Authorities promise to find storeroom for SIS and MIA files by May

The files on the victims of political repression that were transferred by the Security and Information Service (SIS) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to the National Archive will be kept in a new storeroom that, according to Government officials, will be found by May. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, National Archive director Petru Vicol said that the SIS and MIA have so far transferred 15,000 files. There is no room where to keep the other files that are to be transmitted. Three years ago, there was devised a project to construct an annexe to the National Archive, but no money was allocated for building works. A sum of 26 million lei is needed to erect a six-story building with storehouse. Historian Mihai Tasca told Info-Prim Neo's reporter that the annexe was designed at a cost of 400,000 lei. If the building is not constructed, this money will be lost. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, adviser to the Prime Minister on social matters Victor Lutenko said the construction of the annexe will last for several years, but the National Archive needs a storeroom now. Thus, it was decided to identify a building where the files will be stored. There were selected several buildings, but a final decision will be taken at end-April. The first files from the SIS were transferred to the National Archive on November 9, 2010. The then Acting President Mihai Ghimpu said a number of measures will be taken to support the National Archive, including the allocation of money for renting new rooms for storing files. The authorities promised that the interested persons will have access to these files, but this is still not possible. The persons can obtain only xeroxes of the files on the basis of an application.