Intelligence service chief George Maior: Regional developments demand Service tasks sensitively related to them

The situation in Ukraine and the regional 'offensiveness' of the Russian Federation have demanded the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) 'tasks sensitively related to knowing these developments and to informing the state power- and diplomatic factors', SRI Director George Maior said after presenting the Service 2013 results to the Parliament's Commission on SRI control on Wednesday.

'Both the situation in Ukraine and the regional offensiveness of the Russian Federation have demanded the Service tasks sensitively related to knowing these developments and to informing the state power—and diplomatic factors so as to have a better knowledge of such developments taking place in the geographic proximity of Romania. On the other hand, so as to prevent possible domestic effects regarding the national security of Romania, particularly in the sensitive area of espionage,' Maior stressed.

As regards the possible conduct of espionage by Russia in the Romanian territory, Maior said the SRI has a 'very good knowledge and special competence' from this viewpoint. 'From the Service viewpoint, this is not a problem that it cannot tackle in a professional manner,' he underscored.

With respect to an article of the new cyber-security law being debated in the Romanian Parliament, that says the Internet providers have the obligation to store the data for six months, the Intelligence Service head explained the law is built 'in perfect accordance with the elementary human rights notions and is aimed at providing the cyber-security of Romania' and he gave assurance that 'there is no problem from this viewpoint'.

Maior said the participants in the meeting also tackled the importance of maintaining the Service's neutrality and independence this...