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Tag: Saudi Arabia

Ukraine Summit in Saudi Arabia

Officials from dozens of countries around the world analyzed, in a closed-door meeting held in Saudi Arabia, possible solutions to ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Riyadh specifically wanted Brazil, India, China and South Africa to take part in these discussions, states that together with Russia form the BRICS group. According to Kyiv, the talks in Jeddah were not easy at all. President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the Ukrainian delegation presented its ten-point peace plan, which provides for the total withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

In turn, the head of the presidential administration in Kyiv, Andrii Yermak believes that the meeting reaffirmed the support of the participating countries for the principle of the inviolability of borders. He said that different points of view were presented regarding the key principles of the Ukrainian peace formula, but all those present expressed their countries’ commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, including international law and respect for sovereignty. Moreover, the head of the presidential office stated, the representatives of the Ukrainian delegation discussed defense, security guarantees, investments, the importance of holding a global summit for peace, as well as the grain agreement. Russia did not participate in the summit, but the Kremlin said it would monitor the talks.

Romania, represented in Saudi Arabia by the former Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, currently a presidential adviser, expressed his firm support for the peace formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Any future peace must guarantee Ukraine’s security within its internationally recognized borders and the freedom to pursue its sovereign elections without interference. Romania will continue to stand by Ukraine as long as it takes to win this war, Bogdan Aurescu said.

We recall that the last round of Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations took place in March last year in Istanbul. Subsequently, Kyiv made any negotiations with Moscow conditional on the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and the restoration of its internationally recognized borders. Moreover, Kyiv wants the establishment of a tribunal to judge the war crimes attributed to the Russian military forces, guarantees for the security of the nuclear power plants and additional security guarantees in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Russia, on the other hand, claims that it is ready for peace negotiations, but calls on Kyiv to recognize the new territorial realities, referring to the territories occupied by Russian military forces. The annual session of the United Nations General Assembly due in September would provide another opportunity for Ukraine to make its case. The country is also planning a summit later in the fall to bolster support for its ten-point peace formula, hoping it will form the basis of any future deal. (MI)

7 August 2023
July 31, 2023

TAXES Fresh talks are scheduled today in
the Cabinet on tax-related measures designed to rebalance the state budget.
The Social Democratic PM Marcel Ciolacu is to have meetings with the finance
minister Marcel Boloș, and a report is expected from the national tax agency
with respect to revenue collection. The ruling coalition is considering tax
increases and the elimination of certain tax facilities, as well as the
cancelling of 200,000 public sector positions that are currently vacant and a
reduction of expenditure in ministries. According to the PM, the proposed
measures will be implemented in 3 stages, beginning on September 1, October 1 and
January 1, 2024.

VEHICLES The local segment of the car
scrapping programme Rablaˮ started today, in an effort by the Romanian
authorities to get heavily polluting vehicles out of circulation. Apart from
the funds provided by the Environment Ministry, local authorities contribute
20% of the vouchers granted to citizens who de-register cars older than 15
years. In a first stage in April, town halls enrolled in this programme, and as
of today citizens may apply for the funds available in the programme, no later
than the end of August. The Environment Ministry earmarked some EUR 50 mln for
this programme, and estimates around 100,000 polluting cars will be scrapped.

CONCERT The Bucharest National Opera
orchestra Sunday night performed for the first time at the Musikverein hall in
Vienna, which hosts the traditional New Year’s concert in the Austrian capital
city. The concert was a tribute to the Romanian composer Ciprian
Porumbescu, as the year 2023 was declared the year of Ciprian Porumbescu, to
mark 170 years since the birth and 140 years since the death of the famous
composer. The programme consisted exclusively of works by Ciprian Porumbescu:
New Moon, the first Romanian operetta, the Ballad, the
Romanian Rhapsody. The soloists, choir and orchestra of the
National Opera House in Bucharest were conducted by Daniel Jinga, with special
guests including maestro Gheorghe Zamfir and the soloist Maria Coman.

TRAINING The training ship Mircea has today
returned to the military port of Constanţa, after a 28-day training session in
the Mediterranean. On board were 64 sophomore students with the Mircea cel
Bătrân Naval Academy, as well as 10 exchange students from partner
academies in Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, Latvia, Italy and Spain. The training
ship had stopovers in the ports of Piraeus in Greece, Taranto in Italy and Izmir
in Turkey, and completed an over 2,200 mile journey.

UKRAINE Ukraine has today confirmed that
Saudi Arabia will host a peace summit aimed, according to Kyiv, at restoring
peace in line with the Ukrainian formula, EFE reports. According to the head
of Ukraine’s presidential office Andriy Yermak, apart from guaranteeing peace
for Ukraine, the 10-point formula will create mechanisms to counter future conflicts. For
Kyiv, the formula includes the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.
According to Western diplomats, the choice of Saudi Arabia to host the talks is
designed to facilitate the participation of China, which has good relations
with Moscow and with Riyadh.

SPORTS PM Marcel Ciolacu congratulated the
Romanian athletes and coaches who took part in the European Youth Olympic
Festival hosted this year by Maribor (Slovenia). He said Romania once again
confirmed its rebirth as a sports powerhouse after it finished the competition
with 20 medals, shoulder to shoulder with France, which came 3rd in
the final ranking. Their result reconfirms their hard work, talent and the
pride of proving to the world that we are a country which, in spite of
difficulties, remains able to cultivate the spirit required of great champions,ˮ
Ciolacu said. Romania’s performance at this year’s European Youth Olympic
Festival was the best after the ones in a Bath (1995) and Paris (2003). (AMP)

31 July 2023
September 17, 2019

ATTACK – The
Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly condemns the September 14 attacks on two oil facilities
in Saudi Arabia. We convey our full support for and solidarity with the Saudi
authorities and people. We reiterate the fact that any attack on civilian
infrastructure is unacceptable, in breach of international law and a genuine
threat to regional stability, while taking into account the escalating tensions
in the area, the Foreign Ministry writes in a release. The Ministry also
writes that the attack is bound to heighten uncertainty on the global market by
affecting the oil production capacity of Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil
producer, by potentially increasing oil prices on the international market and
undermining dialog efforts with a view to identifying solutions to existing
disputes. On the other hand, President Donald Trump said the United States has
the means to respond to the drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, but
for the time being the focus is on identifying those responsible. The attacks
were claimed by Shiite and Houthi militias supported by Iran, at war with Saudi
Arabia and its Sunni allies for the past four years.

EUROSTAT -
Bulgaria, Greece, Poland and Romania reported the largest employment share in
the field of agriculture at EU level, reads a Eurostat report released earlier
today. Among the eastern and southern areas of the EU, 27 different regions
reported an employment share at least three times as high as the EU average of
4.5%, including five out of the six regions in Bulgaria, eight out of the
thirteen regions in Greece, six regions in Poland, and five out of the eight
regions in Romania. The Vest development area of Romania had a share of
employment in industry nearly three times as high as the EU average of 15.3%.

EXERCISE – Some
5,400 military from 16 countries, including Romania, are taking part in the
Saber Junction 19 multinational exercise hosted by Germany until September 30.
The Romanian Land Forces General Staff has announced. Also taking part are
military from Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Kosovo,
Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, the United States, Turkey and Ukraine.
Saber Junction 19 is contributing to boosting Europe’s security, promoting
regional security and stability. For the joint exercise in Germany the Romanian
army is represented by 150 infantry soldiers and 20 pieces of technical
equipment. Another 50 military of the Romanian Land Forces are training with
military from the Republic of Moldova as part of the Shield Fire 19.2 exercise
held until September 20 at the Combat Training Center of the Moldovan National
Army.

ENESCU FESTIVAL -
The George Enescu International Music Festival continues in Bucharest, held
over August 31 – September 22 and bringing together over 2,500 of the world’s
most prestigious musicians as part of 84 concerts and recitals. The capital
city in Romania and cities in Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the Republic
of Moldova are hosting concerts as part of the festival.

ELECTION IN ISRAEL
– Legislative elections are being held today in Israel for the second time this
year. The main political parties fighting for seat in the Parliament are the
right-wing Likud Party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the
center-left Blue-White Party. Pundits recall that April’s ballot was followed
by weeks of chaos, as parties struggled to form a ruling coalition. A debate
has flared up society over the religious or secular character of the Jewish
state, although pundits say it was meant to overshadow Netanyahu’s corruption
accusations.

VOLLEYBALL – The
Romanian men’s volleyball team lost 1-3 to Greece in a Group A match at the
European Championship hosted by Montpellier, France. Our team will play in the
last group fixture against Portugal on Wednesday. Romania previously lost to
France, Bulgaria and Italy in Group A, and now holds only mathematical chances
of securing 4th place in the standings, which could ensure
qualification to the round of 16. This is Romania’s first appearance in a
European Championship after a 24-year break. In the women’s competition,
Romania was knocked out in the round of 16 by Serbia.

TENNIS -
Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan has today advanced to the round of 16 at the
WTA tournament in Seoul, South Korea, totaling 250,000 dollars in prize money. After
making it past the qualifying phase, Bogdan, 143 WTA, surprisingly knocked out
Polona Hercog of Slovenia, the competition’s 6th seed, 6-1, 3-6,
6-1. Another Romanian, Mihaela Buzarnescu, who last week reached the
semi-finals of the tournament in Hiroshima, lost to 21-year-old Priscilla Hon
of Australia, 6-3, 6-4. Also today, Patricia Tig is playing the number one seed
Maria Sakkari of Greece in the first round.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

17 September 2019
Football Flash

There is little chance that the Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu would come back to Romanian football, after leaving last week Shabab al Ahli Dubai, of the Emirates. According to the Bucharest media, he has solid offers from Saudi Arabia. The breakup between the club and the coach was the result of a mutual decision. The Romanian’s place was taken by Mahdi Ali, a former coach of the Emirate national team. Olaroiu took over the reigns of the Al Ahli team in June 2013, and together they won the national championship two times, two cups and two super-cups and in 2015 played the final of the Asian Champions League. This summer, al Ahli merged with Dubai CSC and Al Shabab, forming the Shabab Al Ahli Dubai club. In the Emirates championship, the team is now ranking 5th, 7 points away from the leader Al Wasl.

On Wednesday, the Romanian Professional Football League announced that the video assistant referee would be implemented in league one starting with the 2018-2019 season. The vice-president of the league, Robert Pongracz, has told a press conference that 13 out of the 14 club presidents in Romania voted in favour of implementing this system. The league president Gino Iorgulescu has announced that the system will start being tested this season, and hopefully at least one game in the league’s playoffs will be assisted this way. Gino Iorgulescu has stated that the implementation cost depends on the equipment other factors, because using the system entails using tw extra referees, two video operators and so on. Cost estimates indicate approximately 6-7,000 euros, but the amount could go up to 1.5 million. According to Iorgulescu, the final sum should cover two seasons.

7 December 2017
Football Flash

There is little chance that the Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu would come back to Romanian football, after leaving last week Shabab al Ahli Dubai, of the Emirates. According to the Bucharest media, he has solid offers from Saudi Arabia. The breakup between the club and the coach was the result of a mutual decision. The Romanian’s place was taken by Mahdi Ali, a former coach of the Emirate national team. Olaroiu took over the reigns of the Al Ahli team in June 2013, and together they won the national championship two times, two cups and two super-cups and in 2015 played the final of the Asian Champions League. This summer, al Ahli merged with Dubai CSC and Al Shabab, forming the Shabab Al Ahli Dubai club. In the Emirates championship, the team is now ranking 5th, 7 points away from the leader Al Wasl.

On Wednesday, the Romanian Professional Football League announced that the video assistant referee would be implemented in league one starting with the 2018-2019 season. The vice-president of the league, Robert Pongracz, has told a press conference that 13 out of the 14 club presidents in Romania voted in favour of implementing this system. The league president Gino Iorgulescu has announced that the system will start being tested this season, and hopefully at least one game in the league’s playoffs will be assisted this way. Gino Iorgulescu has stated that the implementation cost depends on the equipment other factors, because using the system entails using tw extra referees, two video operators and so on. Cost estimates indicate approximately 6-7,000 euros, but the amount could go up to 1.5 million. According to Iorgulescu, the final sum should cover two seasons.

7 December 2017
May 22, 2017

SALARIES — The Unified Pay Scale bill, which provides for raising state employee salaries gradually until 2022 is put to a vote today in the Senate in Bucharest. The Senate labor committee passed a number of amendments, among them raising by 25% the indemnities of local elected officials working on projects financed with European funds, and granting a 15% bonus to public servants in decentralized services under the Ministry of the Environment. The Unified Pay Scale bill raises state budget wages across the board. Stay tuned for details after the news.

INVESTIGATION — The parliamentary committee appointed to investigate the 2009 presidential elections starts hearings today with journalist and former political adviser Dan Andronic. Over the next few days, the committee hears former Minister of the Interior Vasile Blaga, former chairman of the Permanent Election Authority, Maria Patru, and Mircea Geoana, who ran in the 2009 elections. Recently, Dan Andronic alleged that the heads of major state institutions, such as the director of intelligence and the head prosecutor, had tampered with the elections in favor of the then incumbent president and candidate Traian Basescu. He won a second term in office with a narrow margin, running against Mircea Geoana. Prosecutors are already investigating the case for abuse of office, as well as forging documents and electoral records. The report of the parliament committee could get to the joint chambers by the end of this legislative season, which concludes on July 1st.

BRUSSELS — Romanian Delegate Minister for European Affairs, Ana Birchall, takes part in Brussels in the General Affairs Council Meeting, gathering 27 countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministers of the 27 gather to pass the authorization to open negotiations for the Brexit, the UK leaving the European Union. During her trip, Minister Birchall will hold talks with her Estonian counterpart, Matti Maasikas, on the priorities of the Estonian presidency of the European Council, and the main issues under debate at the European level. The minister pointed to Romanias intense interest in protecting the rights and interests of Romanians living and working in the UK.

TRUMP — US President Donald Trump arrives today in Israel, the second leg of his first international tour as head of state, the first being Saudi Arabia. He will hold talks in Jerusalem with President Reuven Rivlin, PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli leaders. On Tuesday, he goes to Bethlehem, where he meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. In Saudi Arabia, a major US ally, Trump signed contracts worth 380 billion USD, mainly for armament and oil sales. In Riyadh, speaking to representatives of over 40 Muslim states, he called on leaders there to take the initiative in fighting Islamist militants. The tour will continue with Italy and Belgium.

TENNIS — Five Romanian tennis players attend the tournament in Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year, with 36 million Euro in prizes. According to betting houses, Simona Halep, currently ranking fourth in the world, is among the favorites to win. On Sunday, she lost the finals of the tournament in Rome against 11th seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. The four other Romanian contenders in the current competition are Irina Begu, 44th, Monica Niculescu (53 WTA), Sorana Cîrstea (67 WTA) and Patricia Ţig (119 WTA). The first day of the tournament is Sunday.

HANDBALL — Romanian mens handball team Potaissa Turda was defeated on Sunday in an away game by Sporting Lisbon, 37-28, in the first leg of the finals of the Challenge Cup. The return leg is scheduled for May 27 in Cluj-Napoca. In womens handball, Romanian champions CSM Bucharest came in third in the Champions Leagu Final Four, the most important European competition. In 2016, CSM won the Champions League in their very first year of attendance.

DRUGS — The Bulgarian authorities, working with Romanian authorities, have captured over 400 kg of heroin at the Vidin-Calafat crossing point between the two countries. The black market value of the transport is over 32 million Euros. The heroin was found in a truck transporting construction materials, transiting between Iran and Holland.

22 May 2017
May 21, 2017 UPDATE

LEGISLATION — The draft law on the unified pay scale, stipulating an increase of public sector salaries in several stages until 2022, will be discussed by Senate on Monday. Previously, the Senate’s Labour Committee included a number of amendments, including a 25% pay increase for local elected officials who implement EU funded projects and a 15% bonus for civil servants working with the institutions subordinated to the Environment Ministry. The bill provides for salary increases, in some cases going as far as by 200%, in all sectors.

HEARINGS — A parliamentary committee that probes into the presidential election of 2009 is to start hearings on Monday, and the first to be heard is the journalist and former political adviser Dan Andronic. He has recently stated that the heads of major public institutions at that time, including the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office, influenced the outcome of the vote to the benefit of Traian Basescu. The latter won a second presidential term in office in 2009, after a very narrow victory against the Social Democrat Mircea Geoana. Prosecutors have initiated criminal proceedings in this case, for suspected abuse of office and forgery of documents and election records.

EU — The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Ana Birchall, takes part in Brussels on Monday in a meeting of the General Affairs Council held in an EU27 format, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. The participants will adopt a decision authorising the opening of the Brexit negotiations with the UK and nominating the Commission as the EU negotiator, and will endorse negotiating directives. On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Ana Birchall will have talks with her Estonian counterpart, Matti Maasikas, about the priorities of the Estonian presidency of the EU Council and the main topics of discussion at EU level. The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs mentioned that Bucharest attaches great importance to protecting the rights and interests of the Romanians living in UK.

INTERNATIONAL — The USA and the Arab monarchies in the Gulf region Sunday announced the set-up of a centre to fight against the financing sources that terrorism relies on. The announcement came during the visit of US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia, as a stage in his first international tour. In an address to leaders from over 40 Muslim and Arab countries given in Riyadh on Sunday, Trump called on Muslim countries not to give safe haven to terrorists. On Saturday, the first day of his visit, the USA and Saudi Arabia signed contracts of 380 billion US dollars, mainly in the oil sector and in arms procurement.

TENNIS — The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 4 in the world, Sunday lost the final of the Rome tournament, which had 2.7 million US dollars in total prize money. Halep lost the final to the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, no. 11 WTA. Last week the Romanian won the tournament in Madrid for the second consecutive year. The Rome final was the 24th played so far by Halep, who has won 15 tournaments in her career.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

21 May 2017
May 21, 2017

HEARINGS – A parliamentary committee that probes into the presidential election of 2009 is to start hearings on Monday, and the first to be heard is the journalist and former political adviser Dan Andronic. He has recently stated that the heads of major public institutions at that time, including the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Prosecutor Generals Office, influenced the outcome of the vote to the benefit of Traian Basescu. The latter won a second presidential term in office in 2009, after a very narrow victory against the Social Democrat Mircea Geoana. Prosecutors have initiated criminal proceedings in this case, for suspected abuse of office and forgery of documents and election records.

EU – The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Ana Birchall, takes part in Brussels on Monday in a meeting of the General Affairs Council held in an EU27 format, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. The participants will adopt a decision authorising the opening of the Brexit negotiations with the UK and nominating the Commission as the EU negotiator, and will endorse negotiating directives. On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Ana Birchall will have talks with her Estonian counterpart, Matti Maasikas, about the priorities of the Estonian presidency of the EU Council and the main topics of discussion at EU level. The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs mentioned that Bucharest attaches great importance to protecting the rights and interests of the Romanians living in UK.

FRANCE – The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, receives the PM of Italy Paolo Gentiloni in Paris today. According to AFP, the meeting takes place days ahead the G7 summit that brings together the leaders of the USA, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy and Canada in Sicily, southern Italy. A major topic on the agenda will be the Paris Agreement on climate change, at a time when the US President Donald Trump, who will attend the meeting in Sicily, threatens to take his country out of this process, AFP also notes.

INTERNATIONAL – While on his first international tour, the US President Donald Trump is to address in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today leaders of over 40 Muslim countries. BBC reports that the US President will mention the need to open a common front against religious extremism and against intolerant ideologies. On Saturday, the first day of the tour, the parties signed contracts amounting to 380 billion US dollars, primarily in the oil sector and in arms procurement.

TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 4 in the world, plays today the final of the tournament in Rome, which has 2.7 million US dollars in total prize money, against the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (no. 11 WTA). In the semi-final, Halep outplayed the Dutch Kiki Bertens (20 WTA). Last week, the Romanian player won the Madrid tournament for the second consecutive year. This is the 24th tournament final for Halep, who has won 15 titles so far. If she wins today, Halep goes up to no. 3 in the world rankings.

FOOTBALL – Dinamo Bucharest won the Romanian Leagues Cup after Saturday nights 2-0 victory against ACS Poli Timisoara. The match was played in Bucharest. This is the second competition organised by the Romanian Professional Football League, after the championship. This year the League awarded the champions title to FC Viitorul. FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, threatened however that it would challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the Switzerland, on grounds that both teams finished the championship with the same score and that overall it won in the direct matches against Viitorul. Two other teams from southern Romania, FC Voluntari and Astra Giurgiu, will play for the Romanian Football Cup.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

21 May 2017
January 5, 2016 UPDATE

Although temperatures are slightly increasing, the weather remains very cold for this time of the year in Romania. Snowfalls are still reported in the south-east and north-west. The highs range between minus 8 and 5 degrees Celsius, with a minus 6 degree reading in Bucharest at noon. Over the past few days, 3 people died because of the biting cold, and 42 others have been rescued by the authorities. Road, railway and air transport is disrupted by the snow and wind.

The importance of guaranteeing the freedom of the press is vital to any democratic country, particularly in a EU member state, said the Liberal Deputy Ionuţ Stroe, the head of Romania’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In a statement to Radio Romania, he described as disquieting the fact that a law drafted by the new Conservative power in Poland, under which the directors of the public radio and television stations are to be appointed by the finance minister, was passed by the Parliament in Warsaw without public debate. On Monday, 4 international media freedom watchdogs filed a complaint in this respect with the Council of Europe. They criticise the law as threatening the independence of public media. The authors of the protest urge the Polish Conservative party “Law and Justice” to immediately scrap this law, which is pending for promulgation by President Andrzej Duda, from the same party.

The president of the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Timofti, on Tuesday resumed consultations with parliamentary parties in order to appoint a new candidate to the position of prime minister. Consultations are held after on Monday the prime minister designate, the technocrat Ion Sturza was not voted because of the lack of quorum in Parliament. If the PM fails to be appointed after a second nomination, President Timofti will have to dissolve Parliament and call for early elections. The previous cabinet, led by the Liberal Democrat Valeriu Streleţ was dismissed on October 29th through a no confidence motion filed by the pro-Russian Socialists and Communists and also by the Democratic Party, known as a pro-western party.

The Romanian tennis players Irina Begu and Monica Niculescu will play, on Wednesday, in the eighth finals of the Shenzhen tournament in China which has prizes up for grabs worth 500 thousand dollars. Begu, seeded 3rd in the tournament, will take on the German Anna-Lena Friedsam, while Niculescu will play against Timea Babos of Hungary. The best known Romanian tennis player, Simona Halep, world’s no. 2, has withdrawn from the Brisbane tournament, in Australia, with prizes worth almost 900 thousand dollars, because of a medical problem. Halep announced that, next week, she would participate in the Sydney tournament, also in Australia.

The UN Security Council vehemently criticized the attack on Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Teheran. Saudi Arabia has severed diplomatic relations with Iran after its embassy in Teheran was stormed by violent protesters, who were discontent with the fact that the authorities in Riyadh executed a Shiite cleric, Nimr Baaqer al-Nimr, a virulent critic of the Sunni dynasty in power in Saudi Arabia. Against the backdrop of escalating tension between Riyadh and Teheran, Russia expressed availability to invite the foreign ministers of the two countries for negotiations. In turn, the EU and the US have launched an appeal to calm following the severance of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia, a country with a majority Sunni population, and Iran, with a majority Shiite population.

Copenhagen announced temporary controls on its German border, shortly after Sweden had taken similar measures at its border with Denmark. The Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen warned that unless the EU managed to protect its borders, several countries would have to tighten security checks. He explained that, following the restrictions imposed by Sweden, Denmark might be faced with a large number of illegal immigrants. In turn, the Swedish authorities claim that they are trying to reduce the number of refugees reaching their country. Last year, 160,000 people applied for asylum in Sweden, the largest number in Europe after Germany. Denmark and Sweden are the last states to introduce border checks in the Schengen zone. In September 2015, Germany introduced controls on its Austrian border, and last week Norway, which is not an EU member but is part of the visa-free area, announced that travelers without a visa would be denied access to the country.

5 January 2016
January 5, 2016

Although temperatures are slightly increasing, the weather remains very cold for this time of the year in Romania. Snowfalls are still reported in the south-east and north-west. The highs range between minus 8 and 5 degrees Celsius, with a minus 6 degree reading in Bucharest at noon. Over the past few days, 3 people died because of the biting cold, and 42 others have been rescued by the authorities. Road, railway and air transport is disrupted by the snow and wind.

Bulgaria, Romanias southern neighbour, announced a code yellow alert against snow, black ice and strong wind, valid today in several parts of the country, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. Romanian citizens who travel or intend to travel to Bulgaria are urged to have their vehicles properly equipped and to check the latest news in this respect. The Foreign Ministry previously warned Romanian tourists that a similar alert was in place in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The importance of guaranteeing the freedom of the press is vital to any democratic country, particularly in a EU member state, said the Liberal Deputy Ionuţ Stroe, the head of Romanias delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In a statement to Radio Romania, he described as disquieting the fact that a law drafted by the new Conservative power in Poland, under which the directors of the public radio and television stations are to be appointed by the finance minister, was passed by the Parliament in Warsaw without public debate. On Monday, 4 international media freedom watchdogs filed a complaint in this respect with the Council of Europe. They criticise the law as threatening the independence of public media. The authors of the protest urge the Polish Conservative party “Law and Justice to immediately scrap this law, which is pending for promulgation by President Andrzej Duda, from the same party.

Copenhagen announced temporary controls on its German border, shortly after Sweden had taken similar measures at its border with Denmark. The Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen warned that unless the EU manages to protect its borders, several countries will have to tighten security checks. He explained that, following the restrictions imposed by Sweden, Denmark might be faced with a large number of illegal immigrants. In turn, the Swedish authorities claim that they are trying to reduce the number of refugees reaching their country. Last year, 160,000 people applied for asylum in Sweden, the largest number in Europe after Germany. Denmark and Sweden are the last states to introduce border checks in the Schengen zone. In September 2015, Germany introduced controls on its Austrian border, and last week Norway, which is not an EU member but is part of the visa-free area, announced that travelers without a visa would be denied access to the country.

The leaders of the Moldovan pro-Western Liberal and Democratic parties, announced they would hold new talks in order to form a new parliamentary majority and a new government. The announcement comes after on Monday the prime minister designate, Ion Sturza, failed to get the votes of a sufficient number of MPs in the Moldovan Parliament, more than half of whose members were absent from the session. The Parliament Speaker, Adrian Candu, said that the vote is failed according to the Constitutional Court rules, and the head of state Nicolae Timofti is now to nominate a new candidate for the PM seat. Should the new attempt fail as well, Timofti must dissolve the Parliament and announce early elections. The previous cabinet, headed by the Liberal-Democrat Valeriu Streleţ, was dismissed on October 29, following a no-confidence motion tabled by the pro-Russian Communists and Socialists, but backed by the Democratic Party as well.

The UN Security Council strongly criticized the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, and Saudi Arabia suspended diplomatic ties with Iran after its embassy in Tehran was stormed and set alight by violent protesters, disgruntled with the execution of Shia Muslim cleric Nimr Baaqer al-Nimr by Riyadh. As tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran escalate, Russia expressed willingness to host negotiations between the two foreign ministers. In turn, the EU and USA call for calm following the row between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran.

The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 2 in the world, has withdrawn from the Brisbane tournament in Australia, having nearly 900,000 US dollars in prize money, and so did the current trophy holder, no. 4 WTA Maria Sharapova of Russia. Simona said that, in spite of the problem with her left leg, she would take part in the Sydney tournament next week. Two other Romanian players, Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Ţig, have qualified in the doubles quarter-finals of the Shenzhen tournament in China, which has 500,000 US dollars in prize money. In the first round, they defeated Zarina Dias / Ling Zhang (Kazakhstan/China), 6-2, 6-4.

5 January 2016
January 4, 2016 UPDATE

COLD WEATHER – The wave of cold weather which is sweeping the region has hit Romania, where temperatures dropped to minus 16 degrees Celsius. Three people died from the cold and scores have been hospitalised with hypothermia. Bucharest authorities decided to start offering hot tea and hot soup to the homeless. Snow has disrupted road traffic in the south and south west of the country and rendered air traffic difficult. Speed restrictions have also been imposed in places and many trains have failed to arrive on time. Several ports on the Black Sea Coast have also been closed down.

CURRENCY – Romanias national currency, the leu, will this year maintain its stabilization trend against the Euro, but it will slightly depreciate against the US dollar. The forecast was made by the Financial – Banking Analysts Association in Romania, according to which the national currency will be mostly influenced by external factors. The President of the Association, Radu Craciun, has said that, although Romanias perception at international level is very good, the leus exchange rates will very much depend on the dynamics of the volatile currency markets. On the other hand, he has warned that certain promises made in the run-up to the 2016 local and legislative elections might raise worries among the foreign investors, and this could impact the evolution of the exchange rate.

MOLDOVA– The Prime Minister Designate of the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population), the technocrat Ion Sturza, could not ask for a vote of confidence in Parliament on Monday because of a lack of quorum. The Sturza cabinet had however stood slim chances to get Parliaments endorsement, because the Prime Minister Designate failed to secure the needed 51 votes in order to take office. We recall that on December 21, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Timofti, designated Ion Sturza, a businessman and former Prime Minister in 1999, for the position of Prime Minister, in the absence of a parliamentary majority willing to assume responsibility for the new cabinet. If President Timofti nominates a new candidate for the position of Prime Minister, who fails again to get Parliaments endorsement, the Moldovan President will be forced to dissolve Parliament and to call snap elections. The former cabinet, led by Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet, was sacked on October 29, under a no-confidence motion filed by the pro-Moscow left and voted by the Democratic Party.

SEVERED DIPLOMATIC TIES – The EU and the US have launched an appeal for calm after Saudi Arabia, a country with a majority Sunni population, severed diplomatic ties with Iran, a country with a predominantly Shia population. The EU calls on the two sides to show restraint and responsibility, and the US Department of State said diplomatic relations are instrumental in solving differences between the two sides. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran, after its embassy in Tehran was stormed by violent protesters, discontent with the execution by the Riyadh authorities of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Sheikh Al Nimr, a harsh critic of Saudi Arabias ruling Sunni dynasty, was accused of terrorism, conspiracy and breaking the oath of allegiance to the sovereign.

REFUGEES– The Swedish authorities, overwhelmed by the huge inflow of migrants, on Monday instated new controls on the border with Denmark, France Presse reports. Everybody who crosses the Ostersund Bridge, which is the main gateway used by the refugees, must present an ID. The measure also applies to those who come on board ships departing from the Danish and German ports on the Baltic Sea. Sweden, where over 20% of the residents are of foreign origin, received over 160,000 refugees in 2015 alone. In turn, Denmark on Monday temporarily introduced controls on the border with Germany, to prevent the entrance of migrants without valid travel papers.

(Translated and edited by Diana Vijeu)

4 January 2016