of efficiency. Government rhetoric promised a lot, set many ambitious targets, but very Uttle happened in practice. People lost confidence in governrnent and in the capacity of the politica! system to solve problems. Terms such as "reform" or "economic restructuring" became commonplace as they were invoked over and over again în politica! rhetoric without too much impact on the citizen. Abroad, commitments made to IFls or the intemational business community again led to skepticism with respect to Romania's capacity to fulfill its promises. I am fully aware that a great deal of perseverance is needed to change this perception, but we have already started. This analysis gives us a clearer view on what our priorities should be. On the one hand, we aim to re-establish the credibility of governance at home, to prove that Romania can be governed efficiently and professionally, to prove that we can put in practice good govemance, that we can meet the requirements of European integration, accelerate economic reform and improve the day-to-day life of our citizens. ln my view, re-establishing the credibility of govemance is essential in order to eliminate populist and extremist threats. We wish to re-establish our credibility abroad and to prove that we can be serious partners. My message to the world? We respect our commttments, we can ensure stability, we offer a highly favorable environment to investors and we are placing the process of European integration on a "fast track". Twelve years after the change of the politica! system în Romania, it is high time to stop referring to Romania as a "country in transition" and place 11 in the economic and social parameters of a modem state. (... ) Reporter: The economic reform program of the government has been characterized by the West as courageous but also very risky and difficult. Describe the

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measures being implemented and how these will stimulate the economic d imate in Romani a? Adrian Năstase: We're moving in a severe system of constraints. On the one hand, we have adopted firm measures for maintaining a positive course al macroeconomic level, measures for keeping a low budget deficit, for reducing inflation, for eliminating losses in the economy. We also have to reconcile these restrictive economic policies with specific social programs that our citizens expect and that, as a Social Democrat party, have committed ourselves to put into practice. At the same time, we are looking for new answers to gradually relax the fiscal system. to stimulate the growth of the private sector, investments and consumer behavior. Avoiding an in·balance in the macroeconomic equilibrium and distortions that might jeopardize positive resutts so far are our priority. Our dialogue and cooperation with the lnternational Monetary Fund and the World Bank are a key factor in this equation. ln November, we signed a new Stand-By Agreement with the IMF. lnternational rating agencies such as S&Ps noted these positive trends in a doubling of Romania's country rating in less than six months. This is the first government in 12 years to have the budget submitted and approved by Parliament on time, within the term stipulated by the Constitution. We forecast a 3o/o budget deficit and 22°/o inflation rate. Most important is that we want to reach an economic growth rate of 5°/o in 2002. lt is a growth rate that we consider optimal for re-launching the economy and keeping the process of European integration going. Over the next year, we will accelerate privatization and restructuring of the stateowned industrial system and we will continue to fight the underground economy phenomenon. On this basis, we are confident that we will be able to take gradual measures for fiscal relaxation and apply specific social policies that will make a difference in the lives of our citizens. Reporter: What opportunities exist in the new economy (banking & financial services, information technology, telecom, Internet, software)? Where does Romania's economic future lie for the next decade?

Adrian Năstase: lt is certain that the industries of the "new" economy offer extraordinary opportunities. Statistics show that investing in mobile telephony in Remania was an enormous success. The growth rate of cellular has been almost three limes higher than expected. li is my strong belief that my country can be a fantastic market for communications, IT and the Internet. The highly skilled Romanian workforce is powering a software industry that is already beginning to be appreciated on the international market. One of our goals is to offer an institutional and legal framework for the development of the "new" economy. We created a ministry for communications and IT which has already launched several important inniatives, such as ensuring facil~ies for Internet users, prornoting a law for electronic signature and tax exemption for software producers. 24 ambitious pilot-projects are under way. They involve e-procurement, a

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Ro1nnnin's Road to NATO: Refonn nnd Prepnrntion for IJ1tegrntion

system to ensure the transparency of public procurement, e-referendum, a system for rapidly informing our citizens with regard to government decisions and actions. We are now preparing the privatization of the National Society for Communications which will be able to provide telephony services and data transmission through the Internet, and in the year 2003 Romtelecom, the sole landline service provider, will loose its monapoly and liberalization of this strategic sector will become a reality. Reporter: What are the three aur four industries that have been deemed top priorities for the next 10-20 years?

Adrian

Năstase: ln the past ten years, economic policies were nat prioritized to

stimulate the development of those branches of activity which we consider future pillars of Romania's economy, our competitive edge. I am convinced that we will nat be able to re-launch the economy if we do not have a medium and long-term vision on industries with real development potential. We are focusing on fields that will bring added value rapidly and with minimal costs such as IT, software and telecommunications. The level of education capital in fields such as IT and software will certainly strengthen Romania's competitive advantage in the global marketplace. At the same time we are creating a new frameworf< for revitalizing traditional fields, such as agricultura and agro-food industry, energy, textiles, machinery and equipment and fumiture. Reporter: ln what areas would you like to see foreign investors put their money and what has the Government been doing to aid their decisions?

Adrian

Năstase: lnvestors are confronted with a challenging environment in

Remania. ln spite of many success stories, we are making efforts to alleviate some of the problems still encountered. The first refers to legislative stability. Frequent changes in legislation - whether in the field of privatization, or facilities and fiscal incentives have discouraged many investors because instability of legal provisions and economic regulations obstruct medium and long term business plans. A second area is that of corruption and an overly expanded bureaucratic system. We have tried to simplify access by investors to governmental decisions, by creating, in my direct subordination, a department for relations with foreign investors, so that they will no longer be sent from one institution to another, from one ministry to another, until they obtain all their authorizations. We are also working on drafting and putting in practice a set of measures for oombating corruption with the help of western institutions. Lastly, we have recently adopted the Law on foreign direct investment, which now represents the general framework - guide for foreign învestors. lt provides important incentives and eliminates that gap that has existed between us and other countries in our region with regard to the facilities offered to investors. When you have serious "players", foreign investment is vital for re-launching the economy and solving social problems. My message to those who have not come to Remania yet is very clear: The economic and politica! environment in Romania is stable. we are on the fast track of economic growth and we offer a favorable environment to

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investors. There is a very clear commitment by this Govemment to maintain and accelerate the course of reform, to stimulate development, to eliminate any barriers that might make foreign investors hesitate. So, we are ready and awaiting for those interested. lt is my strong belief that Romania can become, in a relatively short time, the new success story of transition. Reporter: Romania has made much progress along the path towards NATO and EU membership. What are Romania's plans for integration into NATO and what is new in Romania's "offer to NATO" in 2002? Adrian Năstase: lt is very clear that by comparison to the Madrid Summit in 1997, the geopolitica! context has changed and brought to the fore the major role that Remania can play in this region. During the conflict in formar Yugoslavia, Romania acted as a "de facto member of NATO" and fulfilled all commitments. We have proved that we can shoulder the burdens and responsibilities of a partner and ally in strenghthening regional and intemational security. My country acted in a resolute effort to support NATO's actions towards the reinforcement of peace and stability în SouthEast Europe, especially during the Kosovo crisis. The Southem flank remains a problem region in Europe, and a country with Romania's potential is an important provider of security în this area. We also made very important progress in our milîtary reform, making our armed forces compatible with the standards of the Alliance. There are concrete elements that justify our expectations to be invited to join the Alliance at the Prague Summit of 2002. ln March 2002, Bucharest will host the Vilnius 1O (V-1 O) meeting of Prime Ministers of aspiring NATO member countries. We intend to reaffirm on this occasion aur preparedness and commitment to an expansion of NATO that will lead us all closer to an "Europe whole and free". Reporter: EU enlargment is proceeding as plamed by the European Commission. How is Romania doing in terms of negotiations and what is the realistic timeframe for membership? Adrian Năstase: The new Rornanian Government has imposed a more rapid pace in our negotiations with the European Union for our future membership which has positively influenced our relations with EU member countries. We have now concluded five negotiation chapters and we have opened four more. lf we keep up this pace both in our EU negotiations and economic growth, I believe the year 2004 represents a realistic target for concluding negotiations, while 2007 is our full EU membership target. This is the calendar of my govemment and I wifi push for it to be respected. There is also an important debate taking place with reference to the free movement of Romanians in the Schengen space. Eliminating visa requirements would be a significant step for us. I believe we are now qualified, taking into consideration the progress we achieved these past months în border control and new legislation, a progress welcomed by our EU partners. 234

Ro1na11ia's Road to NATO: Refor1n a11d Preparatio11 for I11tegration

Reporter: During your recent visit to the United States, you met with President Bush, signed an IMF agreement and visited ground zero in New York City. How was Romania received there during these difficult times? Adrian Năstase: This was a very important visit as it allowed us to communicate directly to our American partners severa! key messages. First of all, ii gave us the opportunity to express the solidarity of Romanians with the American nation in its times of grief. I visited ground zero and was deeply touched by the tragedy that American people have suffered. The intemational community has been too slow in realizing the immense magnitude of the threat posed by terrorism. Romania made it clear once again that it will act as a "de facto NATO ally'' in the fight against terrorism. We were among the first European countries to make available air, ground and maritime facilities for the ongoing war effort. My meeting in Washington with President Bush was also important for discussing our strategic objectives to integrate in NATO and energize cur bilateral relations. We macle it clear to our American friends, as well as to lnternational Financial lnstitutions, our determination to accelerate reforms and respect our commitments in all areas. Reporter: What hopes for the future did your visit to the United States offer, for Remania and not only? Adrian Năstase: My staunch belief in the new dynamism that dominates Romanian-American bilateral relations is reflected in the re-prioritization of the security visions and projects of the future. The events of 11 September have brought about a dramatic shift on the international relations scene. Now it îs the time to lay the foundation for new security policies, based on solidarity and commonly shared values. Reporter: You have dedicated a large part of your life to the study of law and human rights both în Romania and abroad. What is Romania's record with regard to its ethnic minorities and what examples or lessons can other countries, western or eastern, leam from this experience? Adrian Năstase: The tact Romania has reached stability in its inter-ethnic relations has played an immensely positive role in its evolution. The potential problems that caused concern in the first years after the 1989 Revolution, have been addressed in a satisfactory way. Something that seemed very unlikely a decade ago or in other countries today, such as introducing bilingual plates in multiethnic communities, took place uneventfully, as an effect of the implementation of the Law on public local administration. ln my view, the Romanian model in this area leads to at least two conclusions: that problems related to inter-ethnic relations need to be solved in a legal and institutional framework, through the force of the law, not vice-versa. Second, it is important that ethnic organizations function as part of the politica! system of a country, not outside of this system. Politica! dialogue is the only way to dispel such tensions. The Democratic Union of the Hungarians of Remania has acted responsibly and wisely, understanding that it can and should exist as part of the politica! system of Romania and my government benefits from a close collaboration with them.

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Reporter: Romania's children have received much attention throughout the world. What are the current realities a decade after the revolution that brought children's rights to the forefront of Romania's agenda? Adrian Năstase: We placed the problems of children on the top list of our priorities for govemment action. Several measures were adopted such as the temporary suspension of international adoptions until new legislation is introduced, which will be more restrictive and clearer. ln order to fight corruption, we need to clean up the system and in this spirit we adopted a strategy for the protection of children in difficulty, a strategy that will largely reduce the number of children living in huge caring centers and offer a family-type environment to children in difficulty. But there is also a sum of stereotypes that were put in motion in different intemational contexts, through the media or intemational institutions. As an overall assessment, I would say we're on the right track în this field, although we still have much to do. Reporter: What can you teii us about the private life of Adrian Năstase? What makes you "tick"? How do you spend your free time?

Adrian Năstase: The December 1989 Revolution has radically changed my life and the lives of the membet's of my family. Until then my life had been far from the public space and my wortd was made up of books and research in the field of international law. lt was a fascinating wor1< in which I put a lot of passion and dedication, and I would be happy to be able to return to it anytime. The times that followed practically projected me in a very vibrant world - the world of polttics. Of course it differs greatly from the serene life of scientific research. But there îs no doubt that my politica! career has offered me many satisfactions and a sense of accomplishment. To answer your question about my tree time: My free time belongs to my family. I only regret that I am not able to spend as much time with my wife and two boys as I would want to. I collect art, especially Japanese etchings and classical Aomanian paintings. As Honorary President of the National Romanian Fishing & Hunting Association, you can imagine I have a leaning towards these outdoor sports, particularly hunting, which incidently also sharpens my skills of politica! life, because it is a jungle out there sometimes. My lesson during all these years is that responsibility towards people is crucial. There are many people - whether party colleagues or ordinary citizens - who invest their trust in you. My duty is not to let them down. This sense of responsibility was probably the strongest inner motivation that guided my actions in the past ten years. lt gave me the strength to overcome the difficult moments of politica! life.

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Press Statements* Lord George Robertson: My day is not finished in Bucharest, bui l have had some very interesting meetings so far, having met the President and the Prime Minister and key ministers. I have had the unique experience in my time as Secretary General in being at the full meeting of the Cabinet of Remania. AII of those with whom I have met here in Bucharest have been emphasizing to me how important NATO membership is to them and to Remania and how much they are willing to do to make sure that this country joins the Alliance next year. I cannot teii them and I cannot ten you who is likely to be invited to join NATO at the Prague Summit next year. That is. perhaps the one piece of information that everybody I have met would like to know, including yourself. No decisions have been taken and no decisions will be taken until much later next year. What I can say is that Remania is making good progress in tts application to join NATO. ln the criticai areas of reforming Romania's defense forces excellent progress has been recorded over the last year and the Alliance is also impressed by the degree to which Romania believes and acts in consolidating regional initiatives, making sure that regional security is a matter of priority. Romania has had an outstanding year in the position of Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, as I personally know, to my benefit. ln the other areas where NATO standards have to be involved, the non-military aspects, Remania is also making good progress. So, my message has been: so far, so good, but further progress wifi still be required. ' The presentations made by Govemment ministers have been impressive, and so toc is the level of public support for joining NATO. lts strength is at a very high level among the applicant countries. Remania is very high on the !ist of applicant countries. Mr. Adrian Năstase: The vislt to Remania of the NATO Secretary General represents one of the most significant landmarks în our progress towards NATO membership. Last year meant for us twelve months of efforts, of mobilizing cur intellectual and material resources in order to join the North Atlantic Alliance. We wiU continue these efforts and I wish to underline that we have embarked on a process to reform the army as well as the society; this process will unfold along

„ Press State1ne11ts of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ro1nn1Jinn Prilne Minister,

and

Lord George Robert.sau. NATO Secretazy General, following tl1e Ro111a11ia11 Cabinet 1neeti11g, Bucl1arest, Dece1nber 13, 2001 (excerpts).

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Adrian Niistase - NATO Enlnrg'en1ent

a very long period of time, regardless of the decision taken în Prague, although we sincerely hopa that this decision Will be în our favor. We hava discussed with Mr. Robertson many of the aspects of military, politic and administrative refonn. This visit is part of a wider tour, reflecting the willingness of the NATO Secretary General to get a first hand taste of the atmosphere and state of mînd in applicant countries. This visit is also part of an intensive dialogue, initiated during the last few months and I am fully convinced that we will be able to further discuss with members of the Secretariat, at the level of ministers, as I consider that the issue of Romania's becomîng a member of NATO represents a concern for the entire Cabinet, rather than only for two of them. We truly hope that Lord Robertson will return to Romania next year, after the Prague Summit, în order to visit one of the newest members of the North Atlantic Alliance. (...) Reporter: Now, that unity and partnership are more necessary than ever, is NATO ready to revisa and speed up Romania's efforts, whîch have lasted ten years, of becoming a NATO member? George Robertson: The statute of a NATO member îs not a present. When a state is running for this membership to NATO, it has to attain the standards NATO requires. Membership is no present, no honor, no prize; it îs a commitment, a responsibility, even a burden. Naturally, there are major benefits deriving from thîs statute and this is the reason why Romania is trying hard so as to meat the prerequisites necessary to join NATO. lf you ask me this question by mid-November next year, I will be able to be quite specific. Reporter: A question for Mr. Adrian Năstase. ls Romania ready to join NATO? Adrian Năstase: Romania is preparing to join NATO. This is a process which will require, undoubtedly, long term efforts. We have now a very close partnership with NATO, we work together, our dialogue îs extremely intense, we try to understand the stages we are supposed to cross and we try to do our homework. We think that our credibility abroad has increased lalely and we want to strengthen our solidarity at home, around a foreign policy bi-partisan goal. Reporter: As for the armed participation of NATO in the fight against terrorism is concemed, are there any plans to this effect? George Robertson: NATO has already stated that the attacks perpetrated against the USA in New York and Washington have automatically triggered the putting into operation of Art. 5 of the Washington Treaty, which means that the country under aggression way ask the other contries, members of the Alliance to contribute, to bring their support in aJI respects. · A number of measures have already been asked for, several aspects have been invoked and all the member countries were eager to answer these requests. As an oraganization, however, NATO has not been asked militarily to join this fight. A number of countries situated either insîde, or outside the Alliance, were invited to offer their help and support and, of course, they were only glad to promptly respond to these requests.

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Press Conference* I wish to inform you that today, the Government is studying the organizational measures for putting into practice the strategy of promoting Romania's candidacy to NATO. This strategy is complementary to the inner processes which will have to secure Romania's attaining, in the following months, of a preparedness degree enabling its joining NATO. There is an intensive activity, within the framework of the lnter-ministry for Romania's joining NATO, for the finalization of the National Plan of Admission, the A 3 cycle. We benefit from the support of certaîn states, members of the Alliance, in order to solve all matters as quickly as possible. lt is for the Summit în Prague, in 2002, to decide which of the member states will be învited to join the Alliance. For that matter, the summer of 2002 moment is a chance one should by no means miss. No one can say, at present which the decision of the Alliance will be. The Allîance members themselves will scrutinize various elements pertaining to the context and to the global interests, in order to make the best decîsîon. As far as we are concerned, our duty is to make sure that Romanîa's degree of preparedness for accession to NATO will reach its peak when the moment of making this decision îs near. The Government has a firm mandate to this effect, to which the majority of Romania's population has in fact subscribed - 85 per cent of Romania's population support the integration into NATO. You also know that, once we came to power, we decided to resume the matter of this country's candidacy and that the Euro-Atlantic integration was and still is a target of priority of our Administration. The matter regards a certain continuity of aur foreign policy which we intend to support.

* Press

confere11ce of Mr. Adrian Niistnse, Ro1u11uin11 Prilne Minister, on Ro1na11ia preparatio11s for tlie NATO e11Jarg·e111eut, Bucl1arest. Aug·ust 21. 2002 (excerpts).

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Adrian Nlistase - NATO E11large1uent

When we thought of our electoral and administration programs, we considered that the most appropriate manner to illustrate out efforts is that of submitting again Romania's candidacy. ( ... ) As far as we are concerned, it is important to attain the highest internai effervescence to support a joint politica! orientation. I want to teii you again why the way in which we construct this alliance is important as an argument of our internai politica! stability, under the circumstances of a rather unstable situation in the Balkans and in South-Eastern Europe. lt goes without saying that the experience in the Balkans, these last ten years, generated a certain reticence of the Alliance în admitting, in its midst, areas with still unsolved problems and which are involved in contlicts. ln my capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I attended the first meetings of NATO Cooperation Council, where representative of some Caucasian countries were also presant. I remember that one of these meetings could hardly finalize its proceedings and adopt a final document, due to the diverging points of view of Georgia and Azerbaijan. Therefore, the controversial issues between these countries or. anyway, one of the politica! conflicts existing at that moment were of a nature to determine the shutting oft of the proceedings. lt was from that moment on that the Alliance tried to support the approach of its inner structures only în the case of such countries, where there were a maximum of seriousness and politica! stability. (... ) I have mentioned the need of politica! and social stability in Remania. I would ask you to notice something which, I think, is extremely important. lf we had some achievements worth speaking of. în the last several months, they were accounted for by far to our social stability. The social agreement with the trade unions and with the employers represented, to a great extent, the foundation of whatever we could accomplish during that period and meant a certain economic upsurge, as well as stabilization - an economic macrostabilization of many important objectives. This is why I which to extend this analysis to the politica! area. This is not a matter of closing down the headquarters of the politica! parties so that they would no longer be politically active. A politica! truce covers only 1he area of jointly supporting the activities we plan in the prospective of the Summit of Prague, i.e. the carrying out of certain joint actions abroad, the support given to some of the important politica! moments. There will be meetings in the following period and the efforts should be harmonized as regards the actions abroad, so that we succeed in maximizing your chances. (... ) These efforts will, undoubtedly need a long time still to materializa into very good results, but it is quite clear that we are now on a consolidated line, which

Ron1a11ia's Rond to NATO: Retorni aud Prepnration for Integration

is worth being supported. We need this kind of intelligent, reasonable support for whatever means a common interest, assumed by au the politica! parties. (.. .) We are going to preserve this manner of approach, we shall invite those willing to give us their support to join us in various actions connected with the promotion of these interests and I think that this cooperation with the politica! parties îs only necessary. (.. .) The countries belonging to the Vishegrad group went together, coordinated their stands and I don't think they were wrong. The "Northern Flank" is a notlon very much talked about nowadays. The Baltic countries have a well articulated common stand and even a common front, created in the prospective of their joining NATO. (... ) Anyway, I understood, following the talks we had in Brussels, that a special interest is shown for the adoptation by Remania and Bulgaria of common, responsible attitudes, including those with regard to the crisis in the Balkans, in Macedonia, a.s.o. Therefore, this need of articulation, of carrying out certain actions and establishing their targets together, of dealing with certain foreign policy events together seemed and still seems to me extremely useful. (... ) I am talking about what the proactive dimension should be until the Summit in Prague. From this moment on, we shall have to send emissaries to various capitals. The decision will not be made in one single place, it will be made in all the Alliance member capitals. We shall have to coordinate our activity in all parliamentary zones, in all the national parliaments where these decisions will be ratified. Arguments thereof are, on the one hand, the economic, politica! and social stability and, on the other, our actions abroad, including the lobbying, the participation, for instance, in the meeting to be held in Sofia, in October, the preparation of a meeting to be attended by the Prime Ministers of the candidate countries, next spring in Bucharest, and so on. (... )

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lntervievv* Reporter: ln Bratislava, Russia has warned that any further enlargement of the NATO would be a major mistake. Are you net worried by this statement? Adrian Năstase: No. I consider that this was the way in which the Aussian authorities chose to take part in an event they had not been invited to attend. That was a rather clever action. They reacted to a report drawn up by two think-tanks in Slovakia and the United States. AII the Prime Ministers present in Bratislava have, in tact, unanimously underlined that the decision of joining NATO was inherent to any country's wish of defining its foreign policy targets in a sovereign way. Therefore, neither they, nor us regard the issue concerning NATO enlargement as an anti-Russian decision. lt is related to our past, to our assets, to the bi-partisan decisions made in this country. For instance, 85 per cent of the population of Remania supports the enlargement of NATO and Romania's joining the Alliance. I do not think that these state of things worried, some way or another, the countries presant at the meeting in Bratislava which I consider was extremely important, owing to the message sent by President Havel, sustained by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Reporter: Your neighbor, Bulgaria, has already adopted a memorandum, allowing the NATO troops and equipments to transit the Bulgaria territory with no previous approval of the Bulgarian Parliament. ls Romania ready to do the same? Adrian Năstase: Yes. One lesson consequent to the war in Kosovo was very clear, i.e. such procedure among the partner countries by all means necessary. The Romanian party has the intention to submit such a project to NATO General Headquarters. (... ) I hope we shall be presant at the meeting with the history in Prague, as the summit to be held there was called. To us, a positive answer would be very important, of course, but we are by all means determined to achieve the economic and military reform and I think that it is very important to maintain this attitude and to do our best within the following months. "'lnterview witl1 Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ron1anian Prime Minister, following the NAC 111eeti11g, Brussels, May 15, 2001 (excerpts).

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Ro1nania 's Road to NATO: Refor111 and Preparntion for Integration

Reporter ("New York Times"): As regards NATO, what makes you so sure that Romania is able to fulfill NATO requirements, not only those concerning the army, but also the economic and social ones? Adrian Năstase: As far as I am concerned, the general support granted by the political parties and by the population is most important. Some 85 per cent of the Romanians are for Romania's joining NATO. This enables us to impose certain decisions în the financial domain. For instance, we have decided to give the army priority in this year's budget. On the other hand, this may act as an incentive to the Parliament, so as to pass more rapidly the laws connected by NATO objectives. The economy gaîned some more mobility this year as compared to Jast year, therefore we hope we'II dispose of more resources în the years to come. At the same time, we achieved a lot în the military domain, an excellent cooperation with NATO has been going on for severa! years now and the Alliance praised Remania during the latest months. Ali these elements, as well as the climate existing in Romania, are as many reasons that make us believe Romania will be among the states to be invited to join NATO. Reporter: May I ask you a question on a different issue? Which îs Roman ia 's attitude towards the anti-missile defensive program, America has just achieved? Adrian Năstase: Speaking trom our viewpoint, the anti-missile defensive is an extremely. important project. We think that it will receive favourable decisions. We consider that Remania has a strategic role to play and an early warning system in this country would matter a lot for the entire system. We would thus be interested to take part in consultation meetings from their earliest stages. Reporter: You have a 50 years long history of communist regime. Neither this generation, nor the next one have any expertise in carrying out independent actions in thinking freely. Adrian Năstase: Speaking of this, one can by no means say that Romania is starting from zero. Romanian civilization has been historically connected with the Western one. I consider that there is a way of outrunning these 50 years of communism and I think that the younger generations have already done that. The youngsters who started school after 1989 have, of course, no problems of such kind. Many of them went for studies abroad. I think that the change of mentality has already become evident during the last ten years.

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Press Conference* Adrian Năstase: The present meeting means, practically, the conclusion of the second cycle of the Action Plan for Joining the NATO, the last such action before the commencement of the cycle for the years 2002-2003. This meeting belongs to the range of particularly important activities within the framework of our concerns linked with the joining of the NATO and which we take part in. The general context is particularly hectic, meaning the 15+15 Meeting, on matters of detence and security, scheduled for tomorrow and the Meeting of the Chiefs of Staff from the countries member of the EuroAtlantic Partnership Council on Wednesday. The fact is noteworthy that our meeting follows an important politica! moment as to the NATO enlargement preparations, under the circumstances when, as I was saying, the politica! statements made by politica! leaders of the member countries refer clearly to the intention of launching new invitations to the Summit of Prague. Concerning Prague, we have, in tact, two problems: the issue of the enlargement should be on the agenda of the meeting;

if this happens, Romania should be among the countries to receive the joining invitation. The talk we had within the North Atlantic Council today, for more than two hours, was an excellent opportunity for us to show the achievements and also the problems in the defense and security domains. I will have a meeting tonight with the ambassadors in the NATO and EU countries and I will inform our colleagues on seme of the conclusions of today's meeting at the NATO headquarters, so as to draw up together an agenda with matters of priority for the months to come. The debates were based on the Report drawn up by the NATO lnternational Secretariate and approved by the Council, on the manner in * Press conference of Mr. Adrian

Ro1nania11 Prin1e Minister, aud Mr. Ioan Mircea Paşcu, Ron1anian Minister for National Defense. followi11g tl1e NAC 1neetlng, Brussels, May 14. 2001 (excerpts).

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Năstase,

Ron1auia's Road to NATO: Reform aud Preparntion for IntegratioJJ

which Romania fulfilled the tasks incumbent upon it within the framework of the National Yearly Program for lntegration. I consider the meeting attained its goal, as the difficulties and the achieved progress were equally shown. Numerous solutions were also proposed. Remania - I must underline this - was subject to an objective, realistic and thorough estimation of its stage of preparedness in all domains - the political, military, economic, legislative ones, as well as in information protection. Our conclusion was that this country's approaches to its integration în NATO are characterized by a growth of credibility. The ambassadors present stressed these aspects repeatedly. I think we succeeded in conveying a convincing message, we have kept our promises and will go on keeping them. The already known capacity was particularly appreciated of this to contribute to the regional security and stability as well as to the security of the Alliance. The Council members hailed Romania's intention of increasing its participation in the KFOR and praised the role it played in the coordination of the elaboration of the document on risks and opportunities within the main domains concerning the security in South-Eastern Europe. We hope thus to sign an agreement to this effect during the coming weeks. Romania's wish was also noticed of expand its relations with its neighbors in its Eastern zones - I mean the Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, the countries in its immediate proximity or those located within the former Soviet Union borders. I înformed the Council on the stage of the army reform, with a stress upon the fact that this process is irreversible and that first results have already appeared. We gave details on the new structura of forces - the budget for the Defense and the staff management. I mentioned that the planned changes are being made in tuli transparency and that theîr tuli social bearings are taken into account. Four thousand officers follow to be dîscharged from this army before the month of December this year. The total number of generals, 446 at present will be cut by 306 within the following two years. These measures will take into account the social protection suitable measures, also through a program agreed with the World Bank. With respect to the budget for the Defense, it will grow during the following years in keeping with the growth of the Gross Domestic Product and it will by no means be lower than 2 per cent. The ambassadors were interested in the tact that the planned reforms are being implemented with a view of achieving of a modern army, smaller in number but better equipped and able to secure both the national defense and its participation in missions under the NATO command, in the prospect of the întegration.

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Adrian Niistnse - NATO Enlarge111ent

lt resulted, from the comments made and the questions asked by the 19 ambassadors, that the member states are still willing to offer this country their substantial support for its integration. The North Atlantic Council considered the tact was essential that all the parliamentary parties support Romania's integration in NATO and that they pledged to sustain the approaches as to the preparations to be made prior to the Summit of Prague. We have also shown that we are competing with ourselves and that NATO integration is not a goal in itself, but a way of accelerating the reforms at home which are necessary, anyway. They offer the guarantee of this country's long-term development. By what we have now succeeded, I think Remania came closer to NATO than it was six months ago. I believe we started a real campaign in the perspective of the Summit of Prague and I ask you to agree with your becoming members of Romania's team for NATO. Reporter (RFI): What role do you think the politica! dimension is playing in the process of the Alliance extension? Which NATO member states are supporting Romania's approaches? Adrian Năstase: The decision is, undoubtedly, a politica! one. lt goes without saying that, within the new security and defense zone and depending on the newly emerged risks, NATO has acquired this politica! dimension to a greater extent. lt is only evident that a politica! assessment is quite necessary in terms of the timeliness of enlargement and the members to be. Anyway, the decision will have to be made within an internai politica! framework, in each member country where a politica! analysis be made, with their Parlîaments taking part în this process, too. This îs why I think that this politica! dimensîon will still be present. The military dimension is also important, because there is a certain compatibility to be achieved, an utterly necessary inter operationality but one thing is clear, as in the case of Turkey or of other countries that were integrated into NATO: the army modernization process went on even after their admission to NATO. I do not think we will succeed in modernizing our army în one, in three or in five years but some tîme after that and that it will be only than that we will become integrated into NATO. Therefore these developments will continue and their politica! dimension îs certainly important. Concerning the second question, we hope we shall have every country's support. Reporter: Can you teii us anything about the concrete matters raised by NATO member states? Adrian Năstase: The matters were both politica! and military. Apart from my 20 minutes' long introduction - the general framework and reactions to the report, as well as the presentation, from our standpoint, of whatever happened during the !atest months, there were also certain questions referring to our relations with our neighbors and with Russîa, our estimations regarding 246

Romania's Road to NATO: Reform and Preparatio11 for Integration

the evolution of certain countries în this area and in the Balkans, matters connected with our strategy in dealing with the minorities' rights, with the strategy of approaching the Romany problems. regulations, issues dealing with the regime of the foreigners, the law of the classified information... a wide range of matters - and from the military point of view, there were all the already familiar themes, mainly those having economic implications. (... ) Reporter: You mentioned a certain social protection of the discharged officers. Which will these measures be? What criteria will be taken into account when cutting the number of generals? Ioan Mircea Pa~cu: Related to this matter, you are well aware that we have a legal framework - Ordinance no. 7. We cancelled the measure which stopped ito application, as its had been blocked before the end of last year. There are also the re-conversion courses and the natural exit from the system. The very moment we shall have the army payrolls we intend to finalize în July, we shall know for sure how many jobs there are and where they are. Generally there will be 83 functions out of 140. Why 140? Because we adopted a principie functioning now, i.e. one general per one thousand men subordinated to the ministry. Thus, we have 140 thousands (112 thousands + 28 thousands) - therefore, there will be 140 generals. Since December 31, five generals have already left. This process will go on. lt will start subsequent to the issuing of the payrolls and we decided to focus our entire attention on this matter as we deal with a military career, thus what I mean is transparency, the esprit de corps. AII these are fundamental assets which should not be wasted due to what happens now; on the contrary, they will have to be preserved. This was one topic among others. Reporter: Practically speaking, there is the re-conversion and they wifi . rece1ve ....? Ioan Mircea Paşcu: lf they leave before they are due, they will receive compensations as per Ordinance no. 7. But if they leave first and want to come back, they may be taken back again, as civilian employees, if they are needed. Those who retire will gradually benefit of these facilities - and I mean gradually - as the resources are limited. For those who retire this year, the problem is solved; however, concerning those who will retire from this moment on, we shall have to work more on the provisions of this new Law of the military pensions. Reporter: What measures have you proposed for the increase of the security of the information? Adrian Năstase: For the time being, the solution process of this matter is well under way. As regards information belonging to NATO. there are no

24?

Adrian Năstase - NATO E11largen1ent

problems as there is a structure within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The National Security Authority - securing the confidentiality of the information from NATO 1o us and from us to NATO with the necessary clearance for the persons involved in this activity. Concerning the law, you know that, for the time being we are looking for the best solution of improving the text which has already been passed ahrough the Parliament and I hope that, within a reasonable lapse of time, we could come forward with a formula possibly combining certain regulations on the free access to the public information with restrictions imposed as regards classified information. Reporter: Beyond the political rhetoric, how do you characterize the stage attained by Romania's commitments? ( ... ) Ioan Mircea Pa,cu: Here I have shown the data regarding those forces we are able to put at the disposal of NATO. There are, for instance, two plane squadrons being put at their disposal; by the end of this year, the pilots of these squadrons will total a practice of 100 flying hours each. Also, the helicopter pilots will have to meet the same requirements; the forces to be sent to take part în the NATO operations, if necessary - I mean mainly the Partnership for Peace - will have to spend between 40 and 60 days at the seaside. The forces likely be involved in NATO operations and which may be asked to start acting at any time have our entire attention. As for the rest we have our priorities, too. At presant, we have a three level structure: certain mobilization nuclei, territorial forces and operational forces. Should we enter NATO, we shall focus all our attention on the first level, on the operational forces, following to cut the expenses on the other side, but in case we don't succeed, we shall have to count on this structura. Reporter: Did you mention the topic of the legislative reform, I mean the modification of the Constitution? Adrian Năstase: For the moment, we have not discussed anything about the Constitution, apart from a certain legal aspect, connected, as it îs, with the transit of troops - whether or not this action triggers the due moditication of our Constitution. We have mentioned the fact that, at this moment, this matter is quite complicated through the created procedures and we are looking for a solution which should combine both the parliamentary control on the displacement of the troops and the effectiveness and velocity of the approval transmission. The matter of the NATO troops' transit on Romanian territory certainly deserves a particular attention, if we think of our experience during the Kosovo conflict; we are also studying this issue, so as to organize - by special arrangement and in order to clarify this aspect from the beginning a protocol or a legal arrangement regarding the transit of troops in a standby formula.

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Press Statement* Adrian Năstase: Firstly, I would like to underline that this conference was a Vilnius-type one; at the suggestion of Mr. Bruce Jackson, Chairman of the US Committee on NATO, this was meant to maintain the Alliance enlargement issues vivid în the attention of the member states. The Bratislava meeting was attended by nine Prime Ministers of countries aspiring to NATO integration and by the Prime Minister of Croatia. The talks pointed out to the tact that the politica! debates on NATO enlargement theme entered a new stage which is characterized by the concern of defining a new conceptual framework for the following enlargement wave, the targets of a new stage and the connection with other similar processes, mainly with the enlargement of the European Union. ln the speeches I made în various sections, as well as in the speeches made by other heads of governments, the stress was laid on the ideas of complementary action and of partnership as regards the integration in NATO and în the European Union. Among other things, I made the proposal of organizing of a similar meeting on enlargement issues next summer, în Bucharest. I needn't stress the fact any longer that în the fall of next year the North Atlantic Alliance Summit will take place în Prague; an enlargement will be decided there and, if the answer is positive, the countries to be integrated with the new wave will be nominated. The meeting in Bratislava was attended by prominent guest, Mr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of the most famous analysts in the United States, who explained how one could pass from a certain political action level to the essential zone of the agenda for the next wave. lt is quite obvious that the United States are still in the process of making a decision as to whether the issue of NATO enlargement is to be included on the North-Atlantic Alliance meeting next year. in Prague. The second clîmactic moment of today's meeting în Bratislava was generated by President Havel's presence and speech, a very remarkable .. Press statement of Mr. Adrian Nlfstase, Romanian Prime Minister, following tl1e Bratislava Conference, Bucl1arest. May 12, 2001 (excerpts).

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Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargement

contribution which, beyond the philosophical aspects of whatever means the relation beetwen the West and the East, made a sensible analysis of the debates on the political developments in post-war Europe. Within the framework of the debates on Russia's natural or exacerbated susceptibilities, beyond NATO policy in the latest years aimed at enlarging its structures, the idea was launched that invitations should be sent to all canditate countries to Prague next year. The following step would be the gradual ratification of the agreements with each country, în accordance with their merits and with the speed the condidate countries move towards the fulfillment of their established objectives and integration criteria. To this effect, the Bratislava meeting is the very moment of relaunching the c:lebate on NATO enlargement. I would also like to inform you that the Statement of Bratislava was adopted, which outlines some of the most important elements of this informaltype structura set up by the candidate countries and today, following the negociations with the other colleagues we introduced a new paragraph, regarding the role of Romania and Bulgaria în the securing of the politica! stability in the Balkan region. I think the tact îs important that by a happy coincidence, I shall go to Brussels on Monday, together with the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Oefense in order to show, in front of the North Atlantic Council, state of things in Romania as regards the application of this country's special program for NATO integration. (... ) Reporter: lt has been said that the alliance should speed up the enlargement process, as otherwise we will always have to face permanent counter-candidates and our situation could go on and on sine die. Romania, on the contrary, I mean the way in which one talks of NATO lntegration ... Adrian Năstase: No, I understood there were certain comments on the radio regarding what I may have said in Bratislava. I want things to be very clear, there is no nervousness as far as we are concerned. We must do our homework notwithstandîng what others may decide. We must perform the army reform, the economy reform, these are the problems we are expected to solve. I think that the debate în Bratislava took place at the right time, that it was understood, în a way, that the formula supposing a united and free Europe means, în the last analysis, the doing away with any possible trenches which might be maintained within it. Therefore, I woul(l rather say that the basic idea, the dominating idea of today's debate, was that irrespectîve of the speed at which individual procedures are finalized, the moment of Prague ought to mark the launching, accordîng to the regatta principie, of all countries în their race towards NATO integration, the finish order following to be decided în keepîng with theîr individual performances. (... ) Reporter: Mr. Prime Minister, do you think our chances to benefit of a f avorable decision in Prague are enhanced by the fact that the nine countries racing for NATO integration are going to start from the same line? 250

Romnnia's Road to NATO: Reform and Preparation for Integrntion

Adrian Năstase: Yes and no, there is a certain feeling of solidarity, there also is this informal alliance I have mentioned, but it is obvious that every country has its own interests. each of the countries present in Bratislava is going to see to the setting up of certain individual pressure groups. The Baltic countries, for instance, will lay their stakes on the Northern countries, rather; on the other hand, it is clear that there will be a certain group of pressure on behalf of Slovakla and, possibly of Slovenia, to be exerted by the Visegrad countries. Remania and Bulgaria are quite isolated, but I hope here it will be for the strategic interests to decide and we shall probably have some more time to talk about these issues in the months to come. Reporter: Can you teii us who is Romania going to rely upon? Adrian Năstase: Upon itself, mainly. Romania will have to understand, the Romanians will have to understand that first and foremost. the politica! and social stability as well as the economic performance will be the ones to tip the scale. Reporter: What about the lobby abroad? Adrian Năstase : As a foreign lobby, the German stand as well the stands of the countries belonging to the Southern flank such as Spain, ltaly, France, Greece and Turkey will count a lot; on the other hand, the stand to be adopted by the United States will be very important inasmuch as the Balkans are likely to go on being an area of interest for the Americans. (... ) Reporter: How do you see the further relations of Romania with Russia, the more so as Russia îs firmly opposing Romania's joining the NATO? Adrian Năstase: This matter does not concern the Romanian-Russian relations, it is rather more complex and depends on Russia's stand as regards NATO enlargement in general and this position was visible first when the three Visegrad countries joined NATO în the first wave. There îs a reaction also connecteer countries will consider ought to happen with the configuration of the Alllance during the fo/lowing period of time from the point of view of the USA law, of course. The talk we had today was centered not only around the politica! issues but also around certain defense matters. We have also discussed about what is going on in cur area, mostly in the Western Balkans. lt is for all these reasons that we consider that Remania can be an important partner of the Alliance in this region and that we wish to participate in the solution of the crises existing in this area, inasmuch as our resources and capabilities allow this. 11 is not only to our benefit, but also to that of the Alliance. Frally, I wish to state !hat this meeting was particularly useful. This was a review of whatever took place in Remania in relation with the integration prograrns and I hope that next year, when we shall proc:eed to suct, a valuation, the results wiH allow us to expert a favorable decision as regards the agenda and the decisions of the Summit in Prague next year. .. Press stateme11t of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Ron1a11ia11 Prime Minister, following tl1e ,neeting with Mr. Edward Buckley, NATO Deputy Secretary General, Bucharest, Marcl1 8, 2001.

252

Press Conference* Adrian Năstase: I would like to say a few words about the meeting we had, a Government special meeting, dedicated to the preparation actions for Romania's integration in the North Atlantic Alliance. This action was aimed at actually and responsibly engage the governmental decision factors in the process of creating the necessary conditions so that, at the North Atlantic Alliance Summit in Prague in 2002, Romania should be invited to join NATO. First of all, we propose to define such a vision that is based on Romanian interests and on the assets we promote. To Remania, the Summit în Prague is a unique historical chance and we should do our best lest we should miss this opportunity. Du ring the last 10-11 years, significant changes took place within the Romanian society and I think we live now a moment when we can support the continuity of our foreign policy targets and also a tri-partisan approach of this subject-matter with all the politica! parties sustaining it. We need continuity, we need seriousness and consistency in our approach, within a framework the significant event of which is the vote expressed în the Republic of Moldova. This shows quite clearly the way in which the influence zones in Europe are felt and how a decision, made in one sense or another, may influence the ratio of forces. As regards solutions, these are based, on the one hand, on the setting up of a mechanism in stages allowing us to carry out a planned action for a 2 year period; this action has already been discussed in the meeting of the interdepartamental group, held more than a week ago. On the other hand, it relies on the coordination, at the Government, with the information services and other agencies that can support the strategic planning on the govemmental level. The third stage is represented by the meeting with the politica! parties, next week, for the elaboration and adoption of a statement. The fourth stage - in 2 or 3 weeks - provides a meeting with the massmedia representatives and with those of the non-governmental organizations, .. Press co11fere11ce of Mr. Adria11 NIIstase, Roma11in11 Pri1ue Minister, following tlie special Cabinet nieetiug on Roma11ia's p r epnrations for tlle EuroAtlantic accession, Bucllarest, February 26, 2001 (excerpts).

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Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargen1ent

so as to secure the support and the involvement of the civil society in this project of wide interest. We wish to assume and apply, on the one hand, a strategy of promoting Romania's candidacy and the drawing up and setting to motion of the yearly national preparation plan for NATO integration on the other. This program needs an increase of funds from this year's budget which we are ready to approve. I would also like to say that we are very caretul about the legislative dimension. There are certain fields, as for instance the Law of the State Secret, where certain matters have been unsolved for severa! years. This week, the Government representatives intend to propose a debate in the Parliament on the diverging texts, so that we should try and find the best possible solutlons. At our Government meeting w& shall adopt a decision to create a coordination, executive mechanism, securing all the functional connections with the concerned institutions and working for the preparation of the documents and of the strategies to be followed at home and abroad. Among other things, for instance, an accent is laid on parllamentary visits - by emmissaries and special mandates. We shall try to do our best in order to accomplish the proposals of the politica! message as well possible. We also wish to improve the relations with the political parties with the public opinion and with civil society as seen from the angle of this essentîal target whîch is integration which apart from various tiny wars at home, equally concern us alt. The moment of the Summit in Prague can by no means be remote or crose according to our wish. We should be very attentive so that, when the time comes, we should be prepared to direct, in a first stage, the Northern-Atlantic Alliance's decision towards its enlargement, so that we could, in a second stage, act more intensely with the view of including Remania on the agenda. We shall also teii you that, by means of opinion polls, we are going to folow up the points of view the population expresses concerning these facts. The results of a public opinion poll on the attitudes of Romania's population has about NATO integration were made public at this meeting. I can teii you only that as regards the question if next Sunday a referendum were organized, on Romania's NATO integration, 85 per cent of the sample group would say yes, which shows an extremely wide support for this international policy objective. You will find the explanations în the poli, but the answer to another question is quîte interesting. As you know, Romania has not been invited to participate in the first wave of NATO întegration. "Do you think that this happened mainly due to ... " and various variants follow. "Russia opposed our NATO integration" - 10°/o, "The Western countries wanted to keep us outside NATO" - 6°/o, "The USA wanted to keep us outside NATO" 254

Romania's Road to NATO: Retorni and Preparation for Illtegratiou

5°/o, "Aomania did not fulfil the prerequisites for the NATO integration" 80°/o. This îs a clear, seif-criticai perception, allowing for a realist valuation of this subject by the population. We shall keep you informed about the other studies we shall achieve and we shall try, as far as possible, to draw up the integration strategy together with yourselves. Reporter: To which extent will you stimulate the computer science development for a better communication with the civil society and how important is the presence of the representatives of the ruling power in Romania in the capital cities of the UE and NATO member countries? Adrian Năstase: We shall try to inform the population with respect to the advantages of Romania's integration in the EU and NATO and we shall also try to inform the population in the NATO member countries on the advantage of Romania's integration into NATO. As for the presence in the capital cities of the member countries, it goes without saying that this is the only way in which we could exert some influence, to convey our messages to governments and parliaments, so that we shall try to make our presence better felt in these capital cities. Reporter: You mentioned certain additional sums to the budget. Will it be a global growth? lf not, what segments will be concemed? Adrian Năstase: What I can teii you now, what I think would be signiflcant, is that we shall allot about one third more of the initially planned budget to the Defense, so that the National Defense Ministry could achieve whatever tasks it has this year. Reporter: Where is this money to be taken from? Adrian Năstase: We have discussed this even since as early as the primary stage of the budget elaboration and we established that these additional sums should come from foreign credits guaranteed by the government up to the borrowing levei of this year. (... ) Reporter: Beyond the public opinion polls, do you envisage the organizatlon of a referendum on NATO integration? Adrian Năstase: I can't discuss this matter now for a very simple reason: a referendum could become necessary after a possible invitation of Remania to join NATO; we have no reason yet for a referendum; on the other hand, in various countries this matter was subject to different approaches. There was a referendum in the Czech Republic but I think that such an issue could be dealt with only if it becomes a matter of internai debate or not. As a well known foreign minister of Israel was saying once: "Please help us, God, to have such problems!"

255

Press Statement* Allow me to say a few words about the main elements of the visits I made in Strasbourg and Brussels. Here are a few details an my program: I met in Strasbourg lord Russel Johnston, Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Raphael Alomar, Governor of the lnvestment and Development Bank of the Council of Europe, as well as the Chairman of the European Court for Human Rights, and Mrs. Catherine Trotman, Mayor of Strasbourg. I made a speech în front of the Parliamentary Assembly, I attended the meeting of the Juridica! Commission and that of the Socialist Group of the Parliamentary Assembly. I had severa! meetings with the press and I organized a press conference at the headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly. ln Brussels, I alsa had meetings at top levei. I met with Mr. Romano Prodi, Chairman of the European Commission, with lord George Robertson, Secretary General of NATO, Mrs. Nicole Fontaine, Chairman of the European Parliament, Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium, and Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary General of the European Union Council. Among the European Commissaries, I met with Mr. Verheugen, Commissary of the enlargement of the Union, Mr. Chris Patten, Commissary for foreign affairs, Mr. Antonis Vitorino, Commissary for justice and internai affairs and Mr. Solders Mira, Comissary for European and monetary affairs. From among the members of the European Parliament, I would mention Mr. Guido Podesta - Vice Chalrman of the European Parliament, Baroness Emma Nicholson, Prime Vice-Chairman of the foreign affairs Commission and alsa the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Socialist Block in the European Pariiament. I attended interesting debates within the Commissions for foreign policy, Human Rights and for the European Defense and Security of the European ,.. Press staten1e11t of Mr. Adrian Nistase, Ron1a11inn Prin1e Minister, following tbe official visits to Brussels nnd Strasbourg, Bucllnrest. January 25, 2001 (excerpts).

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Roma11ia 's Road to NATO: Reform and Preparatio11 for I11tegration

Parliament, where more than 100 European members of the Parliament were presant. I had various meetings with the Belgian and international press and, certainly, with the Romanian press on the occasion of various conferences and interviews. Here is a synthesis of the messages I intended to convey first, the tact, that NATO and EU integration are absolute priorities of our Government. I also underlined the fact that the institutional measures for the recuperation of delays and for the acceleration of the EU and NATO integration, are elements of major interest to our governmental action. We have decided that we would come forward, in the following weeks, with comments and facts meant to restore Romania's credibility and not with mere declarations. We proposed the setting up of a partnership with the EU and NATO for the acceleration of the integration processes, we have decided to set up a technical mission in Bucharest, to nominale a member of liaison officers at our embassies in the Western countries who should mainly follow up the adoption by Remania of the acquis of Schengen so that we could attain as soon as possible our objective of abolishing the visas for Romanians within the area of the EU member countries. (... ) To conclude, we expected a lot more indifference and reservation concerning Romania; on the contrary, I noticed a great deal of interest toward us and I want to underline this, as I think this is the most interesting conclusion I drew following the meeting we had. During the end of this day, at the meetings with Mr. Verheugen, I notlced a change of temperatura, of atmosphere, which I am glad to teii you about. As for the messages I received, I am going to make a short review: one of the basic ideas, which was quite frequently expressed, was that of Romania's being a country of particular importance for the EU. Both Mr. Prodi and Mr. Verheugen underlined this idea. The EU needs Remania and wants Romania's integration în the EU. lt îs, however, necessary, as we have been told, to show the politica! will of solving some of the issues which, lately, were less taken care of by the ruling power in Remania. This is reason why I wish to mention again some of the measures we took lately, some of the documents we elaborated, such as the plan of action for the medium term economic strategy, the answer to the questionnaire on visas and the plan of action regarding what remains to be dona so as to solve some of the problems lagging behind ln this domain. The tact that we could send on January 15, as promised, the answers to this questionnaire was considered positive, the same as the adoption of several important laws at the beginning of the year and when this Government has started its activity was another positive element from the EU point of view.

257

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We submitted a calendar of the exerting, by Romania, of the OSCE presidency and underlined the fact that the Romanian foreign policy would try to coordinate the actions within the OSCE and the objectives and actions on the EU and NATO calendar of activities; this was, in a way, an answer to the requests made by those we met with. (... ) lt is important that we should fullfil the objectives we have established together with the NATO officials as regards the National lntegration Plan, it is important that we should understand that this year is essential for Romania's being included on the short list of options for the Organization enlargement. Following the attaining of these targets, we would like that next years Summit of NATO be successful as for as we are concerned and that this would not be the third time when Remania fails to achieve its goals with respect to its NATO integration. The decision will certainly depend on other elements which we cannot be more specific about, namely: possible changes of the American Administration, priorities, mainly the implications of such a strategy that would lay the stress on the anti-missile defense system, or even a reshaping of configuration of the relationships and interests between the European Union or the Western European countries and the United States. Numerous elements will also count in the decision making conceming the establishing of the 2002 Summit agenda and which could maintain on it the issue of whether or not Aomania will be on this list. We have not much time left so as to include this country in this priority order and, as I already said, the year 2001 îs of the utmost importance from this point of view. (... ) Therefore, the first visit abroad I made had a very precise goal: to convey a very clear message regarding our Government's will of speeding up the negotiations with the European Union and with the NATO - a message which is, in its essence, one of openness and stability.

258

Course on History of Holocaust* I am honored by the invitation I received and by the opportunity of addressing myself to you, the distinguished guests and participants in this very special course of lectures, organized by the National College of Defense. I wish to greet the presence here of the representatives of the embassies of the USA and Israel in Bucharest, of the military attaches accredited in Remania and of certain prominent members of the Jewish Community. I would also like to express my special greetings to Mr. Radu loanid, Manager for lnternational Programs at the Memorial Museum of Holocaust in Washington and I want to take this opportunity so as to thank him warrnly for the generous support he has offered to the proper development of this course of lectures. I am only pleased I can reveal the promptness the management of this College reacted with and embraced the idea of including a Course of Lectures on the History of Holocaust in the Tuition Plan starting with the presant group of students formed of representatives of par1iamentary politica! parties, high officials of the Presidential Administration, of the Govemment, representatives of certain institutions and structures active in the fiefds of the national security and defense, as well as those belonging to the higher educational, civic and business circles. This experiment will have to be continued in other educational institutions too. Our further promotion of such assets as tolerance, non-violence and the right to life is very important as far as man is concemed, irrespective of his racial, ethnic and confessional affiliation. The terrible tragedy of September 11, 2001 which caused so much suffering în America, filled the entire civilized world wilh grief and dramatically focussed the general attention again on the anguish brought about by intolerance, fanaticism and by violence, which we thought history had banned for good. Consequently, I consider lhat no ambiguous attitudes or half-measures could be accepted when we have to face the fight against and condemnation of the state terrorism, and of the cult of death and violence, denying man his right to life. Our Government has recently started debating a new draft of an Emergency Ordinance on the ban to be applied in the case of any fascist and extremist "'Message of Mr. Adrian Năstase, Romania11 Prin1e Minister, at tl1e ope11i11g of t11e course of lectures on the "History of Holocaust", at the Natio11al College of Defense, Marcll 18, 2002.

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organizations and actions, the use of certain symbols included. This is a very straightforward gesture, stressing on our wish of eliminating any arnbiguous element that might cast a shadow on the Romanian State's attitude towards these actions. The Holocaust of the Jews during Wor1d War li was the climax of a long-lasting history of ethnic and religious persecutions this people had suffered, with all those bloody moments marked by horrible crimes. A serious fact which could not be accounted for was the tuming of the Holocaust into a state policy promoted by the very institutions and authorities which were supposed to offer protection to this country's citizens, as the Jews were citizens with tuli rights within those communtties. Unfortunately, the general action of extermination marked the destiny of a significant part of the Jewish inhabitants of Romania. History has to be known and assumed. The future can by no means be founded on fake and mistificafion. The pogroms, perpetrated in the summer of 1941, in laşi and all over Bessarabia and the Bukovine and which made tens of thousands of Jewish victims, the existence of the ghettos in those zones, the deportation to Transnistria and the mass displacement of an important number of Jews from all over Romania, as methods of discrimination and extennination, are by no means different from the other stages of the "Final Solution" operation. Despite the fact that these events are well-known and that numerous documents are being circulated to this effect, there are, however, scarce history books to have included contributions to this subject matter. Nevertheless, it is our sacred duty to recall these events. Should our national history record for posterity solely the deeds and destinies of the kings and of the politica! and military personalities, it is doomed to remain maimed and twisted. Historical deeds have atso been carried out by common people too, thus their lives and destinies should also find their place in the grand history book, as the historical culture is indispensible in the process of moulding the modem mentality, having a humane and democratic propension. Ali those who believe in democracy and in its assets will have to agrea that there is no possible way back for Romania, which is now advancing with determination towards its integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic modem structures of security and prosperity, which also means the unconditional adhesion to their system of reference and assets. The Course of lectures starting today is a significant signal to this effect and I am convinced that its organization within the National College of Defense is the very guarantee of its tuli success and also a message to the world community saying that Remania wishes to fully and irrevocably join !he great family of the World's modern nations. I wish you good luci< and I assure you of my entire availability so as to secure the attaining of the set targets.

260

THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT

EMERGENCY ORDINANCE prohibiting the organisations and the symbols having fascist, racist, or xenophoblc nature and prohibiting the promotion of the cult of persons guilty of crimes against peace and humanity According to Article 114 paragraph 4 of the Constitution, The Romanian Government adopts the presant Emergency Ordinance: CHAPTER I General provlsions Article 1 - ln order to prevent and combat the incitement for hatred on national, racist. or religious grounds, for discrimination and for committing crimes against peace and humanity, the present Emergency Ordinance shall regulate the prohibiting of the organisations and the symbols having fascist, racist, or xenophobic nature and the prohibiting of the promotion of the cult of persons guilty of crimes against peace and humanity. Article 2 - According to the present Emergency Ordinance: a. "organisation having fascist, racist, or xenophobic nature" means any group formed by three or more persons pursuing a temporary or permanent activity in order to promote fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideas, conceptions or doctrines, as well as hatred and violence on ethnic, racist or religious grounds, the superiority of certain races and the inferiority of another, anti-Semitism, incitement to xenophobia, recourse to violence for changing the constitutional order or democratic institutions, extremist nationalism. Within this category organisations with or without legal capacity, politica! parties and movements, associations and foundations, commercial companies as well as any other legal persons comprising the requirements provided by the present letter shall be hereby included. 261

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargement

b. ufascist, racist, or xenophobic symbols" means any flags, emblems, badges, uniforms, slogans, saluting formulas, or any other signs, which promote ideas, conceptions or doctrines provided for by letter a. c. "person guilty of crimes against peace and humanity" means any person irrevocably convicted of a Romanian or· foreign court for one or more crimes against peace and humanity, as well as any person convicted by an internatîonaJ criminal court for war crimes or crimes against humanity. CHAPTER li Offences and contraventions Article 3 - (1) The setting up of an organisation having fascist, racist or xenophobic nature shall be subject to imprisonment from 5 to 15 years and interdiction of certain rights. (2) The adhesion to an organisation having fascist, racist or xenophobic nature or the aiding by any means of such an organîsation shall be subject to the same punishment as provîded for by the previous paragraph. (3) The attempt shall be punished. Article 4 - (1) The dissemination, selling or manufacturing of fascist, racist or xenophobîc symbols and the possession for dissemination of such symbols shall be subject to imprîsonment from 6 months to 5 years and interdiction of certain rights. (2) The public use of fascist, racist or xenophobic symbols shall be subject to the same punishment as provided for by the previous paragraph. (3) The facts provided for by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not be considered offences if they are committed for artistic, scientific, research or educational reasons. Article 5 - The promotion of the cult of persons guilty of crimes against peace and humanity or promotion of fascist, racist or xenophobic ideology, performed by propaganda, committed by any means. in public. shall be subject to imprisonment from 6 months to 5 years and interdiction of certain rights. Article 6 - Public contesting or denying of the Holocaust or of its effects shall be subject to imprisonment from 6 months to 5 years and interdiction of certain rights. Article 7 - The prosecutor shall compulsory carry out the prosecution for the offences provided for by articles from 3 to 6. Article 8 - (1) The following shall be regarded as contravention and shall be subject to fine from 25.000.000 to 250.000.000 ROL: a. dissemination, selling, or manufacturîng of fascist. racist, or xenophobic symbols, as well as possession for dissemination of such symbols by a legal person. 262

Roman ia 's Rond to NATO: Reform and Preparation for Integratioll

b. the public use of fascist, racist or xenophobic symbols by a legal person. c. the promotion of the cult of persons guilty of crimes against peace and humanity or promotion of fascist, racist or xenophobic ideology, performed by propaganda committed by any means, in public, by a legal person. (2) The facts provided for by paragraph (1) letter a. and b. shall not be considered contraventions if they are committed for artistic, scientific, research or educational reasons. (3) The establishment of the contravention and the imposing of the sanction shall be carried out by personnel entrusted in this respect by the Minister of culture and cults, as well as by the legally competent personnel within the Ministry of the Interior. (4) The provisions of the Government Ordinance no. 2/2001 on the legal regime of contraventions shall be applicable, except articles 28 and 29. CHAPTER 111 The winding up of the legal person Article 9 - Legal persons pursuing one or more of the following activities may be winded up by court decision: a. activities specific to the organisation having fascist, racist or xenophobic nature as provided for by Article 2 letter a. b. dissemination, selling, or manufacturing of fascist, racist, or xenophobic symbols, as well as possession for dissemination of such symbols or their public use. c. the promotion of the cult of persons guilty of crimes against peace and humanity or promotion of fascist, racist or xenophobic ideology, performed by propaganda committed by any means, in public. (2) The request of winding up may be lodged by the Public Ministry, ex officio, or upon request of any person concerned. (3) The tribunal in whose circumscription belongs the registered office of the legal person trials in first instance the winding up request. (4) The tribunal decision shall be subject to the appeals provided for by the Civil Procedural Code. Article 1O - The provisions on the winding up shall not be applicable to the legal persons who pursue the activities provided for by Article 9 paragraph 1 letter b for artistic, scientific, research or educational reasons. Article 11 - Artiele 9 shall be completed, where the case, with the provisions of law no. 31/1990 on companies, republlshed and amended, with 263

Adrian Năstase - NATO Enlargeme11t

the provisions of Government Ordinance no. 26/2000 on associations and foundations and of Law no. 27/1996 on politica! parties, amended. CHAPTER IV Obligations for public administration authoritles Article 12 - The raising or maintenance in public spaces, except museums, of statues, groups of statues, memorial slates regarding persons guilty of crimes against peace and hurnanity shall be prohibited. Article 13 - (1) The appointing of names belonging to persons guilty of crimes ag.unst peace and humanity to streets, boulevards, squares, parks or to any other public places shall be prohibited. (2) The appointing of names belonging to persons guilty of crimes against peace and humanity to organisations with or without legal capacity shall also be prohibited.

264

ANNEXES . Romania as NATO Candidate: Geostrategy and Democracy

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j Vistt to Romania by NATO Assessment Team

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14-15 May

19-20 May

ANP 'NAC !EAPC

24-25 Sept

- Annual National Plan of Prcpararion for NATO Mcmbcrship - No rth-Atlantic Council - Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council

National Commission for Romania's .MlNISTRY OF FOREIGN APFAIRS

Accession to NATO

o Set up in March 22"d, 2001, by Govemment Decision 328. O Led by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

o- Monthl,y meetings at the level of o

• • • • • •

State Secretary Expert level meetings whenever necessary

o- Formed by representatives Mlnlstry of Forelgn Affalrs Ministry of National Defense Minlstry of Pub1ic Finance Ministry of European Integrat.ion Ministry of lndust:ry and R.esources Ministry of Public Works, Transport and

Houslng • Mlnlstry of ttie Interior

• Ministry of Education and Res:earch

O- Res:ponsibilities: •

coordinates domestic and overseas·activities related to NATO integration

•

evaluates the quallty and e-fflciency of Romania's actions for integratJon lnto NATO

•

&laborates the Annual Nationaf Plan of Preparation for NATO

Membership •

proposes actlons,

to the Govemment or to the Suprem,e Council

of Natlonal Defense, to speed up Romania's preparations to join NATO

from: • Mlnistry of Waters and Environment Protection • Ministry of H&alth and of the Famlly • Miniştry of Pubtrc Admlnistratlon • Mlnlstry of Pubtrc :Information • Ministry of Communlcatlon and

• Prime Mlnlster"s Couns:ellor for Foreign Policy • Prime Minister's Oepartment for Special lşsueş

The1Romanian Presidency • Romanlan lntelligence Service • Forelgn lntelllgence Service II

Information Technofogy • Ministry of Agricutture, Food and Forestry • Special Telecommunlcations Service

Praguc S1111umt

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ROMANIA- STABILITY A: PROVIDER IN SOUTH-E January 2002

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CO-CHAIRMANSIDP OF STABILITY :rACT WT Ul

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EUROPE IH.LL,IMBERSHIP OF SCETROIKA

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January 2002

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CHAIRMANSHIP OF MPFSEE (SEEBRIG)

CHAIRMANSHIP OF SEDM-CC

BLACKSEAFOR

December 2001 U'I

CURRENT PARTICIPATION IN KFOR AND SFOR: KFOR - 16 STAFF OFFICERS (PRISTit.lA);

- Z5 MILll'ARÎ PERSONNEL (ONE MILITARY POLICE PLATOON WITI-IIN CREEK CONTINGENT) SFOR - 113 MILITARY PERSONNEL WITHIN NATIONAL ANO OUTCH CONTINGENfS 2001 AUGMENTATION (approved by the Romanian Parliament on September 19. 2001):

KFOR - Z COMBAT COMPANJES W111-DN BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG ANO tTALY CONTINGENTS - 1 NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE CELL (5 military personnel) SFOR - 1 COMPANY WJTHIN DUTCH CONTINGENT - 6 STAFF OFICERS

Each supplementary company will have up to 100 military personnel

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ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN NATO's. SEEI • LEADING NATION OF S.EECAP • _2002 - CHAIRMANSHIP OF SEECROUP

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"Rornania has irnproved its case once again. (. ..) There has been a diplon1atic success in the last month, in what we call lhe Southern Dimension, the fact that Creece and Turkey and Romania and Bulgaria are novv fonna/ly working together towarcls concepts of regional secu-

rity c1nd stabiJily, and that is what we have seen throughout Europe, in Washington, as a very positive development. (.._) The new ;nforrnation right novv is the success of the defense

reform and the Ro1nanian Me,nbership Action Plan seems to be going we/1, seerns to be ahead of schedule. 11 (February 25, 2002)

Mr. Bruce Jacl