Romanian President Reassures Local Politicians No Longer Control Intelligence Services

Basescu pointed out, however, that he steered clear of using intelligence services in political bickering or other situations.

Asked to comment on the statements of several politicians, who said the country's intelligence services are politically controlled, Basescu said he strongly doubts that is still the case.

Basescu also stressed that if this were true, he would dismiss the heads of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), which is his constitutional prerogative. The head of state added that if this were true for intelligence departments within the Ministries of Defense and Interior, he would ask the defense and interior ministers to immediately sack the heads of the two departments.

Basescu also said he never resorted to the country's intelligence services, adding he refused to use them in political bickering and disputes.

Furthermore, he cared to stress that his predecessor, Emil Constantinescu, failed to "clean up" the country's intelligence services, adding, this situation led to cheap political games.

Basescu also said that, during his first three years as president, he managed to clean up these services and make them achieve their main goal, namely, to defend national interests.

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