March 13, 2018
Bucharest hosts B9 meeting; The IMF issues annual report on the Romanian economy
România Internațional, 13.03.2018, 13:50
DEFENSE — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor said on Tuesday that the states on NATOs eastern flank share concerns in terms of security risks and threats. He spoke at a meeting of the so-called B9 countries, short for Bucharest Initiative 9. He recalled that the Initiative was launched by Romania in 2014 as a platform to enhance dialog and cooperation between the members. Attending were the defense ministers of the nine former Soviet Bloc countries, NATO officials, and representatives of the US Department of Defense. The agenda includes discussions on military cooperation for consolidating the eastern flank of NATO, risks and threats against NATO in the region, as well as ways to consolidate the Baltic Sea- Black Sea- Adriatic Sea axis. Under analysis will also be enhancing allied interoperability, as well as a consistent approach to consolidating NATO- EU cooperation.
IMF — An IMF mission meets today members of the Budget, Finance, and Banking Committee of the Romanian Parliament for an annual evaluation of the Romanian economy. As of now, Bucharest has no loan contracted with the IMF. Last spring, the IMF issued a report according to which the tax cuts planned by the government for 2017-2020 could bring the budget deficit up to 6% of the GDP by 2022. Implementing the unitary salary law, according to the Fund, would have the greatest cost in terms of deficit rise, 2.6%, which should be backed by reforms in public administration. Planned tax cuts, along with increase in political tensions, could affect consumption and investment, possibly putting pressure on the exchange rate, the report shows.
LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday that Moscow has to explain why a Russian made nerve agent was used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. She said it is highly likely that Russia carried out the attack. In turn, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he was convinced that Moscow was behind the attack. Russia said the accusations were unfounded. Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious in Salisbury on March 4th, and were diagnosed as having been poisoned with a nerve agent, which also affected, to a lesser degree, the British constable who found them. In 2006, Russia condemned Skripal to 13 years in prison, accusing him of espionage on behalf of the UK. 12 years ago, another former Russian spy, Aleksandr Litvinenko, was poisoned in London. Before dying, he said the attack was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, but the Kremlin denied any involvement.
INFLATION — The Romanian National Institute of Statistics put out inflation figures recently. According to official data, the annual rate of inflation in the country went up to 4.7% from 4.3% in January. The increase is believed to be due to increases in the price of food, consumer products and services. Food products went up in price by 3.7% compared to February, while consumer products went up in price by 6.27%. Services went up in cost by 3% compared to last year. Last month, the Romanian National Bank adjusted its forecast for inflation as by the end of the year from 3.2% to 3.5%.
TENNIS — The top female tennis player in the world, Romanian Simona Halep, plays on Tuesday against Chinese player Qiang Wang, 55th seeded, in the eighth finals of the Indian Wells tournament, with 8 million dollars in prize money. Halep won the Indian wells competition in 2015. Also today, in the doubles, another Romanian, Monica Niculescu, pairs up with Andrea Hlavackova for the quarter finals, contending against Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France. In the mens doubles, Romanian Horia Tecau and Dutch player Jean Julien Rojer were pushed out of the competition by the Spanish team Feliciano Lopez- Marc Lopez.
