August 30, 2017 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 30.08.2017, 19:46
ROMANIAN DIPLOMACY – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday presented in Bucharest the objectives of Romanias foreign policy, during a meeting with the heads of the Romanian diplomatic missions and general consuls abroad, occasioned by the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy. The Romanian president has called on them to get involved in the effort to address the problems the EU is currently facing, including Brexit. Just like in the past years, deepening the Strategic Partnership with the US continues to be a priority of Romanias foreign policy, especially in the context of Junes visit to Washington by Klaus Iohannis and of the talks he held with the U.S. President Donald Trump. Romania will further plead for a strong transatlantic relation within NATO, the head of state has also said. He has given assurances that, to Romania, further integration at EU level continues to be a major objective. At the same time, switching to the Single European Currency and joining the Schengen Area will be significant steps forward to strengthen Romanias role at European level, Klaus Iohannis has also underlined.
MAINTENANCE CENTRE – Romania will set up a maintenance centre at Aerostar Bacau, in the east, for the F16 fighters made in the US and purchased from Portugal. PM Mihai Tudose on Wednesday signed an agreement with Jonathan Hoyle, the vice-president of Lockheed Martin, for the transfer of state of the art technology for this type of aircraft. The defence minister Adrian Tutuianu and heads of military structures involved in the purchasing of military technology met on Tuesday with a delegation of Lockheed Martin, the American company specialised in the research, development, production and integration of state of the art technology in the military field, which has come up with proposals of cooperation with the national defence industry. The 2017-2026 Romanian Army Endowment Plan has been approved by Romanias Supreme Defence Council, with 9.8 billion Euros worth of funds having been earmarked for the eight programs. We recall that Romania has signed a contract for the purchase of 16 F16 fighters and minister Adrian Tutuianu has made public the intention to purchase 36 other fighters in the following years.
JUSTICE – The draft aimed at amending the justice laws was sent to the Higher Council of Magistracy on Wednesday, the line minister Tudorel Toader has announced. He has added the document has not been sent to prosecutors offices. Earlier, the National Anti-corruption Directorate, DNA, has said the draft is a form of pressure exerted on the professional activity of prosecutors and Romanias Prosecutor General, Augustin Lazar, has said the prospective adoption of the draft would impact the independence of magistrates and the functioning of judicial institutions. According to the amendments envisaged by minister Toader, the countrys president will be eliminated from the process of nominating chief prosecutors and the judicial inspection unit will be subordinated to the Justice Ministry.
MISSILE TEST – The UN Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea for having launched a missile that passed above the Hokkaido Island, in northern Japan. The 15 members of the UN Security Council said the launch was a revolting act and that it was vital for the regime in Pyongyang to take immediate and concrete actions in order to reduce tension. In the resolution passed, the Security Council called on all countries to apply the UN sanctions against North Korea. Nevertheless Pyongyang has not been threatened with new sanctions. The missile launch was also firmly condemned by Japan, the U.S. and the EU. Against the backdrop of escalating tensions between North Korea and the U.S. Washington on Wednesday successfully conducted a missile defense test off the coast of Hawaii and intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile, shows a communiqué of the Missile Defense Agency.
