Romanian parliament passes regressive secrecy law

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release, followed by a list of authorities to whom protest letters can be sent: 7 March 2001 – for immediate release Romanian Parliament Passes Secrecy Law as UK Government Launches UK-Romania Action Plan As the Romanian Foreign Minister undertakes an official visit to the UK, […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release, followed by a list of authorities to whom protest letters can be sent:

7 March 2001 – for immediate release

Romanian Parliament Passes Secrecy Law as UK Government Launches UK-Romania
Action Plan

As the Romanian Foreign Minister undertakes an official visit to the UK, ARTICLE 19 is urging the UK Government to challenge him directly about today’s adoption of a new and regressive State Secrets Law by the Romanian Parliament.

In Romania, the Head of the Media Committee in the Romanian Senate, Adrian Paunescu, criticised the law as “dangerous”. The Prime Minister, who attended the plenary meeting of the two Chambers, replied that “this is the international practice”, though he admitted that the law opens some space for “abuse of law” and “planting” bodies of evidence in order to frame someone.

“The UK will do Romania no favours by keeping silent about legislation which may actually damage its chances of EU accession. But there is still time to stop this legislation, since the Constitutional Court and President have to sanction the document for it to become law,” said Fiona Harrison, Head of Europe Programme at ARTICLE 19.

The secrecy law will fatally undermine freedom of information legislation which is in the pipeline in Romania. The EU is sponsoring an international non-governmental project which is attempting to improve the draft law and ensure that its implementation meets high standards.

Fiona Harrison added:

“This secrecy legislation will be totally counter-productive to any freedom of information law truly designed to enhance civil society and challenge corruption.”

ENDS

An analysis of the draft law can be found at www.article19.org/docimages/962.htm.

Details about the UK-Romania Action Plan can be found at www.fco.gov.uk/news/newstext.asp?4768.

Recommended Action

Appeals To

APPEALS TO:

President Ion Iliescu

Presedintia Romaniei

Bulevardul Geniului nr. 1, sector 6

Bucuresti
Mr. Adrian Nastase

Prime Minister

Palatul Victoria, Piata Victoriei nr. 1, sector 1

Bucuresti

Fax: +401 222 36 94 (spokesperson’s office)

E-mail: dan.jurcan@gov.ro / adriana.ovedenie@gov.ro
Mr. Mircea Geoana,

Foreign Minister, OSCE Chairman-in-Office

Ministerul Afacerilor Externe

Aleea Alexandru nr. 33, sector 1

Bucuresti

Tel: +401 230 75 70

Fax: +401 230 79 61
Ms. Hildegard Carola Puwak

Minister for European Integration

Aleea Alexandru nr. 33, sector 1

Bucuresti

Tel: +401 313 94 56

Fax: +401 312 69 28
Mr. Vasile Dancu

Minsiter of Public Information

Tel: +401 312 69 31 / 230 65 95 or +401 314 34 00 / ext. 1381, 1245

Fax: +401 223 23 28

E-mail: vasile.dancu@guv.kappa.ro / violeta.calcan@guv.kappa.ro 
Mr. Valeriu Stoica

President

National Liberal Party

Bdul. Aviatorilor, nr. 86, sector 1

Bucuresti

Tel: +401 230 52 35
Mr. Marko Bela

President

The Democratic Union of the Hungarians in Romania

Str. Herastrau, nr. 13, sector 1

Bucuresti

phone: +401 230 65 70
Mr. Corneliu Vadim Tudor

President

Greater Romania Party (“Romania Mare”)

Str. G. Clemenceau, nr. 14

Bucuresti
Mr. Petre Roman

President

Democrat Party

Aleea Modrogan nr. 1, sector 1

Bucuresti
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.