Romanian prime minister asks court to order president to appoint new foreign minister+

BUCHAREST, Romania: Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu has asked Romania's top court to order the president to approve a new foreign minister, the government said Tuesday.

The premier called on the Constitutional Court to intervene and resolve a constitutional conflict between President Traian Basescu and him, a statement said.

Tariceanu nominated Adrian Cioroianu, a historian and journalist, as foreign minister, but Basescu has refused to sign a decree appointing him to the office.

"The president appreciates Cioroianu as a lawmaker," Basescu's spokeswoman Adriana Saftoiu said. However, he believes Romania needs a more experienced diplomat to head the foreign ministry, she added.

Tariceanu and Basescu have been at odds over political issues, and the premier accuses the president of undermining his Cabinet.

Cioroianu is one of Romania's representatives in the European Parliament and is expected to have a more Europe-centered foreign policy. On Tuesday he dismissed Basescu's concerns over his lack of experience in diplomacy.

"As a member of the European Parliament's foreign affairs commission I don't think my professional experience is an issue," he said, adding that he was concerned that the ministry had become an object of domestic political disputes.

Cioroianu was to replace Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, who resigned last month at the prime minister's request after he failed to inform the premier that two Romanians had been arrested by U.S. troops in Iraq. Ungureanu remained in office pending the appointment of a replacement, but on Tuesday, Basescu signed a decree officially vacating the position.

Tariceanu is a fervent advocate of withdrawing Romania's 600 troops from Iraq, while Basescu is staunchly pro-American and wants the troops to stay until Iraq is stabilized. Ungureanu has sided with the president on Iraq, despite being a member of the prime minister's Liberal Party.

Romania joined the European Union in January.

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