Romanian President Ion Iliescu warned against his Balkan country relaxing European Union entry efforts ahead of this year's elections, saying Romania could not afford to compromise its greatest post-communist goal.
Political parties agreed on Tuesday to hold parliamentary and presidential polls on November 28, launching a difficult year for the ruling ex-communists who must now apply harsh reforms while trying to lure voters.
"It's clear both these goals must be reached," Iliescu told Reuters in an interview late on Tuesday. "But it is important not to sacrifice in any way the government's political and administrative (efforts towards EU entry)."
Romania hopes to join the European Union in 2007 but entry hinges on speeding up unpopular measures and completing entry negotiations with the wealthy bloc this year.
Iliescu said the ruling PSD party which he founded in the 1990s must keep its eyes on the target but must also secure public consensus for reforms.
While the government of Prime Minister Adrian Nastase has made progress in putting Romania on a pro-western track, it has come under popular criticism over persistent poverty and corruption and has been hesitant to apply unpopular reforms.
As a result, there have been delays in major privatisation's, such as state oil company Petrom, while state sector layoffs have been slow and wage containment difficult in the country of 22 million where monthly salaries average about $150.
While the ruling party still leads in opinion polls, the nationalist Greater Romania party of Corneliu Vadim Tudor, whom Iliescu defeated in the 2000 presidential runoff, is gaining popularity especially in the impoverished countryside.
Iliescu, 73, who cannot run for president again after serving two terms, emerged as a national leader during the violent overthrow of Romania's dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
He denied widespread claims the 1989 collapse of communism was a well-orchestrated internal coup.
"It was a real popular revolt," said Iliescu, who had worked closely with Ceausescu before falling into disfavour with the regime. "Romania had probably the worst dictatorship in the area and its revolution was the most radical."
Despite his communist past, Iliescu said there was no other path for Romania but the one leading to Europe and Nato.
Romania joins the alliance in May and has offered its Black Sea coast for military bases, a move Iliescu said would boost its security against the threat of global terrorism.
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