THE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

PRESS RELEASE

The Foreign Intelligence Service is celebrating today, February 8, 2005, 15 years of activity.

The Romanian President, Mr. Traian B a sescu, and the Prime-Minister, Mr. C alin Popescu Tariceanu , honoured the events organized on that occasion at the Headquarters of the SIE.

Within the meeting of the Managing Council, the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Gheorghe Fulga, Ph.D., has presented the stages undergone by the SIE in its wide-ranging process of institutional reform, underscoring that, at present, the Service he is at the helm of poses an active factor in the field of state security, a modern institution that was fully connected to the new coordinates of the Romanian society, capable of contributing, in compliance with the responsibilities stipulated in the law, to defending and promoting Romania's fundamental interests.

In his speech, Mr. C alin Popescu Tariceanu has congratulated the SIE on celebrating 15 years since its establishment and expressed his belief that, in cooperation with the partner agencies, the Service would further get involved actively in fighting the phenomena pertaining to organized crime and corruption, in supporting the national economic interests and attracting foreign investments, checking the reliability of some firms, as well as in backing the efforts made by the Government to join the European Union.

The Prime-Minister also reiterated the willingness by the Executive to support the Foreign Intelligence Service to attain its goals, within the high-performance parameters expressed by its leadership and in compliance with the commitments undertaken at the level of the Euro-Atlantic intelligence community.

President Traian B a sescu appreciated the results obtained by the Foreign Intelligence Service, as well as the stage of the institutional reform, underscoring that the SIE would enjoy the support by the Presidency and the Government to continue its modernization process. The Head of State highlighted the special tasks incumbent upon the Service in ensuring the national security in the field of fighting terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons and means of mass destruction and transnational organized crime. He also emphasized the need for the SIE to increase its contribution to stepping-up and developing the strategic partnership with the United States and Great Britain, to boosting the cooperation with similar bodies of the European Union and NATO, with a view to getting more actively involved in the processes of regional stabilization, as well as in other international events of major interest for our homeland.

Moreover, Mr. Traian B asescu has recalled the need that the SIE, alongside other relevant institutions, should intensify its activities aimed at fighting corruption, a phenomenon that poses a threat against the national security and Romania's efforts to join the European Union.

While expressing his conviction that the Foreign Intelligence Service has the capacity to permanently adjust itself to the ever-changing international actuality, the Head of State underscored the need for updating the organizational management and increasing the analytic capability that should help in the process of decision-making at the level of the Romanian Presidency, Government and other leading bodies.

Wrapping up his speech, the Head of State seized that anniversary opportunity in order to convey his congratulations to all the personnel of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

                    THE PRESS OFFICE
OF THE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

Issued on February 8, 2005

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