January 12, 2016
Romanian FM in Berlin; IMF chief for Romania is Reza Baqir; new parliamentary majority in Moldova
Newsroom, 12.01.2016, 12:00
DIPLOMACY – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazăr Comănescu, is on a visit to Berlin today, at the invitation of his counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The talks will focus on the bilateral relation and major issues on the European, regional and international agenda. One topic will be the cooperation between Bucharest and Berlin, in the context of Germany holding the presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe this year. Lazăr Comănescu stressed the importance of Germany as an economic engine of Europe and as a partner of Romania. More than 20% of Romanias foreign trade involves Germany, and the trade balance is reasonably balanced, the Romanian Foreign Minister explained. Over 20,000 companies running on German capital operate in Romania at present, employing more than 300,000 people.
IMF ROMANIA – The new head of the IMF mission in Romania, the Pakistani Reza Baqir, will be on a four-day visit to Bucharest, as of today, to meet the Romanian authorities. He replaces Andrea Schaechter, who completed her two and a half year term in office. Reza Baqir has been working with the IMF for 15 years, and was previously employed by the World Bank. At present Romania does not have an on-going agreement with the IMF. The latest accord came to an end in September 2015, after several failed attempts to reconcile the divergent views of the Romanian authorities and the international financial institution with respect to the fiscal relaxation promoted by Bucharest. Meanwhile, Romania signed yesterday a new memorandum with the World Bank, concerning the improvement of public administration efficiency. Under the new deal, WB will continue to provide technical assistance to Romanian public institutions until 2023 and will support the Government in enforcing structural reforms and public administration modernisation programmes.
MOLDOVA – The leader of the Democratic Party in the Republic of Moldova, Marian Lupu, announced, after consultations with President Nicolae Timofti, the formation of a new parliamentary majority which could get a new cabinet endorsed. According to Lupu, the new coalition includes 56 out of the total 101 MPs: Democrats, Liberals, some members of the Liberal-Democrat floor group, which was part of the former pro-Western governmental coalition, as well as the 14 ex-Communist MPs who created a so-called Social Democratic Platform. Until Wednesday, Lupu said, this majority would also nominate a new candidate for the PM post. Moldovan media quoted by Radio Romania correspondents suggest this might be Vlad Plahotniuc, a controversial businessman and the one who finances the Democratic Party. Unless a new cabinet is sworn in by January 29, President Timofti will have to dissolve the Parliament and announce snap elections. The governmental crisis started in autumn, when the three-party government headed by the Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet was dismissed under a no-confidence motion tabled by the pro-Moscow left wing and backed by the Democrats.
COUNTER-TERRORISM – The global counter-terrorism forum and the international coalition against the IS group convened yesterday for the first time, in The Hague, to coordinate efforts to fight terrorism. Officials for 50 countries concluded at the Europol meeting initiated and chaired by the Netherlands, that fighting terrorism does not require new structures, but rather the implementation of all agreements and improved cooperation. The issue of young people recruited by terrorist groups into Syria and Iraq was also discussed. Countries are urged to step up and strengthen the sharing of intelligence concerning such youth. The Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders, emphasised that the efforts to counter terrorism must stay within the limits of both legal and moral principles.
ISTANBUL BLAST – A powerful blast, suspected by authorities of being a terrorist act, occurred this morning in the Sultanahmet area downtown Istanbul, not far from Topkapî Palace and the Blue Mosque, and killed at least 10 people, Turkish news agencies have reported. Several months ago, a double suicide attack killed 103 people in front of the central railway station in Ankara. That attack, the most serious ever on Turkish territory, was blamed on the IS group.
SPORTS – Romanias mens water polo team defeated Georgia 12-6, on Monday night, in their first game in Group C of the European Championship in Belgrade. On Wednesday, in the second stage, the national team will take on Italy. Group C also includes Germany. The European Water Polo Championships are a trial for the 2016 Olympics, and the winners secure their tickets to Rio de Janeiro, in August. The top 10 teams in the Euro 2016 Championships will take part in an Olympic qualification tournament.
