Official Opening (transcript of recordings)

Dan MANOLELI
“We thank His Excellency Mr. Ambassador; I am glad that through his speech we were all reminded about the European Union option to get the Romanian quality standards as much as possible close to the Europeans ones. We spoke of harmonization, now we speak more about rapprochement, namely a legislative and institutional approximation, because it is not possible to have everything at one moment; we benefit of assistance to get close to the requirements of the European Union. Both Ambassador Eric BOM, and Ambassador Rosapeppe spoke about the value of Romania’s natural capital, which indeed deserves to be preserved (as you may know, Romania has two thirds of the big mammals of Europe. This is an extraordinary wealth, which deserves to be preserved and treated as a priority next to pollution control problems. Now, Mr. Mayor Viorel LIS who, like Mr. Minister, is always in the public eye and we all know that no matter how many things you solve, they will not be noticed as readily as your failures.”

Viorel LIS
“Mr. Ministers, Mr. Ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, I greet everyone who is present here to initiate a dialogue between the Romanian and foreign partners from the public and private sectors on a very important subject, namely environmental protection. Taking into account the general problems of the global society, the increase of the population number and the permanent development of industry, environmental protection is not efficient unless it is globally approached. In Romania, the problem of pollution control was discussed only after 1989, and that is why we are now behind many countries of the world. We try to reduce this gap as much as we can and any information received from international organizations, countries and private companies with experience in this field is very useful to us. That is why the Forum which is opening, here, today is very beneficial and I am convinced that it will create opportunities for environment protection programs.

The Bucharest Town Hall insists the all actions initiated for the town development should comply with European standards for environmental protection. At the same time, we try to take measures to fight the polluting effects of the town development. From among these measures let me list a few: the creation of green areas in Bucharest and near it, the set up of ecological landfills for household waste along with the elimination of polluting landfills, pollution control in the public transport. Concerning the increase of pollution caused by traffic, the Bucharest Town Hall and the Autonomous Administration of Local Transportation have the following targets: attracting drivers to use the public transportation in order to reduce traffic, pollution and noise; providing an attractive offer for transport in point of comfort and security, a continuous development of public transportation through wise investments mainly in new buses with EURO1 and EURO2 engines. For the achievement of these goals, from 1996 to 1999 the following actions were taken: the motor park was renewed in proportion of 40 % with vehicles complying with the European standards for atmosphere protection – EURO1 and EURO2, from the domestic production and from import; the trolley-bus park was renewed and modernized through the acquisition of new and more performing vehicles (Astra ICARUS – 100 pieces, DAC 312E – 14 pieces); the modernization of trams and rails. These are only a few measures taken by the local administration of Bucharest concerning pollution control; I am hopeful that the discussions in the framework of this Forum will lead to contacts creating, on a long term basis, the possibility to initiate new pollution control programs both in the town and in the surrounding area.”

Dan MANOLELI
“We thank the General Mayor, Mr. Viorel LIS; I think he could speak in the name of all local administrations which are interested (now, when they have new prerogatives in the administration of local budgets) to appeal to those economic stimulating instruments elaborated by the Ministry of Environment; these instruments can bring a lot of money to the local councils, while controlling pollution at the same time. The next speaker, last but not least, is someone who is very much involved in the urban ecological problems, Mr. Adrian MARINESCU, State Secretary at the Ministry of Transportation.”

 

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