ROMANIAN-ARMENIAN EU COMMISSION NOMINEE WITHDRAWS

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 29 2006

Armenian-origin Romanian Senator Varujan Vosganya, who was nominated
to represent Romania at the EU Commission, requested a withdrawal of
his candidacy for that post.

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu accepted his request. At a
press conference Saturday Vosganyan said, "Although they are unjust
and ungrounded, the allegations about me may prolong the inquiries
into my candidacy, which may also be disruptive to Romania’s image."

It was expected that President of the EU Commission Jose Manuel
Barroso, who has made his opposition to Vosganyan known, would have
rejected his candidacy because of Vosganyan’s extreme right-wing past
and lack of command in EU-related issues.