February 13, 2014 UPDATE

DIPLOMACY – The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu was received on Friday in Tbilisi by the president of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. During the talks, Aurescu expressed Romania’s interest in strengthening the bilateral cooperation in all sectors of common interest, as well as the support of Bucharest for Georgia’s efforts towards EU and NATO integration. The Romanian foreign minister also had a meeting with PM Irakli Garibashvili. The two discussed topics related to the broadening the Romanian-Georgian economic cooperation. Bogdan Aurescu reiterated the importance of implementing joint projects in the energy sector, via the Azerbaijan – Georgia – Romania – Hungary liquefied gas inter-connector (AGRI), and in the transportation sector, through the Black Sea — Caspian Sea freight transport project. The Romanian official also expressed support for the implementation of the EU — Georgia Association Agreement, ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit due in Riga, on May 21st and 22nd.

România Internațional, 13.02.2015, 19:47

DIPLOMACY – The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu was received on Friday in Tbilisi by the president of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili. During the talks, Aurescu expressed Romania’s interest in strengthening the bilateral cooperation in all sectors of common interest, as well as the support of Bucharest for Georgia’s efforts towards EU and NATO integration. The Romanian foreign minister also had a meeting with PM Irakli Garibashvili. The two discussed topics related to the broadening the Romanian-Georgian economic cooperation. Bogdan Aurescu reiterated the importance of implementing joint projects in the energy sector, via the Azerbaijan – Georgia – Romania – Hungary liquefied gas inter-connector (AGRI), and in the transportation sector, through the Black Sea — Caspian Sea freight transport project. The Romanian official also expressed support for the implementation of the EU — Georgia Association Agreement, ahead of the Eastern Partnership Summit due in Riga, on May 21st and 22nd.

ECONOMY – In Romania in 2014 the GDP went up 2.9% against 2013, according to data published on Friday by the National Statistics Institute. In the last quarter of 2014, the GDP was 0.5% higher compared to the third. The IMF recently indicated that the Romanian economy would go up 2.7% this year. INS data shows that annual inflation in Romania went down to an all-time low of 0.41% in January 2015, after reaching 0.83% at the end of last year. On the other hand, foreign direct investments in Romania totalled 2.4 billion euro in 2014, down from 2.7 billion in 2013, the National Bank of Romania announced.

MOLDOVA — The president of the Republic of Moldova Nicolae Timofti launched consultations with the parliamentary parties on Friday, in view of nominating a new candidate for the prime minister post. On Thursday the candidate nominated by the minority coalition of Liberal Democrats and Democrats, Iurie Leanca, and his new cabinet, were turned down by Parliament.

YEMEN – Germany and Italy announced on Friday they would temporarily close down their embassies in Yemen and repatriate the staff, because of the violence in that country. Saudi Arabia also suspended diplomatic operations in Sanaa, whereas the USA, Britain and France have already closed down their embassies in Yemen because of the growing insecurity in the country, after the Shiite Muslim militias known as Houthi took power last week. Backed by Iran, the Shiite militias, whose stronghold is in the north of the country, entered the capital city Sanaa in September, and since then they have seized many governmental buildings, forcing the government to step down. In parallel, they broadened their influence towards the centre of the country, after clashes with local Sunni tribes and Al-Qaida fighters.

PAKISTAN – At least 19 people were killed and scores of others wounded on Friday in north-western Pakistan, after suicide attackers blew themselves up in a Shiite mosque in Peshawar. Hundreds of people were praying in the building at that time. According to the police, four militants stormed the mosque and opened fire before detonating the bombs. This second attack on a Shiite mosque in the past two weeks was claimed by Pakistani Taliban.