February 23, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 23.02.2014, 18:10
The president of the Ukrainian Parliament Olexandr Turcinov will be the interim president of Ukraine, replacing Viktor Ianukovych who was removed from office on Saturday, shows a resolution voted on Sunday by the Ukrainian MPs. Early presidential elections were scheduled for May 25th. Olexandr Turcinov called on the Ukrainian MPs to form a new parliamentary majority by Tuesday and a national union government. On Saturday MPs voted for the re-enforcement of the 2004 Constitution and for the release from prison of the former PM Iulia Timoshenko, a fierce opponent of Ianukovych. The EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, urged the Ukrainian political leaders to act responsibly in order to keep the country’s territorial integrity and unity. The US also called on the two sides involved in the Ukrainian conflict to put an end to violence and focus on peaceful and democratic dialogue. Protests in Ukraine started in early November 2013 after the Ianukovych regime refused to sign the country’s association agreement with the EU. The protests turned into street clashes that resulted in scores of dead and hundreds of wounded.
Romania’s President, Traian Basescu, on Sunday called on the Ukrainian political leaders to be calm and open for dialogue in order to be able to reach a consensus. The Romanian president has given assurances that Romania, as a neighbor state and an EU and NATO member, supports the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The full observance of fundamental human rights and of democratic values should govern the developments in Ukraine in the coming period, the communiqué issued by the Romanian presidency also shows.
The situation in the ruling Social Liberal Union in Romania could be clarified on Monday when talks on a government reshuffle will resume. The Liberal co-president of the Union, Crin Antonescu, said Sunday to a private TV station that, if early next week the proposals of the Liberals were not approved, the Liberal Party would withdraw its ministers from the government. He added that the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party are now divided by differing opinions on the independence of the judiciary and the implementation of rightist economic measures meant to boost the private environment. Previously, the president of the Social Democratic Party, PM Victor Ponta, had launched an appeal to moderation and dialogue for saving the Social Liberal Union and expressed hope that in the coming days they would be able to work out solutions for continuing the current government formula.
Romania’s national football team on Sunday found out its adversaries in the qualifying groups of the European Football Championship to be held in France in 2016. Following the qualifying draw that took place on Sunday February 23rd in Nice, Romania, included in Pot 3, will play in Group F against Greece, Hungary, Finland, Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands. To be sure of qualification in the Euro 2016 Romania needs to occupy one of the first places in its group. The Romanian footballers have participated in 4 finals of the European football championships (in 1984, 1996, 2000, 2008), their best performance being qualification in the quarterfinals of the 2000 championship.
The Winter Olympic Games held in Sochi, Russia, came to an end on Sunday. In a medals ranking, first comes Russia followed by Norway and Canada. Romania has not managed any notable performance. In the history of its participation in the Winter Olympic Games, Romania has managed to win one single medal: bronze in the two-man bobsled competition in 1960s.
