Radio România Internațional

Tag: Republic of Moldova

  • The outcome of mayoral elections in Chisinau

    The outcome of mayoral elections in Chisinau

    It’s for the
    first time in 27 years of independence of the Republic of Moldova that the
    winner of the race for mayor of capital Chisinau is not allowed to take over
    office. On Monday night, the Supreme Court of Justice confirmed the rulings
    issued previously by another two lower courts and therefore invalidated the
    outcome of the June 3rd round of elections for the office of mayor
    of Chisinau, won by the leader of the pro-European platform ‘Dignity and Truth’
    Andrei Nastase.






    Both Nastase and
    his opponent, the pro-Russia socialist Ion Ceban, were accused of addressing
    voters on social media on election day, after the legal end of campaigning.
    According to the Court, this has invalidated the entire ballot and therefore
    annulled the 125,000 votes won by Nastase. The ruling is final and cannot be
    appealed. The mayor elect has vehemently accused the Democratic Party, the main
    player in a self-declared pro-European government, and its leader, the
    controversial oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc of benefiting from this ruling.






    Andrei Nastase: This has never happened anywhere in the
    world. Never has a court invalidated elections without anybody asking for that.
    This is quite unique! It’s a spit in the face of our people, but also in the
    face of the entire world, a civilized world, which has promptly reacted to
    what’s been happening here. From now on, the Republic of Moldova will be known
    in the world not only as the country where somebody has stolen one billion and
    where the Russian mafia has laundered 30 billion, but also as the country where
    elections have been invalidated by mere theft.






    Besides the
    political scandal, the Court’s ruling has also created an institutional
    deadlock. According to the Electoral Code, in case of invalidation, a new
    ballot should be organized within two weeks, by excluding the candidates that
    broke the law. Another article of the same Code, however, reads that elections cannot
    be held within less than a year before the normal round, scheduled in this case
    for June 2019.






    The mayoral
    office remained vacant after the mayor elected in 2015, the pro-European
    Liberal Dorin Chirtoaca resigned, as he was indicted in a case which he
    described as politically commissioned. According to the US Embassy in Chisinau,
    the Supreme Court’s ruling has reinforced the public’s perception of political
    interference in the judiciary of the Republic of Moldova.






    In turn, the EU
    Ambassador to Moldova, Peter Michalko, has stated he was extremely disappointed
    by the decision of the Supreme Court, saying that the will of the people,
    expressed in free and fair elections, has not been respected.






    In Bucharest,
    the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has warned that political
    tension might affect the stability of the Republic of Moldova, the right-wing
    opposition has voiced support for Nastase, and the media has bluntly dubbed the
    invalidation of the mayoral elections in Chisinau as mere ‘garbage’.





  • Pro-European wins the race to become mayor of Chişinău

    Pro-European wins the race to become mayor of Chişinău

    Representative of the pro-European opposition in the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet country with a predominantly Romanian speaking population) Andrei Năstase, on Sunday won the snap elections for the City Hall of Chişinău. Backed by several political parties, the leader of the Dignity and Truth Platform (PPDA, a right-of-centre non-parliamentary party of pro-European orientation) got over 52% of the ballots cast in the second round of the elections to defeat the Socialists’ candidate (the pro-Russian left wing), Ion Ceban.



    Andrei Năstase, 42, a lawyer by profession, stepped into the spotlight in 2015, when he was one of the leaders of large-scale anti corruption protests after the disappearance of one billion US dollars from the Moldovan banking system. Andrei Năstase is also known for his harsh criticism of the businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc, the leader of the ruling Democratic Party. In a press conference given jointly with his campaign staffers and representatives of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) led by Maia Sandu and of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) — two of the parties who backed him in the election campaign – Năstase hailed the importance of their support in securing his victory and underlined the need for further cooperation, particularly ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for the end of the year.



    Andrei Năstase also made public his intention to make a thorough assessment of the situation at the City Hall prior to setting his priorities. The early elections for the City Hall of Chişinău were held after the former mayor, Liberal Dorin Chirtoacă, resigned in February, following a corruption case which -he claimed – had been orchestrated by the power. Now, Dorin Chirtoacă has congratulated Andrei Năstase and urged him to set up a common bloc of the right wing forces in the run up to the parliamentary elections.



    In his turn, Socialist Ion Ceban has also congratulated Andrei Năstase on his win, but he termed the voting as political and geo-political. Actually, many pundits in Chişinău agree people voted based on geo-political criteria, just like every time they do in the Republic of Moldova. In Bucharest, the conservative and Liberal right wing has hailed Andrei Năstase’s victory, which they described as remarkable, saying that reason has won over anything else and adding that now the fight has started for the parliamentary elections due in autumn, when the real battle is waged. The new mayor will have a one-year term in office, until the local elections of 2019.

  • By-elections in the Republic of Moldova

    By-elections in the Republic of Moldova

    As expected by political commentators, Sunday’s mayoral by-elections in the Republic of Moldova are more a kind of test. They were held in five villages and the country’s two biggest cities, the capital Chisinau and Balti, in the north.



    The mayor of Chisinau, the pro-European Liberal Dorin Chirtoaca, and that of Balti, the pro-Russian populist Renato Usatîi, have resigned after becoming the subject of criminal investigations they both described as politically motivated. In Balti, which has a large Russian-speaking and pro-Russian population, the new mayor has been elected in the first round, with more than 60% of the votes. His name is Nicolai Grigorisin, the candidate of the same populist party suspected of being funded by Moscow of which Usatîi was also a member. In the capital city, which is home to a third of Moldova’s population and accounts for half of its GDP, the name of the new mayor will be known in two weeks’ time, after a second round of voting.



    The finalists are the Socialist candidate Ion Ceban, who is close to Moldova’s pro-Russian president Igor Dodon and who won more than 40% of the votes, and the pro-European Andrei Nastase, the leader of the Dignity and Truth Platform Party and supported by the former presidential candidate Maia Sandu, who won around 32% of the votes. The independent candidate Silvia Radu, who served as interim mayor after Chirtoaca’s resignation and who was backed by the ruling Democratic Party, came third with 18% of the votes.



    More than the percentages obtained by the candidates, what shocks is the low voter turnout of 35%. Commentators say one reason for this is that the new mayors will only serve for one year before the regular local elections are held in 2019. The civic organisations that have monitored the voting process spoke about errors in the election lists, the presence of unauthorised persons inside and in the vicinity of polling stations and cases of organised transport of voters.



    The by-elections in Moldova’s two biggest cities is seen as a dress-rehearsal for the parliamentary elections at the end of the year, Radio Romania’s correspondents quote political analyst Igor Munteanu as saying. His view is shared by the expert Ion Tabarta, who deplores the fragmentation of the pro-European right during the election campaign.



    The second election round in Chisinau may, however, address this situation, precisely under pressure from voters. Pro-European sentiments are in the majority in this city, which has never elected a pro-Russian mayor and where more than half of the population stands for unification with Romania according to a recent opinion poll. Commentators therefore believe the right will rally behind Andrei Nastase in the final round. (Translated by C. Mateescu)

  • May 11, 2018 UPDATE

    May 11, 2018 UPDATE

    VISIT – The Romanian PM Viorica Dăncilă is on a visit to the Vatican until Sunday. On Friday the PM was received in audience by Pope Francis. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Government, PM Dancila thanked the Pope for the special attention he has always paid to relationships with Romania and expressed hope that the Pope will pay an apostolic visit to our country. So far, the agenda of the talks has included, among others, the protection of human rights and ensuring religious freedom. The PMs visit to the Vatican comes against the backdrop of very good bilateral relations, in a year when Romania celebrates the Centennial of the Great Union, which will be marked at the Holy See through a number of academic and cultural events.



    CORRUPTION – Liviu Dragnea, the head of the Social Democratic Party, in power in Romania, told the Associated Press that in Romania the fight against corruption has gone too far, and that there has been a shift from a time when no politician in power was probed into, to a situation where all politicians are accused, prosecuted and indicted, and their careers are ruined by trials. Dragnea also said that Romania will find a fair, legal way to tackle corruption. AP mentions that Liviu Dragnea could not become a PM after his party won the election because he had been convicted for vote rigging, and that he is currently facing 2 other charges, namely embezzling European funds and official misconduct. The American news agency also mentions that the attempts by the ruling coalition to amend the countrys criminal laws triggered massive protests at home and criticism abroad. In the interview, Liviu Dragnea also said his party supports the EU concept, but that both Romania, and other Eastern European member states are concerned and preoccupied about a “two-speed Europe that leaves poorer nations behind while the wealthier ones benefit.



    LEGISLATION – The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis Friday notified the Constitutional Court of Romania on a change in the law regulating the operation of the Higher Council of Magistracy, the Presidential Administration announced. The President criticised the separation of the Councils powers by departments. Early this month the President decided to send back to the Constitutional Court the 3 justice laws, on the status of judges and prosecutors, on the organisation of courts and on the Higher Council of Magistracy, after they had been rushed through Parliament in the form drafted by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Democrats and Liberals. Iohannis also announced he would send the bills to the Venice Commission for review.



    MILITARY – The opening ceremony for the multi-national exercise Resolute Castle 2018 took place on Friday at the military firing range in Cincu, central Romania. This is a six-month exercise involving troops of the Romanian Land Forces and the South Carolina National Guard. Until September, the Romanian and American military will conduct infrastructure works and arrange the training platforms at the Cincu range. Resolute Castle 2018 is an exercise focusing on the construction and strengthening of training centres in Poland and Romania. This enables US military units to rapidly deploy troops, to rotate troops with allies and multi-national partners and to prove their deterrence capacity in a complete security environment.



    ART – Works put at some 10 million euros, from important private collections, from the Pompidou Museum in Paris as well as from the collection of the former communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu are on display, as of today until May 20th, in Art Safari, the largest art event in Romania, hosted by a central Bucharest square. The most valuable piece on display is a Brancusi from a private collection and estimated at “a seven-digit number as the director of Art Safari Bucharest, Ioana Ciocan has put it. The Art Safari exhibition has reached its 5th edition this year.



    ECONOMY – The GDP of the European Union amounted to 15,300 billion euros in 2017, according to data made public on Friday by Eurostat. Romanias GDP was nearly 188 billion euros, accounting for 1.2% of the GDP of the bloc, and ranking as the 16th economy in the EU. According to Eurostat, Romanias GDP was slightly higher than Greeces 178 billion euros, but below the GDP of the Czech Republic, 192 billion euros. More than half of the GDP of the EU was generated in 2017 by just 3 countries: Germany, the UK and France. With nearly 3,300 billion euros last year, Germany strengthened its position as the top economy of the Union, accounting for 21% of the Unions GDP. At the opposite pole, 11 EU member states produced less than 1% of the blocs GDP: Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Hungary.



    REP OF MOLDOVA – Over 100 mayors gathered in Chishinau on Friday to attend the third meeting of the Congress of Local Authorities from Romania and the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet country with a Romanian speaking population). During the meeting, the mayors unanimously endorsed an appeal-declaration calling on the central authorities in Romania and the Republic of Moldova to go ahead with the local decentralization process, to organize every year a joint session of the Romanian and Moldovan Governments, and to harmonies the legislation of the two countries. In 2017, some 100 towns and communes in the Republic of Moldova signed twinning agreements with similar localities in Romania. An overall number of over 500 localities from the two countries have joined the twinning program. (Translated by D. Vijeu and AM Popescu)

  • The future of Bucharest-Chisinau relations

    The future of Bucharest-Chisinau relations

    On Tuesday, Romania celebrated 100 years since the union of Bessarabia with Romania. To mark the occasion, the Romanian Parliament met in a solemn session, where speeches were given and a declaration was adopted. The document reads that Parliament deems legitimate the wish of those citizens of the Republic of Moldova who support the union with Romania as a natural next step in the process of the development and affirmation of the Romanian nation. Romania and its citizens have always been ready to welcome such a wish, which would be the expression of the Moldovan citizens sovereign will.



    A province with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population that was part of the Tsarist Empire 106 years, Bessarabia became united with the mother country, Romania, in 1918. Years later, in 1940, the Soviet Union re-annexed it, under an ultimatum, and the present-day Republic of Moldova was created on part of that territory. With the aim of stifling and denying the Romanian identity of the local population, the Soviet authorities invented a Moldovan language and identity, different from the Romanian one. Then, to mark its territory, in 1992, Moscow supported with troops the pro-Russian separatist ambitions in Transdienstr.



    During every election held in Moldova, there is a fierce fight between the politicians who support the countrys European integration and those who would like to bring Moldova back under Russias sphere of influence. Therefore, things are by no means simple, and a reunification with Romania would take time, as Dan Dungaciu, the Director of the International Political Sciences and International Relations of the Romanian Academy said:



    “If the citizens of the Republic of Moldova ever want to reunite with Romania, this will be done in keeping with the international legislation in force, with the provisions of the final agreements signed in Helsinki, which speak of border inviolability and also of the legitimacy of a decision that is the result of both parties common wish. The situation in Chisinau is different, because official standpoints are, maybe not radically different, but in any case different. The Moldovan officials message is clear: on the one hand, they are interested in the reintegration of the Republic of Moldova, which means the Transdniester region, because they want to avoid what happened in 1992 and, secondly, if a new relationship with Romania is ever to be considered, this must be done by means of a referendum. In other words, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova would have to decide that in a referendum.”



    Until reunification becomes a genuine topic of discussion, Romanian officials agree that what is important right now is to strengthen the special relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova and support the European and Euro-Atlantic efforts of that small east-European state, which is the poorest in Europe. As Moldovan society is divided and the Russian propaganda strong, Romanias support is essential.




  • 25 March 2018, UPDATE

    25 March 2018, UPDATE

    Extradition. The
    Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader will travel to Belgrade on Monday for
    a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Nela Kuburovich.
    The two are also expected to discuss the situation of the former Romanian MP
    and businessman Sebastian Ghita who fled to Serbia just before an interview
    with the National Anticorruption Directorate and one day before his parliamentary
    immunity was about to expire. The Romanian justice minister has said recently
    that the Romanian side has handed over all the information needed for Ghita to
    be extradited. The latter is the subject of several criminal cases in Romania.
    Seen as a close aide of the former Social Democratic prime minister Victor
    Ponta, Ghita fled the country in December 2016 and was arrested in Serbia in
    April last year. The Romanian authorities are now trying to obtain his
    extradition.




    Anniversary. A large rally to
    celebrate the 100th anniversary of the union of Bassarabia with
    Romania was held on Sunday in Chisinau, the capital of the ex-Soviet,
    majority-Romanian speaking Republic of Moldova. The participants adopted a
    proclamation in which they pledge to seek reunification with Romania. The event
    was also attended by Romanian politicians, including the former president
    Traian Basescu. A province with a majority ethnic Romanian population that
    formed part of the Tsarist Empire, Bassarabia became united with Romania at the
    end of the First World War, on the 27th of March 1918. The Soviet
    Union later re-annexed Bassarabia in 1940 following an ultimatum, and created
    today’s Republic of Moldova on its territory. The 100th anniversary
    of the union of Bassarabia with Romania will also be celebrated by the
    Parliament in Bucharest on Tuesday through a special meeting.




    Palm Sunday. Roman-Catholic Christians across the world,
    including Romania, which is a majority Orthodox country, celebrated Palm
    Sunday, which marks the beginning of Passion Week. The celebration honours
    Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he was greeted by people holding
    fig branches. In Bucharest, believers took part in a procession held in the
    centre of the city. On Palm Sunday, the Roman-Catholic Church also celebrates
    World Youth Day, which is now in its 33rd year. On this occasion,
    Pope Francis urged young people to overcome their fears, to be authentic and
    have courage in loving God and their peers, after the example of the Virgin
    Mary. Catholics and Roman-Catholics celebrate Easter next Sunday, followed by
    the Orthodox and the Greek-Catholics a week later.




    Catalonia. The
    former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was detained on Sunday in Germany after
    the Spanish authorities issued an international arrest warrant for six Catalan
    politicians who fled abroad, including Puigdemont. 25 separatist politicians
    are to appear before the Supreme Court in Madrid on charges of rebellion,
    misuse of public funds and disobeying the state. On the 27th of
    October last year, the Catalan Parliament approved through secret vote the
    proclamation of the region’s independence from Spain and the creation of a
    republic based on a referendum. Later, the Spanish Senate suspended Catalonia’s
    autonomy and sacked all regional leaders, saying the declaration of
    independence was illegal.






    Flood
    alert.     Temperatures will continue to rise slightly in the next 24 hours in most
    of Romania, but it’s still colder than usual at this time of the year. Rain is
    expected in the south and south-east and sleet in the mountains. Hydrologists
    have issued a yellow code alert for flooding from Monday lunch-time until
    Wednesday evening for rivers in several counties in southern Romania. An orange
    code alert is also in place until the end of the month warning of flooding on
    several sections of the river Danube and in the Danube Delta.

  • 25 March 2018

    25 March 2018

    Anniversary. Chisinau, the
    capital of the ex-Soviet, majority-Romanian speaking Republic of Moldova, is
    hosting an assembly to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the union
    of Bassarabia with Romania. A number of Romanian politicians, including the
    former president and current leader of the People’s Movement Party Traian
    Basescu and the Liberal leader Ludovic Orban are due to attend the event. A
    province with a majority ethnic Romanian population that formed part of the
    Tsarist Empire, Bassarabia became united with Romania at the end of the First
    World War, on the 27th of March 1918. The Soviet Union later
    re-annexed Bassarabia in 1940 following an ultimatum, and created today’s
    Republic of Moldova on its territory.




    Summer time. In
    Romania, clocks moved forward from Daylight Saving Time on Saturday night. 3 am
    became 4 am, and Romania is now 3 hours ahead of GMT. Because of the shift, the
    day of the 25th of March only has 23 hours instead of 24. Clocks were
    turned forward at the same time in all European Union countries. Summer time
    lasts from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October. First
    adopted in 1916 in Germany, Daylight Saving Time was introduced in Romania in
    1932 to make the most of natural light and reduce the use of artificial
    lighting.






    France attacks.
    A special church service was held on Sunday in Trebes, in southern France, to
    honour the four people killed on Friday by an Islamist attacker. Paris will
    host a national ceremony in a few days’ time to honour the gendarme who died
    after taking the place of a hostage. Lieutenant-colonel Arnauld Beltrame was hailed a
    hero for saving the lives of several people taken hostage in a supermarket by
    an armed man, a French citizen of Moroccan origin. Investigations are ongoing
    and the police have interviewed two more persons in connection with the attack,
    one of whom is believed to be the attacker’s partner. France, which saw a
    series of attacks in 2015 and 2016 that killed more than 240 people and wounded
    hundreds, is still facing a strong jihadist threat. The Romanian government has
    firmly condemned these terrorist attacks and said it stands by France and the
    other countries in the fight against terrorism and radicalisation.




    US rallies. Hundreds
    of thousands of people took to the streets in many cities across the United
    States to demand tighter gun control laws. The demonstrations, held under the
    motto March for Our Lives, were led by the survivors of a mass shooting at a
    Florida school in February in which 17 people were killed. In Washington, the
    rally, the biggest in recent years, was joined by many celebrities.




    Palm Sunday. Roman-Catholic Christians today celebrate
    Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem commonly known as Palm Sunday, which also marks
    the beginning of the Passion Week, the week preceding Easter. On Palm Sunday,
    the Roman-Catholic Church also celebrates Youth Day. Processions with flowers
    and branches are held to honour Christ’s entry into Jerusalem almost 2,000
    years ago. During Passion Week, all Roman-Catholic believers must forgive and
    reconcile with those with whom they have fallen out, as this is a time of
    penitence and preparation for the biggest Christian holiday, Easter.




    Handball. The Romanian women’s handball side today face
    Russia in Cluj Napoca in a return match as part of the fourth qualifying group
    in the run-up to the European Championships in France. On Wednesday in
    Togliatti, Romania lost to Russia 30-25, their first defeat in this qualifying
    campaign. The two sides now both have 4 points, followed by Austria with 2
    points, but one match behind. If they win today, Romania may win the group.






    Football.
    Romania on Saturday defeated Israel 2-1 in a friendly match held in Netanya.
    They will face Sweden on Tuesday in another friendly to train for the upcoming
    Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. Sweden are currently in the 19th
    place in the UEFA ranking, while Romania is ranked 36th and Israel
    94th. We recall that Romania have not qualified for this year’s
    World Cup hosted by Russia.






    Tennis. The Romanian tennis players Simona Halep and Monica
    Niculescu lost their respective third-round matches in Miami on Saturday. Halep
    was defeated by Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in
    three sets, while Niculescu withdrew with back pain in the decisive set against
    Sloane Stephens of the US. In the men’s draw, Marius Copil was eliminated in
    the second round by Russia’s Karen Khachanov.



  • March 12, 2018

    March 12, 2018

    HEALTHCARE – The Sanitas Federation has announced it will stage a protest in the Romanian healthcare system, which will culminate with an all out strike. Trade union representatives are discontent about a new payment scheme in the system and call for a 25% increase in the base salary for the medical staff and the elimination of the 30% ceiling for bonuses. Last month, health minister Sorina Pintea, said the medical staff will benefit from pay rises ranging from 70 to 170%. Subsequently, as of March, a senior consultant earns a net monthly salary of some 2,000 Euros.



    TRILATERAL MEETING – Bucharest is today the venue for the Romania-Bulgaria-Greece trilateral meeting at the level of foreign ministers. The declared objectives of the meeting, are, at political level, dialogue on regional developments, and at economic level, cooperation in the domain of transport and energy infrastructure as well as general aspects of economic development. The trilateral meeting also has a regional stability component: fighting illegal migration, drug trafficking and organised crime. In 2010, the three countries adopted a joint declaration on the West Balkans. Also as part of the Trilateral, there is an understanding between the governments of the three countries in the field of internal affairs, meant to contain cross border crime and to have responses to urgent calls in case of calamities and natural disasters.



    DEFENCE – The defence ministers of the “Bucharest 9 Initiative member states are today meeting in Bucharest. For three days, the meeting will be attended by officials from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, NATO officials and representatives of the US Department of Defence. The agenda of talks covers such issues as ways to consolidate NATOs deterrence and defence posture, laying emphasis on the eastern flank, with a view to getting a political decision at the NATO Summit due in summer. Other issues to be approached will be the adaptation process of the NATO Command Structure, risks and threats from the eastern neighbourhood of the Alliance, as well as ways to strengthen resilience on the Baltic Sea-Black Sea axis. Romania offered to host a NATO military command at the level of Army corps, to function alongside the other two already existing commands, at brigade level, in Craiova (in the south-west) and at division level in Bucharest. A decision will be made by the allies at the NATO summit due in Brussels in July.



    SOVEREIGN FUND – The economy and budget committees of the Romanian Senate are starting debates as of this week, on setting up the Sovereign Development and Investment Fund. This is an instrument by which the government intends to fund strategic development projects in key domains such as infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, without producing an impact on the countrys budget deficit. Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has said he completed talks with Eurostat experts in this respect, and the draft law will be debated by the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament in the current legislative session. The Romanian State, through the Economy Ministry, will have the status of sole shareholder as long as the Fund is functioning. The fund will have as estimated value of over 10 billion Euros.



    REP. OF MOLDOVA – The Central Electoral Commission is today making public the date for holding early local elections in two major cities in the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanians speaking population)- the capital city, Chishinau and Balti (in the north). Some political parties have already announced the name of their candidate or made public their stand on the ballot in the capital city. This election is regarded as the last test in preparation for the autumn electoral campaign for the parliamentary elections. The positions of mayor of the cities of Chishinau and Balti have been vacant since February, when the mayors of the two cities stepped down. The pro-Russian populist mayor of Balti, Renato Usatîi, left Moldova for Russia more than a year ago. He is being investigated in a file in which he is accused of having ordered the assassination of a businessman. In Chishinau, the pro-western Liberal mayor Dorin Chirtoaca is being investigated in a corruption file, which he says it is being fabricated. He was suspended from the position of mayor in the summer of 2017.



    TENNIS – No.1 world woman tennis player, Romanian Simona Halep, has today qualified to the eighth finals of the Indian Wells, after defeating US player Caroline Dolehide (no. 165 WTA), 1-6, 7-6, 6-2. Following this victory, Halep is sure to remain on the first position of world tennis for a week. In the next stage, Simona will face the Chinese player Qiang Wang (no. 55 WTA). The two women tennis players have never met so far. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • 17 February, 2018 UPDATE

    17 February, 2018 UPDATE

    Brussels trip. Romania’s prime minister
    Viorica Dancila next week travels to Brussels for her first foreign visit. She
    will have talks with European leaders, including the head of the European
    Commission Jean Claude Juncker, the president of the European Council Donald
    Tusk, the speaker of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani and the European
    Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu. Dancila said recently she was
    planning to intensify foreign policy actions and the economic relations with
    the partner states.






    Munich Security Conference. Romania’s
    defence minister Mihai Fifor on Friday and Saturday attended the Munich
    Security Conference, a major forum for the discussion of security policy. On
    Friday, Fifor had a series of bilateral talks where he presented Romania’s
    priorities in the area of defence. According to a defence ministry press
    release, Fifor met the US senator and Chairman
    of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ron
    Johnson for talks on the relations between Romania and the US, with emphasis on
    cooperation within the North Atlantic Alliance. Minister Fifor used the
    opportunity to highlight the good discussions he had with the US Defence
    Secretary James Mattis at a recent NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels. He
    also assured the American partners that Romania is committed to its pledges as
    a NATO member and to the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. At a
    meeting with the representatives of the Atlantic Council, retired general James
    Jones and Alexander Vershbow, minister Fifor underlined the importance
    of security in the Black Sea region for the agenda of the forthcoming NATO
    summit in July in Brussels. Talks also focused on the importance of the
    top-level meeting of the Three Seas Initiative to be hosted by Bucharest this
    year.




    Moldova-EU.
    On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the prime minister of the Republic of Moldova Pavel Filip
    on Saturday met the EU Commissioner for European
    Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. The two
    officials discussed Moldova’s progress in carrying out the required reforms,
    including the requirements for receiving macro-financial assistance from the
    EU. Progress was noted in respect of the reform of the judicial system, the
    implementation of a new money laundering law and the passing of legislation to
    regulate the activity of NGOs. Prime minister Filip said these examples confirm
    the determination of the Moldovan authorities to continue on the path of
    European integration. He also reiterated his country’s commitment to fulfil the
    goals established at the Eastern Partnership summit in November last year. Commissioner
    Hahn welcomed the progress made and the commitment of the Moldovan government
    to the implementation of reforms at a fast pace and maintained the EU’s support
    for its Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova.

    Canada visa waiver. The visa waiver for the Romanian citizens
    travelling to Canada was followed by a significant increase in asylum
    applications for this country, which led to a meeting between the federal
    government and Romanian diplomats in Ottawa, according to the Canadian website
    Le Presse. Immigration officials say 232 Romanian citizens filed asylum
    applications since December 1st 2017 compared with only 120
    throughout 2016. Paul MacKinnon, an official with the
    Department of Citizenship and Immigration, says it has not been established yet
    if this is a trend that will persist or if its link to the visa waiver is
    incidental. The two parties agreed to continue the visa waiver program for Romanian
    citizens, but if asylum applications reach a certain level within a 12-month
    period, it is possible that visas will again be introduced, the Canadian
    official also said. The change in Canada’s policy on immigration was linked to
    the completion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Canada and the
    European Union last year.


    Sofia. The Romanian foreign minister Teodor
    Melescanu attended an informal meeting of EU
    foreign affairs ministers in the Gymnich format held in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
    Melescanu welcomed the idea of a new conference on Syria in Brussels and said
    the European Union must play a proactive role in the political process taking
    place under the NATO aegis and later in the post-conflict reconstruction
    process. He also said Romania was in favour of a continuation of the EU
    enlargement process and that this was one of its priorities during its first
    presidency of the EU Council in the first half of next year.




    Berlin
    Festival.     Romania has a strong presence this year in the 68th
    edition of the Berlin Film Festival which got under way on the 15th
    of February and comes to an end on the 25th. Touch Me Not, Adina
    Pintilie’s feature film debut, runs in the Competition section. A winner of the
    Golden Bear in 2013 with Child’s Pose, the Romanian helmer Calin Peter Netzer
    will this year be part of the jury. Touch Me Not, which will be shown for the first
    time in Berlin, is a personal exploration that questions our preconceived ideas
    about intimacy as a fundamental aspect of human existence. Ioana Uricariu’s
    Lemonade has been selected in the Panorama section, which rewards artistic
    vision and the courage to be different. Corneliu Porumboiu’s documentary
    Infinite Football will be screened in the non-competitive sidebar Forum. Two
    more Romanian productions are being shown in the Generation Kplus competition for children
    and young people. Last year, Dana Bunescu won the Silver Bear for the editing
    in Calin Peter Netzer’s Ana, mon amour.

  • The Republic of Moldova: how close is it to the EU?

    The Republic of Moldova: how close is it to the EU?

    The relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union were formally launched in November 1994, when the two parties signed a Cooperation and Partnership Agreement, which came into force four years later. Subsequently, the rapprochement between the EU and the Republic of Moldova was strengthened in 2004 by including Moldova into the EU’s Neighborhood Policy. Two years later, it was accepted as a full member in the South-East European Cooperation Process and as of May 2009, Chisinau has been part of the Eastern Partnership initiative.



    Taking the natural steps forward, in late November 2013, the Republic of Moldova signed the Association Agreement with Brussels, and in September 2014, the 28 EU foreign ministers endorsed the enforcement of the agreement. Currently, Brussels and Chisinau are strengthening ties by means of a gradual economic integration, alongside with deepening cooperation in the political field. In other words, by means of all the actions it undertakes and with support from Brussels, the pro-Western government in Chisinau remains committed to the objective of Moldova’s joining the European Union.



    University Professor Stefan Popescu, who has recently been a guest on RRI, has doubts about this objective being fulfilled any time soon: “Who can believe that, given the presence of Russian troops in Transdniester, the Republic of Moldova will join the European Union? It’s true that reforms are necessary, but why? Because the Republic of Moldova has been going through a process of depopulation, which is much faster than in Romania, and it runs the risk of becoming a failed state. It needs investments, but unfortunately it is very difficult for an oligarchic state to gain investors’ trust. Romania has a big responsibility in this respect and would be glad to see more Romanian companies crossing the Prut River, but it’s Chisinau’s role to facilitate this crossing.”



    The situation in the separatist pro-Russian region of Transdniester, in the east of the Republic of Moldova, is indeed sensitive and abounding in implications. The Russian Federation committed to withdrawing is troops and military equipment from the territory of Moldova as early as the Istanbul Summit of 1999, but so far it has only done that with part of the heavy armament. Last year, the troops stationed in the region carried out more than 200 drills and another 20 since the beginning of this year alone.



    The director of the Centre for Conflict Prevention Iulian Chifu explains the situation in Transdniester: “There are two categories of forces in the separatist region. On the one hand there are the so-called peacemakers, although nobody has ever called on the Russian Federation to participate in any peacekeeping formula, and still it is there with these troops, forces of the Russian Army’s Operative Group. And there has also been the 14th Army, which should have formally withdrawn from the region already, according to the commitments made in Istanbul in 1999. Therefore, there are two categories of troops. Besides them, there is a third one, which is paramilitary, of the so-called separatist regime, which is made up of some 10-12,000 people, mostly former soldiers in the Russian Army, who have started families and settled in the region. So, there are three categories of troops. The problem is that the so-called peacekeepers are staging offensive exercises together with the separatist troops and with the Russian troops of the Operative Group. And here is where the biggest problem lies, because by carrying out such maneuvers, the Russian Federation actually renounces its status of independence and non-involvement in the conflict.”



    The military exercises carried out by the Russian troops deployed in the Transdniester region have been aimed, among other things, at combating terrorism and ensuring training for soldiers, according to releases carried by the official web-site of the Russian Defense Ministry. However, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry believes that these exercises are a direct and brutal threat to Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.



    Here is political analyst Vlad Turcanu, a former presidential adviser in Chisinau: “The truth is that the Chisinau authorities cannot prevent hostile and worrying military exercises such as those held regularly on the left bank of the Dniestr River lately. Security experts are extremely worried about that, although society does not share the same perception.”



    In Bucharest, things are clear. Romania’s strategic objective as regards its relations with the Republic of Moldova remains the latter’s European integration, as it is the only option that can ensure the prosperity, safety and freedom of the Moldovan citizens, irrespective of age, ethnicity or religion.

  • February 5, 2018 UPDATE

    February 5, 2018 UPDATE

    SCHENGEN — Romania is in the right context to join the Schengen area, the minister delegate for European affairs, Victor Negrescu, said on Monday. He explained that this context refers to the preparations that are being made for Romania’s presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2019. Negrescu said that Romania is currently meeting all technical criteria to join the Schengen area, the only problem being what he called the lack of unanimous political will among the partners. Few influential EU members point an accusatory finger to the persistent corruption in the Romanian administration and are opposed to Bucharest’s Schengen accession.



    REP. OF MOLDOVA — Currently on a visit to Chisinau, Romanian defence minister, Mihai Fifor, has reiterated Romania’s constant readiness to support the Republic of Moldova along its path to European accession, as well as within the North-Atlantic structures. After the meeting with his Moldovan counterpart, Eugen Sturza, Fifor has announced that this year, 41 troops of the Republic of Moldova will be trained in Romanian military education institutions. Furthermore, the number of scholarships in the military medical education system in Romania has been supplemented to 200. The official agenda of talks covered such issues as the security situation in the region and bilateral cooperation in the field of defence, laying emphasis on the joint projects for the continuation of Moldova’s European and Euro-Atlantic path. Mihai Fifor has been accompanied during the visit by the chief of staff of the Romanian army, general Nicolae Ciucă.



    NATURAL GAS EXPORTS — Romania will detail the technical conditions for natural has exports to neighbouring Hungary until 2020, according to an agreement signed in Bucharest on Monday by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Teodor Melescanu and Peter Szijjarto, respectively. The Hungarian foreign minister said Hungarian firms have already reserved 4.4 billion cubic meters, the whole capacity of the pipeline linking Romania to Hungary. It is for the first time in the past decades that Hungary has the opportunity to buy huge amounts of gas from other source than Russia, Szijjarto concluded. Earlier, Romanian energy minister, Anton Anton, had said he supports the exploitation of gas from the Black Sea so that Romania obtains maximum profit.



    TENNIS — Romanian woman tennis player Simona Halep, no. 2 WTA, will be replaced by Ana Bogdan (no.86 WTA) in Romania’s national team in the FedCup match with Canada, scheduled for the weekend, on home turf, in Cluj-Napoca, north-western Romania, sources with the Romanian Tennis Federation have announced. Halep has been struggling with an ankle injury that she sustained last month, in the Australian Open. Upon her return, she said she was “exhausted” from a physical point of view and added that she will have to undergo several medical investigations to see when she can return to the tennis court. The other players that have been summoned for the match with Canada are Sorana Cîrstea (no.38 WTA), Irina-Camelia Begu (no.37 WTA) and Raluca Olaru (no.45 WTA in the doubles).

  • 2 January, 2018 UPDATE

    2 January, 2018 UPDATE

    Royal House Romania. The Royal House of Romania
    on Tuesday made public a review of its activities in 2017, which included 50
    visits and more than 200 public actions in Bucharest and elsewhere in Romania
    in military, diplomatic, economic, educational, social, sports, health,
    scientific and cultural areas, as well as 8 foreign trips, to the UK, Turkey,
    the Republic of Moldova, Poland, France, Bulgaria, Jordan and Switzerland, and
    3 events with high public impact, including the funerals of Romania’s last
    sovereign King Michael on 16th December. The Royal family notes that
    all visits and events held at the royal residences were covered financially by
    King Michael’s private funds. The publication of this report comes amid
    controversies over the status of the Royal House following the death of King
    Michael. Prime minister Mihai Tudose said recently that his government would oppose
    a bill to recognise the Royal House as legal entity of private law.




    Dacia cars. The French carmaker Renault on Tuesday announced that its 2017
    sales in France were the highest in the last 6 years thanks to a 6.5% rise in
    sales of Dacia cars. With 120,000 registered cars and utility vehicles, the
    Romanian brand has seen record sales on the French market. Sandero is the brand’s
    most popular model with individual persons and ranks 8th in terms of
    sales. The Duster model also saw a rise in sales, despite a new generation
    being launched. The Dacia company was taken over by Renault in 1999. Relaunched
    in 2004 with the Logan model, Dacia quickly became a big player on the European
    car market.




    Republic of Moldova. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of
    Moldova, an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population, has
    moved to suspend president Igor Dodon’s responsibilities in appointing cabinet
    ministers. This comes after the pro-Russian president twice rejected the
    nominations of seven new ministers proposed by the government. He described the
    Court’s ruling as uninspired and said its members were doing what the
    government dictates. Under the Moldovan Constitution, the president’s
    deliberate and repeated refusal to appoint a nomination by the prime minister
    is a grave violation of the former’s constitutional obligations and may be seen
    as a case of the president’s no longer being able to exercise his duties.




    Cultural heritage. 2018 will be
    the European Year of Cultural Heritage, following a decision by the European
    Parliament and the European Council. The programme runs under the motto Our heritage: where the past meets the
    future and is an excellent opportunity to discover the richness of European
    heritage and foster a sense of European identity. 8 million euros is allocated
    to this programme, which features events and information, education and awareness
    raising campaigns encouraging citizens to get involved in the protection of
    cultural heritage. With 453, Europe accounts for about a half of UNESCO’s world
    heritage sites.




    Handball. The Romanian men’s
    handball side have begun training for the Carpati Trophy which begins on the 5th
    of January. Portugal, Tunisia and Bahrain are also taking part. Romania, who
    are managed by the Spanish coach Xavi
    Pascual, are also preparing for the first round of the 2019 World
    Championships preliminary games to be held between the 11th and the
    13th of January in Bolzano, Italy, and where they will face Ukraine
    and the Faeroe Islands, as well as the host country. Only the winners of the
    six preliminary groups qualify for the World Championships play-offs in June
    2018. Last Saturday, Romania won the third place at the Yellow Cup tournament
    in Winterthur, in Switzerland, after defeating Serbia in the third-place
    play-off.



  • 2 January, 2018

    2 January, 2018

    Protests Bucharest. A new anti-government protest was held on Monday
    night in Bucharest. The initiators are non-governmental organisations that
    accuse the government and the parliamentary majority of trying to control the
    judiciary by amending the legislation in the field. Last Wednesday, talks on
    this subject between prime minister Mihai Tudose and the representatives of
    civic organisations ended without a breakthrough. The civic activists had
    requested the prime minister to notify the Venice Commission about the new
    justice laws and the changes to the criminal codes, to postpone their
    application through emergency order and to sack the justice minister Tudorel
    Toader. In a joint letter, the Bucharest embassies of France, Denmark, Finland,
    Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden called on all parties involved in
    the justice reform process to avoid any action that may weaken the independence
    of the judiciary and the fight against corruption. In response, the foreign
    ministry said strengthening the rule of law and the fight against corruption
    form part of the government’s priorities.




    Republic of Moldova. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of
    Moldova is today discussing a request to temporarily suspend president Igor
    Dodon from office. Dodon refused for the second time to appoint the seven new
    ministers proposed by the government, so a group of Moldovan MPs asked the
    Constitutional Court to note that the president has violated the Constitution
    and can thus be temporarily suspended. Radio Chisinau explains that with Dodon
    suspended, an interim president would be able to sign the decrees on the appointment
    of the new minister. A similar solution was used in October for the appointment
    of the country’s defence minister.




    Protests Iran. The European Union has expressed hope that people’s
    right to demonstrate will be respected in Iran, which has been the site of
    anti-government protests, some violent, for the last six days. The US president
    Donald Trump said on Monday that the time for change has arrived in Iran.
    Thousands of people have taken to the streets in a number of cities across Iran
    to protest against the government’s economic policies, the living standard and
    corruption. 13 people have been killed and several hundred arrested since
    demonstrations began last Thursday in Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city,
    before spreading to the rest of the country.






    Cultural heritage. 2018 will be
    the European Year of Cultural Heritage, following a decision by the European
    Parliament and the European Council. The programme runs under the motto Our heritage: where the past meets the
    future and is an excellent opportunity to discover the richness of European
    heritage and foster a sense of European identity. 8 million euros is allocated
    to this programme, which features events and information, education and
    awareness raising campaigns encouraging citizens to get involved in the
    protection of cultural heritage. With 453, Europe accounts for about a half of
    UNESCO’s world heritage sites.




    Tennis. The all-Romanian pair
    Irina Begu and Simona Halep on Tuesday reached the doubles semifinals in a WTA
    tournament in Shenzhen, in China, worth around 630,000 dollars in prize
    money. Halep and Begu played a dramatic match against another all-Romanian
    pair, Mihaela Buzarnescu and Irina Bara, which they won
    in super-tiebreak, 13-11. Also on Tuesday, Romania’s Ana Bogdan defeated
    Italy’s Camila Georgi in the singles to reach the last 16. Bogdan will next
    face the Czech player Kristyna Pliskova. Two other Romanian players have
    reached this round in the singles competition, namely Simona Halep and Irina
    Begu. Halep, who is world no. 1 and is seeded first, will face the Chinese
    player Ying-Ying
    Duan, while Irina Begu, who is seeded fourth in this tournament, will play
    against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.




    Handball. The Romanian men’s
    handball side have begun training for the Carpati Trophy which begins on the 5th
    of January. Portugal, Tunisia and Bahrain are also taking part. Romania, who
    are managed by the Spanish coach Xavi
    Pascual, are also preparing for the first round of the 2019 World
    Championships preliminary games to be held between the 11th and the
    13th of January in Bolzano, Italy, and where they will face Ukraine
    and the Faeroe Islands, as well as the host country. Only the winners of the
    six preliminary groups qualify for the World Championships play-offs in June
    2018. Last Saturday, Romania won the third place at the Yellow Cup tournament
    in Winterthur, in Switzerland, after defeating Serbia in the third-place
    play-off.



  • European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    The Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Thursday signed
    the documents for a financial aid package worth €100 million, of which €40
    million non-reimbursable funding. Moldova is expected to receive the funds by
    the end of the year and must invest it in four development programs. The
    documents underlying the financial deal will be submitted to the Moldovan
    Parliament for approval.

    Meanwhile, Chisinau authorities are making efforts to
    fulfill all requirements for disbursing the first installment of the loan.
    According to Radio Chisinau, several MEPs and Moldovan politicians had insisted
    the financial aid be postponed after Parliament had changed the election
    system, despite being advised against it by the Venice Commission.

    On the
    sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, the European Council President
    Donald Tusk and Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip discussed the
    implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the European Union and
    the developments in Moldova. Tusk highlighted the fact that the Republic of
    Moldova is one of the most important members of the Eastern Partnership,
    commending Moldovans’ confidence in the EU.

    In turn, Filip reiterated his
    country’s efforts to join the community bloc, which is transparent in recent
    surveys, showing an increased support from Moldovan citizens for their
    country’s EU accession. Pavel Filip reassured Tusk that his Government’s list
    of priorities includes securing the independence of the judiciary, continuing
    efforts to investigate bank fraud and hold the people involved accountable, as
    well as implementing the new election law in line with the recommendations of
    the Venice Commission.

    In another development, Moldova’s Justice Minister
    Vladimir Ceboratri has stated in Bucharest that his country relies on Romania’s
    support for its EU accession. Western leaders have voiced concern over the
    level of corruption in Chisinau, which in 2014 led the mysterious disappearance
    of $1 billion, the equivalent of 15% of its GDP, by means of a massive bank
    fraud.

    For fear they might see their funds sucked into a black hole, the EU,
    the IMF and the World Bank have temporarily suspended their financial
    assistance to Chisinau. At the time
    Romania was the only country that gave €150 million to Moldova on loan over a
    four and a half years period, at a preferential interest rate of 1.45%. (Translated by Vlad Palcu)

  • European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

    The Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Thursday signed
    the documents for a financial aid package worth €100 million, of which €40
    million non-reimbursable funding. Moldova is expected to receive the funds by
    the end of the year and must invest it in four development programs. The
    documents underlying the financial deal will be submitted to the Moldovan
    Parliament for approval.

    Meanwhile, Chisinau authorities are making efforts to
    fulfill all requirements for disbursing the first installment of the loan.
    According to Radio Chisinau, several MEPs and Moldovan politicians had insisted
    the financial aid be postponed after Parliament had changed the election
    system, despite being advised against it by the Venice Commission.

    On the
    sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, the European Council President
    Donald Tusk and Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip discussed the
    implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the European Union and
    the developments in Moldova. Tusk highlighted the fact that the Republic of
    Moldova is one of the most important members of the Eastern Partnership,
    commending Moldovans’ confidence in the EU.

    In turn, Filip reiterated his
    country’s efforts to join the community bloc, which is transparent in recent
    surveys, showing an increased support from Moldovan citizens for their
    country’s EU accession. Pavel Filip reassured Tusk that his Government’s list
    of priorities includes securing the independence of the judiciary, continuing
    efforts to investigate bank fraud and hold the people involved accountable, as
    well as implementing the new election law in line with the recommendations of
    the Venice Commission.

    In another development, Moldova’s Justice Minister
    Vladimir Ceboratri has stated in Bucharest that his country relies on Romania’s
    support for its EU accession. Western leaders have voiced concern over the
    level of corruption in Chisinau, which in 2014 led the mysterious disappearance
    of $1 billion, the equivalent of 15% of its GDP, by means of a massive bank
    fraud.

    For fear they might see their funds sucked into a black hole, the EU,
    the IMF and the World Bank have temporarily suspended their financial
    assistance to Chisinau. At the time
    Romania was the only country that gave €150 million to Moldova on loan over a
    four and a half years period, at a preferential interest rate of 1.45%. (Translated by Vlad Palcu)