August 22, 2018 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 22.08.2018, 18:59

MEETING – The Romanian coalition Government has called for an urgent meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense to endorse the latest budget adjustment. According to a communiqué issued by the Government, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the request was submitted to president Klaus Iohannis. The announcement was made after on Tuesday the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, accused the head of state of trying to block the adjustment, by not summoning the Defense Council. Also on Tuesday, the presidency informed that the secretariat of the Supreme Council of National Defense was trying to get the individual approval of the members of the Council regarding the proposed budgets for the institutions dealing with national security. According to the Government, the adjustment is needed in order to provide the necessary money for salaries, social welfare, the payment of Romania’s contribution to the EU budget, local budgets and measures to combat the African swine fever.

MOLDOVA — Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has reiterated the special importance Romania pays to the strategic partnership with the Republic of Moldova as part of Wednesday’s meeting she had in Bucharest with representatives of the Association of Investors in Romania. According to a Government release, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of intensifying bilateral talks and cooperation on topics of mutual interest, such as investment, Moldova’s EU accession and the interconnection of the Romania and Moldova’s energy grids. Prime Minister Dancila earlier this year attended the launch of the Association of Investors in the Republic of Moldova.

HEARING — Bucharest prefect Speranta Cliseru on Wednesday appeared before the Prosecutor General’s Office, claiming her signed order sanctioning the intervention of the riot police during the August 10 protests fully complies with the legislation in force. On Tuesday, the Romanian Interior Minister Carmen Dan was heard by the Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest in relation to the violent events that occurred during the anti-Government protest of August 10. On Sunday, the Interior Minister apologized to all those who suffered as a result of gendarmes intervention. Hundreds of complaints have been filed against the riot police. Army prosecutors have initiated criminal proceedings for abusive behavior, abuse of office and professional misconduct.

SWINE FEVER — The number of confirmed swine fever hotbeds in Romania has reached 725, identified in over 150 towns and villages in 10 counties in the northwest and southeast, the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority announced on Wednesday. So far eight hotbeds have been confirmed in trade units in Tulcea and Braila. The total number of pigs slaughtered has exceeded 117 thousand both in trade units and local households. Some 5,000 wild boars in the areas where outbreaks of African swine fever have been confirmed are to be hunted down. The decision was made after the sanitary-veterinary authorities confirmed new outbreaks, as the virus was furthered spread by wild boars. Specialists say there is no danger for food safety.

PRINCE CHARLES – Prince Charles of Great Britain financially supports the restoration of a medieval church in a village in Hunedoara, western Romania. The church is a historical monument built in the 14th century and requires repair works, estimated to cost approximately 6,500 Euro. Works are due to start in September, under the program called ‘Ambulance for Monuments’, to which Prince Charles provides constant support. Since 2016, 15 monuments in the west and centre of Romania have been refurbished under this program. We recall that Prince Charles has several properties in Romania, which he visits on a regular basis.

AIRCRAFT — Two Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets based in Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in southeastern Romania on Wednesday intercepted two Russian Su-30 Flanker fighter jets close to NATO’s air space over the Black Sea, the Royal Air Force reports. The two British aircraft were part of the NATO’s air surveillance mission as Great Britain takes part in ensuring the security of Romania and its other NATO allies. Last week six Russian bombers were intercepted over the Black Sea by RAF aircraft carrying out air policing missions in Romania. Four Typhoon bombers are deployed as part of this mission at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, currently hosting hundreds of US military.

EXTRADITION — The Court of Appeal in Belgrade has ruled against the request to extradite former Romanian MEP Sebastian Ghita. The ruling is final. According to Tanjug news agency, the Court upheld the decision of the High Court in Belgrade, which rejected the request on grounds that Ghita had been given political asylum in Serbia in June 2018, claiming persecution in his country of origin due to his political convictions. According to the Court of Appeal, the court of first instance was justified in claiming that Ghita’s situation could deteriorate if the Romanian were extradited to Romania. Sebastian Ghita fled the country in December 2016, being wanted in several criminal investigations. An international arrest warrant was issued in his name and he was arrested in April 2017 in Belgrade, after Ghita used a fake Slovenian passport. Ghita subsequently made bail.

VISIT — Culture Minister George Ivascu on Wednesday is paying an official four-day visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, to attend the 4th International Cultural Summit. The Romanian official will meet his Scottish counterpart Fiona Hyslop, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, Tourism and Foreign Affairs, and will meet with artists and men of culture living in Scotland. This year the summit brings together artists and ministers of culture seeking answers to the challenges of globalized society.

SIMONA HALEP – According to Forbes Magazine, with 7.7 million dollars, the Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, no. 1 in the WTA standings, ranks 8th among the players with the highest incomes this year. She has won the Grand Slam in France, at the Roland Garros and also another two WTA tournaments. Besides the prizes awarded at these competitions, Simona has received an important amount of money from sponsorships. The classification is topped by the US tennis player Serena Williams, with 18.1 million dollars.

(Translated by M. Ignatescu and V. Palcu)