Swiss Confederation President Micheline Calmy-Rey (photo) arrived yesterday in Bucharest for a two-day visit at the invitation of her Romanian counterpart Traian Basescu. Calmy-Rey was welcomed at Cotroceni President by Basescu, after which they had private talks and official discussions with the two countries’ delegations.
The two leaders were scheduled to give a joint press statement after the talks. At the beginning of their meeting, as the Swiss president noted the high number of journalists present, Basescu said “it’s a disaster” with the Romanian press.
“They know my opinion about them. It’s no secret,” Basescu told Calmy-Rey, according to Mediafax. After that, he added that his remark does not refer to “content, but to the number” of journalists.
Calmy-Rey arrived in Romania accompanied by only one journalist.
The Swiss president was also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Emil Boc yesterday and attend an official dinner in her honour, hosted by President Basescu, later in the evening.
Today, Calmy-Rey will lay a wreath of flowers at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier and then have meetings with Senate Speaker Mircea Geoana and Chamber of Deputies Deputy Speaker Marian Sarbu. She will leave Bucharest around noon.
