April 3, 2015
A roundup of domestic and international news
Ştefan Stoica, 03.04.2015, 12:05
One of the richest business people in Romania, Ioan Niculae, has been sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in the case concerning the funding of the presidential election campaign of the Social Democrat candidate Mircea Geoana back in 2009. The former president of the Braila County Council, Gheorghe Bunea, was sentenced in the same case and got 3 years in prison. The decisions are final. As member of the Social Democratic Party, Gheorghe Bunea used his influence and authority to get 1 million Euros from Ioan Niculae, thus breaking the legal provisions regarding the funding of political parties. The money was to be used in the presidential election campaign held in late 2009. More on this after the news.
The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has today stated that Romania is not intimidated by Russia’s threats and NATO’s protecting the eastern flank is the result of the aggressiveness displayed by the Russian Federation, which has illegally occupied Crimea and supports the separatists in eastern Ukraine. According to the Romanian official, the NATO protection translates into reassurance and safety measures. The Russian Defence Minister’s spokesperson had stated on Thursday that Romania accepting to host on its soil heavy NATO armament, as the commander of the US European Command, Philip Breedlove, said in Bucharest, would be dangerous. He also said that such measures were in violation of the Russia- NATO founding treaty, and Moscow reserved the right to consider such decisions when drawing up its military plans. As a reaction to the statements made by the Russian official, the Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said that Romania’s decisions are the best for both itself and its partners.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry hails the political agreement reached in Lausanne on the Iranian nuclear program, and terms it as a decisive step towards reaching a final solution, which would restore the international community’s trust in Teheran’s nuclear program. In Washington, Barack Obama termed the agreement in principle that restricts Iran’s nuclear program as ‘a historical agreement.’ On Thursday in Lausanne, Iran and the six world powers — the US, Great Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany, reached a framework agreement on Teheran’s nuclear program. The final agreement should be signed by June 30th, and it would end disputes that have been lasting for 12 years now and which have brought along tough sanctions against Iran, in an attempt to prevent the latter from getting nuclear weapons. Over the phone with the US president Barack Obama, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu though has voiced his vehement opposition to the agreement, saying it is a serious danger, both to Israel and to the region and the entire world.
The US destroyer ‘Jason Dunham’, equipped with 4th generation guided missiles is attending in the Black Sea the operation ‘Atlantic Resolve’, the US fleet has announced, quoted by Agerpress. The presence of this vessel in the Black Sea proves the US’s commitment to acting closer to its allies, in order to enhance security and stability, and ensure the training and capability of the naval forces. Some 750 US tanks and thousands of soldiers have been deployed in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as part of the operation Atlantic Resolve, which is meant to discourage a potential Russian aggression. Concurrently with the exercises carried out at sea, the Alliance is also organizing drills and trainings in the member countries, including in Romania. The drills are aimed at consolidating security in the members states, against the background of the conflict in Ukraine. Russia, which has also displayed an impressive capability lately, has repeatedly voiced worries regarding the growing number of NATO exercises in eastern Europe. The Russian Defense Ministry has announced it wants to organize at least 4 thousand military applications in 2015.
The death toll of the terrorist attack on the Kenyan University in Garissa, committed by Somali islamists stands at 147, mostly students, France Presse reports. 80 students were wounded, and approximately 500 were liberated by the Kenyan forces. On Thursday morning, armed islamists entered the university campus and opened fire, launched explosives and took hostages, but only Christian students, not Muslim. At least four terrorists died during the operation carried out by the Kenyan security forces to resume control over the university. The attack has been claimed by a Sunni organization affiliated to Al-Qaida, active in Somalia and Kenya.
Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked 3rd in the WTA classification, was defeated by the WTA leader Serena Williams, in three sets: 6-2, 406, 7-5, in the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Miami, Florida, with 5.4 million dollars in prize money. Halep lost after more than two hours, at the end of a balanced game. This is the second defeat for Halep this season, after the game she lost in the Australian Open quarters. This year the Romanian tennis player has won the Shenzhen, Dubai and Indian Wells tournaments.
Champions Steaua Bucharest and Universitatea Cluj on May 31st will play the finals of Romania’s Cup in football. The match will be hosted by the National Arena in Bucharest. Steaua’s run in the build-up towards the finals included this past Thursday’s a 3-1 home win against Petrolul Ploiesti. In the first leg, Petrolul held Steaua to a 1-all draw. Universitatea Cluj reached the final securing a win against CFR, the other team from Cluj. Steaua have also qualified for the League Cup final, where they will be taking on Pandurii Targu Jiu, in the south-west.
