VOSGANIAN GETS TO BE COMMISSIONER, FRUNZAVERDE DEFENCE MINISTER

Ziarul Financiar, Romania
Oct 25 2006

Premier Calin Popescu-Tariceanu yesterday announced he had chosen
liberal senator Varujan Vosganian (48, photo) as the European
commissioner from Romania. The "price" of this nomination was the
relinquishment of the Defence Ministry (with Teodor Atanasiu as
minister) by the Liberals. The ministry is now headed by Democrat
Sorin Frunzaverde, who is close to President Traian Basescu. ZIARUL
FINANCIAR had announced the appointment of Vosganian last Friday, who,
according to the rumour mill, stood the last chance in front of bigger
names like Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu and Integration
Minister Anca Boagiu. He is known for being close to the Premier
and having stood by Tariceanu in the dispute with the PNL (National
Liberal Party) dissidents, Theodor Stolojan and Valeriu Stoica.

The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso,
is expected to announce the portfolio of the Romanian commissioner
today. Vosganian is Armenian, and started his political career as
a deputy of the Armenian minority in Romania. The Premier made the
announcement yesterday at noon before the Government session, after
having met with President Traian Basescu and PD (Democrat Party)
leaders. The Premier announced the appointment of the commissioner
after the PNL gave up the Defence Ministry. The suspended Defence
Minister Teodor Atanasiu had actually announced his resignation from
this position a little while before the commissioner was nominated.

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