Former Justice Minister Titus Corlatean stated on Wednesday that during his mandate the Netherlands and the United States' Ambassadors exerted pressure for the appointment of Laura-Codruta Kovesi in a 'top position' in the judicial system, according agerpres.ro.
He was heard on Wednesday in the Inquiry Parliamentary Committee regarding the Internal Anti-Corruption Protection Service (SIPA) archive.
"I have confirmed that at that time, demarches were carried out, meaning there was pressure, so that the one talking to you — I was Justice Minister at the time — make a certain nomination for a leadership position with the Public Ministry and I received the visit of two or three ambassadors at the seat of the Justice Ministry. I obviously welcomed them, we talked. In at least two cases (...) I did not appreciate the persistence and the way that lobby was exerted. I can understand the partners' desire that the judicial system in Romania functions, but it must function in a professional, independent manner, first and foremost in Romanians' and Romania's interest, not necessarily under pressure from foreign ambassadors. On that occasion, I did not appreciate the persistent way of the Dutch Ambassador with whom I had several discussions. I did not appreciate the insistence of the American Ambassador, at that time, Mr Gittenstein, to make a nomination that is common knowledge. It refers to Mrs Kovesi's nomination in the top position and I discussed from a professional perspective firstly, because I didn't do politics with him," Corlatean affirmed, after his hearing in the Committee.
He said that back then, he had explained the importance of having independent, professional people working in the judicial hierarchy — with the Prosecutor's Office, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), the Directorate for Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT).
Asked whether he informed the premier at that time, Corlatean confirmed. He said that even the head of state Traian Basescu called him in relation to the proposals that the Justice Minister had to make.
"I received a phone call from Romania's President, who invited me on that occasion at Cotroceni [Cotroceni Presidential Palace — ed.n.] regarding the proposals that the Justice Minsiter was expected to make, as the mandates of several heads in the Prosecutor's Office were due for change... I did not follow through on the invitation, which was made in certain, less pleasant terms, because I usually care a lot about observing the competencies each one has," Corlatean said.
With regard to the other diplomatic interventions, Corlatean said "they were extremely explicit and, I am honestly telling you, not at all pleasant, by name, with the breaching of provisions that should be valid for everybody, at any given moment. (...) The pressure exceeded the acceptable boundaries in the diplomatic relations between states," former Justice Minister Corlatean concluded.