Romanian Politicians Accuse Ambassadors of Interference

The Dutch embassy in Romania has stressed its support for the fight against corruption in the country, a day after two ruling coalition politicians accused one of its former ambassadors of lobbying for the appointment of Laura Codruta Kovesi as chief prosecutor of the powerful National Anticorruption Directorate in 2012.

"The fact that the Netherlands supports and has supported the fight against corruption in Romania is well known. It is also an important element in the reporting done in the context of the EU's Cooperation and Verification Mechanism," the statement by the embassy, sent to BIRN, read.  

"Clearly, Mrs Stella Ronner-Grubacic, the current ambassador, does not know what was exchanged at the meetings referred to by Mr Titus Corleatan and Mr Calin Popescu Tariceanu. What we do know is that, in order for the fight against corruption to be effective, you need an effective institution, with a clear mandate, performing its tasks and duties within a sound legal framework and run by competent and professional people," the statement added.

Former Social Democrat Minister of Justice Titus Corlatean told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that both former US Ambassador Mark Gitenstein and former Dutch Ambasador Matthijs van Bonzel had pressured him in 2012 to appoint Kovesi to a top position. He said he did not remember which position they were aiming at, either chief prosecutor of the anti-graft watchdog or attorney general.

"I did not like the persistence of the Dutch ambassador who I met on several occasions. I did not like the persistence of the US ambassador, Mr Gitenstein at that moment, to nominate a certain person we know. They wanted Kovesi nominated for a top position," Corlatean told a hearing of the commission investigating...