Romanian President Signs Decree Dismissing Adviser Peter Eckstein Kovacs

Kovacs resigned on September 1 over the president's support for a gold mining project in Rosia Montana, western Romania.

"I have discussed with President Traian Basescu and informed him of my resignation from the position of presidential adviser, which he accepted. (…) As presidential adviser, I am supposed to support the president's initiatives but in this case I cannot so I have decided the best solution would be for me to resign," Kovacs told MEDIAFAX at the time.

Kovacs opposes the gold mining project, which entails the use of cyanide, while Basescu has recently expressed his support for the investment, in which the Romanian state holds nearly 20%.

Kovacs was appointed presidential adviser for national minorities' issues in January 2009.

Romania's president has repeatedly said in recent weeks the project "must be carried out" because Romania needs it, and called for the renegotiation of the sharing of benefits.

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