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Ungureanu, Traian
5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Traian Ungureanu on old and new curtains in Eastern Europe
At the EU summit at the beginning of March Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány warned of a new Iron Curtain should the West fail to help Eastern Europe in the crisis. Traian Ungureanu comments in the Romanian daily Cotidianul: "We now know that the famous Iron Curtain never disappeared. It was only pushed aside just enough to allow workers ... to leave for the West. Romania's new problem is that it lies behind two curtains. Because there is also an East-East curtain which separates the states that are plundered and forsaken by their own elites from those with economic and judicial structures. ... The EU decided with triumphal self-assurance to enlarge from 15 to 27 states without committing itself to fundamental changes. The Eastern part was absorbed almost without the West's having to lift a finger. The process was marked by the illusion that it's sufficient to write a report here and establish a few criteria or carry out an additional inspection there. ... Now the EU sees that even if it has built a ship with 27 seats, it doesn't have 27 life jackets. But this knowledge comes too late."
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Hungary, » Europe, » Romania
Putin's colonial policy
The daily Cotidianul sees the gas dispute as a continuation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's colonial policy. "When Ukraine resists the gas price imposed by the Russians it is left without gas. Europe is also being cut off from supplies and this cold treatment will be Moscow's trump card: Europe accepts that Russia's neighbouring states belong to Russia. The bilateral discord between Russia and Ukraine is nothing other than the concretisation of the Putin regime's colonial policy. Phase one in the summer: Georgia; phase two in the winter: Ukraine. The Putin-Gazprom operation is aimed at making sure that Ukraine and Georgia don't draw closer to the EU and Nato but remain under the sway of the Russian Gazprom empire. Russia is effectively stabilising the new eastern borders of the EU and exerting pressure to ensure a return to the artificial gas and oil prices on which underdeveloped economies are dependent. What's more, it is forcing Europe into energetic slavery."
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Energy, » Economic Policy, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe, » Romania
Films make Romania internationally compatible
Young Romanian filmmakers are the best thing that has happened to Romania in 2007, says Traian Ungureanu: "Cristian Mungiu owes the success of his film '4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days' to a hopeful and patient generation. Cristian Mungiu, Christi Puiu, Cristian Nemescu, Radu Muntean, Nae Caranfil and Corneliu Porumboiu all managed from the start without state support. They were turned down by the film authorities, but time has proven them the winners. The Cannes Golden Palm is a clear signal that the transitional period is at an end. We are no longer just cooking our own little soup. The Europeans (and soon the Americans) who have recognized the film - and will continue to do so - have begun to understand us. We have become compatible.”
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Film, » Europe, » Romania
The suspension of President Traian Basescu
The Romanian parliament yesterday suspended President Traian Basescu from office for abuse of power. However, his impeachment will require a referendum. It remains unclear whether Basescu will resign of his own accord, as he had said he would. Traian Ungureanu angrily comments: "President Basescu can't be suspended because no one has the power to suspend the will of the people. All the people want is political change. They want to walk with their heads held high and have the right to a future... What's wrong with struggling for direct democracy after we've had to put up with so many surrogates ? Do the MPs think the nation will let itself be taken in by political games, law amendments that give the MPs more power and political manoeuvring ? This is an illusion, and they will realise this at the elections. The country will re-elect Basescu."
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Romania
The influence of oligarchs in Romania
It was revealed this week that Romania's liberal-democratic ruling coalition is accomodating the interests of local oligarchs - specifically that in early 2005, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu intervened on behalf of an oligarch in legal trouble. So far, the government has escaped unscathed. Traian Ungureanu asks: "Will Romania overtake Russia? Will it become a 100 percent oligarchy, a puppet making money for the bosses? Or are we headed for a more lawful future? That would be enormous for Romania. This is the conflict that has been playing out before our eyes for two years now, and it is our country's biggest problem."
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Romania
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