Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUCHAREST1839
2006-12-08 17:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:  

LIBERAL DEPUTY ON PATRICIU SALE OF ROMPETROL

Tags:  PGOV ECON KCOR ENRG RO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0592
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHBM #1839 3421754
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081754Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5701
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001839 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR AARON JENSEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV ECON KCOR ENRG RO
SUBJECT: LIBERAL DEPUTY ON PATRICIU SALE OF ROMPETROL
SHARES TO GAZPROM, PNL POLITICAL JOCKEYING

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Mark A. Taplin; Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001839

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR AARON JENSEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV ECON KCOR ENRG RO
SUBJECT: LIBERAL DEPUTY ON PATRICIU SALE OF ROMPETROL
SHARES TO GAZPROM, PNL POLITICAL JOCKEYING

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Mark A. Taplin; Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) In a 12/8 conversation with Poloff, National Liberal
Party (PNL) deputy and youth leader Cristian Adomnitei
explained that Rompetrol Chairman and leading PNL figure Dinu
Patriciu, was in advanced negotiations to sell a 20 percent
stake in Romania's Rompetrol to Russia's Gazprom. Adomnitei
characterized it as an attempt to give the Romanian oil
company an "anchor" that would enable it to weather the storm
generated by the two-year-long corruption investigation into
Patriciu and Rompetrol. Adomnitei believed the length of the
investigation had damaged the company, something which was
not in Romania,s national interests. He disagreed with
Patriciu,s solution and acknowledged that offering the stake
to a multinational oil company would be more beneficial.
While Adomnitei disagreed with recent comments by President
Basescu directed against Russia, he said he favored quiet
actions to prevent Russian influence from growing in Romania.


2. (C) Adomnitei told Poloff this information, "that was not
public knowledge," because he would much rather see Patriciu
held accountable for any wrongdoings than have a dragged-out
"politicized investigation" drive a major Romanian asset into
Russian hands. Adomnitei viewed PNL,s plans to maintain a
minority government tacitly supported by the opposition
Social Democrats (PSD),as primarily beneficial to people
like Patriciu, who would gain up to two years of de facto
immunity from prosecution if the Liberals gained control of
the Justice and Interior Minister positions. "I'd rather see
the PNL step down from power than provide a cover for
individuals like Patriciu," he said. That, he insisted, would
be the honest way to "let Basescu see if he can save the day"
with Stolojan heading a minority government. Otherwise, the
Liberals would take the blame for post-accession woes, with
the status of a minority government limiting their
legislative agenda. He said he had joined PNL when it was
out of parliament in 1992-96, and he was not afraid of being
a deputy in the opposition.


3. (C) Most Liberals, however, were not persuaded they
should lightly move into the opposition, according to
Adomnitei. They had suffered, when out of power, "real
persecution, unlike Geoana,s Social Democrats," who
Adomnitei argued have enjoyed a great deal of freedom and
legitimacy under the current government. Adomnitei said that
even if the PD were to withdraw its support for the
government, Tariceanu would not resign, since the PNL already
had made arrangements for PSD backing for a minority
government. Adomnitei characterized Tariceanu as a "very
weak leader" of the party. He claimed Tariceanu would not
have party members, support aside from their reflex response
to rally against Basescu,s power plays. He added, however,
that Tariceanu was a "good" Prime Minister and had projected
a positive public face for Romania in Brussels.


4. (C) Adomnitei added that PNL had not fought back, but
preferred to take Basescu,s punches in order to prevent an
"explosive atmosphere" in Romanian politics until EU
accession. After January 1, he promised that the gloves
would come off." Rhetorically, he asked, "Do you think PD is
the only one with files?" He insisted that what he
characterized as "the complete absence" of PD politicians
under the prosecutorial scrutiny was not because they were
innocent.
TAUBMAN