Parliamentary Assembly

I apologise to the majority of those present but, if you will allow me, I would like to deliver my speech in French to highlight our francophone traditions. Thank you.

(The speaker continued in French) (Translation) Mr President, members, distinguished guests, it is an honour for me to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe again to give an account of the progress made by Romania in areas of great interest to my country such as democratisation, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, treatment of minorities and of children placed in institutions, and preparation for accession to the European Union and Nato. I should like to thank you for inviting me to address this forum, one which is eminently representative of European democracy.

My previous address to the plenary Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was made one year after Romania joined the Organisation, and the subsequent development of relations between Romania and the Council of Europe has been remarkable in every respect.

It gives me great pleasure to greet several staunch friends of Romania present here whose assistance, advice and efforts have helped us greatly in the process of integrating Romania into the family of Council member states.

One of the founding fathers of Europe, Robert Schuman, declared in 1953 that Europe was to be constructed not only in the interest of the free countries but also in order to bring into it the countries of eastern Europe once they had been freed from all their previous constraints and asked us to let them join our community.

His perception was correct: once they were free from the constraints of communist totalitarianism, the countries of eastern Europe, among them Romania, requested and worked to be accepted in the Council of Europe, the European Union and Nato.

The fall of the iron curtain which divided our continent after the second world war provided countries like Romania with a unique opportunity to reject their totalitarian past and to assimilate the values of democracy and human rights and fundamental freedoms, and also to build a law-based state with its institutions.

In the course of those years, we learned to trust in the future and aspire to a united Europe, based on the fundamental rules common to free nations equal in law.

Since its foundation, the Council of Europe, as advocate of the interests of Europe’s citizens, has built up a system of clearly defined values and rules, spearheaded by the European Convention on Human Rights. Thus the Council’s member states accept responsibilities in combating violations of human rights, and undertake to ensure their observance.

As soon as it joined the Council of Europe, Romania underwent a complete transformation both of the state and its institutions, a radical change in the status of its minorities and an improvement in the implementation and honouring of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Throughout those years, we laboured to strengthen and deepen democracy and to involve the citizens more in decision-making at central and local levels.

Romania’s democratic institutions and political system have been consolidated thanks to the store of experience acquired and the test undergone when power twice changed hands, in 1996 and 2000.

Romania may be described as having attained the norm as regards political and social climate and compliance with democratic rules. Romanian society has matured and has fully adopted the values and the policy instruments characteristic of western countries. Please allow me to emphasise the contribution made by the Council of Europe to the success of this process.

The stability and efficiency of state institutions, along with citizens’ confidence in them, have made a genuine leap forward. We are delighted to note that the citizens of Romania have made the office of the ombudsman part of their democratic practice and are already using this institution which is quite new to their political and institutional traditions. The office is shortly to acquire a children’s ombudsman, in an expression of our constant concern to uphold and further the rights of the child.

An important part of the reforms now under way is reform of the public service and decentralisation, in which the administrative autonomy of local communities is enhanced. The new Law on Local Self-Government, adopted in 2001, complies fully with the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, as well as being completely in line with the recommendations of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe. It clearly defines the responsibilities of local authorities and their relations with central government. The law meets the interests of national minorities, entitling them to use either their mother tongue or the official language in dealings with the public service in places where minorities represent at least 20% of the population.

The justice system, like the public service, is currently undergoing far-reaching reform, based on Council of Europe criteria among others. A radical review of the Penal Code now being enacted as law will enable the code to be brought into line with the standards applied in the member states of the European Union.

The honouring of human rights and fundamental freedoms remains the major objective of Romania’s political class and civil society. In this sphere, the progress made by Romania hitherto is substantial. We are aware of our shortcomings, knowing that there is still inaction and even violation of these principles.

The Romanian Government and civil society are working together to overcome these legislative and institutional weaknesses, focusing on a few priority fields: child welfare, trafficking in human beings, the social integration of the Roma minority, the restitution of property, and the broadening and deepening of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

I should like to emphasise two of these priorities: restitution of property and integration of the Roma minority. Romania has acted fittingly and in good faith to make good the injustices and abuses of its totalitarian regimes.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Romania wishes to make an active contribution to stability in Europe, both through its activities in the Council of Europe and through its integration into the European Union and Nato. We have demonstrated our ability to handle complex responsibilities, thanks to the success of the Romanian chairmanship of the OSCE in 2001 and thanks also to the action which we took, together with other states, in the wake of 11 September, which may be regarded as the action of a de facto member of Nato.

A key element in Romania’s contribution to the success of the single Europe project has been our effort to reform the economy and modernise the state and its institutions, to introduce the acquis communautaire and meet the criteria for membership of Nato and the European Union.

Even though the Romanian economy has not yet regained its 1989 level, in the past year it has nevertheless made significant progress towards renewed growth, which we are keen to sustain in the long term. This will allow us to take more effective action against poverty, social exclusion and unemployment, which are the main challenges facing us at present and the focus of our efforts. The pace of economic reform and privatisation has been increased, in a climate of legislative stability and transparency. Particular attention is being given to the fight against corruption and bureaucracy, organised crime, arms and drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

The proposed European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Romania is a key factor in changing our economic and social structures and national policies. By playing an active part in the proceedings of the European convention on the future of Europe, Romania is contributing to the emergence of a blueprint for the future in which the Council of Europe will have a special place, in view of its role as a repository of shared democratic values and a forum for discussing the future development of democratic systems, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The tragic events of twentieth-century European history demonstrated how much the shared values on which modern-day Europe is based mean for the improvement of the human condition and ensuring human dignity and peaceful co-existence.

Europe can and must serve as an example of solidarity and co-operation for the benefit of all nations worldwide. Globalisation requires us to reconsider our priorities and to base our action on firm principles and values, convincing the public that any action transgressing these principles and values is bound to bring suffering and humiliation.

Reduction of the enormous gaps between rich and poor – tending to widen rather than diminish under the influence of new information technologies and the information society – must become the strategic goal of all states and international institutions. This is the main requirement for strengthening global stability. Europe can provide just such a model – a European social model based on the principles of the social market economy – providing the necessary levers both for sustainable, universally beneficial economic growth, and for a reduction in social polarisation and marginalisation.

Romania is profoundly interested in promoting such a strategy – at European and world level – and sees this as an opportunity to channel its efforts into overcoming underdevelopment and becoming a fully- fledged member of the European community.

However, account also needs to be taken of certain economic and social constraints. Most of the properties which I mentioned no longer physically exist. Others – converted using taxpayers’ money – have become public buildings housing schools, hospitals and museums.

It is our wish to solve this problem as rapidly as possible, in a spirit of justice and social equity. But a country like Romania finds it hard to bear the financial outlay which such acts of restitution entail; leaving aside applications for restitution in kind, the financial compensation claimed to date amounts to some US$3 billion. By way of comparison, foreign investment in Romania has totalled US$7 billion over a twelve-year period. To this has to be added the pressure of constructing new housing for people having to move out and new buildings for public institutions uprooted through the return of property.

Romania will honour the undertakings made, endeavouring not to cause any new abuses or injustices and to ensure that this process is socially sustainable. The Romanian state authorities have lost two cases at the European Court of Human Rights, cases relating to property. We are determined to ensure that the decisions of the Court are fully complied with, inter alia by making the domestic legislative changes entailed by these decisions. At the same time, we should like to highlight our wish for the European Court to take into consideration the actual economic and social situation of each country when it determines the amount of compensation.

Social integration of the Roma minority is among the priorities of the Romanian Government, whose action comes under a national strategy approved early in 2001. There are advisers for the Roma minority at prefectures and town halls, but also within other state institutions including the President’s Office. Their task is to co-ordinate social protection and integration schemes in aid of the Roma minority. Special funds have been allocated to achieve a reduction in the school dropout rate, to encourage education in the Romany language and to publish textbooks in that language. Broadcasting slots on the national channels have been reserved in the radio and television programmes directed at the Roma minority.

Romania has adopted a law against discrimination, including racial discrimination, and has endeavoured to change the majority’s perception of the Roma.

We stand on the principle that the Roma, like other minorities, are citizens with equal obligations and equal rights. We have been and remain receptive to any observations and suggestions about machinery and guarantees enabling minorities fully to enjoy their rights and to affirm their respective identities.

However, we could not accept an excessive or abusive interpretation of these principles which nurture tendencies to ethnic separatism, segregation and isolation. If people have no contact with each other, fail to work together, are unaware or disrespectful of each other’s values and traditions, then tolerance, dialogue and co-operation may well come to nought.

We favour a genuine dialogue between cultures and civilisations, between majority and minorities. Unity in diversity is what gives them their strength and their richness, both for Romania and for Europe. This is why we have such high regard for the Council of Europe’s efforts to create a culture of united struggle against racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and intolerance.

Following the changes in our country since it joined the Council of Europe, and in the light of the commitments entered into by Romania on its accession, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided in April 1997 to halt the monitoring process. We appreciated this gesture and continue to take firm action to meet our obligations.

In short, since becoming a member of the Council of Europe, Romania has made substantial progress in strengthening its democracy, rule of law, civil society and national and social cohesion. We have seen the emergence of greater citizen responsibility towards the community and for the nation’s and Europe’s future.

The most precious achievement of these years, also thanks to the energetic action of the Council of Europe, has been the materialisation of the elements which go to make up a European identity, one naturally complementing Romanians’ national identity. The citizens of Romania are among the most enthusiastic supporters of the idea of a united Europe, seeing it as a design for the future which deserves to be supported and promoted.

The Council of Europe is one of the most open of the continent-wide organisations, comprising the countries that acknowledge and uphold values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law and the market economy. This is a vital building block of an institutional structure that exists to unite our continent.

This process of building a united Europe depends on both the solidarity of the participating countries and the efforts of each to promote and defend common values and interests and to ensure the peace and stability of the continent.

Every country is called upon to demonstrate its capacity to contribute to the stability of its region. In this context, Romania has constantly striven to safeguard social peace and internal stability and to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the conflicts that have broken out nearby.

Our country’s traditionally good relations with its neighbours have enabled us to play a role as a provider of security.

History and the geopolitical context have given rise to numerous conflicts in the region. Romania seeks to address this kind of problem from the perspective of international law, while always thinking of the future, and this has proven to be a sensible and effective approach.

We have concluded fundamental political treaties with some of our neighbours – including Hungary and Ukraine – in which we have embodied a whole series of provisions consistent with Council of Europe standards relating to minorities. This has enabled us to settle a number of sensitive issues, such as those arising from the provisions of the Hungarian law on the status of Magyars living outside the borders of Hungary, for example.

We have overcome the obstacles to the signing of the basic treaty with the Russian Federation, which is due to take place in the near future, in Moscow. We have helped introduce zonal, sub-zonal and regional co-operation mechanisms encompassing all our neighbours and serving to build and strengthen mutual trust.

With reference to the debate to be held by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly this week on developments in the Republic of Moldova, I would like to put forward a few opinions on the subject.

Romania and the Republic of Moldova have strong ties on account of their history, ethnic make-up, language, values and traditions. This does not mean that we have any territorial claims, or any intention of meddling in the internal affairs of this sovereign state, which Romania was the first to recognise and which we have supported in its efforts to join European and international bodies. Our common language and ethnic identity, however, are realities which no one can dispute.

The fact nevertheless remains that in the Republic of Moldova today, human rights and fundamental freedoms are being flouted, perverting the course set for democracy and the rule of law. These concerns have also been expressed by other Council of Europe member states.

We are firmly resolved to honour our commitments towards the Republic of Moldova and to develop a special relationship with this country in areas such as the economy, education, culture, health care and preservation of our common historical heritage. We will continue our dialogue with the Chisinau authorities, a dialogue based on mutual respect, and we will support any initiatives that might lead to a negotiated settlement of the crisis inside Moldova.

Romania believes that it is the responsibility of the political leaders in Chisinau to find – together with representatives of civil society and with the assistance of the Council of Europe – peaceful, democratic means for the country to overcome the serious crisis which it is going through.

I must point out, though, that given the correct and friendly position adopted by Romania towards the Republic of Moldova during the years of its independence, we were dismayed by the accusations which the Moldovan authorities raised here in this very Assembly. We consider these accusations to be unfair and unwarranted, and believe that they are contrary to the spirit of good neighbourliness and mutual respect. We hope that the debate on the situation in Moldova will encourage the country’s political forces to find solutions that will bring about a return to democratic normality.

I will leave you with these thoughts, thanking you for your attention and for the support which you have given Romania.