August 23, 2014 UPDATE

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

Bogdan Matei, 23.08.2014, 12:05

ELECTIONS — Over 18 million Romanians at home and abroad will be able to cast their votes in the presidential elections this autumn, the Permanent Election Authority in Bucharest reports. The first ballot is scheduled for November 2, while the second will be held on November 16. Announcing their candidacy so far are Social Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Sibiu Mayor and Liberal Leader Klaus Iohannis, who will represent the Christian Liberal Alliance made up of the National Liberal Party and the Liberal-Democratic Party, former Liberal Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the People’s Movement Party leader Elena Udrea, Liberal-Democrat MEP Monica Macovei and Cristian Diaconescu, a former Foreign and Justice Minister, who will run for president independently.

AUGUST 23 — On Saturday Romania marked 70 years since Romania’s withdrawal from the alliance with Nazi Germany and its joining the United Nations in the Second World War. On August 23, 1944 King Mihai 1 placed pro-Nazi Marshal Ion Antonescu under arrest and placed his country at the disposal of Romania’s traditional allies, the United States and Great Britain. Hundreds of thousands of Romanian military perished or were wounded in the anti-German offence. The coup of August 23, 1944 cut the war short by at least six months. Forced into exile in 1947 by the soviet regime that took charge of Romania, King Mihai 1 returned to Romania only after the anti-communist revolution of 1989. Aged 93, King Mihai 1 is the only head of state from the Second World War still alive today.

ANNIVERSARY — The Baltic States on Saturday celebrated 25 years since they emerged from Soviet rule. August 23, 1989 marked 60 years since the Soviet-Nazi pact that provided for the annexation of the Baltic nations by Moscow. On that day over 2 million Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians formed a human chain 600 km-long called “the Baltic Path”. The Baltic Path is our way to freedom, which we wanted to show to the whole world, so that everyone knew we wanted to be free, Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Strujuma said on Saturday. The human chain was a clear landmark in the path to freedom. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia gained their independence in 1991 and became EU and NATO member states starting in 2004.

UKRAINE — The European Union does not recognize the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday upon her visit to Kiev. The German official sees the territorial integrity of Ukraine of paramount importance, and has argued in favour of keeping the pro-Russian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk under Ukraine’s authority. Merkel is the most important high-ranking official from Western Europe to visit Kiev since the outbreak of the crisis. Her visit is seen as a sign of support by pro-Western authorities. Meanwhile, clashes continue on the ground between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian troops. According to unconfirmed sources, Russia lorries used in the transport of humanitarian aid for the breakaway region, which entered Ukrainian territory illegally on Friday, returned to Russia carrying stolen equipment from the rebel-held military factories.

DIPLOMACY — The Romanian Foreign Ministry between August 27-28 will hold the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy. Attending the event will be the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President Catherine Ashton. Also present will be Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman. According to an official press release, this year’s edition will focus on major topics on the foreign policy agenda with a deep regional and international impact, such as the regional security context, the European aspirations of states in the Eastern Partnership, the issue of regional, economic and energy developments and the latest developments at EU level.

NEGOTIATIONS — Egypt has urged Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Saturday to resume Egypt-mediated negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister called on both parties to accept a long-term ceasefire. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas alsl said negotiations are the best solution to avoid further blood-spilling. After meeting with Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, Abbas insisted on the need for a final solution to the Palestinian crisis.

CODE RED — The Icelandic Meteorology Authority has issued a code red alert for air traffic after a small-scale eruption of the Bardarbunga volcano, located under the largest iceberg in Iceland, Vatnajokull. Scientists believe a potential eruption of the volcano might disrupt air traffic to northern Europe, also causing severe flooding due to glacier meltdown. The eruption of 2010 in Iceland led to the widest shutdown of air traffic in Europe of nearly a month, with over 100,000 flights cancelled and over eight million passengers affected.

IRAQ — The beheading of US journalist James Foley by the jihadist militants of the so-called “Islamic State” was a terrorist act against the United States, the White House has announced, adding that Washington is looking at various response scenarios in the wake of this “barbaric act”. Speaking about potential new air strikes in Syria, Ben Rhodes, Deputy Advisor for National Security at the White House has not ruled it out as a possibility, arguing however that no specific military option has at this point been presented to president Barack Obama, with the exception of ongoing operations in northern Iraq. Ever since its air strikes aimed at supporting Kurdish forces on August 8, the United States has launched over 90 air strikes in northern Iraq, targeting the Islamic State, especially in areas near the Mosul Dam, which was reclaimed by jihadists a week ago. According to US Vice-President Joe Biden, the United States is in favour of a federal system in Iraq, although the main priority is to ensure the unity of this deeply divided country.