* Interview with Mrs. Cristina Chiriac, former vice-president of the AVAS
Reporter: What do you think are the odds of the privatization of "Oltchim" being successful?
Cristina Chiriac: First of all I would like to emphasize the importance of "Oltchim", both economically, as well as strategically.
On a local level, "Oltchim" is the largest provider of jobs, representing the biggest taxpayer contributing to the local and the state budget.
3,400 people financially depend on the fate of the company, to say nothing of the small enterprises which have developed locally and, by shutting down/suspending the activity of Oltchim they are directly affected.
From my point of view, it is vital for Oltchim to resume operation. As for the odds of the successful privatization of Oltchim, I am skeptical.
Reporter: What is your opinion on the privatization method selected by the OPSPI for the sale of the plant?
Cristina Chiriac: As a result of the adhesion and the accession of Romania in the EU, the specific legislation concerning privatization has suffered a series of essential modifications.
I will give you just one simple example: privatizations with a strategic buyer such as "Ford", are no longer possible.
Thus, we can speak today about privatization contracts with competitive terms, without restricting the buyer in any way, without being able to impose development strategies, investments or social protection etc.
From my point of view, I think that the Ministry of the Economy, through the OPSPI, should have continued with the actions to increase the share capital by incorporating the receivable of the AVAS and converting it into stock, especially after having worked for four years to gain the permission to do that from the European Union.
Personally, I feel that by abandoning these actions, the Romanian state
