March 16, UPDATE
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Valentin Țigău, 16.03.2014, 19:32
In the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea, most of the eligible voters took part on Sunday in a referendum on whether to rejoin Russia or to remain within Ukraine, but with more autonomy. The referendum was criticised by the international community, but backed by Moscow. President Putin said Russia will recognise the result of the vote. The Parliament in Kiev Saturday voted to disband the pro-Russian legislative assembly of Crimea and called for an OSCE mission in the region, a request backed the next day by the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. The US and its European allies, including Romania, see the referendum as illegal and its result as illegitimate. Against this background, the defence ministries of Ukraine and Russia agreed on a truce in Crimea until March the 21st.
The Romanian foreign minister Titus Corlăţean will take part on Monday in Brussels in a meeting of EU foreign ministers. They will discuss the Ukraine crisis, after the secession referendum of March 16th in Crimea. Another topic is the EU’s relation with Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the context of the protests held recently in this country.
In Serbia, around 6.7 million eligible voters were expected to polls on Sunday, in early legislative elections, against the backdrop of severe economic problems. The Conservatives, in power, are likely to win the ballot held two years ahead of the end of Parliament’s term. Since taking the power in 2012, the government achieved a spectacular improvement of relations with the authorities of Kosovo, which proclaimed its independence in 2008. Belgrade’s efforts were appreciated in Brussels, which this January started accession negotiations with Serbia. According to opinion polls, six parties and coalitions will be elected in the 250-seat Parliament of the country.
