July 17, 2015

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

Newsroom, 17.07.2015, 12:00

STRIKE – In Bucharest, negotiations between management and trade unionists representing air traffic controllers are due to resume today, under the arbitration of the new Transport Minister Iulian Matache. Yesterdays talks ended without a clear-cut agreement. The company and the unions must provide clarifications and solutions to the protesters’ demands by July 21. The most important one regards the retirement age, but the traffic controllers also demand a collective employment contract, salary protection and measures to ensure air traffic safety. Air traffic controllers called a pre-emptive strike two days ago in an unprecedented move that brought the state a prejudice of over 250,000 euros.

GREECE – German MPs are today voting whether to continue negotiations for the third financial assistance package for Greece. Germany is among the Eurozone states that must greenlight the agreement before it officially comes into force. On Thursday, Eurozone Finance Ministers adopted a three-year bailout plan for Greece and decided to start negotiations over the new deal. The Eurogroups decision follows after Greek MPs adopted the austerity measures demanded by international lenders as a prerequisite to a bailout program worth 86 billion euros. In another development, the Finance Ministry in Athens announced banks would reopen on Monday, after being closed down since June 29. The European Central Bank has also decided to hike its emergency funding to lenders in Greece by 900 million euros.

COMMEMORATION – The Netherlands, Australia and Ukraine are today paying homage to the victims of the plane crash of July 17, 2014, when a Malaysia Arlines Beoing 777 was shot down in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk, at the time the stage of violent clashes between Government forces and pro-Russian separatists. All the 298 passengers and crewmembers on board were killed, of whom 196 were Dutch citizens, and another 38 Australian and other nationals. Kiev the Western powers suspect pro-Russian rebels had brought down the plane, firing a ground-to-air BUK missile provided by Moscow. Russia is dismissing any involvement in the tragedy, blaming it on Ukraine. Shortly after the crash, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution whereby all those responsible should be held accountable. Malaysia, the Netherlands and other states have suggested the setup of a UN-led tribunal, but this option was vetoed by Russia, a permanent UN Security Council member, who labelled the solution as “counterproductive.

MILITARY EXERCISE – 2,000 Romanian and foreign soldiers from 7 NATO countries (Bulgaria, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, the United States and Turkey) and Ukraine are taking place in the Sea Shield 15 international military exercise in the Black Sea. The exercise is taking place between July 20 and 24. Taking part are eight battleships and three fighter jets from Romania, as well as a submarine, five jets and six battleships from other countries, of which 5 will be docked in Constanta Port for 5 days starting today. Sea Shield 15 is a multinational submarine warfare exercise organized by the Romanian Naval Forces with the aim of developing international military cooperation in the field of defending similar structures within NATO states and partners, with a view to consolidating and developing common warfare tactics.

TENNIS – Starting Friday Romania is playing Slovakia as part of the second round of the Euro Africa Group 1 in the Davis Cup. The games are talking place in Mamaia, eastern Romania. The first two singles matches will pit Marius Copil against Norbert Gombos and Adrian Ungur against Martin Klizan. On Saturday, in the doubles game, Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau and playing against Andrej Martin and Igor Zelenay. On Sunday, Marius Copil is playing Martin Klizan and Adrian Ungur is playing Norbert Gombos. The winner will play in the World Group playoffs.

FOOTBALL – Romanian football club Astra Giurgiu on Thursday grabbed a nil-1 away win over Inverness CT of Scotland in the first leg of the second preliminary round of Europa League. Romanias other representative, FC Botosani, lost 1-nil to Legia Warsaw, also away from home. Romanias third representative in Europa League, ASA Targu Mures, will compete directly in the third round. We recall that on Tuesday, Romanias champions Steaua Bucharest won nil-2 against AS Trencin of Slovakia away from home, in the first leg of the second preliminary round of Champions League. The return legs are scheduled for next week.