July 22, 2014
A roundup of domestic and international events.
România Internațional, 22.07.2014, 13:44
An IMF delegation is holding talks in Bucharest today with representatives of the Finance Ministry, on the first adjustment of the 2014 budget. Late this week the Ministry is supposed to make public the data regarding the implementation of the consolidated state budget in the first half of the year. Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced the adjustment last month.
Russia is a partner of terrorist groups, as long as it supports the groups in eastern Ukraine, said Romania’s President Traian Basescu this morning in Bucharest. He also said Romania wanted NATO’s military resources not to be downsized on the eastern flank of the alliance. The Romanian President made the statements before leaving to Warsaw, where he will attend today a meeting of the Central and East European heads of state. The main topics on the meeting’s agenda are the situation in the region, particularly in Ukraine, and the preparation of the NATO summit to be hosted by Great Britain on September 4th and 5th.
The pro-Russia rebels handed over to a Malaysian investigation commission two black boxes of the plane that on Thursday crashed in eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board the plane, including a Romanian, died in the disaster, which the US says should be blamed on the pro-Russia separatists. The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution under which it condemns the attack and calls on the separatists to allow free and safe access to the crash site, to protect the integrity of the area to stop fightings there.
Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean is attending Brussels, alongside his EU counterparts, the proceedings of the Foreign Affairs Council. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, one main topic on the agenda of talks is the situation in Ukraine, particularly the plane crash in the east of the country. The German, French and British leaders have agreed that the EU must reconsider its stand regarding Russia, waiting for the foreign ministers to impose new sanctions. Other topics are the situation in the Middle East and Iraq, in particular the EU’s role and actions in those areas. The Eastern Partnership’ ministers meeting will also be held on the sideline of the event, one month after the historic moment when the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia signed the association and comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU.
The pro-West Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Iurie Leanca, has termed as inexplicable Russia’s decision to ban imports of fresh and canned fruit from the Republic of Moldova, claiming they are infested. The Moldovan Government, which gathered in a special session to find solutions to Moscow’s decision, is now considering introducing fruits in the daily meals of pupils and military. Anticipated by analysts, the embargo comes after the ratification last month of the association and free trade agreements with the EU.
At least 100 thousand Palestinians have taken refuge since the start of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, against Hamas, on July 8th. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon, who stood for an immediate cease-fire, has started a tour of the region. He is expected in Israel and the West Bank today. Over 580 Palestinians have died and over 3 thousand 6 hundred have been wounded in the 14 days of Israeli offensive on Gaza, the most violent since 2009. 25 Israelis have also died. The Palestinian missile attacks against the civilian population in Israel continue.
Romania’s national waterpolo team has defeated Russia 11-8, in their last game in Group A of the European Championships in Budapest. They are now ranked 4th in the group. On Friday, in a game for a position in the 7 to 12 echelon, they will play against number 5 in the group, which will be either France or Germany.
