March 23, 2017 UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 23.03.2017, 20:36
ATTACK Romanian president Klaus Iohannis on Thursday had a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the terror attack in London. Iohannis has firmly condemned the attack also voicing solidarity with the United Kingdom. The attack has been claimed by the Islamic State. Prime Minister Theresa May has told the British MPs: “We will never waver in the face of terrorism.” According to British police sources the perpetrator is 52 years old Khalid Masood, a British citizen who was convicted in the past but not for terrorism. 8 people from the entourage of the attacker have been detained. We recall that three people, including a policeman, have been killed when Masood rammed a crowd of pedestrians with his car, subsequently trying to break into Parliament. Out of all the 30 people wounded, seven are in a critical condition including a Romanian. The international community has condemned the attack in London.
ARREST A man was arrested on Thursday after trying to drive his car into pedestrians in the Belgian city of Antwerp, the police announced quoted by France Press. According to the Belgian prosecutors, the perpetrator is a French citizen residing in France and in the trunk of his car police found a rifle, knives and a container with unknown substances. Police and army units have been deployed in the city following the incident.
SUMMIT The governments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet country with a Romanian speaking majority held talks in Piatra Neamt northeastern Romania in their third joint session. Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said that Romania would continue to support Chishinau in its process of European integration and that Romania wants to get involved in the process of privatisation of some state companies in the neighboring Republic of Moldova. His Moldovan counterpart, pro-West Pavel Filip has given assurances the Republic of Moldova is looking West and will continue to apply the association agreement with the EU and the reforms started. The talks between the two officials took place after last week, the country’s president Igor Dodon reiterated in Moscow his intention to denounce the association and free trade agreements with the EU and deepen the relations with the Eurasian Economic Union as well as the federalization of the Republic of Moldova as a solution to peace in the pro-Russia breakaway region of Transdniester.
RAILROADS In Romania, railroad traffic returns to normal gradually after Wednesdays spontaneous protests in several railroad stations around the country causing delays that in places were hours long. On Thursday, the national railroad management company announced that their employees would get raises worth 17% and would continue to receive benefits at their present level, as per their agreement with trade unions. The agreement is in force until April 20th, ensuring employees get due benefits until the new branch labor contract is negotiated. On Wednesday, employees of the infrastructure branch of the national railroad administration were provided with similar promises.
