February 15, 2018

Romanian Defense Minister attends NATO meeting; Romania is a major presence in the Berlinale festival

Roxana Vasile, 15.02.2018, 13:40

GOVERNMENT — Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said that the government decisions to purchase HIMARS missile systems and multirole corvettes were important steps in improving the capability of the Romanian armed forces. As a NATO and EU member, Romania has the duty to enhance efforts to improve that capability, and the two government decisions were important steps in this direction, the new prime minister said. Early this week, Defense Minister Mihai Fifor specified that payment for the first delivery of HIMARS missiles, almost one billion dollars, will be made by February 28.

NATO — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor takes part on Thursday in Brussels in the meeting of NATO defense ministers. On the first day of the meeting, the officials have agreed to modernize the Alliances command structures by creating two new strategic general headquarters, one for maritime communication with the US, the other for land mobility in Europe, also discussing the sharing of the financial burden between allied members. The meeting also agreed to set up a new cybernetic center. Also under discussion was the sensitive issue of financial contribution by member states, under pressure from the United States, which announced a 35% boost in the budget for American deployment in Europe. The main fear from the American side, which, according to NATO diplomatic sources, was joined in this respect by Canada, Norway, Iceland and Albania, is the closing of European armament markets to the benefit of European companies.

FILM — Thursday is the starting day of the Berlinale, the first major European film festival held after the sexual abuse scandal revolving around American film producer Harvey Weinstein. As a result, festival director Dieter Kosslick said that the Berlinale is planned to be a forum for discussing concrete measures to be taken on improving the situation of women in the film industry. Romania is present at the Berlinale in most major sections. Among others, the film Touch Me Not, the feature length debut by director Adina Pintilie, was selected for the official competition, while Lemonade by Ioana Uricariu was selected for the Panorama section. Corneliu Porumboius documentary Infinite Football was selected for the Forum section. Two Romanian productions also feature in the Generation Kplus section, dedicated to children and young people. Romanian director Calin Peter Netzer sits on the panel of judges that will decide on the best debut film of the festival.

TENNIS — Four Romanian tennis players compete in the eighth finals of the tournament in Doha, Qatar, with 3.1 million dollars in prize money. Simona Halep, number two in the world, plays against Latvian Anastasija Sevastova, 15th seeded. After managing a crushing victor against Latvian Jelena Ospapenko, 6th seeded, Roland Garros victor Mihaela Buzarnescu, 43rd seeded, plays against German Julie Georges, 10th seeded. Sorana Carstea, ranked 38th, will have a difficult game when she faces Garbine Muguruza, ranked 4th. 92nd ranked Monica Niculescu will also have a hard time in competing against world leader Caroline Wozniacki. If Niculescu prevails, it may help Simona Halep grab the top ranking in the world once again.

BUCHAREST — Former Social Democratic prime minister Victor Ponta appears today at the High Court of Cassation and Justice as a witness in a case in which Senate Speaker Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, head of the coalition partner ALDE stands accused of perjury and favoring a criminal. According to anti-corruption prosecutors, he is also under investigation in a suspected fraudulent real estate case. Also today, the panel of judges continue to hear testimony in the case in which head of the Social Democratic Party and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea is prosecuted in a case revolving around the hiring of two party members in 2005 and 2006, employees who did not carry out their duties at the central party headquarters, but rather at the local branch in Dragneas home county of Teleorman. He will appear in court on March 21st.