June 12, 2014

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România Internațional, 12.06.2014, 12:00

Romania is the European Union’s only state where by and large an improvement occurred of the country’s democratic condition, a Freedom House report reveals, which was made public in the United States. Following the attempt to impeach the country’s president and the political unrest of 2012, the situation has calmed down in Romania, the document also reveals. According to the Freedom House report, a democratic rebound is the main tendency regarding the governing policy in the entire Eurasia and the Balkans, as well as in post-communist Central Europe, where the persistence of favoritism and corruption were rampant last year.

The UN Security Council convenes today to hold talks over the situation in Iraq, a country where Sunni Jihadists have been rapidly gaining ground, according to the AFP. The rebels, who are in control of Fallujah and several areas of the western province of Al-Anbar in the last two days have taken over the entire Niniveh province in the northeast and the city of Tikrit, 140 kilometers away from the Capital Baghdad, which forced around one million people to flee the region. Yesterday, the rebels stormed the Turkish consulate in Mossul in the north and took 49 Turkish citizens hostage, the Turkish consul included. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon firmly condemned the attacks, also making an appeal for the parties to abide by international humanitarian laws. In turn, the USA has shown its support for Iraqi leaders in their fight against radical groups, while the European Union and the Arab League have called on all Iraqi democratic forces to cooperate, so that they can cope with the country’s worsening security situation.

Trade unionists from the Bucharest subway system are protesting in front of the Romanian Government headquarters against the attempt by the authorities to shift management from the Transport Ministry to Bucharest Municipality. Protesters also complain of a lack of raises in the last five years, given that subway employees have voluntarily relinquished their financial benefits in their labor contract. Subway unionists warn that if their demands are not met, they may go on an all-out strike.

The 20th edition of the World Football Cup, hosted by Brazil gets underway in Sao Paolo today, with the match pitting the host country against Croatia. Five-time world champion Brazil is deemed as the great favorite of the confrontation, standing real chances to walk away with the world title. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, the main fear organizers have is linked to a prospective strike Sao Paolo subway workers could stage, which could paralyze the Brazilian capital. We’ll revert to that after the news.

High-ranking officials of the government in Bucharest today are holding the final meeting with the joint IMF, World Bank and European Commission delegation which has traveled to Romania for the third assessment of the precautionary loan agreement signed in the autumn of 2013. The core objective of the meeting is fiscal relaxation in the field of labor taxation, Prime Minister Victor Ponta stated. Yesterday, financiers’ representatives held meetings with the Central bank and the Finance Ministry. Talks mainly focused on finding a solution for a 5 per cent reduction of the social contributions paid by employers as of July the 1st. Also yesterday, members of creditors’ delegation held a meeting with leaders of National Liberal and Liberal democratic Parties, the main opposition parties that have accused the government of having failed to carry out an impact study on the social contribution measures, also failing to come up with feasible compensatory measures for Romania’s foreign crediting partners.

Romanian businessman Dan Adamescu is remanded in custody after judges of the High Court of Cassation and Justice on Wednesday turned down the appeal Adamescu made for that decision. The Court’s decision is final. Coming 2nd in Romania’s top richest men, Adamescu was arrested on June 6th for 30 days. Anti-corruption prosecutors have accused Adamescu of bribe-giving. We recall the Romanian businessman offered two judges 20 thousand Euro, so that they can issue favorable sentences in several insolvency procedure files for some of the companies where Adamescu was a stockholder.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stated he hoped Russia would still remain a notable partner for the Republic of Moldova, even after Moldova will have signed the Association Agreement on June 27. Barroso went on to say citizens of the splintering Trans-Dniester region in the east and Gagauzia in the south, who have staged their opposition to Moldova signing the agreement, should acknowledge the importance of the document. Barroso made the statements in Chisinau, where he signed four agreements by means of which Republic of Moldova will be offered financial aid worth around 50 million euro for the implementation of reforms. High on Jose Manuel Barroso’s agenda are talks with Moldova’s pro-Western high-ranking officials, as well as talks with leaders of the pro-Russian communist opposition.

Romania’s women national handball team on Wednesday night snatched a 30-28 away win against Belarus, in a game counting towards the preliminaries of the European Championship in December, to be hosted by Croatia and Hungary. Norway has comfortably outclassed the two teams, having already secured its qualification for the European Championships. Romania and Belarus are fighting for the runner-up position in the group, which also secures a place in the final tournament. The return game is scheduled on Sunday in the northwestern Romanian city of Baia Mare. Also on Sunday, Romania’s men national handball team in the Swedish city of Goteborg will be playing in the second round of the qualifying play-offs counting towards the World Championship next year. In the first round, Sweden secured a win by the narrowest of margins, 25-24.