February 11, 2009:
NEWSIN: CADI Debate; Rompresstiri@rompres.ro: Debate: the secret services of the affected population, mistrust
Bucharest, 11 feb/Agerpres/-Reform secret services should take into account the population's confidence in regaining these institutions have felt the information specialists and representatives of civil society who attended on Wednesday the debate on the theme of ' civil society for reform of security ', organised by the Centre for analysis and institutional development (CADI).
Present at the debate, Presidential Adviser on education issues, Cristian Preda, said that policy makers in the field of intelligence must take account not only of parliamentary control over the special services, but also of the trust that the population has in information structures.
' Talk about parliamentary control, but not about the confidence of the population in these centres. We are 20 years after the fall of communism. I feel myself in a regime that is no longer Communist, but occidental. Culture of trust is fundamental, "said Pandey.
In turn, the Presidential Advisor on national security issues, Iulian Fota, said the distrust of the population towards special services has as its main Communist cause, this attitude can be changed through a public security policy, controlled by several institutions.
' Public institutions and services are. We are no longer at the time of the secret service. There are parliamentary control, control of public opinion through the media, there is a control of national security policy, through the European Commission, the European Commission, said Fota.
The representative of the Romanian Academic Society (SAR), Sorin Ioniţă, criticised the lack of public performance criteria concerning the quality of services.
' I admit that intelligence does not ask them the same degree of transparency as institutions of local government, but even to speak of a civil society control over intelligence. To do this, we should have some monitoring tools. Elsewhere I have gone through the front indicators effective monitoring; for example, I have seen at MI5 and MI6, the United Kingdom, the annual cost per officer, said Reeves.
Present at the debate, the head of the Romanian Intelligence Service, George Maior said that information are assessed on the basis of SRI of 90 quality indicators.
In observance of the procedures by the officers of SRI, major said that in the last period, the lack of communication has led to suspicions concerning the legality of eavesdropping carried out telephone service that leads him.
' The legality of eavesdropping, given the terms of reference issued by the judge, is fundamental. Unfortunately, we have made some mistakes the last time communication relating to these matters which have given a certain intensity of the debates ', he explained.
In turn, political researcher Cristian Parvulescu has placed emphasis on the need to strengthen public institutions of control over information collection systems.
' The State is the one who can abuse the citizen. However, the State is unable, at present, to control the intelligence services, as long as they were privatised, said Tomei. He gave as an example the existence of online services, such as Google Earth System.
Participants in the debate have brought criticism and the current legislation relating to national security, including Law 298/2008 on data storage-related communications.
' Civil society is concerned especially the moral aspect of security: whether or not punished foundries, we must have a law of lustration or not, the law on the retention of data. (…) But it is concerned and the economic dimension, namely how effective these institutions ' work, said Professor Marian Zulean.
And the head of the SRI, George Maior, expressed some dissatisfaction with this law, noting that it generază a ' excessive bureaucratization ' of information.
The debate was also attended by the Director HIMSELF, Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, and former Minister of the Interior Constantin Dudu Ionescu. ICEC/(Akku)
Rompresstiri@rompres.ro: George Maior: SRI felt pressure politics
Bucharest, 11 feb/Agerpres/-Romanian Intelligence Service Director George Maior said Wednesday that he felt political pressures over the neutrality of SRI.
' Sometimes it's very difficult for us, unfortunately, because of these developments and political rhetoric, and political discourse, to defend our independence and neutrality, but because new pressures and from this point of view ', said the head of the SRI.
Present at the debate ' civil society for reform of security ', organised by the Centre for analysis and institutional development (CADI), major has criticised the attitude of politicians who believe that the parties can control the secret services.
' I'm often sorry to me, as an observer, when political question of taking a service information to a political party. At the time of my nomination for this role, the first public aspect mentioned was the neutrality and working in institutional architecture of the State as it exists. It is not about a party that takes a particular function, but an obligation that devolves into a new position, to ensure the independence and neutrality in the political space ', said major.
SRI Director made it clear that the service he leads passed successively through two reforms, one moral detachment of former Communist secret police, and another professional training.
' In the first phase-the moral reform transferred the archives of the former Security institutions, i.e. the CNSAS. Here we have operated the largest transfer of arhive from Central and Eastern Europe, nearly two million cases. This has absolved of that phrase: SRI SRI, the repository of the former ' Security, said major.
With regard to the reform of the professional, major made it clear that the average age in SRI is 35 years old, youth information officers being trained in prestigious institutions in the West.
Also, the head of the SRI said that indicators are used to assess 90 information service provided to decision makers. ICEC/(Akku)
Rompresstiri@rompres.ro: SIE Director: Services risking his own credibility, if you get into the political game
Bucharest, 11 feb/Agerpres/-information services risk their own credibility, if you mix in political games, said on Wednesday the Director of the foreign intelligence service Mihai Razvan Ungureanu at a public debate on national security.
The credibility of your bet is played domestically and in relations with partners in NATO. Regarding this stake, going into internal political game represents the highest risk for a service, that nobody can accept it ', praised Ungureanu.
He explained, however, that a large part of the responsibility for the use of the information provided by the special services is the responsibility of the political environment, its representatives being beneficiaries, as decision-makers, ai data intelligence officers.
' Responsibilities must be delineated. We are interested that the responsibility is clear. The responsibility is distributed and the political class, because of the legal beneficiaries come from here. Special Services (…) does not generate policies, but also participates in policy, said Mihai Razvan Ungureanu.
He pointed out that the overall activity of special services is published. ' There are no secret services, but also special services. There are secret services are public ', explained the Director HIMSELF.
In his opinion, civil society must be more present in the elaboration of the national security strategy.
' I never know how to agree with the kind of military metaphor I've heard pronounced from takers before the present law, a civil society role in amending the existing security system. There is one role and civil society must assume ', said Razvan Mihai Ungureanu.
SIE Director participated on Wednesday in the debate over ' civil society for reform of security ', organised by the Centre for analysis and institutional development (CADI). ICEC/(Akku)
NEWSIN: Tomei says that Western freedoms model is no longer adequate
Cristian Pârvulescu, political researcher representative of Pro democracy Association, said that ensuring the security of citizens begin to impinge on rights and freedoms, by a fear of the neoconservative inspiration.
Tomei said that the security measures adopted by the United States and European Union countries after the terrorist attack of 11 September 2001 have affected the rights and freedoms of citizens. "My Fear is that we're in a fear of neoconservative origin. Breaches in the u.s. and the European Union should make us ask ourselves if we should change our compass. There are fears that have no basis, and I feel that in 1984, "said Parvulescu referring to a famous novel by George Orwell.
Tomei said, as part of the debate "civil society for reform of the security system" that is relevant to the fact that changes in the forefront of the Ministry of the Interior had political control over the stake as an information service, General Directorate of information and internal protection. APD representative said he was concerned that in Romania it is possible to purchase, including private firms, equipment necessary for eavesdropping of calls. Also, there are six institutions that hold this type of apparatus and the other ten that may require legal interception. Last but not least, says Tomei, of the 16 laws governing national security, neither clearly specifies that only SRI may carry out interceptions, the only requirement in this regard there is only a decision of the Supreme Council of national defence.
Pârvulescu challenged and the law concerning the retention of data generated 298 or processed by providers of publicly available electronic communications as "departing from the premise that all Romanians are suspects from the start and that you must monitor", which affect their rights and freedoms. Political researcher added that predominates in conservative Romania a vision on the role of intelligence services aimed at the protection of the State against the citizens.
In turn, Sorin ionita of the Romanian academic society, reported low level of transparency of the Romanian secret services, as compared to Western intelligence services. "We should have some quantifiable control tools. Elsewhere, various indices are used, such as the cost of an information officer, how many of them were caught with something and give out etc. Then I did the slightest idea how does parliamentary committees. In fact, we monitor, we recognize the alleged (…) Commissions seem rather a Bureau of reclamation services, where they lay their wishes, "said Reeves.
11 feb 2009 16:20
SRI is dissatisfied with the law on data retention of telephone calls
George Maior, head of the SRI, said Wednesday that Law 294/2008 concerning the retention of data generated or processed by providers of publicly available electronic communications will lead to bureaucratization of the Service activity.
"In terms of the debate related to Law 298, I must say that there is a lot of discontent and the Romanian Intelligence Service. We believe that there are some restrictions that lead to birocratizări. Is a potential negative of restricting the activity of SRI, "said Major, who had complained that there was, in law, a confusion between the production of information and therefore related to the judicial area, noting that SRI is not required to provide evidence for the purposes of those required by the criminal code and the criminal procedure. "SRI no longer can carry out certain missions and there is discontent and the judicial process," he added.
With regard to intercepts calls made by SRI, major made it clear that Parliament, through its Commission for control of SRI, holds the levers needed to verify that they have committed abuses, including the unannounced Service facilities. "On top of that, no interception cannot be completed without a judge's signature. This is a form of and control over the activity of SRI ", held within the framework of Major debate organised Wednesday by the Center for analysis and institutional development, with the theme" civil society for reform of the security system. "
11 feb 2009 15:18
Major: "but Sometimes pressure from political rhetoric"
SRI Director George Maior said Wednesday during a debate on the theme "civil society for security reform" that the security services have sometimes pressure from the political environment in terms of political rhetoric and discourse.
"Sometimes, depending on developments in the political discourse and rhetoric, but pressure from this point of view," said SRI Director George Maior, the debate organised Wednesday by the Center for analysis and institutional development. Major said that politicians should not try, through political discourse, for the purpose of intelligence services from the legal framework in which it operates. "At the time of acceptance of my nomination to head the Romanian Intelligence Service, the first public statement, including colleagues from the party of origin, it was regarding the neutrality of the tool," said major.
In turn, the Director of foreign intelligence service Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu noted that special services are subject to constraints, both internal and external, that prevents them from getting involved in the political game. "What's at stake is the credibility of plays both internally and in its relations with foreign partners from NATO. On this bet, going into internal political game represents the highest risk for a service, the risk that any special service modern and it can not accept, "said Ungureanu.
SIE Director argued that responsibility for how they are used inside information is the responsibility of the legal beneficiaries coming from the political environment. "We are interested in that the responsibility is clear. It is distributed and the political class as the recipients of the information coming from the political class. Special services are part of the Executive branch. Do not generate policies, but also participates in policy ", claimed the Director HIMSELF.
At a glance
CRONICA ROMANA: civil society pushing for reform of security
Representatives of civil society have proposed the establishment of a yesterday, Coalition for the reform of the security system that will "ensure" in the appearance of security and morale to be a partner of the relevant institutions. "Civil society is interested, in particular, of the moral aspect of security: Home foundries are punished, we must have a law of lustration or not, the law on the retention of data. (…) But is interested and the economic dimension, namely how these institutions work effectively, "said teacher Marian Zulean, opening a meeting on the subject of reform in the security system.
He also alleged that the new policy must deal with rewriting the laws of security, expressing the willingness of the civil society to come up with a set of steps to "barman" reform in the field. The debate was organized by Centre for analysis and institutional development and aimed at identifying the deficiencies of the legislative system concerning the efficient functioning of the institutions of security while respecting citizens ' rights, to analyse the proposals of civil society concerning the improvement of mechanisms of civilian control and the opportunity of a coalition of civil society for the reform of the security system.
FRONTNEWS: P (APD) and Igwe (SAR) against the law, "Big Brother"
Political researcher Robins, a representative of the Pro democracy Association, said that providing security for their citizens start to affect citizens ' rights and freedoms, by a fear of the neoconservative inspiration.
P described as security measures adopted by the United States and European Union countries after the terrorist attack of 11 September 2001 have affected citizens ' rights and freedoms.
"My Fear is that we are in a fear of neoconservative origin. Breaches in the u.s. and the European Union should make us wonder if we should change the compass. There are fears that have no basis and I feel that in 1984, "he said referring to a P making the famous novel by George Orwell.
P said in the debate, "civil society for security reform", as relevant the fact that changes in the forefront of the Ministry of the Interior had political control over the stake as an information service, the General Directorate of information and internal protection.
APD representative said he was worried by the fact that in Romania it is possible to purchase, including private companies, equipment necessary for interceptarilor calls. Also, there are six institutions that own this type of equipment and another ten that may require legal interception. Last but not least, say P, of the 16 laws that regulate the issue of national security, neither clearly specify that only SRI can conduct interception, the only provision in this respect, there is just one decision of the Supreme Council of Defense of the country.
P disputed the Law relating to detention and 298 data generated or processed by providers of publicly available electronic communications because it "starts from the premise that all Romanians are suspects from the start and that you must monitor", which affect citizens ' rights and freedoms. Political researcher added that predominate in Romania a conservative vision on the role of intelligence services aiming at the protection of the State against its citizens.
In turn, Igual, from the Romanian academic society, reported low level of transparency of the Romanian secret services, compared with services in the West.
"Should we have some tools to control measurable. Elsewhere, various indices are used, such as the cost of an information officer, how many of them were caught with something and give out etc. Then have not the slightest idea how does parliamentary committees. In fact, we monitor, we give the alleged (…) Commissions seem rather a complaints Office of services, the place in which they lodged their requests, "said Iguchi.
Ziare.com: P feels like in Orwell's novel 1984 of his
MONDONEWS: SRI is unhappy with the law on data retention of telephone calls
PUBLIC INTEREST: civil society pushing its nose into the security system
