Radio România Internațional

Tag: Transdniestr

  • June 23, 2018

    June 23, 2018


    PRESIDENTIAL TERM – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has today announced he will run for another presidential term. Iohannis, aged 59, won his first term in November 2014, when he ran on the part of the Christian Liberal Alliance. Since 2000 until 2014 he was the mayor of the city of Sibiu, in central Romania. The next presidential elections in Romania are due in the fall of 2019, and, according to the Romanian Constitution, the maxim number of presidential terms a person may hold is two.



    SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY – The Social Democratic Party, the main partner in the ruling coalition in Romania, will keep supporting its president Liviu Dragnea, in all the offices he is holding, both as leader of the party and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, after he was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison for instigation to abuse of power. Liviu Dragnea has stated he will fulfill the objectives he has set, including the implementation of the governing program. The opposition has criticized the decision of the leadership of the Social Democratic Party. The president of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban has stated that the Liberals will try to convince as many MPs of the majority to endorse the no-confidence motion. On Monday, the motion filed by the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party will be read in plenary parliamentary session and on Wednesday it will be debated and voted.



    VENICE COMMISSION – Representatives of the Romanian Presidential Administration, Parliament and Justice Ministry have attended in Venice the plenary session of the European Commission for Democracy through Law, also known as the Venice Commission. One of the main topics on the meetings agenda was the modifications brought to the justice laws in Romania. The Presidential Adviser Bogdan Dima has stated that the legislative package has lots of deficiencies and the content can and should be substantially improved. According to a communiqué issued by the Presidency, President Klaus Iohannis believes that the adoption of an interim opinion of the Venice Commission is extremely important for the entire justice system in Romania. The Chairman of the Parliamentary committee in charge with the justice laws, Florin Iordache, attended the proceedings as well, and has stated that the recommendations made by the Venice Commission are extremely important to Romania. He has also stated that the three justice laws are in line with the standards set by the Commission. The modifications brought to the justice laws by the coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats have been criticized by the right-wing opposition, magistrates associations and many civil society representatives.



    TRANSDIESTR – The UN General Assembly has adopted the draft resolution proposed by Chisinau, alongside other 10 countries, including Romania, which calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition from the Transdiestr region of the Republic of Moldova, Romanias neighbor with a predominantly Romanian – speaking population. The project was approved with 64 votes for, 15 against and 83 abstentions. The Russian Federation delegation voted against and have stated that the document will undermine negotiations on the Transdniestr issue. The Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip has hailed the document, just like the Romanian Foreign Ministry. There are some 1000 Russian soldiers from the former 14th Soviet Army deployed in Transdniestr, who are guarding armament and ammunition warehouses, as well as 500 soldiers from the peace forces deployed in the security zone along Dniestr. There are also troops subordinated to the separatist regime in Tiraspol, accounting for some 15,000 soldiers. Transdniestr went out of Chisinaus authority in 1992, after an armed conflict.



  • The Republic of Moldova and Foreign Troops

    The Republic of Moldova and Foreign Troops


    The Constitutional Court in the Republic of Moldova has ruled that the presence on the countrys territory of troops or military bases controlled by other states is unconstitutional. The courts ruling comes three years after a complaint by pro-western Liberal MPs and refers to the presence of Russian troops in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transdniestr, in the east. The court ruled that the Russian military occupation of this region, at the time of Moldova declaring its neutrality, does not affect the validity of the constitutional provision regarding neutrality. Also, in case of threats to its national independence, territorial integrity and security of the state, the authorities of the Republic of Moldova are obliged to take all necessary measures, including of a military nature, that would allow it to defend itself efficiently against such threats, the courts ruling also reads.



    Moreover, Moldovas status as a neutral country does not rule out cooperation with other military alliances for the purpose of strengthening the countrys defence capacity. The Moldovan president, the pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon, has criticised the courts ruling saying its judges were genuflecting before the supporters of Moldovas reunification with Romania. Otherwise very watchful of his countrys neutrality when it comes to its western partners, Dodon, who came to power less than half a year ago, twice blocked the participation of Moldovan troops in exercises held in Romania.



    He also travelled twice in less than three months to Moscow, where he promised his counterpart Vladimir Putin that the Transdniester problem would be solved through the federalisation of the republic. Transdniester de facto broke away with Chisinau in 1992 following an armed conflict in which hundreds were killed and which came to an end with the intervention of the Russian troops siding with the separatists. Those troops are still there today, although Russia pledged to pull them out as far back as the OSCE summit of 1999.



    An advisor to the former pro-western Moldovan president Nicolae Timofti, analyst Vlad Turcanu told Radio Romanias correspondents:


    “It is in the interest of the Russian Federation for us to maintain a status of neutrality, while Russia itself violates this status by keeping its troops left of the Nistru river, troops that have been there since the time of the former Soviet Union, while not wishing other troops to be allowed right of the Nistru. Youve all seen the scandal started by the Socialists, Kremlins people in Chisinau, after the decision to set up a NATO centre in Chisinau. This did not even involve military troops, missiles, missile systems or tanks, but simply a diplomatic representation office.”



    Dodon is opposed to the creation of a NATO liaison office in Chisinau, a move he describes as a provocation, although NATO officials clearly explained that this would be a civilian diplomatic structure employing mostly Moldovan citizens.




  • September 9, 2016

    September 9, 2016

    DIASPORA – The Romanian Foreign Ministry is urging Romanians living abroad to sign up with the Election Registry so as to be able to take part in the legislative elections of December 11. September 14 is the deadline by which all Romanians with a right to vote, living or residing abroad, can submit their applications for the Election Registry. Romanians must also stipulate whether they opt for postal voting or for voting in one of the polling stations. The election campaign will run from November 11 through December 10.



    MEETING – Romanias President Klaus Iohannis is today meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel in Berlin. The visit is part of the efforts to prepare the informal Summit of the Council of Europe in Bratislava on September 16. Ranking high on the agenda for talks is the future of the EU after the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom. According to the Presidency, the meeting in Berlin is also part of a series of contacts between president Iohannis and European leaders regarding the future of the EU.



    TRANSDNIESTER – The Romanian presidency has said that the decision of Yevgeny Shevchuk, the leader of the breakaway region of Transdniester, east of the Republic of Moldova, to join Russia is part of a “provocative rhetoric. The presidency spokesperson said this topic must be approached with care and responsibility to avoid the further escalation of tensions. The President supports the efforts of the acting presidency of the OSCE to peacefully solve the conflict in the region.



    FUNDING – EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Romanian Corina Cretu, met in Brussels with the Bucharest General Mayor Gabriela Firea, whom she ensured of her support for several ongoing projects, including the completion of subway construction works and the modernization of the heating system. According to a European Commission release, other projects that might benefit from funding are the system of waste collection and the building of a subway link to Henri Coanda Airport. Over 2014-2020 Bucharest has been earmarked 2,3 billion euros, accounting for over 10% of the European Fund for Regional Development and the European Cohesion Fund.



    NUCLEAR TEST – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has expressed concern with the completion of North Koreas fifth nuclear test. Holding the presidency of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, Romania will continue to carefully monitor the developments of North Koreas nuclear program, the Foreign Ministry also announced. The test was detected as 5.3 Richter-scale earthquake in the nuclear test area. South Korean president Park Geun-hye has labeled the move as an act of self-destruction, showing the North Korean President Kim John-uns blatant ignorance. Meanwhile, the United States has warned against serious consequences.



    ACCUSATIONS – All education units in Romania observe the legislation in force, Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu said after meeting with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak. The declaration comes in response to a series of harsh attacks by representatives of the Turkish diplomacy in Romania, claiming that the “Lumina educational centers in Romania are being controlled by the Turkish presidents most vocal opponent, Fetullah Gulen.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)