Newsflash 17.06.2013
For a round-up of domestic and international news click here
Corina Cristea, 17.06.2013, 20:39
The conflict in Syria is high on the agenda of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland, which brings together the seven industrialized countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, Britain and Russia. Late last month the EU lifted the arms embargo for the Syrian opposition, a decision contested by Russia, which is backing the regime in Damascus. In another development, the Russian diplomacy announced that Moscow would not allow the setting up of a no-fly zone over Syria, as this would be tantamount to violating international law.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has been a major partner for Romania as far as structural and development programmes are concerned. The statement was made by Prime Minister Victor Ponta during a joint conference with EBRD president Sir Suma Chakrabarti in Bucharest. According to the EBRD head, Romania gives clear signals of economic recovery after extremely difficult years. At present, Romania is the third country in terms of EBRD investment volume. This financial institution has invested close to 6.2 billion euros in over 330 projects in Romania, for which it has mobilized more than 12 billion euros from other funding sources.
Turkish Interior minister Muammer Guler has described as illegal the call for an all-out strike made by two major trade unions in Turkey in support for the anti-government protests. Since May the 31st, Turkey has seen a string protests staged in several big cities across the country with the aim of removing Prime Minister Erdogan from power. The protesters are accusing Erdogan of authoritarian rule and of remaining loyal to the idea of Islamizing the country. According to the latest toll by the Turkish doctors Trade Union, four people have died and 75 hundred wounded since the beginning of the protests. In an interview to German TV channel RTL, chancellor Angela Merkel has again called on Turkey to observe the freedom of expression, at the same time voicing hope that a peaceful solution will be found.
Bucharest and Moscow on Monday signed a memorandum for the cooperation between the Romanian Higher Defence Council and the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The document provides for cooperation in several fields of activity such as the fight against terrorism, cross-border crime, human and drugs trafficking, ways of fighting money laundering, cyber crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The talks between Nikolai Patrusev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and the Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean held in Bucharest also focused on the partnership between Russia and the EU, and NATO and Russia, including issues such as the situation in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the ISAF forces in 2014, the anti-missile defence and the situation in Syria.
Romania’s Higher Defence Council convened in Bucharest on Monday for decisions on the country’s defence industry and plans to supply the Romanian armed forces with materials. The Council has approved that Romania can deploy a 3039 strong contingent to various operation theatres in 2014. A report on the activity of the Center for Responding to Incidents of Cyber Security has also been approved by the Council.
