Radio România Internațional

Tag: Republic of Moldova

  • August 27, 2017 UPDATE

    August 27, 2017 UPDATE

    EMA – Romania stands a chance to host the European Medicines Agency, EMA, the Romanian minister delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu said on Sunday. According to Negrescu, the relocation of the agency in Bucharest from London, after Brexit, would bring significant advantages to Romania. Minister Negrescu has also added it is important for all Romanian officials to support Romanias candidacy, also by pursuing an intense diplomatic campaign. Romanias capital city is competing with 18 cities, including Amsterdam, Bonn, Brussels, Dublin, Milan, Stockholm, Vienna, Warsaw, Sofia and Zagreb. With 900 employees, the European Medicines Agency is a decentralised body of the EU, responsible for the protection of public and animal health through the scientific evaluation and supervision of medicines.



    REP. OF MOLDOVA – The Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet country with a predominantly Romanian speaking population on Sunday celebrated 26 years since it proclaimed its independence. On August 27, 1991, after the failure of the Neo-Bolshevik coup in Moscow, Parliament, picketed by hundreds of thousands of protesters voted the declaration of independence from the Soviet Union of the republic set up on the Romanian territories annexed by Stalin in 1940. On the same day, Romania was the first country in the world to recognise the independence of its new neighbour. On Sunday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reiterated Romanias wish to support the Republic of Moldova on its European path, as well as all its citizens. After the signing in 2014 of association and free trade agreements between Chishinau and Brussels, Moldovan citizens can travel freely to the EU, and firms can export and sell their products on the community market in advantageous conditions. At present, the coalition government led by PM Pavel Filip continues to be a promoter of Moldovas EU rapprochement, whereas the pro-Russian Socialist president, Igor Dodon, wants the republic to return onto Moscows orbit.



    THE ROMANIAN LANGUAGE DAY – Preparations for the Romanian Language Day, celebrated on August 31, started in the communities of Romanians living outside the borders of the country. The main organiser of the event is the Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi Institute for the Romanians Around the World, subordinated to the line ministry. The series of events continues until September 6. They are aimed at promoting Romanian language and identity in the historical Romanian communities in neighbouring Serbia, Bulgaria and Ukraine. Initiated in 2013 by the Romanian Parliament, the Romanian Language Day overlaps the national holiday of the Republic of Moldova, and is an homage to the national awakening movement in the neighbouring state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population. On August 31, 1989, during the Soviet regime, the Moldovan Parliament, picketed by some 750 thousand people, accounting for one sixth of the republics population, decided to declare Romanian the state language, also adopting Latin script instead of the Cyrillic one, imposed by the occupiers after the armed annexation of 1940.



    MIGRANTS – The Romanian border police have stopped six Iraqi citizens while trying to illegally cross Romanias border with Hungary. They were asylum seekers in Romania and declared their intention to reach a country in Western Europe. According to the Border Police Territorial Inspectorate, a surge in the illegal migration attempts has recently been registered along Romanias western border. This week, border police officers found over 100 migrants, of which 42 children, in a guest house in Timisoara. Most of them came from Serbia and tried to cross the border into Hungary and then to continue their way to Western Europe.



    PARIS –France and Germany are expected to propose a new tax on Internet Giants in September. The announcement was made on Sunday by the French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, who claims these companies, mostly American should pay a fair contribution to the public finances in the countries where they earn money. The French official said that at the future Council of the EU finance ministers a new proposal will be made to tax “GAFA, the acronym for Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. According to FP, thanks to their profile and field of activity, the Internet giants are champions of fiscal optimisation through financial arrangements which reduce the taxes they pay in Europe.

  • August 27, 2017

    August 27, 2017

    PROTESTS – New anti-government protests have been scheduled for today in Bucharest. The organisers, members of civil society, claim the draft designed by the line minister Tudorel Toader to amend the justice laws is a new attempt to undermine the anti corruption fight. Vehemently criticised by the opposition and the media, the draft stipulates, among others, that the countrys president will no longer nominate the chief-prosecutors of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism, provides for subordinating the judicial inspection unit to the Justice Ministry and increasing the number of years to be promoted as a magistrate. At the start of the year, the governments attempt to amend the criminal codes, by an emergency ordinance, took hundreds of thousands of Romanians, both in Bucharest, in the country or living abroad, to the street. They accused the power of trying to protect and exonerate from criminal liability influential people in politics or the administration.



    REP. OF MOLDOVA – The Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet country with a predominantly Romanian speaking population is today celebrating 26 years since it proclaimed its independence. On August 27, 1991, after the failure of the Neo-Bolshevik coup in Moscow, Parliament, picketed by hundreds of thousands of protesters voted the declaration of independence from the Soviet Union of the republic set up on the Romanian territories annexed by Stalin in 1940. On the same day, Romania was the first country in the world to recognise the independence of its new neighbour. Later on, Bucharest was the staunchest and most consistent supporter of the Republic of Moldovas sovereignty, territorial integrity and European integration efforts. After the signing in 2014 of association and free trade agreements between Chishinau and Brussels, Moldovan citizens can travel freely to the EU, and firms can export and sell their products on the community market in advantageous conditions. At present, the coalition government led by PM Pavel Filip continues to be a promoter of Moldovas EU rapprochement, whereas the pro-Russian Socialist president, Igor Dodon, wants the republic to return onto Moscows orbit.



    THE ROMANIAN LANGUAGE DAY – Preparations for the Romanian Language Day, celebrated on August 31, have started in the communities of Romanians living outside the borders of the country. The main organiser of the event is the Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi Institute for the Romanians Around the World, subordinated to the line ministry. The series of events continues until September 6. They are aimed at promoting Romanian language and identity in the historical Romanian communities in neighbouring Serbia, Bulgaria and Ukraine. Initiated in 2013 by the Romanian Parliament, the Romanian Language Day overlaps the national holiday of the Republic of Moldova, and is an homage to the national awakening movement in the neighbouring state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population. On August 31, 1989, during the Soviet regime, the Moldovan Parliament, picketed by some 750 thousand people, accounting for one sixth of the republics population, decided to declare Romanian the state language, also adopting Latin script instead of the Cyrillic one, imposed by the occupiers after the armed annexation of 1940.



    MIGRANTS – The Romanian border police have stopped six Iraqi citizens while trying to illegally cross Romanias border with Hungary. They were asylum seekers in Romania and declared their intention to reach a country in Western Europe. According to the Border Police Territorial Inspectorate, a surge in the illegal migration attempts has recently been registered along Romanias western border. This week, border police officers found over 100 migrants, of which 42 children, in a guest house in Timisoara. Most of them came from Serbia and tried to cross the border into Hungary and then to continue their way to Western Europe.

  • 20 July 2017, UPDATE

    20 July 2017, UPDATE

    Visit.
    Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose on Friday travels to the neighbouring
    Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population.
    High on his agenda are talks with his Moldovan counterpart Pavel Filip and
    Parliament speaker Adrian Candu on stepping up bilateral cooperation as well as
    Bucharest’s support for the European progress of the Republic of Moldova. The
    Romanian Prime Minister’s agenda does not include talks with Igor Dodon, the
    Socialist pro-Russian president of the republic. This is Tudose’s second visit
    abroad since taking office at the end of June. He first travelled to Brussels
    last week, where he told EU officials that Romania has the huge task of
    ensuring Moldova’s pro-European course.

    European Medicines Agency. The Romanian government on Thursday finalised its bid
    for hosting the headquarters of the European Medicines Agency, which is
    currently based in London but which will be relocated after Brexit. The
    authorities say this is a big opportunity for Romania, and if, successful, the
    move would boost the country’s role and visibility in the European Union. The
    government has also announced that the healthcare minister Florian Bodog, the
    minister delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu and the president of the
    National Medicines and Medical Equipment Agency Nicolae Fotin will travel to
    London on Monday. The European Medicines Agency is a decentralised body of the
    European Union whose main responsibility is the protection of public health through
    the evaluation and supervision of medicines.

    Budget deficit. Romania reported a budget deficit of 3.2%
    of the GDP in the first quarter of 2017, the second highest in the EU and above
    the 3% target set by the government in Bucharest, according to Eurostat. Out of
    20 the EU states to provide data, only France has a higher budget deficit, with
    3.3%. If the budget deficit exceeds 3% in a given member state, the EU can
    launch the excessive deficit procedure. In the new governing programme of the
    ruling coalition in Romania, it is specified that all the measures envisaged by
    the executive will be taken in keeping with the criteria of the Maastricht Treaty,
    which provides for a budget deficit below 3% of the GDP and a public debt lower
    than 60%.




    Business.
    The number of new companies with foreign capital set up in Romania rose in the
    first quarter of the year by 9.34% as compared with the same period last year,
    to reach 2,938. Their number went up by 13% in June this year compared with
    June last year, to 532. 2016 saw the lowest number of new foreign capital
    companies in the last 18 years. The second best year after 1991 was 2007, when
    15,000 new such companies were created. The worst year was 1995, when only
    3,400 new foreign capital companies were created.




    Brexit. EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on
    Thursday that there was still a fundamental disagreement in the talks with the
    UK. The main problems are the rights of the EU citizens living in the UK and
    those of the British citizens in the EU, the financial details involved by
    Brexit and the Irish border. Barnier made these statements at a joint press
    conference with the UK Brexit secretary David Davis at the end of the second
    round of talks. The next meeting is scheduled for the end of August.





  • The Week in Review (19-25 March)

    The Week in Review (19-25 March)

    Two Romanians are among the victims of Wednesday’s terror attack in
    London


    Two Romanians are among the victims of the terror attack in London on
    Wednesday. The attack has been firmly condemned by political leaders all over
    the world, from the US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela
    Merkel to French President Francois Hollande and the European Council President
    Donald Tusk. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has also condemned the attack
    and voiced solidarity with Britain in a telephone conversation with the British
    Prime Minister, Theresa May. The British police, that have arrested several
    suspects, said the attacker, Khalid Masood, aged 52, was born in Britain and
    became a supporter of radical Islam. Before being shot dead by the police,
    Masood had driven his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and stabbed to
    death a police officer guarding the House of Parliament. The Islamic State has
    claimed the attack. Prime Minister Theresa May has said that Britain’s
    terrorist threat level has been set at severe.






    Romania’s
    legal system under the spotlight in Strasbourg and Brussels


    Romania needs to revise legislation on granting immunity and raise
    transparency in terms of public procurement for a better fight against
    government corruption, the chief of the country’s anti-corruption directorate
    (the DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi said during a European Commission’s anti-graft
    conference in Strasbourg. The Romanian official went on to explain that the
    ministers’ immunity must be limited to the time of their term in office, so
    that investigations on corruption allegations should continue. Kovesi gave the
    example of a minister suspected of having received almost 45 thousand euros to
    favour the granting of contracts to certain companies, but prosecutors had to
    drop the investigation after Parliament in Bucharest had turned down a request
    for lifting the respective minister’s immunity. In another development, also
    this week the European Parliament held debates on democracy and justice in
    Romania. The conference was also attended by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader on
    behalf of the government in Bucharest, and by members of the civil society. The
    talks in Brussels came after the leftist government in Bucharest had tried to
    amend criminal legislation, partially decriminalising some offences that might
    benefit corrupt politicians. The move triggered the biggest protests Romania
    has seen since the fall of the communist regime in December 1989.




    The governments of Bucharest and Chisinau meet for joint session


    The governments of Romania and the Republic of
    Moldova convened on Thursday in Piatra Neamt, northeastern Romania, for their
    third joint session. Prime Minister Grindeanu said that Bucharest would
    continue to support Chisinau’s bid for the EU and that Romania wanted to get
    involved in the privatisation of state-owned companies in the Republic of
    Moldova. His counterpart from Chisinau, the pro-Western Pavel Filip gave
    assurances the Republic of Moldova is looking towards the West and that the
    country would continue to apply the Association Agreement with the EU and the
    reforms started. The talks between the two officials came after last week in
    Moscow the pro-Russian socialist Igor Dodon had reiterated his intention to
    denounce the association and free-trade agreements with the EU and deepen the
    relations with the Eurasian Economic Union. Dodon also mentioned the
    federalisation of the Republic of Moldova as a possible solution to the
    conflict in the pro-Russia breakaway region of Transdniester.




    Romania’s Higher Defence Council approves army equipping programme


    Romania’s Higher Defence Council has approved the mandate under which
    the Romanian delegation will participate in the NATO summit in Brussels in late
    May. An updated form of the programme of equipping and streamlining the
    Romanian army has also been approved. The programme is focusing on the
    streamlining, developing and properly equipping the armed forces by 2026. The
    decision came after 2% of the GDP had been earmarked for the armed forces this
    year. In another development, the US ambassador in Bucharest Hans Klemm has
    announced that Romania will be hosting a large-scale military drill in July
    this year. The event is expected to bring together roughly 30 thousand troops
    from NATO countries. Klemm went on to say that on the bilateral level as well
    as inside the alliance, the relations between the Romanian military and their
    counterparts are very good.




    Railway and police employees stage protests


    Railroad traffic returned to normal in Romania after
    the unofficial strike on Wednesday when railway workers had brought over 150
    trains to a halt. Following talks with the employer, trade unions got the
    promise of higher pays for the employees after the signing of a new collective
    labour agreement in April. The company’s salary funds are likely to increase by
    more than 17% whereas the company’s infrastructure section is to see a raise of
    22%. Police employees also went on a strike and picketed the Labour Ministry.
    Following talks with the authorities they obtained pay rises, so police
    employees with the lowest salary of 320 euros will get more money once the new
    law on unitary payment comes into effect on July 1st. Trade unions
    say that field agents and officers are to get pay raises of more than 100% in
    the next 4 years.

  • March 13, 2017

    March 13, 2017

    Prime
    Minister’s Hour.     The Romanian prime minister Sorin Grindeanu will appear in the
    Chamber of Deputies today at the Prime Minister’s Hour to give explanations
    about his cabinet’s emergency orders no. 6 and no. 9 criticised by the
    opposition and civil society. Both orders were passed by the Senate and are
    next to be voted on in the Chamber of Deputies, which has decision-making
    powers in this case. Order no. 6 refers to the financing of the National Local
    Development Programme, while Order no. 9 eliminates expenditure caps for public
    authorities. The National Liberal Party in opposition says these orders allow
    the channelling of huge sums of money to the political clientele of the ruling
    Social Democratic Party and cancels fundamental provisions of the fiscal
    responsibility law. The Liberals called for the two emergency orders to be
    immediately rejected.




    Verdict.
    The magistrates of the High Court of Cassation and Justice postponed for the 28th
    of March a verdict in a case known as the Bute Gala involving the former
    development minister Elena Udrea and seven other persons. They are accused of
    bribe taking, abuse of office and attempt to use false documents and statements
    to obtain European funds illegally. In essence, prosecutors accuse the
    defendants of illegal use of public funds to finance a sports event organised
    by a private company and signing a contract with this company to purchase
    services although the law did not allow it. Previously, prosecutors requested
    that Elena Udrea be given close to maximum sentence in prison, given that she
    played the biggest role in the perpetration of the incriminated deeds. The
    National Anticorruption Directorate also requested that the former economy
    minister Ion Ariton be given a prison sentence. The former minister and MP
    Elena Udrea is the subject of several other criminal investigations.




    Migrant workers abuse.
    Around
    7,500 Romanian female farm workers in the Sicilian province of Ragusa, in
    Italy, are victims of abuse, including threats and sexual violence, being
    perpetrated with almost total impunity, according to an investigation published
    by the British weekly The Observer. The authors of the article spoke to ten
    Romanian women working on farms in Ragusa who described their exploitation and
    sexual abuse as routine occurrences. They say they are forced to work 12 hours
    a day in extreme heat, with no water and without pay and to live in degrading and unsanitary conditions in isolated
    outbuildings. They are often subject to
    physical violence, threatened at gunpoint and blackmailed with threats to their
    children and family. Italy’s agriculture heavily relies on migrant labour,
    including from the EU, with an estimated 120,000 migrants working in southern
    Italy.




    Justice. Romania’s
    Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar today said he had no intention to resign as
    suggested by the justice minister Tudorel Toader. The latter said he would
    assess the activity of the Public Ministry in the next two weeks and did not
    rule out the possibility to sack Lazar and the head of the National
    Anticorruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi.




    Republic of Moldova. Igor Dodon, the pro-Russian
    socialist president of the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet state with a
    majority Romanian-speaking population, makes a trip to Moscow on Friday and
    Saturday, his second since coming to power less than three months ago. He said
    he would attend a Moldova-Russia business forum looking at the potential for
    investment and partnership. Dodon may also meet Russian officials. Commentators
    say, however, that this appears to be a purely electoral visit aiming to secure
    Russia’s support for the Socialists in next year’s parliamentary elections.
    During his visit to Moscow in January, Dodon said he was considering denouncing
    his country’s association agreement with the European Union and expanding ties
    with the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the federalisation of the Republic
    of Moldova as a way of bringing peace to the pro-Russian break-away region of
    Transnistria, in the east of the republic.




    Sports. World no.
    4 Simona Halep of Romania qualified for the third round at Indian Wells, a US
    tournament worth almost 7 million dollars in prize money. She will next play
    world no. 26 Kristina Mladenovic. Another Romanian player, Irina Begu, no. 32
    in the world, was eliminated in the third round by world no. 3 Karolina
    Pliskova. In the men’s doubles, the Romanian-Dutch pair Horia Tecau and
    Jean-Julien Rojer made it to the second round and will next face the all-British
    pair Andy Murray and Daniel Evans. Florin Mergea also qualified for the second
    round together with his doubles partner Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and will next play
    Gilles Muller and Sam Querrey.




    In other sports
    news, the defending Romanian and European women’s handball champions CSM
    Bucharest on Sunday defeated the Danish side Team Esbjerg, 25-20, in their
    final match as part of the Champions League main round Group 2. In the
    quarterfinals, CSM will face the Hungarian side Ferencvaros Budapest.

  • January 27, 2017

    January 27, 2017

    BUDGET – The Romanian government is today adopting the 2017 draft budget, which is to be later submitted to Parliament for debate. PM Sorin Grindeanu gave assurances that all measures included in the governing program compiled by the ruling majority made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats have been taken into consideration. The draft budget is based on a 5.2% economic growth rate, and the budget deficit is estimated at 2.96 % of the GDP. The largest sums of money are earmarked for Transports, Agriculture, Healthcare and SMEs. Education, energy, regional development, the interior and foreign ministries, respectively, the Presidential Administration, the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament and the Foreign Intelligence Service will receive less than in 2016. President Klaus Iohannis has voiced criticism about the decrease in the budgets of the national security institutions. On Thursday, the president sent a letter to the prime minister in which he deems the decrease not only unjustifiable but also inappropriate and ill timed.



    DEBATE – The Romanian Justice Ministry will organise on Monday a public debate on the draft emergency ordinances on pardoning and amending the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. The opposition parties, civil society and the magistrates professional organisations consider the changes are meant to benefit current and potential convicts, from among influential people in the political class or in the administration. In exchange, the Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Călin Popescu Tăriceanu, claims that the adoption of the ordinances will not affect the continuation of the fight against corruption. The talks are held in the context in which Romania is among the first three countries in Europe with the largest number of sentences by the European Court of Human Rights. Most rulings issued by the European Court of Human Rights against Romania refer to the conditions in penitentiaries.



    HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY – The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked today the world over. During WWII, six million Jews and over two million Rroma, people with disabilities and opponents to the policy pursued by Nazi Germany were sent to death. The commemoration also comes as a remembrance of the release of the survivors of Nazi concentration camps in Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Poland, by the Soviet Army, on January 27, 1945. Bucharest is hosting a symposium entitled “New historical discoveries, devoted to the massacre in the Jilava forest. The significance of January 27 is also marked by the Elie Wiesel National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania, which is organising “The Film Days: The Memory of the Holocaust, until Sunday. We recall that in January 1941, over 120 Jews were killed by legionnaires in Bucharest, and the Jilava forest and the slaughterhouse in Bucharest were turned into execution sites. Only 6 months later, the pogrom was followed by the mass killing of some 13,000 Jews in Iasi, northern Romania.



    DIPLOMACY – US President Donald Trump is due to meet in Washington later today with visiting British Prime Minister, Theresa May. Yesterday, on the first day of her visit, in a speech before Republican Congressmen in Philadelphia, Theresa May launched an appeal to the US to renew what she called the special relationship with Great Britain. The British Prime Minister has also underlined the importance of international institutions, among which the UN and NATO, which have been repeatedly criticised by the US president, Donald Trump. She also defended the role played by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Theresa May is the first foreign leader to meet Donald Trump at the White House.



    REP. OF MOLDOVA – The pro-Russian president of the Rep. of Moldova, Socialist Igor Dodon, has said he will not cooperate with the government led by Pavel Filip and the pro-European majority in Parliament and that he will use any opportunity to call early legislative elections, in the case of a possible fall of the government. If blocked by the parliamentary majority, Igor Dodon says he is preparing to organise a referendum to revise the Constitution, to enhance its prerogatives, so that he has the right to dissolve Parliament. He also intends to sack Eduard Harunjen from the position of prosecutor general. The press and experts on constitutional law say that Dodon, who was elected in November, tries to instate a dictatorial regime and has started the fight to win supreme power. Under the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, the president does not have the right to initiate a referendum to revise the Constitution. It can be initiated only by citizens, the government or by a third of the MPs.



    HANDBALL – European defending champions CSM Bucharest are today playing Norwegian champions Larvik HK on home turf as part of the Champions League main group phase. After the preliminary matches, CSM Bucharest is bottom of the group tables and needs a series of good results to finish among the groups top four teams, which will eventually allow it to reach the Final Four for the second year in a row. European Champions in 2011, Larvik is third-ranked in the group tables. Ranking first and second are ETO Gyor of Hungary and Krim Ljubljana respectively, each with 6 points, although separated by the goal-average, followed by Larvik and FC Midtjlland of Denmark, each with four points, Team Esbjerg of Denmark and CSM Bucharest, each with two points. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • January 16, 2017 UPDATE

    January 16, 2017 UPDATE

    PARLIAMENT — In a plenary session on Monday, the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament voted for setting up a commission to investigate the budget rectifications made by the former technocratic government in August and November 2016. The setting up of this commission has been requested by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, whose party returned to power, alongside the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, after winning the parliamentary elections of December 11. The opposition parties stood against the initiative. Also on Monday, the legislature decided in the plenary session to postpone talks on the setting up of a special commission to control the activity of the Foreign Intelligence Service, SIE. In exchange, a relevant commission has been set up for the Romanian Intelligence Service, SRI. Last week, the director of the Romanian Intelligence Service, Eduard Hellvig, suspended from office the first deputy director, lieutenant general, Florian Coldea, accused of having committed illegalities by former MP Sebastian Ghita, who, in his turn, is investigated in several corruption files and is reported missing.



    FOREIGN AFFAIRS– The new Romanian foreign minister, Teodor Melescanu, on Monday attended in Brussels, alongside the other EU foreign ministers the monthly meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Romanian official has hailed the new ceasefire agreement in Syria and underlined that it is important for all sides to abide by it. Melescanu has also expressed Romania’s readiness to support humanitarian efforts as well as Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction. The Romanian foreign minister has discussed, together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, issues related to the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population, and the eastern neighbourhood. Also on the sidelines of the meeting, the Romanian official participated, alongside his Bulgarian, Greek and Croatian counterparts in an informal meeting devoted to the situation in the region.



    REP. MOLDOVA– The President of the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet state, with a predominantly Romanian speaking population), the pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon on Monday started a three day visit to Moscow, for talks with the Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin. According to sources close to his entourage, Dodon’s priorities are to resume Moldovan exports on the Russian market, as they are currently embargoed and to legalise the situation of Moldovan workers in Russia, whose legal stay there has expired. According to the same source, Dodon and Putin will allegedly approach the issue of the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transdniester, which got out from under Chishinau’s control, back in 1992. Elected in November, Dodon is the first high-ranking official in the Republic of Moldova in the past 15 years to start his mandate with an official visit to Moscow. In another move, also on Monday, Dodon called on the Moldovan government to start legal procedures to suspend the Moldovan ambassador to Romania, Mihai Gribincea. The latter has recently said that Dodon’s decree on withdrawing the Moldovan citizenship to the former Romanian President, Traian Basescu, might be unconstitutional. Dodon’s request has been rejected by Moldovan Prime Minister, Pavel Filip.



    NATO– On January 17 and 18, the Military Committee, NATO’s Highest Military Authority, meets in Chiefs of Defence Session in Brussels. Romania is represented in this 176th session by the chief of staff of the Romanian Army, general Nicolae Ciuca. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Defence Ministry, the agenda of the meeting covers such issues as the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan and the current threats to NATO. Sessions devoted to NATO’s partnerships with Ukraine and Georgia will also be organised, among others things, the communiqué issued by the Romanian Defence Ministry also shows.



    TENNIS — Two Romanian tennis players, Monica Niculescu (no.32 WTA) and Ana Bogdan (no.125 WTA), on Tuesday will play against the Russians Ana Blinkova (no.189 WTA) and Elena Vesnina (no.18 WTA), respectively, in the singles, in the first round of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. On Monday, also in the first round, Sorana Carstea (no.78 WTA) defeated Russian Irina Hromaceva (no.92 WTA), 6-2, 6-1, and Irina Begu (no.29 WTA) outperformed Kazakh Yaroslava Shvedova (no.39 WTA), 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Two other Romanians got eliminated. Simona Halep (no.4 WTA) surprisingly got eliminated by American Shelby Rogers (no.57 WTA) 6-3, 6-1 and Patricia Tig got eliminated by Puerto Rican Monica Puig, 6-0, 6-1.(Translated by Diana Vijeu)

  • The Year 2016 in Review

    The Year 2016 in Review

    A new Government in Romania



    The President of the Timis County Council and former Social-Democrat MP Sorin Grindeanu was nominated for the position of Prime Minister. President Klaus Iohannis accepted the proposal, after previously rejecting the nomination of former Development Minister Sevil Shhaideh. Shhaideh had been the first option of Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea. If accepted, Shhaideh would have been the first female Prime Minister of Romania as well as the countrys first Muslim Prime Minister. Resting on a comfortable majority in Parliament, where the Social-Democrats and their coalition partners, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, are holding the majority, Grindeanus Cabinet marks the return to power of the Social-Democratic Party, following a year of technocratic rule under the leadership of Dacian Ciolos. We recall that Dacian Cioloss Cabinet was sworn in in November 2015, in the wake of mass anti-corruption protests against the Government led by Victor Ponta.



    The Social-Democratic Party scores landslide win in parliamentary elections



    The Social-Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats also won the leadership of the new Parliament after winning the December 11 elections by a wide margin. Liviu Dragnea was appointed Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies while the co-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats Calin Popescu-Tariceanu secured a new term as Senate Speaker, which is virtually the second-most powerful position in the state. The Social Democrats grabbed over 45% of the votes, while the Liberals grabbed only 25% of the votes, which prompted the resignation of Liberal leader Alina Gorghiu. Six months since its inception, the Save Romania Union, an NGO turned into a political party, became the third party to enter Parliament after securing 9% of the vote. Another three parties managed to get the minimum number of votes to enter Parliament: the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, which announced its support for the Grindeanu Cabinet, without getting any ministry portfolios, and the Peoples Movement Party led by former President Traian Basescu. Less than 40% of Romanians cast their votes to elect the 465 MPs of the new Parliament. The December 11 elections also marked a return to the old party-list voting proportional representation, replacing the 2012 first-past-the-post voting system, which resulted in an overinflated Parliament with 586 MPs.



    First female Mayor of Bucharest



    On June 5, Bucharesters elected the citys first female Mayor, Social-Democrat Gabriela Vranceanu-Firea, who entered politics 4 years ago. A former controversial journalist, Firea grabbed 41% of the vote in a city traditionally controlled by right-wing parties. The voter turnout was very low in Bucharest, standing at 33%, way below the national average of 48%. The local elections were held in a single ballot, the winner being the candidate who grabbed the largest number of votes. The system was criticized by civil society and the media, who have called the mayors legitimacy into question against the backdrop of a low voter turnout.



    Romanian diplomacy in 2016



    Romanias foreign policy in 2016 observed the same guidelines, both in respect to NATO and the European Union, and Russia. Former Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu constantly underlined the importance of a “substantial trans-Atlantic relation and pleaded for strengthening NATOs eastern flank. On the other hand, pragmatism dominated relations with Russia. Romania supported the economic and diplomatic sanctions imposed on Moscow by the European Union and NATO.



    A new president for Moldova



    With respect to the Republic of Moldova, in 2016 Romania continued to support the reform process in this country, with a view to consolidating Moldovas European track. The excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, also owing to the pro-Romanian sympathies of President Nicolae Timofti, as well as the setup of a pro-Western ruling coalition and Parliament majority, now risk crumbling with the election of pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon. After the election, president Klaus Iohannis merely said he had taken under advisement the Moldovan citizens vote. The presidencys press release makes no mention to Dodon, a critical opponent of Romania. Iohannis refers to him as “the new president of the Republic of Moldova, who must display wisdom and balance during his term in office.



    A disappointing year for Romanian sports



    2016 was a lackluster year for Romanian sports. In August, at the Rio Olympics in Brazil, Romania grabbed only five medals: one gold, two silver and three bronze. To make matters worse, weightlifter Gabriel Sincraian lost his bronze medal after failing a doping test. Romania ranked 47th in the medal standings, the lowest position since 1952. In June, at the European Football Championship in France, Romania was bottom-of-the-tables in Group A. Subsequently coach Anghel Iordanescu was replaced by German Cristoph Daum, the first foreign coach in the history of Romanias national squad. However the performance and results of our footballers did not improve much with the first matches in the preliminaries to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In handball, although seen as medal favorites, Romania ranked 5th at the European Championships in Sweden. In tennis, Romanias best-seeded player, Simona Halep, ranked 4th at the end of the competitive season.

  • The Year 2016 in Review

    The Year 2016 in Review

    A new Government in Romania



    The President of the Timis County Council and former Social-Democrat MP Sorin Grindeanu was nominated for the position of Prime Minister. President Klaus Iohannis accepted the proposal, after previously rejecting the nomination of former Development Minister Sevil Shhaideh. Shhaideh had been the first option of Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea. If accepted, Shhaideh would have been the first female Prime Minister of Romania as well as the countrys first Muslim Prime Minister. Resting on a comfortable majority in Parliament, where the Social-Democrats and their coalition partners, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, are holding the majority, Grindeanus Cabinet marks the return to power of the Social-Democratic Party, following a year of technocratic rule under the leadership of Dacian Ciolos. We recall that Dacian Cioloss Cabinet was sworn in in November 2015, in the wake of mass anti-corruption protests against the Government led by Victor Ponta.



    The Social-Democratic Party scores landslide win in parliamentary elections



    The Social-Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats also won the leadership of the new Parliament after winning the December 11 elections by a wide margin. Liviu Dragnea was appointed Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies while the co-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats Calin Popescu-Tariceanu secured a new term as Senate Speaker, which is virtually the second-most powerful position in the state. The Social Democrats grabbed over 45% of the votes, while the Liberals grabbed only 25% of the votes, which prompted the resignation of Liberal leader Alina Gorghiu. Six months since its inception, the Save Romania Union, an NGO turned into a political party, became the third party to enter Parliament after securing 9% of the vote. Another three parties managed to get the minimum number of votes to enter Parliament: the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, which announced its support for the Grindeanu Cabinet, without getting any ministry portfolios, and the Peoples Movement Party led by former President Traian Basescu. Less than 40% of Romanians cast their votes to elect the 465 MPs of the new Parliament. The December 11 elections also marked a return to the old party-list voting proportional representation, replacing the 2012 first-past-the-post voting system, which resulted in an overinflated Parliament with 586 MPs.



    First female Mayor of Bucharest



    On June 5, Bucharesters elected the citys first female Mayor, Social-Democrat Gabriela Vranceanu-Firea, who entered politics 4 years ago. A former controversial journalist, Firea grabbed 41% of the vote in a city traditionally controlled by right-wing parties. The voter turnout was very low in Bucharest, standing at 33%, way below the national average of 48%. The local elections were held in a single ballot, the winner being the candidate who grabbed the largest number of votes. The system was criticized by civil society and the media, who have called the mayors legitimacy into question against the backdrop of a low voter turnout.



    Romanian diplomacy in 2016



    Romanias foreign policy in 2016 observed the same guidelines, both in respect to NATO and the European Union, and Russia. Former Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu constantly underlined the importance of a “substantial trans-Atlantic relation and pleaded for strengthening NATOs eastern flank. On the other hand, pragmatism dominated relations with Russia. Romania supported the economic and diplomatic sanctions imposed on Moscow by the European Union and NATO.



    A new president for Moldova



    With respect to the Republic of Moldova, in 2016 Romania continued to support the reform process in this country, with a view to consolidating Moldovas European track. The excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, also owing to the pro-Romanian sympathies of President Nicolae Timofti, as well as the setup of a pro-Western ruling coalition and Parliament majority, now risk crumbling with the election of pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon. After the election, president Klaus Iohannis merely said he had taken under advisement the Moldovan citizens vote. The presidencys press release makes no mention to Dodon, a critical opponent of Romania. Iohannis refers to him as “the new president of the Republic of Moldova, who must display wisdom and balance during his term in office.



    A disappointing year for Romanian sports



    2016 was a lackluster year for Romanian sports. In August, at the Rio Olympics in Brazil, Romania grabbed only five medals: one gold, two silver and three bronze. To make matters worse, weightlifter Gabriel Sincraian lost his bronze medal after failing a doping test. Romania ranked 47th in the medal standings, the lowest position since 1952. In June, at the European Football Championship in France, Romania was bottom-of-the-tables in Group A. Subsequently coach Anghel Iordanescu was replaced by German Cristoph Daum, the first foreign coach in the history of Romanias national squad. However the performance and results of our footballers did not improve much with the first matches in the preliminaries to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In handball, although seen as medal favorites, Romania ranked 5th at the European Championships in Sweden. In tennis, Romanias best-seeded player, Simona Halep, ranked 4th at the end of the competitive season.

  • 24 December 2016, UPDATE

    24 December 2016, UPDATE

    Romania holidays. The Romanian authorities have taken special measures for
    the winter holidays. An additional 22,000 police troops, fire-fighters and
    gendarmes will be on duty every day over the Christmas holidays across the
    country. The interior ministry in Bucharest said the border police would work
    overtime at the border crossing points to minimise waiting time. Also, nine
    hospitals and the Bucharest ambulance service will provide emergency medical
    assistance in the capital city on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Across the
    country, emergency departments in all state hospitals will be open. At least
    one pharmacy will be open in every big city in the country.




    Prosecutions. Romania’s first
    post-communist president Ion Iliescu said he has nothing to blame himself for
    after being indicted for crimes against humanity, alongside other former
    dignitaries, as part of an investigation into miners’ riots of 13-15 June 1990.
    According to prosecutors, the defendants ordered, planned and coordinated a
    generalised and systematic attack on the people protesting in central Bucharest
    against the left-wing government that came to power after the fall of the
    communist dictatorship in December 1989 and against the citizens of Bucharest.
    Prosecutors say the attack involved forces of the interior and defence
    ministries and the Romanian Intelligence Service, as well as more than 10,000
    miners and workers from other parts of the country. After some violent
    incidents which the army had already managed to control, Ion Iliescu said a
    right-wing coup was being staged and called on the population to defend the
    democratic institutions. The miners’ arrival in Bucharest, where they attacked
    the University building and the headquarters of opposition parties and a number
    of independent newspapers, left 4 dead and over 1,200 wounded.




    Republic of Moldova. The new
    president of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon on Friday night met the Russian
    deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin who was due to attend Dodon’s swearing-in
    ceremony but whose flight was delayed because of the fog. According to Radio
    Chisinau, Rogozin told the Moldovan president that Vladimir Putin would meet
    him at the Kremlin on the 17th of January. Dodon had already
    announced that his first visit abroad would be to Moscow, where he would try to
    restore his country’s strategic partnership with the Russian Federation. As far
    as his domestic policy is concerned, Dodon said he would be in opposition to
    the pro-European government in Chisinau and even try to dissolve Parliament and
    call early elections. One of his priorities is to ban organisations calling for
    the union of the Republic of Moldova with Romania.




    Migrants. The Romanian border police have caught ten Iraqi citizens, including
    nine adults and one child, who were trying to cross the border illegally from
    Bulgaria to Romania through the green border, near Darabani, in the
    south-east. The migrants were handed over to the Bulgarian border police for
    further investigations. According to the Romanian authorities, the ten
    migrants, aged between 12 and 50, identified themselves as Iraqi and said they
    were planning to reach a country in Western Europe. They were carrying
    documents showing they had applied for asylum in Bulgaria.




    Christmas message. Princess Margaret, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown,
    sent a Christmas message to the Romanians at home and abroad on behalf of her
    father, King Mihai I. She emphasised that the values her father has been
    promoting all his life are more important today than at any other time in
    history, namely kindness, loyalty, a sense of duty, love of country, competence
    and restraint. Princess Margaret also said the events in Europe and the world
    show that democracy is facing a moment of instability and weakness, and that
    prosperity does not automatically ensure balance and security.




    Berlin attack. Three Jihadists suspected of links with the Tunisian
    national Anis Amri, who is believed to have carried out the terrorist attack at
    a Christmas market in Berlin, have been arrested in Tunisia. The three,
    including Amri’s nephew, were part of a terrorist cell. In the meantime, the
    German authorities have come under increased criticism over the fact that the
    alleged attacker has managed to flee the country, all the more as he had been known to the German police for a long time. German chancellor Angela Merkel said the authorities would
    tighten security measures in the wake of the attack claimed by the Islamic
    State, in which 12 people were killed and 48 wounded.


    Israeli settlements. The UN Security Council passed a resolution asking Israel
    to put an end to its illegal settlement building in the Palestinian
    territories. The Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu called the UN’s decision
    shameful and said his country would not abide by it. The resolution was
    approved after the US, Israel’s traditional ally, abstained from vote instead
    of using its veto powers. The Palestinian Islamist organisation Hamas has
    hailed the resolution, which Jordan has described as a historic decision.





  • 24 December 2016

    24 December 2016

    Western Orthodox,
    Greek-Catholic and Catholic Christians celebrate Christmas Eve today in
    preparation for the Nativity of Christ, one of the biggest Christian holidays.
    In Romania, which is a majority Orthodox country, children went carolling on
    Friday night. Carollers symbolise the angels and the shepherds who were the
    first to announce the birth of Jesus. They go from house to house and convey
    wishes for the household, being rewarded with fruit, bagels, sweets or money by
    their hosts. Today, priests go from house to house bearing an icon depicting
    the nativity of Christ and announcing his birth. Christmas is celebrated through special services held in churches and monasteries, as well as beautiful
    traditions and rich family meals.




    The new
    president of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon on Friday night met the Russian
    deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin who was due to attend Dodon’s swearing-in
    ceremony but whose flight was delayed because of the fog. According to Radio
    Chisinau, Rogozin told the Moldovan president that Vladimir Putin would meet
    him at the Kremlin on the 17th of January. Dodon had already
    announced that his first visit abroad would be to Moscow, where he would try to
    restore his country’s strategic partnership with the Russian Federation. As far
    as his domestic policy is concerned, Dodon said he would be in opposition to the
    pro-European government in Chisinau and even try to dissolve Parliament and
    call early elections. One of his priorities is to ban organisations calling for
    the union of the Republic of Moldova with Romania.




    The Romanian border police have caught ten Iraqi citizens, including
    nine adults and one child, who were trying to cross the border illegally from
    Bulgaria to Romania through the green border, near Darabani, in the
    south-east. The migrants were handed over to the Bulgarian border police for
    further investigations. According to the Romanian authorities, the ten
    migrants, aged between 12 and 50, identified themselves as Iraqi and said they
    were planning to reach a country in Western Europe. They were carrying
    documents showing they had applied for asylum in Bulgaria.




    Princess Margaret, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown,
    sent a Christmas message to the Romanians at home and abroad on behalf of her
    father, King Mihai I. She emphasised that the values her father has been
    promoting all his life are more important today than at any other time in
    history, namely kindness, loyalty, a sense of duty, love of country, competence
    and restraint. Princess Margaret also said the events in Europe and the world
    show that democracy is facing a moment of instability and weakness, and that
    prosperity does not automatically ensure balance and security.




    The UN Security Council on Friday night passed a
    resolution asking Israel to put an end to its illegal settlement building in
    the Palestinian territories, with the US abstaining from vote and thus refusing
    to block the resolution. The Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu called the UN’s
    decision shameful and said his country would not abide by it. Jordan has
    described the UN vote as historic.




    The Italian police have shot dead the Tunisian national
    by the name of Anis Amri, the main suspect of Monday’s attack in Berlin, when a
    lorry smashed into a crowded Christmas market killing 12 people and injuring
    48. The Italian interior minister Marco Minniti said the man was shot during a fire exchange with the
    police in Milan. German investigators are now trying to assess whether the
    Tunisian attacker was part of a network and to find out how he managed to avoid
    deportation orders and why the authorities stopped his surveillance, although
    he was suspected of links with terrorist organisations. German chancellor
    Angela Merkel said the authorities would tighten security measures in the wake
    of the attack claimed by the Islamic State. (Trans. by: C. Mateescu)







  • Romania, the Republic of Moldova and European integration

    Romania, the Republic of Moldova and European integration

    The recent victory in the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova by pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon against Maia Sandu, a pro-European reformer, runs the risk of symbolically erasing all steps, although small, taken by the former Soviet republic with a predominantly Romanian speaking population, in an effort to come closer to the EU. This is because Dodon has openly expressed his openness to a recalibration of the country’s foreign policy, so that Moldova gets back under Russia’s tutoring, just like in the 2001 — 2009 period, when it was ruled by Communists. Nevertheless, the envisaged switch of direction that has been announced by Dodon does not change the plans of neighbouring Romania, which, so far, has openly supported Chishinau’s European aspirations, and which has become a constant expertise provider in various fields of activity, as well as a sponsor of Moldova’s weak economy.



    Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has recently referred to Romania’s special relation with the Republic of Moldova, at the debates entitled “The European Union between disintegration and reformation. Romania’s contribution to the European construction”, hosted by the northwestern city of Cluj Napoca. Klaus Iohannis: “This privileged relationship should however have a solid base in the 21st century. And, in my opinion, which has been shared by all members of Romania’s Higher Defence Council, this solid base should be an institutional one. Romania should and is willing to support the Republic of Moldova. This means that we should support the institutions in the Republic of Moldova to become more effective, stronger, to better represent the Moldovan society and to work more transparently.”



    Romania’s contribution to investments in the Moldovan economy and the support granted to Chishinau in an effort to become less dependent on Russian gas continue to be Romania’s firm commitments. Klaus Iohannis: “Romania should get involved in Moldova’s economy, but not in the sense that we would try to set the tone or lead something there, but by making investments in Moldova, creating, for instance, connections between the energy systems of Romania and Moldova, to ease their dependence on the only gas supplier they have now.”



    Difficult times are looming ahead for the Republic of Moldova, in the new internal political context, in which big problems might become even more severe. According to statistical figures, one such problem is poverty, as the Republic of Moldova is the poorest European state, with a frail banking system, from which one billion dollars simply vanished, and a fragile justice system, unable to keep corruption in check, particularly graft, at the highest level.


    (Translated by Diana Vijeu)









  • What Next for the Republic of Moldova?

    What Next for the Republic of Moldova?

    Instead of joyful rallies to celebrate the winner, Sunday night’s announcement that the pro-Russian Igor Dodon won the presidential election in the Republic of Moldova was followed by civil society protests against the faulty organisation of the ballot. Two weeks before, in the first round, he had carried 47% of the votes, nearly 10% more than his challenger, the pro-European reformist Maia Sandu, and his win came as no surprise. The gap between the two candidates narrowed significantly in the runoff, with 52% for Dodon and 47% for Sandu, but not enough to change the outcome predicted by all opinion polls. In contrast to his tough campaign statements, in his acceptance speech the new head of state called for unity.



    Igor Dodon: “I promise, my fellow countrymen, that I will be the president of all Moldovans, both on the right and on the left of the political spectrum, both those who see themselves and want to become part of the EU, and those who want to stay close to Russia. A few words for my challenger, Ms Sandu, I would like to congratulate you on a very good result, but now, please, let us try to calm things down.”



    Dodon’s call comes after scores of young people had protested in front of the headquarters of the Central Electoral Commission in Chisinau. They were outraged that many polling stations, both in Moldova and abroad, from Bucharest to Dublin, had run out of ballots. Social media circulated appeals for marathon protests downtown Chisinau.



    On behalf of the pro-European camp, Maia Sandu stated: “We will stay alert until the end, and I promise you that together we will clarify each and every violation, each case in which people were unable to vote.”



    Sandu actually demanded the immediate resignation of the Foreign Minister and the President of the Central Electoral Commission, seen as the main culprits for the organisational disaster. Everybody agrees however that neither the protests nor the resignations can make any difference at this point. For their candidate to win, Ms. Sandu’s supporters should have persuaded more people to show up in polling stations. But the reluctance of many citizens came in response to seven years of self-professed pro-Western rule, undermined by inefficiency and corruption and culminating in the vanishing of one billion US dollars from the country’s banking system and the sentencing of the former PM, Maia Sandu’s party chief, Vlad Filat.



    The Russian media, quoted by news agencies, congratulate Moscow on getting a fresh ally in its west. Commentators note however that Dodon will not have a confortable term in office. According to all rankings, the Republic of Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. And one in which, according to the outcome of Sunday’s vote, the pro-Western half of society deeply opposes the new president.(Translated by Ana Maria Popescu)

  • November 13, 2016

    November 13, 2016

    REP. OF MOLDOVA — Pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon and pro-European reformer Maia Sandu face off in the presidential run-off in the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet state, with a predominantly Romanian speaking population. About three million voters are called to the polls to elect their president through direct voting, for the first time in 16 years, time in which the head of state was appointed by Parliament. According to the media in Chishinau, although the president’s prerogatives are limited in the former Soviet republic to foreign policy and national security, Moldovans hope their future president will also be able to solve the social and economic problems the country is facing. Pundits say the ballot has a political stake, as well as geopolitical implications. Dodon wants Moldova to relinquish accession and free trade agreements with Brussels and join the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Union, whereas Sandu pleads for reforming the state and European integration. In the first round, Igor Dodon got 48% of the cast votes, whereas Maia Sandu got 39%. The turnout in the first round stood at some 49%, a record low in the history of the Republic of Moldova, since elections were held in that country.



    FOREIGN POLICY — The EU foreign ministers are today meeting in Brussels for talks on the impact the results of the US presidential election might have on trans-Atlantic relations. The European leaders are concerned about the future of the relations with the US, after the US President elect, Donald Trump, has repeatedly said he places America on the first place. “It’s good for Europe to be pro-active and do not wait for President Trump’s reaction”, said Dutch foreign minister, Bert Koenders. The meeting in Brussels is held at the initiative of Germany and the Netherlands.



    COMMEMORATION — French President Francois Hollande has today opened the ceremonies marking one year since the Paris terror attacks of November 13, 2015, unveiling a commemorative sign at Stade de France, in northern Paris, where the first of the 130 victims was killed by Jihadists, FP reports. The Bataclan Concert Hall in Paris reopened on Saturday, one year after the attacks claimed by the Islamic State organisation. On November 13, 2015 Paris was in shock after gunmen opened fire randomly in the streets and blew themselves up. The largest number of victims, 90, were registered at Bataclan, and the rest of victims died in cafes, on sidewalks and restaurant terraces in Paris.



    PROTESTS — Protests which started in thousands of towns and cities across the US, at the news of Republican Donald Trump’s winning the presidential election, continued on Saturday, for the fourth consecutive day. Representatives of the protesters say they are aware of the fact that what they say and their taking to the streets do not reverse the result of the presidential ballot, but they want to draw attention on their discontent about the future White House leader. They want to raise public awareness of the main issues raised during Trump’s electoral campaign which included defamatory remarks on women, up to threats of building a wall between the US and Mexico to keep migrants away.



    ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN — The electoral campaign for the parliamentary elections scheduled for December 11, started in Romania on Friday. Some 6,500 people are running, on behalf of parties or as independent candidates, for the 466 seats in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. This election, the list system has been reinstated; the last time it was used was in the 2004 elections. The parties credited with chances of going past the required threshold to be represented in parliament are: PSD, PNL, USR, ALDE, UDMR and PMP.



    BULGARIA — Bulgarian voters are called to the polls today to elect their president, in the presidential run-off. The vote might also entail the removal of Conservative PM, Boiko Borisov, in case of a victory by the Socialist candidate, Rumen Radev, considered to have close relations with Moscow, FP reports. Some 6.8 million voters will choose between Tsetska Tsacheva, the candidate of the conservative Gerb Party, in power, and pro-Russian general Rumen Radev, who had been the commander of the Bulgarian Air Forces until summer, when he accepted to become the Socialists’ presidential candidate. According to the latest polls, Radev is the frontrunner, especially after the big surprise of November 6, when he got 3 percentage points more than the candidate of the majority, criticised for a lack of charisma.



    WEATHER — A wave of cold has taken most Romanian regions in its grip, except for the southeast where temperatures are close to normal for this time of the year. The sky is overcast and precipitations are reported across the whole territory. Rainwater exceeds 20-25 l/square meter in the west, south-west, centre, north and north-east, and even 50- 60 l/square meter in places. Snowfalls are reported in the mountains and in the north, where gusty wind is also reported. A code yellow alert against precipitations and gale-force wind is valid for almost the whole of Romania, as well as a code orange alert against blizzard valid for 14 counties in the centre and the north. Both codes are valid until Sunday evening. The highs of the day range between 0 and plus 10 degrees Celsius.



    RUGBY — Romania’s national rugby team on Saturday defeated the US, 23-10, in a test match played in Bucharest. The winner grabbed the “Pershing Cup”. This is a trophy initiated in 2014 and offered ever since by the Romanian Rugby Federation to the winner of the confrontations between Romania and the US, in remembrance of the match played during the Military “Olympics” of 1919, the “Inter-Allied Games”, organised by the commander in chief of the US Expeditionary Force in Europe, General John Joseph Pershing, to mark the end of WWI. The next preparatory game of the Romanian national rugby team is scheduled for Saturday, when Romania meets Canada in Bucharest.



    FILM — Romanian films “Sieranevada” by Cristi Puiu and “Baccalaureate” by Cristian Mungiu have reaped a lot of awards at the “Listapad”, International Film Festival hosted by the Belarusian capital, Minsk, between November 4 and 11. They included: the film press award (Sieranevada), the “Yury Marukhin” memorial award for best cinematography (Barbu Balasoiu/ Sieranevada), the special jury award (Baccalaureate), the award for best actress in a supporting role (Lia Bugnar/ Baccalaureate) and the award for best actor in a leading role (Adrian Titieni/ Baccalaureate). (Translated by Diana Vijeu)

  • Newsflash 11, 2016 UPDATE

    Newsflash 11, 2016 UPDATE

    CAMPAIGN — Romania on Friday kicked off its parliamentary election campaign, scheduled for December 11. Almost 6,500 people have registered as candidates for the 466 seats in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, on behalf of political parties or as independents. This election, the list system has been reinstated; the last time it was used was in the 2004 elections, with new norms of representation introduced for senators and deputies.



    REP. OF MOLDOVA — Pro-Russian Socialist candidate Igor Dodon and pro-European reformer Maia Sandu face off on Sunday in the presidential run-off in the Republic of Moldova. About three million citizens are called to the polls to vote directly for the president, for the first time in 16 years, time in which the head of state was appointed by Parliament. Pundits say that this election has not only a political stake, but also geopolitical implications. Dodon wants to join the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Union, while Sandu pleads for reforming the state and joining the EU.



    PIPELINE — A gas pipeline between Romania and Bulgaria was inaugurated on Friday by the relevant authorities, the Bulgarian Energy Ministry has announced. Running over 25 km, the pipeline is the longest such installation in Europe so far. The Bulgarian portion runs over 15.4 km, the one in Romania is 7.5 km long, with 2.1 km running under the river Danube, separating the two countries. The pipeline provides a secure and permanent supply of natural gas for home and industry consumers in the two countries. Its inauguration meets the requirement of the European Energy Union requiring the creation of gas transportation systems between member states. The gas pipeline is part of a wider plan to link natural gas networks in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria by the end of 2019.



    VETERANS DAY — Veterans Day was observed on Friday in Romania, too. Military and religious ceremonies were held in garrisons and at the heroes’ memorials across the country. Tribute was also paid to the 28 Romanian military who died in international missions, in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia-Hertzegovina. On this occasion, the Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, said the solid security guarantees that Romania enjoys at present are due, to a large extent, to the spirit of sacrifice, loyalty and patriotism. As of 2014, Romanians annually observe Veterans’ Day on November 11, concurrently with other European countries, the US, Canada and Australia. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended on November 11, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.



    DIPLOMACY — German chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Thursday had a phone conversation with the US President elect, Donald Trump, about maintaining relations between Germany and the US. The statement was made on Friday by the spokesman for the German Government, Georg Streiter. He said Angela Merkel is also due to have a meeting in Berlin on Thursday with the acting US president, Barack Obama, for talks on the free trade agreement between the US and EU.



    HANDBALL — The Romanian womens handball champions, CSM Bucharest, on Friday qualified for the next stage of the Champions League, after defeating the Russian team Rostov Don, 22-20, away from home. This is the first win grabbed by the Romanian team after having sustained three consecutive defeats. In the next stage, the Romanian team will face the Danish team Midtjylland. After having played five matches, CSM ranks second in the group, with 4 points, just like Midtjylland. (Translated by C. Cotoiu and D. Vijeu)