May 18, 2015 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 18.05.2015, 12:15
The EU-NATO cooperation in developing military capabilities is very important in the current security context, Romanian Defence Minister Mircea Dusa said on Monday in Brussels at a meeting of the European Defence Agencys Steering Board. According to Mircea Dusa, the meeting was an important opportunity to identify the EU member states joint priorities in the field of defence. Dusa pleaded for a new European security strategy that should mirror the new geopolitical reality.
The issue of illegal deforestation in Romania will be discussed at the next meeting of the Supreme Defense Council, President Klaus Iohannis announced on Monday. He said he took this decision after a discussion with prime minister Victor Ponta, following the governments proposal for exports of logs and firewood from Romania to be banned until the 31st of August. As of this date until the end of the year, sales of wood will be strictly monitored. These measures form part of two emergency ordinances currently under public debate which will be discussed by the government this week. The two ordinances are meant to enforce stricter regulations on the wood market until the enforcement of the new forestry code which is again being debated by the Chamber of Deputies as president Klaus Iohannis sent it back to Parliament for reexamination.
Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated on Monday his countrys support for the European path of the neighbouring Ukraine. Attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers with their Ukrainian counterpart, Pavlo Klimkin, Aurescu voiced Bucharests availability to offer Kiev concrete support and expertise in the reform process. He highlighted the need for the Minsk peace deals to be observed. Previously, Aurescu took part in talks with the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and the Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic. Aurescu pleaded for the observance, by Belgrade, of all national minority rights, the Romanian one included.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow said on Monday in Budapest that it was still unclear whether Russia was prepared to take steps to support the Minsk agreement to ease the situation in Ukraine. He added that the Moscow authorities could face new sanctions and isolation unless the deal was respected. Alexander Vershbow made these statements at the spring meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly coming to an end on Monday in Budapest. Talks focused on the situation in Ukraine, the Islamic State and the terrorist threat, the latest developments in the Balkans, Afghanistan, hybrid wars and the challenges posed by the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Libya.
Senators gave a negative vote on Monday to a simple motion on child allowance submitted by the National Liberal Party in opposition. The Liberals say the allowance, amounting to around 9.5 euros, has not changed in more than 6 years, despite the fact that prices have risen by at least 20%. The signatories of the motion request an increase in the amount of child allowance and the resignation of the labour minister Rovana Plumb.
The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep lost one place in the WTA rankings, going down from the second to the third place, following her defeat in the semifinals of the Rome tournament and Maria Sharapova’s winning the title. Serena Williams retains her world no. one ranking. Other Romanian players in the top 100 include Irina Begu, up one place compared with last week to reach the 30th position, the highest in her career so far; Alexandra Dulgheru, who climbed 22 places to reach the 50th position; Monica Niculescu, on the 69th position, down two places; and Andreea Mitu, who is currently in the 99th position.
