March 3, 2014 UPDATE

For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.

Bogdan Matei, 03.03.2014, 12:05

UKRAINE – A Ukrainian air base on Monday fell under the command of the Republic of Crimea, a breakaway region that does not recognize the Government in Kiev, a spokesperson of the pro-Russian Government has told the media. The 800 military will add to the over 5,000 members of the Ukrainian army who have deserted and laid down their arms to local authorities. In another development, pro-Russian separatists have stormed the Ukrainian provincial government building in Donetsk, seen as a stronghold of forces still loyal to former president Viktor Yanukovych. Tension escalated in Ukraine after thousands of Russian-speaking military were deployed in Crimea. The Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament on Saturday greenlighted the army to intervene in Ukraine. The international community has expressed its deep concern, threatening to impose sanctions on Russia. On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov said Moscow has a right to intervene in Ukraine since the lives of Russian nationals in that country are being put in danger, adding that Russian troops will be stationed until the political situation will go back to normal.

ROMANIA AND UKRAINE – The European Union wants Russia to stick to its official parameters in its bilateral relations with Ukraine, including its military presence in that country, Romania’s Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean has told Radio Romania’s Brussels correspondent. The EU believes Russia’s military maneouvers over the last few days are a clear breach of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and independence, as well as a blatant violation of international law, of several agreements previously signed by Kiev and Moscow. Minister Corlatean attended the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brussels devoted to the developments in Ukraine. Minister Corlatean has argued in favour of ensuring stability, security and territorial integrity in Ukraine, calling for the EU’s active and consistent involvement in Ukraine.

MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE – The tensions in Crimea are reminiscent of the Transdniester conflict and show that separatism is contagious and will spread unless a solution is found, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Iurie Leanca told Radio Free Europe. He made these comments during his visit to the US on Monday where he met with US vice-president Joe Biden to discuss the situation in Ukraine and regional security. Supported by Moscow, Tiraspol unilaterally declared its independence from Moldova in 1990 and de facto broke away two years later following an armed conflict. In Bucharest, president Traian Basescu has spoken about the threat of a new frozen conflict in the Black Sea region.

NEW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED – Social Democrat leader Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Monday announced the configuration of the new cabinet, to be presented on Tuesday in Parliament. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania will have a deputy prime minister as well as culture and environment ministers. The other three nominations for the position of deputy prime minister have remained unchanged. The Cabinet will total 25 ministers and minister delegates, most of whom are already in office. Victor Ponta’s advisor Ioana Petrescu will take over the Public Finance Ministry, former athlete Gabriela Szabo will be the new Youth and Sports Minister, while actor Bogdan Stanoevici will be the new Minister Delegate for Romanians Worldwide. The Democratic Liberal Party and the National Liberal Party in opposition have announced they would vote against, while the Dan Diaconescu Party of the People and the group of ethnic minorities have pledged to vote in favour. President Traian Basescu has warned he would challenge the formation of a new cabinet with a different platform and run by Victor Ponta at the Constitutional Court. Traian Basescu argues that replacing the Liberals is tantamount to changing the governing platform for which Victor Ponta’s Government received Parliament’s vote in 2012.

ROMANIA VS ARGENTINA – Argentina’s national football team arrived in Bucharest on Monday, where it will play a friendly match against Romania. The match will be televised abroad, given that Argentina’s lineup will feature Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, the four-time winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Seen as a more than a friendly by the Romanian press, the match will take place on the same time as the elections for the position of president of the Romanian Federation. A total of six candidates have announced their candidacy. Incumbent president Mircea Sandu had previously announced he would not seek a new mandate, expressing his public support for former football legend Gica Popescu, seen as favourite to win the elections.

REPORT – At least 13,700 members of Afghan security forces have been killed in clashes with the Talibans over the past ten years, the Afghan authorities have announced. More than 16,500 military, police officers and Afghan intelligence officers were wounded in the same period. Figures made public by the US administration reveal that between April and November 2013, 10 Afghan police officers and military were killed every on average. Despite 12 years of Western efforts to put an end to the string of violence, the subsequent attacks continue to fuel fears regarding a new outbreak of violence in the wake of the withdrawal of the 50,000 ISAF military by the end of this year.