January 7, 2015 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 07.01.2015, 19:41
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that the terrorist attack on the head offices of the French publication ‚Charlie Hebdo’ was a cruel and coward act. The head of state voiced his compassion for the victims’ families and solidarity with the French people. The international community should take a firm stand against terrorist attempts to destroy the rule of law, break human rights and citizen freedoms, said Iohannis. 12 people were killed in the attack perpetrated by 3 men, who managed to run. French President Francois Hollande has stated it was definitely a terrorist attack. Charlie Hebdo’s offices were also attacked back in November 2011, after publishing some caricatures of Prophet Mohamed.
Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has invited the parliamentary parties to consultations on defense funding on January 12th. According to the presidency, the talks will focus on the conclusion of a political agreement on a minimum 2% of the GDP to be allocated to the Defense Ministry in 2017. The Romanian president has called on all leading politicians, both in the ruling coalition and in opposition to assume that goal for at least 10 years. Iohannis believes that the predictability of military spending will thus be ensured, mainly in terms of training and strategic equipping programmes. Romania must be a regional security generator, not only a beneficiary of the alliance system we are part of, the president said.
The National Bank of Romania on Wednesday decided to reduce the monetary policy interest rate from 2.75% to 2.5% as of January 8th. The National Bank also decided to maintain the current level of compulsory minimum reserves applicable to bank liabilities in hard currency and lei at 14% and 10% respectively. In November 2014, the National Bank reduced the annual monetary policy interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 2.75%.
Latvia, one of the first Baltic states to join the EU after the break up of the USSR, has taken over the 6-month presidency of the EU. Its priorities include economic growth and the creation of new jobs in the EU, the management of the effects of the Greek economic crisis and issues related to energy security. In terms of foreign policy, Latvia has announced that its objective is the normalization of relations with Russia. Furthermore, the Latvian presidency recognizes the importance of the EU enlargement process and will try to make progress in the ongoing negotiations with Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey. We’ll revert to the issue later in RN.
Greece’s leaving the Euro zone and a rethinking of its debt are not on the agenda, said on Wednesday the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Pierre Moscovici. “The European union wants Greece in the Eurozone. This is important for the monetary union “ Mosovici said. According to him, elections in Greece will not trigger a crisis in the Eurozone. Funding costs have increased against the background of early elections announced for late January, which could bring to power the radical left, as well as speculations about Greece’s leaving the Euro zone.
German chancellor, Angela Merkel is in London for talks with British Prime Minister, David Cameron on the latter’s plan to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU, FP reports. Mrs. Merkel’s visit comes four months before the parliamentary elections in Great Britain. If he wins the elections, Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on the country’s EU membership, by the end of 2017. The two officials will also address bilateral issues and issues pertaining to European policies and to the preparation for the G7 summit scheduled in Bavaria, southern Germany on June 7th and 8th.
Number 3 seed in the world standings, Romanian Simona Halep has qualified for the quarter finals of the WTA tournament in Shenzhen, China with prize money of 500,000 dollars. In the eighth finals, Halep, who is the favourite of the tournament, defeated 584-seeded Russian Natalia Vihlianteva. Halep already has got a cheque of 8,934 dollars and 60 WTA points. In the quarter finals, she will meet Serbian Aleksandra Krunici, who beat Slovak Anna Schmiedlova.
