NID: ROMANIA: SITUATION REPORT

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826838
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: December 23, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826838
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ROMANIA: ROMANIA: Situation Report
Struggling To
Form a Government
Ceausescu's Fate
Soviet Response
Ion Iliescu, former Foreign Minister Corneliu Manescu, and
prominent dissident Doina Cornea have joincd in a provisional
government called the National Salvation Front. They have issued a
sweeping program that calls for a free election in April and continued
participation in the Warsaw Pact. Scattered resistance by Ceausescu
supporters continues in Bucharest and elsewhere.
Comment: Longtime Western-oriented opponents of President
Ceausescu, backed by top military personnel, appear to be rapidly
filling the power vacuum. The new leaders are already demonstrating
their ability to pull together quickly a compreriensive program under
extreme pressure. Their ability to complete the agenda depends on
maintaining unity.
Unconfirmed Romanian press reports indicate Nicolae Ceausescu
and presumably his wife were arrested in Tirgoviste yesterday while
attempting to flee the country. His son Nicu was captured later in the
day and paraded on Romanian television after allegedly trying to
rail security forces in Sibiu and to take hostages.
the new government has deputized citizens to arrest
pro- eausescu agitators; security forces are already the target of
popular vengeance.
Comment: The Ceausescu family and political cronies are likely to be
the first targets for popular retribution. Although the government is
calling for due process, the potential for indiscriminate violence and
executions is high.
The Congress of People's Deputies yesterday adopted President
Gorbachev's proposal declaring support for the Romanian people and
a desire for continued close relations. A Foreign Ministry spokesman
said Moscow hopes there will be a peaceful resolution as soon as
possible and expressed concern about instability. The Soviets
reportedly are protesting the regime's violence to the Romanian
Ambassador in Moscow. During yesterday's session of the Congress
of People's Deputies, Gorbachev noted Moldavian concern about the
volatile situation in Romania. The leader of the Moldavian Popular
Front has implicitly called for more democracy in Romania.
Comment: Most Moldavians are ethnic Romanians and receive
Romanian television and radiobroadcasts; they undoubtedly are
following events there closely. The Moldavian Republic consists of
continued
-Tors.t_
'rcs 2997/89
3 13 December 1989
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Political Developments, 22 December 1989
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TCS 2997/89
23 December 1989
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the Soviet Moldavian ASSR. established in 1924, and Bessarabia,
annexed by the USSR from northeastern Romania in 1940 under the
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Soviet leaders fear, probably correctly,
that a more liberal regime in Romania will fuel Moldavian
nationalism and induce nationalists to seek reunification with
Romania.
Other Foreign East European governments unanimously welcomed Ceausescu's
Reactions overthrow and expressed hope it would lead to the democratic
renewal of Romania. Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria expressed
optimism that their currently strained relaticns with Bucharest will
improve.
Comment: Ceausescu's fall will probably bring about an immediate
decrease in the tension between Hungary and Romania. Any long-
term improvement in tics, however, requires pledges from the new
Romanian regime that it is prepared to protect the cultural rights of
Hungarians living in Transylvania. Romania's neighbors almost
certainly are concerned that the collapse of aghority may unleash
a wave of refugees.
Foreign Aid One of the new government's priorities probably will be to improve
Needs economic and political relations with its neighbors and the West.
Hungary has already shipped some humanitarian assistance, probably
medical aid to Timisoara, and Bul aria is discussing measures for
providing aid, including food.
Comment: Initially, the new government is likely to call for
immediate shipments of food and other hum initarian aid to relieve
domestic shortages. Over the longer term, thc government probably
will use Ceausescu's ouster to seek trade concessions and broader
financial and technical assistance.
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TCS 2997/89
23 December 1989
6.2(d)
6.2(d)
6.2(d)
6.2(d)
6.2(d)
6.2(d)
Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826838