March 21, 2014

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news.

Bogdan Matei, 21.03.2014, 12:00

UKRAINE-Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk on Friday signed with the European leaders the political component of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, an agreement which generated the crisis between Moscow and the West. The Europeans are thus showing a strong support for Ukraine, just a day after they decided to harshen the tone against Moscow, putting 12 more names on the list of Russian and Ukrainian personalities who are likely to make the object of sanctions, following Crimea’s annexation by Russia. Washington had previously announced the extension of sanctions, adding new names on the list of those held responsible, whose assets have been frozen and who have been banned to travel to the US. At a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, Vladimir Putin said that, for the moment, Moscow is refraining from imposing retaliatory sanctions on the US and from introducing mandatory visas for Ukrainian nationals. The treaty on Crimea’ and the city of Sevastopol’s annexation to Russia has been ratified by both Chambers of the Russian Parliament.

THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA-Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Friday hailed the announcement made by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, on the decision to sign the Association Agreements with the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population) and Georgia, in June 2014. Against the backdrop of the crisis in Ukraine, the European leaders decided to sign the agreements two months earlier than it was initially scheduled. Ponta said the efforts made by Romania as regards Moldova’s European path are bearing fruit. On Thursday, at the Spring European Council held in Brussels, president Traian Basescu called on the EU decision-makers to give Moldova a clear perspective on joining the EU, which he sees as the best solution to guarantee its security. The crisis generated by Crimea’s annexation by Russia has activated two hotbeds of instability on Moldova’s territory: the pro-Russian regions of Gagauzya, in the southwest, and Transdniester, in the east. According to the media, Transdniester has called on Russia to provide in its legislation the possibility of annexing Transdniester to the Russian Federation. We recall that Transdniester broke out from Moldova’s control in 1992, following an armed conflict, which made 700 victims. It ended with the Russian troops’ intervention, on the separatists’ side

VISIT TO CHINA- A Romanian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Liviu Dragnea, Minister of Regional Development and Public Administration, is due to meet later today in Shenzhen, China, with representatives of companies active in the field of communications and energy. On Thursday, Dragnea was in Hong Kong, to ask support for attracting investments in the region, to finance 20 billion Euros worth of projects, which made the objects of a series of agreements signed by Romania and China in the autumn of 2013. Dragnea also approached the issue of Romanian wine sales, as Hong Kong is the largest wine market in the world. During his visit to China, Dragnea is also due to meet his Chinese counterpart, Zhang Gaoli.

ROMANIAN-GERMAN RELATIONS-The bilateral relations between Romania and Germany are ”not only good, but as good as possible,” German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Berlin on Friday, during the talks he had with his Romanian counterpart, Titus Corlatean. Germany is Romania’s largest trading partner and a significant investor in Romania, Steinmeier has also said. He hailed the “exemplary” relations between the Romanian government and the German ethnic minority in Romania, which is made up of 40,000 people. The two foreign ministers also exchanged opinions on the latest developments in the EU’s eastern vicinity, laying special emphasis on the situation in Ukraine and the relationships between the EU and the Russian Federation, expressing a common stand on Moldova’s European path.

FRANCOPHONY– Bucharest is hosting the Regional Conference for Europe of the Francophony Parliamentary Assembly, an event organised during the Francophony month. Delegates from European French-speaking countries such as France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland and Hungary are discussing Romania’s francophone priorities, ways to reinvent francophony with the support of young people, and last and not least about French as a language that creates a new style and new landmarks for youngsters. Yesterday, in a message he launched on Francophony Day, the French ambassador to Bucharest, Philippe Gustin, said he was impressed by the Romanians’ capacity and ability to create opportunities to speak French and not to embrace the idea of systematically shifting their attention to the English language.

THE BOOK SALON IN PARIS– The Book Salon in Paris which opens its doors today in the French capital city, this year features Argentina, which boasts one of the most creative and prolific literatures nowadays. Attending the event, to be inaugurated by Argentinean President, Cristina Kirchner, and French Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, are over 3,500 writers from 40 countries. After being the guest of honour, at the 2013 edition of the Salon, Romania is now having an impressive stand. George Arion, Dinu Flamand, Nicolae Manolescu, George Banu and Matei Visniec are among the writers who attend the 2014 edition of the Salon. The Romanian agenda includes debates, book launches and meetings with Romanian and French publishers, writers, translators, professors and journalists.

TENNIS-The best Romanian tennis player of the moment, Simona Halep, WTA 5th and 6th seeded, is today meeting Australian Casey Dellacqua, in the second round of the Miami tennis tournament, with 5.4 dollars is prize money. Last week, she defeated Dellacqua, in the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells tournament, 6-2, 6-2. If she wins the Miami tournament, Simona Halep might go up to the 4th position in the world classification, becoming the best ranked Romanian tennis player in the professional tennis standings. In less than a year, Halep won 7 WTA tournaments.