DATE=7/24/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217642
TITLE=ROMANIA/ SPY SCANDAL (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEFAN BOS
DATELINE=BUDAPEST
CONTENT=
 
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE HEAD OF ROMANIA'S FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, 
GENERAL IOAN TALPES, RESIGNED THURSDAY OVER A SPY SCANDAL 
INVOLVING SWITZERLAND.  STEFAN BOS REPORTS FROM BUDAPEST, THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY THE PRESS OFFICE OF ROMANIAN PRESIDENT 
EMIL CONSTANTINESCU.

TEXT:  IN A STATEMENT PRESIDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU SAID THE HEAD
OF ROMANIA'S FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE RESIGNED BECAUSE HIS 
ORGANIZATION ALLEGEDLY SPIED IN SWITZERLAND.  

MR. CONSTANTINESCU SAID THE OFFICIAL, GENERAL IOAN TALPES, IS 
TAKING THE BLAME FOR THE CASE OF A SWISS DIPLOMAT ARRESTED IN 
SWITZERLAND OVER ACCUSATIONS OF OF SPYING FOR ROMANIA.  

BUT ROMANIA'S TOP SPY AGENCIES HAVE DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN 
THIS SPECIFIC CASE.

HOWEVER THE AGENCIES ADMITTED THEY HAD CONTACTS OVER SEVERAL 
YEARS WITH A SWISS DIPLOMAT.

SWISS PROSECUTORS BELIEVE THE DIPLOMAT HANDED SECRET POLITICAL 
AND ECONOMIC DATA TO ROMANIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICES, INCLUDING 
SECRET POLICE FILES.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR THAT A TOP ROMANIAN SPY 
OFFICIAL LEAVES OFFICE BECAUSE OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT.  

THESE RESIGNATIONS COME AT A MOMENT WHEN THE PRESIDENT VOWED TO 
BRING THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY UNDER FULL DEMOCRATIC CONTROL.

THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION SAID EARLIER THAT 
OFFICIALS OF THE FORMER COMMUNIST SECRET POLICE -- "SECURITATE" 
-- ARE STILL HOLDING KEY POSITIONS IN THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/SB/ENE-T/LWM

24-Jul-97 9:51 PM EDT (0151 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.