http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040204191455.16g4vntv

Romania "ambushed" in international adoption row: Nastase

04 February 2004

Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase on Wednesday protested that his country
had been "ambushed" after Bucharest was accused of violating a moratorium on
the cross-border adoption of children.

European Parliament member Emma Nicholson, the author of a report on Romania,
has slammed the country for allowing 105 children to be adopted in Italy.

Nastase told reporters: "I have the impression that Romania has been ambushed.
Personally I am against these adoptions, but I have been told that there is an
international convention that stops us from putting an end to it."

He accused the West of having "double standards" on the issue, with some
countries supporting the moratorium, while others were calling for it to be
lifted.

Nastase was speaking after Nicholson on Wednesday called for negotiations with
Bucharest about Romania joining the European Union to be suspended because it
had failed to fight corruption and protect human rights.

The European Commissioner on enlargement, Guenter Verheugen, has for his part
written to Nastase demanding an explanation on the adoption of the 105
children.

Nastase on Wednesday announced that Nicholson would visit Bucharest early next
week to discuss the matter.



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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown