July 13, 2014

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

Valentin Țigău, 13.07.2014, 12:00

WAR — Israeli naval commandoes have today stormed the coastal area of the Gaza Strip and launched a quick air raid on its shore, engaging in a crossfire with Hamas militants. Press agencies say Israel is one step closer to unleashing an all-out war against terrorist cells in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Hamas continued its ballistic attacks targeting populated areas in Israel, to which the Israeli army retaliated by attacking certain Hamas buildings. The escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip has determined a massive exodus of the local population. Some 800 people have recently called to be evacuated via the embassies of the United States, Australia, Turkey and several other European nations. Romania’s embassy in Tel Aviv is also in permanent contact with Israeli authorities and will proceed to the evacuation from the Gaza Strip of all nationals who request it. The Embassy has so far provided assistance to anyone in need.

CHAOS IN IRAQ — In Iraq too the situation is getting worse, with the country on the brink of chaos, due to the failure of the political class to reach a compromise, the UN special envoy to Baghdad warned on Saturday. The country’s Parliament is supposed to elect its president today, which is necessary to appoint a Prime Minister and elect the head of state. Meanwhile, clashes between Government forces and Sunni military continue, with one of Saddam Hussein’s former lieutenants calling on all Iraqi people to join the rebellion and liberate Baghdad.

LIBYA — Meanwhile, clashes between armed forces took place today on Tripoli airport, where all flights have been grounded. Since the death of Moammar Gaddafi in October 2011, the airport in Tripoli has been under the control of former Zenten rebels. The authorities have so far failed to disband or disarm these groups who are de facto controlling several strategic positions in Libya. The United States has expressed concern regarding the violence in Libya and fear that the conflict might escalate in the near future.

MEETING – The Austrian capital Vienna is today hosting a meeting of Foreign Ministers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, who will hold talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The four countries, alongside Russia and China, have convened to reach a multilateral agreement on Iran’s controversial nuclear activity by July 20. The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran had no interest in manufacturing a nuclear bomb.

MOLDOVA — Moldova’s Agreements with the European Union account for 75% of the community acquis, Romania’s Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean said. Attending the Croatia Forum in Dubrovnik, the Romanian official on Friday said that faced with rising Euroskepticism, the EU needs to step up enlargement on its south-eastern borders as one of its main priorities. Titus Corlatean also met with US official Victoria Nuland. The two tackled aspects pertaining to political and military cooperation and the latest developments in Ukraine. Minister Corlatean also met with counterparts from EU Member States, but also China, Japan and New Zealand.

UKRAINE — 12 people were killed on Saturday in the wake of clashes between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk and Maryinka, Eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army has Donetsk surrounded and has taken point 20 km away from the city. Pro-Russian rebels have tanks and Grad missile launchers, and have announced their intention to defend their position, although their forces are inferior in both number and quality to Government troops, who mostly rely on air strikes.

TENNIS — WTA 3rd ranked Simona Halep, seeded first in the BRD Bucharest Open, is today playing second-seed Roberta Vinci of Italy in the competition finals. Also today Elena Bogdan and Alexandra Cadantu from Romania will play Cagla Buyukacay of Turkey and Karin Knapp of Italy in the doubles finals. Simona Halep has so far played Roberta Vinci five times, grabbing three wins. “I am very tired, I’ve had many matches in the last few months, but it is a great pleasure for me to play at home, which is precisely why I enrolled in this tournament”, Halep said. Totalling 250,000 dollars in prize money, the BRD Bucharest Open is the first WTA tournament ever held in Romania.