Jonathan Scheele, head of the European Commission’s Delegation to Romania said about the upcoming accession of Romania to EU that, “There will be no more reports by the European Commission and it will therefore be very important for the Romanian political class, civil society and Romanians in general to take responsibilities.” Easier said than done.
Jos???? Manuel Durao Barosso emphasized: “Yesterday we decided, today we are celebrating and tomorrow we must go back to work.”
The Romanian Premier, Calin Popescu Tariceanu promised the reform process would continue, especially in Justice, agriculture and the sanitary-veterinary field. He said that, ???????Romania is ready to get actively involved in consolidating the European project.”
The US appreciates the European Commission’s decision to admit Romania and Bulgaria in the EU in January 1, 2007. A press release published on the website of the US State Department informs that the US has asked the EU to think about means to admit more members.
US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack describes the decision as good news for both states and for the EU as well and mentions the US would certainly encourage the EU to keep prospects open for more states, the Balkan ones and Turkey included.
The Francophone Sommet (27-29 September) brought a series of unpleasant things for the citizens living in the capital — new traffic regulations, traffic jams on the major boulevards, lots of money used for this event when most people do not understand what the big deal is to have dictators of Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger, Morocco, Burundi, etc. and people such as Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, a man who worked directly with Pol Pot “honoring” Romania with their presence. Of course, there are positive aspects of this whole affair. Romania always wanted to play a bigger role regionally, if not globally. However, with the servant attitude the Romanian political class have, it is highly unlikely. Well, at least the national pride has tremendously grown or so I hear. Romania is the first Eastern European country to host the Francophone summit of the heads of state and governments. The first such gathering took place in 1986.
Lebanon is boycotting the summit because its President, Emile Lahoud has not been invited. In early June the Lebanese PM, Fuad Siniora was invited to attend the summit instead of the President. The rumor was that President Chriac suggested that he would not like to see Lahoud at the event, and the Romanians respected his wish. However, the French Presidency denied such allegations and yesterday the Romanian President, Traian Basescu said that he had done the right thing by not inviting Emile Lahoud and that this was the decision of the Romanians, without any interference.
“Lebanon will not participate at the Francophone summit because no invitation has been sent to the president,” a statement issued by the Lebanese Presidential Palace said. Emile Lahoud added that anyone who would participate will not represent Lebanon, but his own person. This issue has created a bit of stir in the Lebanese political circles, not because of their loyalty towards Lahoud, but rather because they feared that such an embargo on their President undermines the top Christian position in the country. It is not a secret anymore that Lahoud is pro-Syrian, and his mandate has been prolonged in 2004 with three more years by Damascus. At that time, both France and USA criticized this move and asked for free, independent presidential elections. Lahoud mandate ends in 2007.
Fuad Siniora chose not to attend the event and sent the Culture Minister Tarek Mitri as his personal envoy explaining that Lebanon should not miss such an important international event. Tarek Mitri is due to arrive today in Bucharest, while Siniora headed for Strasbourg to attend a session of the European Parliament.