Romanian president delivers New Year Message to nation.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

In his New Year message President Ion Iliescu has recounted the country's achievement in the political and economic fields, but pointed out that life has not become easier for a lot of people and pledged to increase social protection for disadvantaged citizens. "Poverty, corruption, bureaucracy, and violence in society are evils that have to be combated with all firmness," Iliescu said and called on the government to show unity and a good example in fighting these ills in society. He described the two big challenges facing the country as finalizing reforms aimed at EU integration and preparing a strategy for sustainable development in order to reduce the historic disparities between Romania and the West. The following is excerpt from report in English by Romanian news agency Rompres:

Bucharest, 31 December: On the occasion of the New Year, Romania's President Ion Iliescu addressed to the Romanian citizens a message...

" My dear fellow countrymen. The year that will end in a few hours was beneficial for the Romanian nation. It has brought us a number of achievements in the political, economic and social fields, and represented the attaining of some strategic objectives of the national interest, which are related to our integration in NATO and EU, and also to the free circulation in the countries that are member of the Schengen Accord.

"Romania's economy has consolidated this year its growth, foreign investments have re-launched, new jobs have been created...Under the conditions of maintaining the economic macro-balances, the economic perspectives for 2003 are encouraging.

"All these positive developments, all these achievements are the fruits of your labour and sacrifices, of Romania's citizens... Not all Romanians have enjoyed this year the fruits of economic growth. For many of you, the cost for some public services, food, or medicines shadow your holidays and make your life difficult. In many regions of the country, the life of the people in our villages is still tough. Agriculture is faced with many difficulties. Our attention will be focused on those who really need help and new measures of social protection will be taken. We must be aware of the fact that only by working more efficiently and more intelligently shall we live better. Romania's citizens have the right to aspire to more prosperity and happiness for themselves and their families.

"In order to meet our goals, we need an increasingly better governance, strong and respected institutions, an efficient state, which is a partner of the citizens. Beyond all, we need the rule of law without which the increase in general welfare, strengthening of the social and national solidarity, democracy, and market economy cannot be conceived. We want to heighten the efficiency of the activity of ...