US Ambassador to Bucharest, Minister Toader have two-hour talk

The Ambassador of the United States to Bucharest Hans Klemm has met with Justice Minister Tudorel Toader for talks. The meeting was called by the US diplomat and comes after the US Embassy expressed concern regarding the independence of the Romanian justice system.

The amendments to the justice laws announced in August by Minister Toader were received with concern by Romanian public opinion and were rejected by prosecutors of the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA).

According to Ambassador Klemm, the talks were “fruitful and exhaustive,” and included topics such as the minister’s responsibilities and vision. the meeting between the two took two hours. The talks took place “in a spirit of cooperation,” Klemm said.

“I look forward to working further with the minister and the Government,” the US ambassador said, stating that a joint statement together with Minister Toader is to be released later during the day.

“The firm establishment of the rule of law needs a strong and independent judicial system, as well as independent prosecutors that can survey criminal activities without interference from the political sphere or limits to the act of justice. The US took notice with concern for the independence of the justice system of the proposals made by the Ministry of Justice on August 23,”

On Monday, the Romanian minister told a broadcaster Antena 3 that the American diplomat should provide arguments for his concern regarding the appointment of chief prosecutors in Romania.

“This would be the third time I meet with the US ambassador. At his initiative, not mine. […] He expressed his concern, but I said I would have liked to receive the reasons behind this concern. […] Perhaps he is concerned that I didn’t propose the American model in the project to amend justice laws,” Toader said.

The Romanian official also said that during previous meetings, the US Ambassador proposed a visit to the US, and that perhaps the agenda of the upcoming meeting would also include talks on the schedule of the visit.

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis is one of the most high profile actors to warn against the proposed amendments, which he deemed “an attack on the rule of law.”