APPOINTMENT OF MR. MIHAI-RĂZVAN UNGUREANU AS DIRECTOR OF THE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

DECEMBER 6, 2007

Traian Băsescu: Appointing Mihai-Răzvan Ungureanu as Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service is the right choice. I am confident that his background as both a historian and diplomat will contribute to the improvement of the Service and of the credibility its command, in general. I trust the new head of the SIE as I have worked with Mihai-Răzvan Ungureanu while he used to be a State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but we also collaborated very well during his term of office as Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

President Traian Băsescu availed himself of the opportunity to thank Gen. Silviu Predoiu, who had been the interim Head of the SIE after Claudiu Săftoiu’s resignation.

Traian Băsescu: Moreover, I would like to thank Gen. Predoiu because during his interim term of office as Head of the Service, the performance of the institution has increased and has proven useful to the decision makers. Thank you, Gen. Predoiu. I wish you every success, Mr Mihai-Răzvan Ungureanu.

Mihai-Răzvan Ungureanu: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, it is both an honour and a great responsibility to be offered the chance to participate in strengthening and defending our country, in my new capacity as Head of the SIE. I believe in Romania’s powerful voice and I am confident that we should not waste our chances; at the same time, I am certain that we do deserve a better place under the sun. Mr President, you have always been a very good, honest and correct partner. Thank you for this honour and I assure you that this institution, which is a cornerstone of the rule of law, will cope with all challenges, will meet all democratic benchmarks and will never infringe in any way whatsoever the Constitution or the legislation of our country. Thank you very much.

Sources: Radio România Actualităţi, Mediafax Press Agency, RealitateaTV website and the Romanian Presidency website.

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