English version of this article
Having the initiative and the hosting of www.ziare.com for sixty minutes, the Romanian Honorary President of the Social Democrat Party, and the former President of Romania, H.E. Mr. Ion Iliescu attended a session of questions and answers, online.
From the beginning it was expected that the main issues to be The Romanian Revolution and the Miners’ Uprising. On the Revolution of December, Mr. Ion Iliescu wanted to repeat the events of his prospects. Obviously, we were quite convinced that many negative comments will appear especially on the role that National Salvation Front and Ion Iliescu had played in December 1989. There is neither our attribute nor our duty to comment on whether or not Ion Iliescu had a negative role in those events. Mention just, unfortunately, the huge division that still exists in the Romanian society on the interpretation of the Revolution.
Questions concerning the miners have made new “flavor” of the interview with Mr. Iliescu. It seems that this topic is still eliciting many. Questions that he has attempted to respond as close to the truth about the prospect of its time. History remains to establish if his truth is the correct one.
In the interview www.tashy.ro intervened with two questions to which the former President had the kindness to answer:
Tashy: Each Political Party has a certain amount of unity but also of democracy. However, as reached by the PSD to be, at least publicly, so fractional with so many groups apparently have different interests?
Ion Iliescu: To have free discussions in the Party and express different positions does not mean the true existence of factions in the Party. Some express views less orthodox or less accepted by me or by others but that means freedom of expression and this is the strength of a Party that knows how to promote itself, the confrontation of ideas, and confrontation of views. Important does that statutory Party structure know how to use and best suite extracts the conclusions from such a free debate.
Tashy: What could be the explanation for which Romania lost gradually over the past 20 years, pragmatic economic relationship with Russia?
Ion Iliescu: It’s a fair question. We didn’t know how to use pragmatic relationship with Russia, beyond the historical resentment, beyond some difficulties. Other countries that had a history simplest (No he Romania) Poland, Hungary, knew to keep pragmatic relationship with Russia and to benefit [from them]. And this is important because Russia is one of the countries with large natural resources and that, for both U.S. and EU is an active partner. Many have always talked reluctantly about developing relations with Russia. I “hereby include the talks about the Treaty with Russia, to speak truly”. In late 2001, when Manfred Worner came to Bucharest, responding to a question from a Romanian journalist on the relationship with Russia, the NATO Secretary General explained that NATO no longer regards Russia as an adversary but as a partner. Subsequently it has expanded a special document which stipulated the partnership between NATO and Russia.
So, neither NATO nor the EU nor the U.S. or other European countries do not treat the reluctance relationship with Russia. We did not know, from this point of view, the right way to use our economic relationship with Russia and lost. Our relations are poor and are bad for us as we are compelled to import a large quantity of Gas in Russia and Romania’s exports in Russian Federation are still modest. One needs to know to getting rid of some prejudices and take realistically these relationships. For example, Germany does that, better. Northstream is a project of great scope for export of Russian gas to Europe.
Thanks to His Excellency, Mr. Ion Iliescu for the kindness and I wish, as of now, good health and happiness during the feast of St. John, on January 7. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
WATCH THE WHOLE VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH ION ILIESCU, HERE
The answer to question no. 1 minute 36:05 you can listen to and answer to question No. 2 can be listened to a minute 41:50.
mersi