Romania to stay out of institution-building

1 July 2008 | 10:50 | Source: FoNet

BUCHAREST -- Romania will not take part in institution-building that implies Kosovo’s unilateral independence, says Romanian President Traian Basescu.

Our position remains very clear—we will not recognize Kosovo,” said Basescu at a conference dedicated to NATO’s future after the Alliance summit held in April in Bucharest.

The Romanian president stressed that his country supported NATO’s efforts in Kosovo, “but only if they are based on Security Council Resolution 1244, and do not in any way imply recognition."

He added that “that applied to new tasks linked to the Kosovo security forces” to be trained by KFOR.

Romania has a contingent of some 150 troops among the overall KFOR presence of some 16,600.
Serbia and Russia, as well NATO members that have not recognized Kosovo independence, including Spain and Romania, believe that training the Kosovo security services means implicitly recognizing the illegal act of the Kosovo temporary institutions.

Among the 26 NATO members, Portugal, Greece and Slovakia are the other countries to have withheld recognition.

“We will not participate in institution-building in an independent Kosovo in either the EU or NATO,” Basescu underlined, adding that Bucharest’s position was based on full compliance with international law.

Malta and Cyprus are the other two EU member-states not have recognized the Priština temporary institutions’ unilateral independence declaration.

Syria and Romania Sign agreements on investments and avoiding taxation

SANA (Syria Arab News Agency)

DAMASCUS - Syria and Romania on Tuesday signed 3 agreements on encouraging and protecting investments, avoiding double taxation and exempting diplomatic missions in both countries from the additional taxation.

Minister of Finance Mohammad al-Hussein who signed for Syria said the agreements will contribute to raising the level of relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly in trade, companies and investments.

Romanian Minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian who signed for Romania underlined that those agreements will lift any obstacles in front of trade and economic cooperation between both countries.

"The agreements will enable both states to maintain best bilateral ties as Romania is considered the first gate for Syria towards the European Union and Syria is Romania's gate into the East," Minister Vosganian added.

Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Lutfi who attended the signing ceremony said the agreements will found legal base that helps improve investments between the two states,

China, Romania vow to push forward inter-parliamentary cooperation

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Romania vowed here on Monday to push forward inter-parliamentary cooperation to step up the traditional bilateral relations.

The agreement was made during a meeting between top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo and visiting Romanian Senate president Nicolae Vacaroiu.

Wu, National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee chairman, hailed the recent growth of the China-Romania relation, saying the country appreciated the support offered by the visitors on issues such as Taiwan and Tibet.

The two sides supported each other on the issues of their respective key concerns and China always regarded Romania as one of the most important partners in east and central Europe, Wu said.

He added China would intensify its cooperation with Romania in such fields as telecom, infrastructure and human resources, and cement international coordination on world affairs.

Wu spoke positively on the exchange and cooperation between the two parliaments, encouraging them to work closely among the various working groups and special commissions, as well as that among young parliamentary members.

Vacaroiu attributed the continuous growth of bilateral relations to the attention and care given by the leaders of several generations, as well as the joint efforts of the governments and citizens of both countries.

He said Romanians would never forget the support of China when the country was in its most difficult time, noting the various political parties in the country were in consensus to further develop ties.

The Romanian Senate hoped to expand cooperation with the NPC and continue its efforts to help promote the bilateral relations, Vacaroiu said.

China top political advisor calls for closer ties with Romania

BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin said here Sunday that China and Romania have been good partners and should work together to push bilateral relations to a higher level.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks in his meeting with the visiting President of the Romanian Senate Nicolae Vacaroiu.

Jia visited Romania a month ago, where he held the talks with the Romanian parliament leaders.

Jia said the trip enabled him to feel the friendliness of the Romanian people towards China.

The Chinese and Romanian peoples have been friends through all weathers and the two countries have been good partners enjoying cooperation in various fields, he said.

Jia expressed his hope that the two countries would keep the current trend of frequent exchanges of high-level visits and ensure the success of cooperative projects, as they prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Jia also expressed his appreciation to the long-term support from Romanian government and parliament to China on the issues such as Taiwan and Tibet, noting that the CPPCC would continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the Romanian senate to promote relations.

Agreeing with Jia's views on bilateral relations, Vacaroiu said the Romanian senate values its ties with the CCPCC and hopes to expand the exchange among the various friendly groups and special commissions between the two parliaments.

He also spoke highly of China's quake relief work and the country's wish for Chinese people to overcome the natural disaster at an early date.

Vacaroiu underlined that Romania would adhere to the one-China policy and offered his best wishes for Beijing to successfully host the Olympic Games this summer.

Bulgaria and Romania to Collaborate in Agriculture Area

Sofia News Agency

Joint branch organizations in the agricultural area would be created between Bulgaria and Romania, according to an agreement signed Wednesday by the Agriculture Ministers of both countries.

In the upcoming 10 days, Bulgarian experts will study Romanian experience in the subsidizing of milk production and will begin applying it in the milk production in Bulgaria.

The subsidizing of milk production from the State budget in Romania has been established by a Cabinet decision and has been coordinated with the EC. In Bulgaria such subsidizing does not exist. At the moment the Romanian State helps milk producers with EUR 0,8 per liter.

By the end of the year Bulgaria must create a National Registry and an Information System and request their notification from the EC, according to Valeri Tsvetanov, Bulgarian Agriculture Minister.

"This is precisely the direction where we would seek the Romanian assistance and afterwards we would hold an expert meeting"' stated Tsvetanov.

The Minister denied rumors that the Director of the National Veterinary Agency Zheko Boychev has been fired, adding however, that structural changes at his Ministry are forthcoming.

The Bulgarian and Romanian Minister further agreed to meet each month in Ruse or Giurgevo and to invite the Greek Agriculture Minister to those meetings as well.

Romanian PM to meet Italian counterpart over immigration policies

BUCHAREST, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said Monday that he will soon meet his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi to discuss Italy's disputed immigration policies.

Tariceanu said that through constructive dialogue, the European common interest and the principle of free transit will not be affected by isolated cases of crimes committed by some immigrants.

"I hope that dialogue on this issue will be lucrative," said Tariceanu, without specifying the date for such a meeting.

Analysts have raised concerns over strained diplomatic ties between Italy and Romania, which joined the European Union in 2007, due to controversial immigration policies by the Italian government.

The Italian government has tightened its immigration policies in the wake of some serious crimes committed by immigrants, including a Romanian who allegedly beat to death the wife of an Italian naval commander on the outskirts of Rome.

The Italian government has made it easier for local authorities to expel EU citizens considered dangerous. But some observers say the move was mainly targeted at the 560,000 Romanians living in Italy.

It has also required an obligatory minimal income for the EU citizens living in Italy and tightened restrictions for the reunification of immigrants' families.

These policies have come under strong fire from human rights activists and politicians in some countries, especially in Romania.

Bilateral relations between Romania and Italy and the attitude toward Romanians in Italy must not be endangered by isolated cases, said Tariceanu.

The prime minister highlighted the valuable contribution made by Romanian workers to the economic development of Italian cities and regions they live in.

He also noted the 23,000 Italian companies are operating in Romania and have created jobs for Romanians and boosted Romania's economic growth.

The Romanian authorities said last week that they will make a detailed assessment of the conformity of Italy's immigration measures with the European norms and will inform the European Council in case of an disagreement.

Romania, Tunisia to cooperate for stability of Mediterranean basin

BUCHAREST, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Romania and Tunisia must back the European project for the establishment of political, economic and social stability and security of the Mediterranean basin, said Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Monday.

Meeting visiting Tunisian Foreign Minister Abdelwahab Abdallah, Tariceanu said "it is our duty to contribute to the development of the Mediterranean region." He underlined the fact that Romania is an EU member while Tunisia is one of the African states neighboring the EU.

During the visit of Abdelwahab Abdallah to Romania, the 14th meeting of the Joint Romanian-Tunisian Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation was also held and four bilateral agreements were signed.

The documents were an Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, an Agricultural Cooperation Agreement, a Cooperation Agreement between the National News Agency ROMPRES and the Tunisian News Agency TAP and a Cooperation Agreement between the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation and the similar Tunisian organization.

Romania supports Turkey's EU bid: PM

BUCHAREST, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Wednesday assured the visiting Speaker of Turkey's Grand National Assembly Koksal Toptan of Romania's unreserved support for Turkey's bid to join the EU.

"We support without reservation Turkey's EU accession and we want to offer you support based on our expertise acquired during the process of Romania's accession," said Tariceanu during his meeting with Toptan, who is paying an official visit to Romania.

"Bilateral relations of the two states are perfect and can serve as an example to other countries," Toptan said while thanking for Romania's support for his country's efforts for EU membership.

Bilateral economic cooperation was another subject approached during the meeting, with Toptan expressing hopes to see Romanian investments in Turkey advance as much as possible and for common investments to be initiated.

"We consider that Romanian and Turkish companies must seek common solutions to invest on third markets," said Toptan.

Energy is another field where Turkey and Romania could cooperate, they said, referring to projects such as interconnecting the cities of Constanta and Istanbul via an undersea power cable, the Nabucco oil pipeline and stopping Black Sea pollution.

"Romania is one of the most fervent supporters of this project (Nabucco), that is highly important for our country, for Turkey, but for the EU as well," said Tariceanu, adding that Turkey is in a key-position for the success of this European project.

Romania rejects political decisions regarding Beijing Olympics

BUCHAREST, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday that his country will not accept any political decision related to the Beijing Olympic Games, the official Rompres news agency reported.

"We want to be very clear with respect to Beijing: we'll never accept any political approach to the Olympic Games," Basescu was quoted as saying at a meeting with Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee.

"We consider that the Olympics are not a place to be covered by political decisions," said the president, whose view was echoed by Rogge.

Rogge is visiting Romania to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Sports Complex near Bucharest Wednesday, Rompres said.

Romania to donate 860,000-dollar worth of humanitarian aid to China

BUCHAREST, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Romania will donate relief goods worth some two million lei (about 860,000 U.S. dollars) to China, consisting of humanitarian aid and first need stuff from the state reserves, the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

The aid will be from the budget of official assistance for development, managed by the Foreign Ministry and the stuff will be sent by air close to the area in Sichuan province hit by a devastating earthquake on May 12, according to a press release from the Foreign Ministry.

"Beyond the value in money and along with the reaction of some Romanian local authorities, of the Romanian press and the civil society, the assistance is a normal expression of the friendship and solidarity between the Romanian and the Chinese peoples," said the release.

The diplomatic offices of Romania in China lowered the flags at half mast during the three days of national mourning in China in mourning for the earthquake victims.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry expressed the hope that the Chinese people will overcome the terrible tragedy as soon as possible.

U.S., Romania probe organized crime

BUCHAREST, Romania, May 19 (UPI) -- The United States and Romania are committed to working together to fight international crime, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip said in Bucharest.

As an example of the two countries' cooperation, Filip noted U.S. and Romanian law enforcement officials worked together in a probe of an international organized crime ring. Speaking during a news conference in Bucharest, the federal prosecutor said the U.S. Justice Department brought racketeering and other charges against 38 people living in the United States and Romania, unsealing the indictments Monday.

The cases "demonstrate the close cooperation our two countries have developed to fight international organized crime," he said.

The cooperation will be ongoing, Filip said.

"(We) are learning from each other as we jointly help to protect our citizens and people in other countries from this sort of theft and crime," he said. "This kind of coordinated response is absolutely vital to our fight. We look forward to working together in the future."

Italy and Romania to hold talks on immigration

Rome - Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni and his Romanian counterpart Cristian David were to focus on immigration and crime in talks scheduled later on Thursday.

The meeting in Rome comes amid moves by Italy's new conservative government to tighten controls on immigration, including from other European Union member states like Romania.

Earlier this week Romania's Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu denounced reports that Italy was considering reimposing border checks, saying such measures could fuel xenophobia.

Maroni, who is from the anti-immigration Northern League party, on Tuesday said he favoured making illegal immigration a crime and that such a measure could be included in a security decree to be approved soon by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government.

Maroni also said he would give the government's top public order official in Milan special powers to deal with the city's Roma camps which, as elsewhere in Italy, have been associated with crime in the northern city.

On Tuesday authorities in Naples evacuated a Roma camp torched by local residents who were incensed by a Roma girl's alleged attempt to kidnap a baby.

By Wednesday the 100 or so Roma in the camp situated in the low-income Ponticelli district had been moved to other Roma settlements in Naples.

The incident is the latest of a series of high profile cases involving Italy's Roma community - many of whom are of Romanian nationality and live in squalid shanty towns.

Late last year the previous centre-left government expelled over 200 Romanian nationals with criminal records in the wake of the murder, allegedly by a Roma man of Romanian origin, of a housewife in Rome.

DPA: Italy and Romania to hold talks on immigration

Rome - Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni and his Romanian counterpart Cristian David were to focus on immigration and crime in talks scheduled later on Thursday. The meeting in Rome comes amid moves by Italy's new conservative government to tighten controls on immigration, including from other European Union member states like Romania.

Earlier this week Romania's Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu denounced reports that Italy was considering reimposing border checks, saying such measures could fuel xenophobia. Maroni, who is from the anti-immigration Northern League party, on Tuesday said he favoured making illegal immigration a crime and that such a measure could be included in a security decree to be approved soon by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government.

Maroni also said he would give the government's top public order official in Milan special powers to deal with the city's Roma camps which, as elsewhere in Italy, have been associated with crime in the northern city. On Tuesday authorities in Naples evacuated a Roma camp torched by local residents who were incensed by a Roma girl's alleged attempt to kidnap a baby. By Wednesday the 100 or so Roma in the camp situated in the low-income Ponticelli district had been moved to other Roma settlements in Naples.

The incident is the latest of a series of high profile cases involving Italy's Roma community - many of whom are of Romanian nationality and live in squalid shanty towns. Late last year the previous centre-left government expelled over 200 Romanian nationals with criminal records in the wake of the murder, allegedly by a Roma man of Romanian origin, of a housewife in Rome.

Italy border plans do not target Romanians-Tariceanu

BUCHAREST, May 14 (Reuters) - Italy has reassured Romania that it is not the target of Italian plans to reimpose border checks, a move Rome says aims to fight illegal immigration from non-EU states, Romania's prime minister said on Wednesday.

Calin Tariceanu spoke with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini after Italy said it would tighten border controls, a move Italian newspapers said targeted Romanians and eastern European Roma people blamed for a recent rise in crime.

"Italy's foreign minister informed me that a set of measures on immigration being prepared by the Italian authorities is aimed at citizens from states that are not part of the European Union," Tariceanu said.

"No measures that can affect community (EU) citizens are intended. European regulations will be observed."

Earlier this week, Tariceanu said the Italian plan, which would make illegal migration a crime punishable by up to four years' jail, could fan xenophobic attitudes towards Romania.

Italian authorities say Romanians enter Italy without checks through neighbouring countries covered by the Schengen agreement that allows for passport-free travel within much of the EU.

The scheme allows for the suspension of the rules only for reasons of public order or national security.

Tariceanu said Romanian Interior Minister Cristian David would go to Rome on Thursday to discuss the issue of Romanian immigrants.

He did not elaborate but said the cabinet was seeking to also send a team of prosecutors and policemen to Italy to support the authorities' efforts to crack down on crime. (Reporting by Radu Marinas; Editing by Jon Boyle)

Romania to grant China humanitarian aid

BUCHAREST, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Romanian government will discuss with the Chinese ambassador to Romania to see what China's needs are in the wake of the earthquakes that hit it on Monday and Tuesday, Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu announced on Tuesday.

The prime minister stressed that there is a need for a move of solidarity with the Chinese people at this time.

"We must have additional elements, so as to see the type of assistance we can provide. (...) They'll indicate us the critical areas that need intervention," he added.

Tariceanu said Romania can offer medicines, tents or clothing.

Gypsy encampments torched near Naples: agency

ROME (AFP) — Two Roma encampments in southern Italy were set alight Wednesday to keep their inhabitants from returning after they fled attacks by local residents, a report said.

Firefighters had just put out the first blaze in Ponticelli on the fringes of Naples when a second encampment nearby was set alight, Italy's ANSA news agency said.

Police said the blazes were meant to scare off the Roma, who had abandoned their huts and gone into hiding amid tensions sparked by the attempted kidnapping of an Italian baby by a 16 year-old gypsy girl last Saturday.

Most of them left the encampments in the middle of the night, with roughly 50 remaining in Ponticelli under police protection.

Petrol bombs had already set fire early Tuesday to four huts at the gypsy encampment. No casualties were reported.

On Tuesday evening, hundreds of demonstrators including teenagers armed with sticks had gathered around the camp as a police helicopter hovered overhead, ANSA said.

The Roma attacks near Naples will fan the flames of a wider immigration row developing in Italy, particularly with relation to Romanian immigrants.

Tensions were sparked by the November murder of an Italian woman blamed on a Romanian immigrant of Roma origin.

An estimated 342,200 Romanians are currently living in Italy, though the church charity organisation Caritas puts the figure at 556,000. The number has risen sharply since Romania joined the European Union last year.

The immigrants, and particularly gypsies from Romania, have aroused widespread anger among Italians because they are perceived as the main cause of lack of safety on the streets.

The right swept to victory in April's legislative elections after leading a campaign centred on security issues and largely blaming Romanians for a recent spike in immigrant-related violence.

The new government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced measures to control or expel immigrants, especially the Roma, if they are illegal, found guilty of offences or have no visible means of support.

"The security decree will be adopted by the council of ministers in Naples," Berlusconi told the Senate on Wednesday, describing his bid to associate immigration and crime as "an important twist in security policy."

The decree would make it constitutional for illegal immigrants to face up to four years behind bars before being expelled. It would also make DNA tests obligatory to clamp down on illegal immigrants abusing the system by lying about entering the country to join their families.

New unidentified arrivals could also find themselves stranded in detention centres for up to 18 months, under the new laws.

In Bucharest, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu expressed anger that the measures were not directed at other EU citizens, who have freedom of movement within the bloc.

Following telephone talks with new Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, Tariceanu reiterated an offer for Romania to send police and prosecutors to Italy and suggested bilateral talks to defuse a growing immigration row.

Tariceanu has already dispatched Interior Minister Cristian David on an urgent trip to Rome. He is to meet his Italian counterpart Roberto Maroni, a member of the anti-immigration, eurosceptic Northern League on Thursday.

EU: Italy Targets Romanian Immigrants With Plan To Suspend Schengen

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Italy’s new right-wing government has unveiled plans to make illegal immigration a crime punishable by up to four years in jail. According to media reports, the plans could also lead to reimposing border controls on travelers from the passport-free Schengen zone.

What explains the measures?

Partly, it’s because Italians for years have felt frustrated by an ever-rising tide of illegal immigrants who arrive by sea, air, and land. The latest figures, from 2006, indicate that there were nearly 4 million foreign residents in Italy, according to ISTAT, Italy’s state statistical institute. And press reports say more and more illegal immigrants have arrived in Italy since the European Union expanded in 2007 to include Bulgaria and Romania.

The plan's main target is Romania. It's not part of the Schengen scheme, but Italian officials say many Romanians travel to Italy through other countries that are part of the zone.

There's also been a steady trickle of crimes linked to Romanians and Roma from Romania, which have been played up in the Italian press. Italian interior statistics from 2006 show that, among foreigners involved in crime in Italy, Romanians ranked first in arrests for homicide, sexual violence, and robberies in homes.

Gesture Wasn't Enough

Italy’s previous center-left government moved in November to begin deporting Romanians with criminal records. The gesture wasn’t enough for Italian voters, however. Last month, they handed a big majority to center-right parties led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has returned to that job. Among his main coalition partners is the anti-immigrant Northern League, which seeks wide autonomy for Italy’s wealthy northern regions and from which the new interior minister, Roberto Maroni, hails.

Berlusconi’s new government is set to vote next week on Maroni’s draft measures to crack down on illegal immigration.

The move has sparked concern in Bucharest, with Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu warning of rising xenophobia in Italy and urging Rome not to restrict the freedom of movement in Europe.

"The right to free circulation in Europe is one of the main pillars of European society, and we cannot agree with breaking this right," Tariceanu said. "We understand that a firm stand from the authorities is necessary, but we cannot accept the restriction of fundamental rights which are, if you want, the values on which the European project was built.”

Tariceanu said he would send Interior Minister Cristian David to Rome to discuss the issue. He also said the Romanian cabinet could provide Italy with a team of prosecutors and police officers to support efforts by the Italian authorities to combat crime.

Business Group Voicing Concern

Romania is not the only party voicing concern. Unimpresa, an association of Italian businesspeople, has complained loudly that the new measures could damage relations with Bucharest, with which Rome has 12 billion euros of annual trade. Italian companies also employ some 800,000 people in Romania, according to Unimpresa President Stefano Albarosa.

In an interview in Rome’s “La Repubblica” daily, Albarosa said the Italian media and politicians had unfairly painted all Romanians as criminals. Human-rights activists have also protested the plans, as has Cardinal Renato Martino, who heads the Vatican department that formulates refugee policy. He says Italy should not "demonize a population, as is being done with Romanians."

In the latest ISTAT statistics from 2006, the vast majority of rapes or attempted rapes in Italy were committed by a family member, friend, husband, boyfriend, neighbor, or acquaintance. Only 3.4 percent were committed by an “unknown person,” such as, possibly, a foreigner.

Italy's new foreign minister vows tough immigration policy

ROME (AFP) - Italy's new foreign minister talked tough Monday on immigration as RomaniaRome to try and defuse tensions over rising crime blamed on its nationals. said it was despatching its interior minister to

Prime Minsister Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing government is preparing an arsenal of controversial anti-immigration measures targeting Romanians in particular, but EU rules limit its room for manoeuvre.

"Italian citizens do not want racist or xenophobic behaviour by the Berlusconi government, which it would in any case never adopt," Franco Frattini said on RAI public radio, adding: "But by their vote they have asked for a firm attitude."

"Italians have asked for change, mainly in strengthening measures to punish those who break the rules," Frattini said, citing the example of a Romanian woman alleged to have tried to kidnap a child in Naples this weekend.

That kind of news, he warned, "sharply shakes up public opinion."

Romania's Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said he was despatching his interior minister on an urgent trip to Rome to try and defuse the growing bilateral row over immigration.

"We have proposed to the Italian authorities that we could urgently send a team of Romanian policemen and prosecutors to lend support to the Italian authorities in their efforts to combat crime."

Berlusconi's forces, who campaigned for more law and order ahead of the April vote, have highlighted reports alleging various offences, especially rape, said to have involved Romanian immigrants.

New Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, a member of the anti-immigration, eurosceptic Northern League -- a junior coalition partner -- is finalising measures to crack down on clandestine immigration.

Maroni wants in particular to curb a surge in Romanian immigration since Bucharest joined the European Union in January 2007.

The Northern League wants a suspension of the Schengen treaty allowing free movement for EU citizens in 22 of the 27 EU member states.

Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, waded into the row on Monday saying he did not agree with a proposed new offence of clandestine immigration.

"It is clearly necessary to respect the law and to regulate the flow of migrants, but one cannot say that we have no need for immigrants," Martino added.

The Italian press fears tensions with the EU authorities in Brussels over Rome's policy towards Romanians.

Relations became strained between Italy and Romania over Italian measures to make it easier to expel Romanians, after a Romanian gypsy was blamed for the murder of an Italian woman last year.

The murder led to a decree passed in November allowing the expulsion of nationals from EU member countries for reasons of public security, after which several dozen Romanians were deported and the European Commission warned Italy against "mass expulsions."

The maiden session of Berlusconi's cabinet, to be held in Naples next week, was set to announce planned anti-immigration measures.

Proposals include the creation of a new offence of clandestine immigration, an extension of the period during which apprehended would-be immigrants can be held in detention, and use of DNA tests to monitor reuniting families.

In Bucharest, Tariceanu said the rise in crime by Romanians living in Italy was partly the result of a "weak reaction" from the Italian authorities, who needed to "intervene in a firm and determined manner."

He disagreed with calls in Italy to limit immigration, especially of Romanians, insisting "the right to move freely in Europe is one of the fundamental pillars" of the EU and Romania "could not agree with the violation" of this right.

Tariceanu, however, agreed it was in the two countries' "bilateral interest to resolve the situation positively."

In doing so, he highlighted economic ties, particularly the fact that the Romanian community in Italy contributes to more than one percent of the country's GDP and that 23,000 Italian companies operate in Romania.

Currently some 342,200 Romanians live in Italy according to official figures, but the Roman Catholic charity Caritas says the figure has climbed as high as 556,000 since Romania joined the EU.

Romanian PM denounces Italy border checks plan

12 May 2008

May 12 (Reuters) - Romania's prime minister on Monday denounced a plan by Italy"s interior minister to reimpose border checks, saying it could fuel xenophobic attitudes towards Romanians. The plan, drawn up by interior minister Roberto Maroni of the anti-immigration Northern League party, would make illegal immigration a crime punishable by up to four years' jail, according to accounts in Italian newspapers.

The package is aimed mainly at Romanian immigrants and eastern European Roma people who have been blamed for a spate of crimes in Italy. It will be presented at a cabinet meeting this week. "I want to stress that, unfortunately, because of the elections in Italy ... there were mounting statements that created a perception that there is a critical situation concerning Romanians," Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu told reporters. "The feeding of xenophobic attitudes can have an impact on bilateral relations between Romania and Italy and this obviously is not in anyone's interest." Tariceanu said he will send Interior Minister Cristian David to Rome in discuss the issue.

He did not elaborate but said the cabinet could provide Italy with a team of prosecutors and policemen to support the Italian authorities' efforts to combat crime. Romania, which joined the European Union last year, is not part of the Schengen scheme. Italian authorities say its nationals enter Italy without checks through neighbouring countries covered by the agreement. The scheme allows for the suspension of the passport-free rules only for reasons of public order or national security. (Reporting by Radu Marinas; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

Romania Reacts to Italy Visa Threat

BalkanInsight.com

12 May 2008 Bucharest _ Romania’s Prime Minister has asked his Interior Minister to hold talks with Italian officials amid claims that Rome should reintroduce visas for Romanians.

“Over the next few days, Roberto Maroni, the Italian Interior Minister, will present to the Rome Government, a project which would limit the access of Gypsies, most of them coming from Romania, to Italy,” Rome media wrote.

Romania’s Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu swiftly asked Internal Affairs Minister, Cristian David, to travel to Italy this week for talks.

Tariceanu also said the Romanian Government would send more policemen and prosecutors to Italy to help prevent crime.

He argued the claims by Italian officials were politically-motivated and generated a wrong perception about the Romanians.

“I think that having a xenophobic attitude towards some people can affect the relationship between two states,” Tariceanu said.

He added that both the Romanian and the Italian Governments should handle this problem in a diplomatic way.

Tariceanu also noticed that Italian authorities should not have permitted immigrants camps around the big cities, in the first place.

The issue was first raised last year, when a Romanian, Romulus Mailat, was arrested for raping and killing an Italian woman.

About a million Romanians live and work in Italy.