Bickering within PD, making up at OSCE

The Romanian foreign policy machine scored another success the other day after its entry this year into the troika of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as it took over the chair of the Parliamentary Assembly for a two-year term. Thanks to, of all people, Adrian Severin.

Rebuked, even divested for his “spy list” that squeezed the hearts of many party leaders and media bosses, Severin was forced to leave the Foreign Ministry in late 1997, just a year after taking office. Less than a year later, he was booted from the Democratic Party while being no less than its vice-president, only to be subsequently eliminated from the Romanian permanent delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. This seemed the end of the politician Adrian Severin, even more so because he stubbornly refused to join any other party.

But he kept a low profile and used his domestic and international connections to mount a powerful political comeback, perhaps not coincidentally in an election year. It took the now-independent Adrian Severin 16 months to persuade Parliament – and particularly the PN?CD, which issued the proposal – to re-appoint him in the Parliamentary Assembly delegation. Only two months after this personal victory, Severin checkmarks another victory for Romanian diplomacy. And more. Because this position in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is a victory of a man evicted from his own party over someone who is not only his former political boss but Foreign minister, too.

Someone who just years ago found Adrian Severin’s behaviour intolerable will not have to work with him for as long as he remains at the Foreign Ministry, because Petre Roman, as the ministry’s head, already represents Romania at the OSCE troika.

Will the PD leader get over Severin’s vehement criticism against him and the party leadership? Will he control the urge to play down the achievements of his former vice-president?

Will Adrian Severin get over all the frustrations his ex-boss inflicted upon him? Will he control the urge to get even?

Will the two be able to place national interest above personal strife? Will they be able to make up, at least for the appearances, for Romania’s sake?

Hard to believe, especially in the – hypothetical – case when Petre Roman retains his job as Foreign minister after the autumn elections, and thus retains presidency of the organisation throughout 2001.

Hard to believe, given the two politicians’ temperament: both are ambitious, determined, and cunning. We need only go back to the behaviour of both over the last ten years.

And just two days ago, Adrian Severin vouched to develop the collaboration between the Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE itself.

Although it will develop into an indirect conflict, the problem will move to the OSCE. The toll on Romania will be seen. We can only hope the two will have the strength to forgo personal ambitions and turn to reality this chance, however slight, to affirm Romania before the world.