- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 1 October 1990 (14th Sitting) (see Doc. 6292, report of the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries, Rapporteur : Mr Noerens). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2 October 1990 (16th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
1. The Assembly records its satisfaction that the situation in Romania has substantially changed since the debate on its last report on the subject, in autumn 1989 (
Doc. 6105), and that the dictatorial regime of Nicolae Ceauescu has been replaced by a government and parliament resulting from the elections of 20 May 1990, which were described as ‘‘generally free'' by its delegation of observers.
2. Being aware of the economic and social difficulties now confronting Romania, the Assembly approves of the new Romanian Government's declared objectives for improving the situation and drawing closer to the values of the Council of Europe.
3. The Assembly takes note of the proposals by the Romanian authorities to institute the rule of law and a market economy, to secure political pluralism and have it respected, to safeguard human rights without discrimination and to open a dialogue with the political forces wishing to contribute constructively to the solution of the country's social, political and economic problems.
4. It notes that the Romanian Parliament has asked to be granted special guest status and that the Romanian Government wishes to accede to several Council of Europe conventions.
5. The Assembly also welcomes the participation of an important governmental and parliamentary delegation in which the country's moral leadership was also represented, as well as Mrs Cornea, in the hearing held by its Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries in Innsbruck on29 June 1990.
6. It nevertheless expresses its concern at the exaggerated outbreaks of violence which occurred in particular in March and June 1990.
7. It wonders if there is a danger of the Securitate remaining in being in a different form, as disturbing reports suggest, a practice scarcely compatible with the need to re-create the national understanding that is essential for the reconstruction of the country.
8. It wishes to obtain assurances from the Romanian authorities in the following matters :
8.1 the release of all individuals imprisoned because of the events in Tirgu Mures and Bucharest, with the exception of those found guilty of illegal acts ;
8.2 the publication of the findings of the inquiries into those events ;
8.3 the guaranteeing of protection for the historic and cultural heritage ;
8.4 respect for the independence of the media and for the freedom of expression of political parties and movements, and adequate access for all political parties to the practical means necessary to disseminate their views throughout the country ;
8.5 respect for the political, economic, cultural and religious rights of all the population, including the individual and collective rights of all ethnic and national minorities, which would allow them to remain in a country that is also theirs ;
8.6 the channelling of humanitarian aid to the deprived sections of the population, including those children who have been orphaned, and who are either HIV-positive or suffering from Aids ;
8.7 the holding of free and democratic local elections.
9. It accordingly requests its Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries to appoint a delegation, including a representative of the other responsible committees if necessary, for the purpose of making a visit to Romania and reporting back to it on the actual situation there.
10. It further suggests that a second hearing be organised in the light of the delegation's findings prior to a final decision on the granting of special guest status.
11. It encourages, furthermore, the governments of member states to increase their humanitarian aid, especially medical and food aid, to Romania.
12. It draws attention to the European Community decision to grant economic aid to Central and Eastern Europe and trusts that Council of Europe member states not members of the Community will support that action. It hopes that conditions will be right for granting special guest status to Romania at the January 1991 session.
