1)Current information on the security police, their numbers and status. 2) Information regarding foreign travel laws in Romania - is it still a criminal offence to remain outside of Romania beyond the validity of an exit permit? [ROM5670]

1) Please find attached a well-sourced report on the Romanian secret police which was published by Radio Free Europe on 13 April 1990. It contains the most up-to-date information on the Securitate available to the IRBDC at this time.

2) Attached please find a translation of the regulatory changes affecting Romanian citizens who seek to return to Romania (1 January 1990). Under Article 5 of the Decree, a person who can prove Romanian citizenship, by birth or naturalization, can apply for a Romanian passport either at a Romanian mission abroad or upon return to Romania irrespective of how and when that person left Romania.

ATTACHMENTS:


Mihai Sturdza, "How Dead is Ceausescu's Secret Police Force?", RFE/RL Report on Eastern Europe, , Vol. 1, No. 15, 13 April 1990.
Department of External Affairs, "Repatriation Decree", 12 February 1990.
Embassy of Romania, Note No. 422, 2 February 1990; Decree-Law.
Department of External Affairs, "Emigration/Family Visit Regulations-Eastern Europe", 19 March 1990.