April 28, 2014 UPDATE

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România Internațional, 28.04.2014, 19:13

The USA and EU Monday launched a new round of sanctions against Russia in response to what Washington called “provocative acts”. The US announced sanctions on seven Russian government officials, including two members of President Putins inner circle, who will be subject to an asset freeze and a U.S. visa ban, and 17 companies linked to Putins inner circle, which will be subject to an asset freeze. In Brussels, the ambassadors of the 28 Member States added another 15 names to the list of officials subject to sanctions. The West criticises Moscow for doing nothing to ease tensions in east Ukraine. Russia warned it would take steps in response to the new sanctions from the US. Meanwhile, insurgents in Slavyansk, the stronghold of pro-Russian separatism in east Ukraine, keep OSCE mission members hostages in spite of the calls for their release coming from the international community. According to France Presse, the issue of the detained OSCE mission members fuels fears of a new Russian intervention in Ukraine, after the annexation of Crimea, in March. Russia’s ambassador to the OSCE, Andrey Kelin, said on Monday, at the end of a special meeting held in Vienna, that sending observers of this organisation in east Ukraine was irresponsible. The Russian diplomat said Moscow would like to see the observers released, and that it acted to this end “not only in statements, but also in practice.”

The prime ministers of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Victor Ponta and Iurie Leanca, will symbolically mark on Tuesday, in a town on the common border, the lifting of EU visa requirements for Moldovan citizens. The President of Romania, Traian Basescu issued a message stating that free movement in the EU and the upcoming signing of the Association Agreement would encourage Moldova’s European efforts. He added that the accession of that country to what he called “the great European family” was a priority for Romania. On Monday PM Leanca said that April 28th, 2014 was a historic date for the Republic of Moldova, giving more freedom to Moldovan citizens.

The President of Romania, Traian Băsescu Monday called on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to firmly condemn the illegal military moves in the region of Donetsk and to use all his authority to enable the smooth running of the OSCE mission in east Ukraine. According to a news release issued by the presidency, the head of the Romanian state has noted “with concern” the acts of the pro-Russian separatists in the town of Slavyansk, who detained 8 Western observers from the OSCE mission on April 25th. According to the president, this is a direct attack against the efforts of the international community to ease tensions and an illegal move on the part of illegitimate paramilitary forces. The Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly supports the efforts that OSCE makes, both through diplomatic channels and through field missions, to release the observers who were conducting an inspection in east Ukraine. On the other hand, the Romanian PM Victor Ponta announced on Monday that, in the context of the crisis in Ukraine, the budget of the Defence Ministry for 2014 will be increased by 0.2% of the GDP. Early this month, Ponta said Romania must live up to its role as a NATO border country in a problematic region, pointing out that the budget of the Defence Ministry should be increased by 0.2% of the GDP every year, up to a total of 2% in 2017.

Brussels is “determined” to support Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in implementing his ambitious plans for Serbia’s economic recovery, in view of strengthening its European efforts, the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Monday. The Parliament in Belgrade Sunday swore in the country’s new government, headed by the Conservative Aleksandar Vucic. He announced that the government intended to implement reforms as soon as possible in order to boost the economy of that country, affected by bureaucracy and corruption. The Serbian Progressive Party headed by Vucic won the early parliamentary elections on March 16th. In January 2008, the EU launched the accession negotiations with Serbia, as a reward for its improving its relations with its former province, Kosovo, which proclaimed its independence in 2008.