March 14, 2014
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Bogdan Matei, 14.03.2014, 12:00
VISIT – Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta today discussed with his Moldovan counterpart Iurie Leanca about the status and prospects of bilateral relations. Talks also focused on the implementation of new regulations for Moldovan citizens, who as of May will be able to travel across EU territory without a visa. Ukraine was another topic of mutual interest. Following his visit Ponta left for Georgia, where he will pay an official two-day visit, the first of a Romanian official. The Prime Minister will meet with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili and Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili. According to a Government press release, Victor Ponta’s visit marks Romania’s interest in consolidating cooperation relations with Georgia. Tbilisi is Romania’s most important trade partner in the Southern Causassus. Romania at present has 38 people deployed on the ground in Georgia, taking part in the EU-led civilian monitoring mission to Georgia, whose aim is to ensure that the Russian-Goergian ceasefire agreement of 2008 is observed. We recall that last autumn at the Eastern Partnership Summit of Vilnius Georgia and the Republic of Moldova initialled Association and Free Trade Agreements with the European Union.
DECISION – The authorities in Bucharest are today expected to make a decision with respect to the leaders of the far-right Jobbik party in neighbouring Hungary. Under the law, they may be deemed undesirable and thus barred from entering Romanian territory for a definite period of time. This option was brought into discussion following Monday’s unauthorized march in Targu Mures organized by Jobbik and irredentist organizations of ethnic Hungarians. The march spiralled into clashes with the riot police. Masked protesters threw firecrackers, forced the line of police officers and occupied the roadway, provoked the gendarmes and chanted anti-regime slogans. Protesters called for the territorial autonomy of the Szekler Land, the only area in Romania with a majority Hungarian-speaking population. Jobbik is currently the third political faction in Hungary after the Conservatives and the Socialists. Surveys give them 15% of voters’ choice at the forthcoming parliamentary elections of April.
TALKS – A new round of talks is held today between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Serghei Lavrov in London, against the backdrop of Sunday’s controversial referendum on the annexing of Crimea to Russia, a move firmly opposed by Western counties. The American official has warned that Russia’s military intervention in Crimea might determine the United States and the European Union to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow. Over 8,000 Russian military were deployed on the Ukrainian border, where Moscow has started military manoeuvres. Russia also sent fighters to Belarus to take part in joint air drills in that country. The leaders in Kiev have ruled out military retaliation, although Parliament has sanctioned the foundation of the Ukrainian National Guard, which has already started drafting in volunteers.
THE MEAT FRAUD SCANDAL – Hearings of members of the organized crime groups suspected of tax evasion, money laundering and circulation of spoiled foodstuffs continue in Bucharest. 10 people have been detained on remand. Prosecutors say the members of the groups allegedly used Romanian companies to buy VAT-free meat and eggs from the Netherlands, Poland, Great Britain and Germany. The merchandise was subsequently sold to the end client, either on the black market, way below its market value, or after adding the VAT. The prejudice exceeds 15 million euros. The meat mafia case came to the attention of the Romanian Intelligence Service in early 2013. Intel obtained so far reveals that the cross-border criminal group specializes in wide-ranging tax evasion practices. Following the recent health safety inspections some 19 million tons were withdrawn from supermarkets. Inspectors have handed out nearly 100,000 in fines.
VISIT – Speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Valeriu Zgonea on Friday continues his visit in Rome, where he is attending the international conference entitled “Europe’s Value: development, labour markets and rights — the challenges of the European Union”. Zgonea’s agenda for today also includes a meeting with representatives of the Romanian community and the Romanian press in Italy. On Thursday, Valeriu Zgonea met with his Italian counterpart Laura Boldrini and with Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso. Talks focused on bilateral relations. Zgonea said Romania counted on Italy’s support for its efforts to join the Schengen area. Some 1 million Romanians live in Italy at present.
RULING – Former Interior Minister and Austrian MEP Ernst Strasser has been given a prison sentence of three years and a half in a corruption case also involving a Romanian MEP. Strasser was found guilty for pushing amendments to European laws in exchange for a fee. According to a press investigation conducted in 2010 by the British daily Sunday Times, another three MEPs, including Romanian Adrian Severin, received payments to push amendments. Adrian Severin’s court trial launched following the investigation of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate is still pending.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, currently ranked 7th in WTA standings, is today playing Agnieszka Radawanska of Poland, ranked 3rd in world standings, in the semi-final of the Indian Wells tournament in the United States, totalling 6 million dollars in prize money. In the quarterfinals Halep brushed aside Casey Dellacqua of Australia. Due to her performance in Indian Wells, as of Monday Halep will be ranked 5th in WTA standings, the all-time best ranking for a Romanian tennis player.
