PM Emil Boc: We have come full path of the Bucharest-Ploiesti highway, it is about 62 km. As you can see, the last 14 km are completed, almost to the last detail, including signage, poles, dividing lines, so that you can move smoothly. So, 14 km are completed on time. Physical state of 62 km per whole is 90%. This entitles us to say that this spring, work will be completed and all 62 kilometers will be given in circulation. I indicated that the 62-km is part of the 434 kilometers highway today in work, and which is to be completed in the period 2012-2013. These 62, which will be completed this spring, is added to the 123 which are now completed and on which we drive. I appreciate the effort made by Ministry and Mrs. Boagiu in particular, to keep builders at a high pace and during winter. This means that you can work on adjacent works, such as ditches, culverts, dividing lines or other works of this kind which allows us once the weather will be better in the spring, for the work be completed. And here, as well as at the Constanta-Cernavoda Medgidia, you will see, probably next week we will get there, to see the site condition.

Finally, I just say it is vital for Romania to keep its growth in 2012. We need more economic growth in 2012, therefore, every effort is more than welcome to support economic activity, investments, jobs. Why do I say that? For that we come after one year, 2011, with economic growth, it is likely to be even more than 2%, but we expect the final results in February, and, unfortunately, given that the EU announces even the danger of a return to recession as I said, we need growth in 2012 to preserve and create jobs for the Romanian. Madam Minister, details of work and then we answer your questions.

Anca Boagiu, Minister of Transport: From the standpoint of the Ministry of Transport, it is the first time that we see each other at the beginning of the year, I would say we have two levels on which we operate. One includes a section which we saw today and let me say it is also washing the shame for the works begun in 2005, 2006, 2007 and unfinished, until that through very tough measures considered by some but very accurate from our point of view, we sped up work.
And this is a section begun for many years, if I remember, around 2007 - I hope I am not mistaken - that will finally be completed, fitting decent costs, cost standards, as defined last year.
On the other hand, this year, as I said, we conclude these works, which I hope to bring honor to builders, to those who contracted them many years ago, certainly not. We talk about 200 kilometers of highway, these 62 are included too, and are included ongoing works on both highway to Constanta, except Cernavoda-Medgidia that we were forced to terminate, in order not to be partakers of blackmail of the builder on the Ministry and beneficiary.
We work another 263 km of bypasses and last but not least, the remaining 1,800 km of national roads, which began to be rehabilitated from loans from the European Investment Bank.

We will not give up and will not compromise the rules we imposed so far, and even more, we will strengthen them, because what I said at the beginning of this visit, that state authorities did not understand that highways are not of individuals, and my colleagues at the National Company for Roads and Highways - are of the Romanians. They must understand that they cannot make any pressure, nor be lazy, not to forget that there are laws that say that things must be done quickly, and they must in some time to give us the necessary permits and licenses.
Finally, the good news is that at the level of the European Commission, there are approved 1.3 billion euro for national roads and motorways and we hope, we are very optimistic that in the first quarter of this year, we will have approvals of nearly one billion euro for rail contracts too.
Reporter: They will cut the ribbon in April, as you want or as in May, as builders want?

Mrs. Anca Boagiu: First, we do not cut ribbons; we build highways for Romanian citizens. If you want to do it, I let you to cut it. The term is taken and this time, it will be observed.
Reporter: The assumed one being which?

Mrs. Anca Boagiu: It is the one we assumed before Prime Minister.

Reporter
Mr. Prime Minister, I know that on the last evening meeting with PPE leaders, you discussed about the protests in the country. What particularly?

PM Emil Boc
No, at the party, we discussed about the preparation of the PPE Congress to be held in this autumn, in Romania. It is an extremely important event for the entire family of the European Popular Party.

Reporter
Are you of the same opinion like Minister Elena Udrea that the opposition generates violence, provokes them?

PM Emil Boc
I said a thing – violence should be left out by anyone, power, opposition, by those in the street or outside the street. In democracy, violence has nothing to search as way of solving any problem, and this is why we have been and will remain a supporter of non – violence and dialogue.

Reporter
Does the opposition encourage violence?

PM Emil Boc
I hope it shall not do it, because it harms the country, firstly. And each politician should have the same responsibility of what means the rule of law.

Reporter
Did you take into account the variant of going to University Square?

PM Emil Boc
I want you to know that I understand the dissatisfaction of Romanians, as both Prime Minister and man , because I keep in touch with people, I know what means to have difficulties in these times of economic crisis. I am also convinced that together with my colleagues, the measures we have taken were absolutely necessary and fair. Without them, Romania would have sunken economically, and you see what happens in Europe, other examples would follow, which will show us further on that we did what was necessary at this moment. And we, the politicians, President and Prime Minister, we sacrificed our image; the party sacrificed the votes to find the solution that Romania goes on. I understand the Romanians; you should also understand that only through dialogue, listening to people, pragmatic solutions, we can overcome this difficult period, of economic crisis. One thing is to govern in a period when you have economic growth and not to know what you do with money, how was during Tariceanu times; other was the situation when the economic crisis came, and you know the difficulties we were through. Do you think that there is a politician who wants to sacrifice his image and the party to sacrifice the votes to take tough measures?
Where did it happen in Europe up to so far? Now, they all do the same thing, because life obliges them to reach the same situations. Therefore, I believe that we do not lose what we won – and you see that 2011 was a year with a slight economic growth – if 2012 continues this economic growth, for Romanians, it means that we are outside any risk of non – payment of social obligations and we could hope for better in the next years. But, overnight, nobody can work wonders, perhaps those from opposition.

Reporter
Did you take into account the variant of going there, in University Square?

PM Emil Boc
I repeat the solutions are the institutional dialogue. As Prime Minister, you should have dialogue on all levels and I do this every day.

Reporter
Regarding the opposition, Victor Ponta, in reply to what Elena Udrea said, stated that Elena Udrea is not Romanian and the future Prime Minister or the one, who will replace Emil Boc, will be elected by Romanians.

PM Emil Boc
I will not enter into dispute with Victor Ponta because I have many things to do, I can tell you, but I heard about an absolutely irresponsible and irrational gesture of PSD, to require the European Union blocking EU funds for Romania. I think it is absolutely irresponsible decision, which shows that the opposition, its only concern is to reach faster and somehow to power, forgetting that we have a country to govern and some European money to bring here at home, and putting on the same level of Romania and Hungary is absolutely wrong and has no coverage.
Romania is in agreement with the European Commission, it has no problem with the European Union and the European Commission, while Hungary has a problem with the European Commission on certain legislative acts that it adopted and the agreement with the Monetary Fund and European Commission, to which it wants to reach.
So, put on the same level Romania and Hungary is a very big mistake and I think that unfortunately, the opposition, out of the wish to create agitation, sacrifices the interest of Romania and I want to say this very clearly and loudly to opposition: beyond our political battle, natural in a democracy, they should not forget about Romania.

Reporter: People in the Square demand your resignation. What do you convey to them?

PM Emil Boc: The Parliament discusses all aspects of the fate and future of governments, because, under the Constitution, Government is politically accountable to Parliament, and I have availability and I backed the extraordinary session of Parliament and all forms of institutional dialogue.
I want you to know that Prime Minister’s term of office matters less for me. For me, the fate of the country and also not to sacrifice what we did so far is what matters. I will behave every day like in the first day, irrespective of PM’s term of office, but, I repeat, do not forget that at stake is Romania's economic stability, on which depends the daily living of each Romanian this year and beyond.

Reporter: Have you considered /.../ reshuffle in the future?

PM Emil Boc: You know the answer to this question.

Reporter: Regarding Thursday’s gendarmes intervention, how do you consider it? Did they act in the right way?

PM Emil Boc: I think the most important thing is that violence did not escalate and state authorities must do their duty. I want you to know that the gendarmes do not have political color and they should never have this thing. They are some professionals who have to defend public order and rule of law and my message and of any other Prime Minister to be after 2012 must be the same: the citizen must feel safe wherever he is on the street or meeting or at home or on the highway and it is our obligation as authorities to give to citizen safety, because for that, he pays taxes. Therefore I am a supporter of any situation that clearly does not lead to violence, with the observance of law and legality by everyone.
Reporter Will protests continue?

PM Emil Boc: We will see.
Reporter: the University Square must it be evacuated every night at 12:00 by gendarmes, by force? Is this necessary? Why not leave them there as they want to stay?

PM Emil Boc: No, no, to be very well understood. Peaceful and legal right to expression is guaranteed in Romania and will be guaranteed in this country. I refer, just to violence, which I will never support, street violence. Otherwise, the right to peaceful assembly, according to law, will be and will remain guaranteed in Romania.

Reporter: The gendarmes evacuated the University Square three days in a row, at 12:00.
PM Emil Boc: The gendarmerie made you known the decisions, not me. In terms of the state, I repeat, I will always support the peaceful right to expression, under the law, stating that I understand both as man and Prime Minister the needs and difficulties of people and only with patience and responsibility, I think we can find solutions to move forward as a country. Thank you.
Reporter: Last night, what did you discuss at Cotroceni? Have you discussed with the President last night?

PM Emil Boc
The party issued a press release on this.