March 21, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Valentin Țigău, 21.03.2014, 20:10
UKRAINE – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a law formalizing Russia’s takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. The Russian president termed the decision as a remarkable event. Previously he had stated Russia would not resort to reprisals against the recent sanctions imposed by the West, affecting already the major capital markets in Russia. “The European Council warns the Russian Federation that any escalation of the current situation in Ukraine may lead to a third wave of sanctions, targeting major sectors of the economy and trade of arms”, said on Friday in Brussels, at the end of the Council proceedings, Romania’s President Traian Basescu. On the same day, the Ukrainian prime minister Arseni Iateniuk signed with European leaders the political part of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, which actually triggered the crisis between Moscow and the West. European are thus stating their full support to Ukraine, one day after making the decision to add another 12 names on the list of Russian personalities targeted by sanctions.
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- Romanian Deputy Prime Minister, Liviu Dragnea, announced on Friday in Shenzen, China, that the Romanian Government might decide to extend the deadline for the letter of intent that China General Nuclear Power Group has with the Romanian company Nuclearelectrica. The reason of the decision would be that negotiations between the Chinese company and the Romania side are in full swing and they focus on the largest investment project of the Ponta Government. The Chinese company had a letter of intent validn until May 25th. On Thursday, Dragnea was in Hong Kong to ask for support to attract investment from the region, aimed at funding projects worth some 20 million Euros, for which Romania and China signed agreements last autumn. Also, the parties discussed the promotion of Romanian wine, as Hong Kong is the largest wine market in the world.
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. On Thursday, 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 opened its doors on Friday in the French capital city, this year features Argentina, which boasts one of the most creative and prolific literatures nowadays. Attending the event, 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.
