February 20, 2014
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Leyla Cheamil, 20.02.2014, 12:14
Romania’s Defense Minister Mircea Dusa in Athens on Thursday and Friday will be taking part in the informal reunion of his counterparts form EU member states. High on the meeting’s agenda are the EU-UN strategic partnership, as well as European Defense Agency’s trends of action after the European Council meeting held in December 2013. Working session talks will be focusing on the ongoing military operations, under the aegis of the Common Defense and Security Policy.
Romania’s Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean in Brussels today will be taking part in the extraordinary meeting of EU member states’ foreign ministers, focusing on the recent developments in Ukraine. According to a Romanian Foreign Ministry press release Corlatean will reiterate the deep concern over the most recent developments in Kiev, at once firmly condemning the ongoing violent actions. Previously, Corlatean advised the Romanians traveling to neighboring Ukraine to avoid the areas where protest rallies are in full swing, and to refrain from taking part in such actions. On Wednesday, Romania’s president Traian Basescu stated that destabilizing Ukraine might affect the entire Europe. Basescu pleaded for imposing individual sanctions on those who were responsible for the excessive use of force in Kiev, also stating that imposing economic sanctions at this stage could be inappropriate, since Ukraine is already in a dire economic condition. Romania’s President went on to say that, if the case, Romania could take over 3,500 refugees from Ukraine. According to analysts, the violent clashes will affect the business environment in Ukraine, since investors have pulled out in large numbers from that country. The region’s currencies have also been affected, among which the Romanian Leu, which has been slightly devalued against the Euro.
Romanian tennis player Sorana Carstea, a WTA 27th-seed today will be taking on the WTA 11th-seed Danish Caroline Wozniacki, in the quarterfinals of the Dubai tournament, with prize money standing at 2 million Dollars. On Wednesday Carstea defeated the tournament’s favorite number 4, the Italian Sara Erani, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Sorana Carstea is Romania’s only representative in the Dubai tournament, since after round 1 Simona Halep dropped out, because of health problems.
The Socialists could become the European Parliament’s most important political group, following elections in May, as they are narrowly ahead of center-right People’s Party — according to a survey published by VoteWatch. Out of a total number of 792 deputies, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) might have an increased number of seats, from 194 in the present legislature, to 221. The European People’s Party could have only 220 seats, as compared to the 274 in the present. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) is still placed the third, yet the polls have revealed growing scores for the far-left and far-right parties, as well as for the Euro skeptic radical political groups. The result of the May elections vote is extremely important, since the political group holding the greatest number of seats in the European Parliament usually designates the president of the European Parliament. According to the survey, in Romania, a country which is entitled to have 32 Euro-deputies, the Social Democratic Party, which is affiliated to the S&D, could have 13 seats, the National Liberal Party, which is affiliated to ALDE will have 10, while the Liberal Democrats and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarian, both affiliated to the European People’s Party, will have 9 seats.
TV channels worldwide have broadcast footage of dead bodies lying in Kiev city center, since this morning violent clashed flared up again, between protesters and the police. Contradictory sources stated the death toll stood at between 25 and 45 people, also revealing that both sides used firearms. Protesters once again occupied the Independence Square, the protests’ hotspot riot police won back this past Tuesday. The number of returning protesters is growing, with the support of people coming from outside the capital. The authorities have ordered the emergency evacuation of Government and Parliament buildings, for security reasons. France, Germany and Poland’s Foreign Ministers have arrived in Kiev on a mediating mission and had a meeting with Ukraine’s President, Viktor Ianukovici. Part of Ukraine’s delegation to the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi announced they would make an early return to their country. The unexpected episode occurred since Ianukovici had announced today would be a national day of mourning, in memory of the people who died in Tuesday night’s similar clashes.
