May 6, 2014
A roundup of Romanian and international news
România Internațional, 06.05.2014, 12:00
Romania will report an economic growth of 2.5% and 2.6% in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the European Commission estimates. According to an EC report, Romania’s main economic engine will be the domestic demand, which is expected to exceed exports. In these two years, investments are also estimated to grow, as they will be supported by a better absorption of European funds and by the development of major infrastructure projects. Across the EU, economic growth is expected to reach 1.6%.
More than 30 pro-Russian insurgents have been killed in the fight with the security forces in Slaviansk, in the east of Ukraine- Ukrainian government sources, quoted by news agencies, have announced today. The Ukrainian troops have also sustained losses of human lives and military equipment, including a helicopter, the 4th Kiev has lost in the past days. All flights to and from the airport in Donetsk have been temporarily suspended following a decision by the Ukrainian civil aviation authorities, who have not provided any justification for their move. In the west, in Cernauti (near the border with Romania), the Ukrainian security service SBU seized almost 1.5 kg of radioactive materials supposed to reach the rebel regions, meant to create the so-called dirty bombs. The substances came from the pro-Russian separatist region of Transdniester, in the east of the Republic of Moldova. In another development, the NATO military commander, American General Philip Breedlove, said that there are special forces of the Russian army in the east of Ukraine, that unfold similar operations to those in Crimea before its annexation.
The Romanian foreign minister, Titus Corlatean, is participating in Vienna in the Council of Europe ministerial meeting, dominated by the crisis in Ukraine. According to a communiqué of the Romanian foreign ministry, FM Corlatean will reiterate the fundamental principles of international law, such as the observance of a country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He will militate for working out political solutions to settle the crisis and reject the military action which Russia has resorted to lately. The agenda of the Romanian official also includes a meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland. Set up 65 years ago, the Council of Europe is on organization that includes 47 states, which militates for the observance of the rule of law, democracy and human rights. Romania became a member of the Council of Europe in 1993.
The politicization of the media discourse, the abusive use of the freedom of expression right or the use of the media as a pressure instrument by certain media owners – these are some of the conclusions of the report on the freedom of the press in Romania presented by the Active Watch organization. The document also shows that the media institutions across Romania continue to be politicized and affected by big business interests that undermine the freedom of the press and the principle of equidistance.
The chairman of the Romanian Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, will pay a 2-day visit, on Wednesday and Thursday, to the ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova, shows an communiqué of the Moldovan Parliament. High on the agenda of the Romanian official are meetings with the Moldovan President, Nicolae Tomofti, the PM Iurie Leanca and the general mayor of Chisinau, Dorin Chirtoaca. The Romanian official will also meet with the chairman of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Corman, and with other Moldovan officials. Romania is the main supporter of the Republic of Moldova’s efforts to integrate into the EU.
