October 16, 2017 UPDATE

Presidency announces having received the nominations for new Cabinet ministers

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Newsroom, 16.10.2017, 20:15

GOVT RESHUFFLE – The Presidential Administration Monday announced it received from PM Mihai Tudose the nominations for the new ministers, namely Paul Stănescu for the Development Ministry, Felix Stroe for the Transport Ministry and Marius Nica for the Ministry for European Funds. The nominations were made by the Social Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition in Bucharest. The three are to replace the outgoing ministers Sevil Shhaideh, Rovana Plumb and Răzvan Cuc, who have decided to step down so that the activity of the Government may not be affected. Shhaideh and Plumb are prosecuted for corruption-related offences, while Cuc was criticised for the inadequate performance of his ministry. The junior partner in the ruling coalition, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, has announced the party will not withraw support for Viorel Ilie, the minister in charge with liaising with Parliament, who is probed into for influence peddling.

SANCTIONS – The EU foreign ministers adopted, in Mondays Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, new sanctions against North Korea in response to Pyongyangs nuclear test in early September. Among other things, the sanctions include bans on oil exports and on all EU investments in DPRK in all sectors, and lowering the remittances that the North Koreans working in the EU may transfer home, from 15,000 euros at present to 5,000 euros. Romania was represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu. The agenda of the talks also included other topics, such as the Iranian nuclear deal and the situation in Turkey.

DEFENCE – The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihai Fifor, Monday had a meeting with the US Congressmen Steve Russell and Matt Cartwright, who are currently in Bucharest. The talks focused on security at the Black Sea and the development of the strategic partnership between Romania and the US in the defence sector. According to the Romanian Defence Ministry, Mihai Fifor emphasised the importance of a coordinated approach on the entire eastern flank of NATO, and underlying Romanias role as a predictable and solid partner in ensuring Euro-Atlantic stability and security. The participants appreciated the excellent cooperation between the Romanian and American forces in the exercises taking place as part of the Alliance and in the NATO theatres.

VESSEL – Two Romanians onboard a vessel held in the Libyan port of Tobrouk were repatriated on Monday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. According to the institution, since the case was notified the Romanian Embassy to Tripoli, which has been relocated to Tunis, has made numerous efforts to clarify the situation of the two Romanian citizens, contacting both the local authorities and the ship owner. The Romanian diplomatic mission was also in permanent contact with the commander of the ship and with the Romanian citizens and their families. In order to avoid similar situations in the future, the Foreign Ministry urges the Romanian sailors interested in working on vessels belonging to foreign owners to get thoroughly informed on the status of the respective vessels and to find employers via crewing agencies accredited by the Romanian Naval Authority.

TRADE WINDS – The largest trade promotion event organized annually by the American Department of Commerce, Trade Winds, will bring to Bucharest between October 18-20 as many as 100 American companies which will get in contact with over 50 Romanian companies. Participating in the event are big American companies such as IBM, Patriot – Raytheon, Kestral, Harris Corporation (space intelligence), SAS Institute (software), Perry Baromedical Corporation (a producer of medical equipment) as well SMEs from the US which are of interest for Romania especially in terms of know-how transfer and innovation. The event will be attended by the Romanian PM and several other ministers. According to a government news release, the initiative of the American Department of Commerce to organize the 10th edition of Trade Winds in Romania and another 4 states in South-eastern Europe, namely Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Serbia, proves the importance the US Administration attaches to this region and to Bucharest in particular.

SPAIN – Catalonias regional president Carles Puigdemont, has announced in a letter to Madrid that his government was seeking a two-month respite, for further talks with Spains central government. PM Mariano Rajoy had given the secessionist authorities of Catalonia until Monday to confirm whether the region had declared its independence from Spain, and until Thursday to abandon its secession plans altogether. Reuters says that without a clear answer on Monday, Madrid may impose direct control on Catalonia. In the octombrie 1 referendum, ruled illegal by the Spanish national court and marred by police violence, nearly 2 million out of Catalonias 5.3 million voters, with 90% of the votes in favour of secession.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)