After having denied the existence of certain reports, mentioned by Democrat Party president Traian Basescu as regarding Romania’s delays in NATO accession process, the Government revised its statements saying that the above-mentioned reports had been drafted for 2000.
PM Adrian Nastase specified the reports in question cannot be updated and, consequently, they do not regard the current situation of Romania’s preparations for NATO accession.
The Government was prompted to shape a defensive position against the accusations of the democrat leader by the statements of Bruce Jackson, the chairman of US NATO Committee and the author of one of the reports.
At the end of last week, he said “it is unfair” that his opinions comprised by one of the documents sent to the Romanian Government in January and July should be considered “blameful”, as Traian Basescu claims. “I think that Romania made headway and I am encouraged by Romania’s progress,” Jackson told Mediafax. He added that his survey quoted data that had been issued in “The Economist” several months ago.
Nastase, in his turn, claims that the “survey (drawn up by Jackson, i.e.) regarded last year, emphasising that Traian Basescu was an accomplice as for the previous government results. Why does he not reveal us the economic disaster he had witnessed?” he said during a lecture held in front of the young members of PSD (Social Democrat Party) attending the Summer School in Slanic Prahova.
PD president Traian Basescu yesterday dismissed the possibility that a reconciliation with PSD should be concluded, due to the “huge” gap between these two parties. He claims that, in spite of the governing leaders’ lies, the reports having triggered the political dispute are still actual and the Government should pay attention to them in order to improve Romania’s chances to enter the alliance.
While in Slanic Moldova, Nastase pledged that the Government would do its best so that Romania should access the alliance at the summit to be held in Prague in November 2002.
Nastase considered that the tone of the debates for NATO integration is much calmer now than it used to be in 1997, as none of the countries applying for the second wave of admissions plays an important role in this region. Russia’s position will weigh heavily in admitting new states in the alliance.