Bucharest snubs arms "code of conduct"

Leading with the front page headline, "The only country in Europe!" Cotidianulreports that Romania is now the only EU and European Defence Agency member not to have signed the 'Code of conduct for arms exports,' approved by the Union in 2005. The daily further notes that this is "the second time" that Romania has refused to sign. The first occasion "was in 2007 just after it joined the EU." Cotidianul believes that the reason for Romania's systematic refusal to come into line with other member states is that the 'Code' is designed to bring greater transparency and more competition to the arms business. Romania, which is world's 39th ranked arms producer, sold 37 million euros worth of arms in 2005.