Former Romanian president Ion Iliescu said in an interview with the German newspaper Der Spiegel that between 2002 and 2003 he approved “in principle” an US request to create a CIA center in Romania.

He said he didn’t know it involved a detention unit because it was Ioan Talpes, head of the Presidential Administration at that time, who set up the project’s details. Talpes was also head of the Presidential Department for National Security at the time.

“I thought it was an accommodation gesture before we joined NATO,” Iliescu said, reports local Mediafax.

Ioan Talpes confirmed for Der Spiegel Ion Iliescu’s comments on the CIA center in Romania.

Ion Iliescu was Romania’s president between December 22, 1989-1992, 1992-1996 and 2000-2004.

editor@romania-insider.com