The Minister of Economy, Irineu Darău, warned at The Truth interviews that Romania must be extremely vigilant in the face of attempts by the Russian Federation to infiltrate strategic projects in the defense industry, especially within the SAFE program.
Asked about the risk of companies with indirect ties to Russia taking contracts under the SAFE program, the minister emphasized that checks will be extremely strict.
“No contract will be executed where the production chain leads, in any corner, to the Russian Federation. In the defense industry, the transparency of the chain must be complete, including contractual”, explained Irineu Darău.
In this sense, the minister explained that Romania relies on companies with a solid history.
“Forget an excellent reason why we need extremely serious partners with a long track record. In the defense industry, companies with a long track record have well-defined procedures, draconian security conditions and work with reliable suppliers. This is a safety factor that we need to consider when working with someone on the SAFE program.” said Irineu Darău, at Interviurile Adevărul.
The official stressed the importance of intelligence support to uncover such dangers.
“I wish that, God forbid, if such a danger starts to materialize in a corner of the production chain, we find out as soon as possible. We are several ministers in CSAT and we need to receive information. A minister does not know everything, there are services that deal with that“said the minister.
Regarding Otokar, Darău stated that the vulnerability has been identified and, therefore, Romania will not be put at risk. We remind you that the Russian businessman Serghei Glinka tried to take control of Popeci Utilaj Greu from Moldova through Automecanica SA, a Romanian company involved in the defense industry and a partner in a one billion euro contract with Otokar for armored vehicles intended for the Romanian army.
“It will not be a danger for Romania, because the vulnerability has been identified and it will not happen. There are all these verification tools, some at the state, some at the intelligence services. It is impossible in today’s world, with today’s stakes, not to try some dubious services, some dubious regimes to infiltrate Europe’s defense industry, including to make it vulnerable. The important thing is that it does not happen to the end”, explained the minister.
“No contract leading to Russia will be executed”
The minister added that full transparency of the supply chain is essential and called “to let’s keep our eyes peeled for any kind of complete chain linked to the defense industry.”
“Let’s get information when such vulnerabilities are discovered. Here is a good example of a hidden vulnerability. We will not execute any kind of contract where the supply and production chain leads to any corner of the Russian Federation. When we talk about the defense industry, the transparency of the chain must be complete, including contractual. It is a controlled process”claims the Minister of Economy, Irineu Darău.
According to him, Romania is in a hybrid war and faces daily destabilization attempts.
“Hybrid war means that someone wants our daily evil: economic chaos, democratic chaos, military chaos, someone wants us isolated. We have to tell the population: we are in hybrid war, this means that every day, every hour, someone is trying to misinform us and we have to be ten times more careful. We are no longer in true peace in Europe.” claims the official.
“Great corruption has not disappeared from Romania, in any field”
Also, Darău drew attention to the importance of the functioning of the Judiciary and the integrity of those involved in the SAFE program. Its protection depends not only on the verification of the supply chain and the support of the intelligence services, but also on the effective functioning of the Judiciary and the integrity of the managers involved.
“The great corruption has not disappeared from Romania, in any field. Attempts at illegal enrichment exist and will exist. The important thing is that there are people who refuse the temptation and a justice system that works. (…) I appeal to those in leadership positions in state companies and in the national defense industry to take their mission very seriously. I want speed and precision from these people. If not, things will not develop well in SAFE. On defense it is much more serious: delays or failures mean direct threats to the security of the country”the minister emphasized.
Asked if a change in the governance formula in Romania could create vulnerabilities in the SAFE program, the Minister of Economy, Irineu Darău, answered: “Extremists in power do not mean a vulnerability, it means that we embrace the Russians and that’s it. A century of history has passed in Romania, in which our grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought with their own lives, some were sent to the Channel, to exist. We cannot allow such a thing, we cannot allow the extremists in power. Because then we would be handing Romania over to the Russians.”
