April 3, 2015 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.

Florentin Căpitănescu, 03.04.2015, 12:15

NATO – The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Friday 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, NATO protection translates into reassurance and safety measures. The Russian Defense 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 in the best interest of itself and its partners. More on this after the news.

ARREST – One of the richest business people in Romania, Ioan Niculae, has been sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison in a 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 to 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.

DRILL – The US destroyer ‘Jason Dunham’, equipped with 4th generation guided missiles is taking part in the Black Sea operation ‘Atlantic Resolve’, the US fleet has announced, quoted by Agerpress. The presence of this warship 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 member countries, including in Romania. The drills are aimed at consolidating security in 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 wanted to organize at least 4 thousand military applications in 2015.

IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME — 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 has voiced his staunch opposition to the agreement, saying it is a serious danger, both to Israel and to the region and the entire world.

CORRUPTION — Bulgaria decided to follow in the footsteps of Romania, by setting up a specialized institution to investigate acts of corruption involving high-ranking officials, in order to change its image as Europe’s most corrupt country, Reuters reports. Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said the new institution would be set up based on the model of Romania’s Anti-Corruption Directorate, which has so far put scores of politicians and businessmen behind bars. The Government in Sofia estimates that nearly 8,000 public servants could be investigated by this new authority. Corruption has also dented Bulgarians’ confidence in State institutions, Reuters also adds, recalling Brussels’ repeated criticism targeting the slow reform of the judiciary and the ineffective fight against corruption in this country.

ROMANIAN ACADEMY — Romanian Academy president Ionel-Valentin Vlad on Friday made public an activity report of the institution. The Romanian Academy is working on a development project for the next two decades. Attending the event were well-established politicians and academics from all across the country, as well as members of the Moldovan Scientific Academy. Boasting over 1,800 researchers and nearly 70 research institutes and centres of excellence, the Academy is Romania’s most important culture and science institution.

EXPULSIONS — Seven foreign nationals, believed to be adepts of radical ideologies promoted by the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, have been banned from Romania. The decision was taken by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, after a Romanian Intelligence Service request. The seven nationals, among whom a Tunisian student, posed a genuine threat to national security. According to the Intelligence Service, the student was even planning to commit a suicide bomb attack.