June 13, 2015
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Bogdan Matei, 13.06.2015, 12:00
The Romanian Foreign Ministry welcomes the entry into force, on June 13, of a law on Romanias accepting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Romania thus conveys a clear message that its international relations are based on respect for the international law. The Foreign Ministry voiced its satisfaction with the fact that Romania is now under the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the main judicial body of the UN, at a time when the country celebrates 60 years since it joined the organisation.
Romania commemorates 25 years since the so-called “miners raids of June 13-15, 1990, which ended a large-scale protest against the leftist government that came to power after the fall of the communist dictatorship in December 1989. Against the background of violent incidents in Bucharest, that the Army had already quashed, the then president of the country, Ion Iliescu, claimed the right was planning a coup and urged the people to protect the countrys democratic institutions. The raids of the Jiu Valley area miners, who came to Bucharest and attacked the University building, the offices of opposition parties and independent newspapers, resulted in six deaths, hundreds of people wounded and more than a thousand abusive arrests. Romanias image was severely affected by the violent clashes of June 1990.
The Republic of Moldova is preparing for the local elections scheduled for Sunday. According to analysts, the toughest races are the ones for the City Hall and the Municipal Council of the capital Chisinau. Polls indicate that the incumbent mayor, the Liberal Dorin Chirtoaca, a promoter of stronger ties with neighbouring Romania and with the EU, will compete in the runoff with the former Communist prime minister Zinaida Greceanyi, who is now running on behalf of the pro-Russian Socialists. The elections take place amid growing discontent with the current power, accused of inefficiency and corruption. On Friday the PM Chiril Gaburici announced his resignation, following accusations that he had forged his baccalaureate diploma.
Greek officials and representatives of the European Central Bank, the IMF and the EU resume today in Brussels their negotiations on Greeces debt. Athens is to repay 1.6 billion euros to the IMF by June 30, and its government announced yesterday it was prepared to come up with new reform proposals. On Friday, the Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Greece has no other option but to adopt the tough decisions requested by its creditors, if it is to get new loans and to avoid defaulting on payments.
The US and EU have agreed to introduce new sanctions against Russia in case the situation in Ukraine worsens, CNN reports, quoting American and European officials. In late May Moscow banned the entry into Russia of 89 Europeans who had criticised its policies. The Russian PM, Dmitri Medvedev, said that in case the EU adopted new anti-Russian sanctions, Moscow would respond with countermeasures.
Romanias women handball team is playing today in Cluj against world vice-champions Serbia, in the playoffs for the World Championship due in December. In the first leg of the playoffs, a week ago, the Romanians won 32-26 away from home. On Sunday, in Resita, the national mens handball team is facing Italy, in the preliminaries of the 2018 European Championships. Also in sports, Romanias national football team is playing tonight, in Belfast, against Northern Ireland, in the 2016 European Championship preliminaries. Romania is currently leader of its group, with 13 points, followed by Northern Ireland with 12 points.
