February 14, 2025 UPDATE 2
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Newsroom, 14.02.2025, 20:00
Munich – The US Vice President, J.D. Vance criticized the cancellation of the presidential election organized in November 2024 in Romania. In a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, J.D. Vance harshly criticized the European leaders, comparing them to the autocrats who led the continent’s repressive regimes during the Cold War. He expressed concern about what he called Europe’s departure from its fundamental values and gave several examples of repressive measures against freedom of expression on the European continent, including the annulment of the recent presidential election in Romania. J. D. Vance said that the biggest danger to Europe comes from within, and this is more worrying than threats from Russia or China. He also asked Europe to invest more in its own defense, given that the US must ‘focus on the regions of the world that are in great danger’. In response, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, reassured all Romania’s partners that the country remains a reliable ally, firmly committed to a united European Union, a strong North Atlantic Alliance and a solid transatlantic partnership. At the Security Conference in Munich, heads of state and government and hundreds of defense experts discuss, until Sunday, about the big global files, especially about a possible peace in Ukraine. Romania is represented by the Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu.
Drones – The Romanian diplomacy firmly condemns the irresponsible attack of the Russian forces against Ukraine on February 13, when two drones carrying explosive material violated Romania’s airspace and fell on its territory, near the border with Ukraine, invaded by Moscow’s troops. By order of the Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu, the ad interim charge d’affaires of the Russian Federation in Bucharest was urgently summoned to the headquarters of the ministry, to be informed of the firm condemnation of the repeated violation of Romania’s airspace. These illegal and irresponsible attacks must end, Romania having the right to take the necessary response measures, the Foreign Ministry said.
Bank – The Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) decided on Friday to maintain the monetary policy interest rate at the level of 6.5% per year. Also, the BNR decided to maintain the interest rate for the credit facility at 7.50% per year and the interest rate for the deposit facility at 5.50% per year and to maintain the current levels of the minimum statutory reserve ratio for the liabilities in lei and in foreign currency of credit institutions. The central bank in Bucharest decided last year, twice, to lower the key interest rate, in July, from 7% per year to 6.75% per year, and in August to 6.5% per year. The key rate had been unchanged since January 2023.
Appointment – The interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, appointed Cristian Diaconescu, a former foreign minister, to the position of presidential advisor for defense and security, who will also take over the coordination of the presidential chancellery. Also, Bogdan Mazuru will hold the position of presidential adviser for foreign policy, and Simona-Livia Maftei and Bianca-Teodora Firezar were appointed advisers to the interim president’s office. Bolojan declared that ensuring the economic, social and political stability of Romania is the top priority on his agenda during the three months of his mandate. In his first message after replacing the outgoing president Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Palace, Bolojan promised that the presidential election in May will be fair and transparent.
Corruption – The Head of Logistics of the Romanian Army, three-star general Cătălin Zisu, is targeted by an investigation by anti-corruption prosecutors in a case with an estimated damage of 2.4 million Euros. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) is investigating a potential abuse of office in connection with the conclusion of a contract regarding the expansion of the Ghencea Military Cemetery in Bucharest. The contract in question would have been awarded by the general to the company Garden Center Group, owned by the businessman Ionel Olteanu. During the searches carried out on Friday on people close to the general, the prosecutors found luxury watches, designer bags and over 2,000 paintings. 10 people from those targeted by the searches will be heard at the DNA.
IAEA – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that during the night an explosion was heard followed by a fire at the new sarcophagus that protects the remains of reactor four of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Fire security personnel responded in a few minutes and no casualties were reported. The radiation levels inside and outside remain normal and stable, the IAEA also reports. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, in turn, that Russian drones hit the radiation protection shield at Chernobyl. According to the Ukrainian president, after a first assessment, it was found that the attack substantially damaged the shield. On the other hand, in Bucharest, the National Agency for Environmental Protection announced that the Chernobyl incident does not represent a danger for Romania. They have given assurances that they constantly monitor the evolution of environmental radioactivity at national level, and the values recorded after this event are within the usual limits, specific to this period. (LS)
