March 31, 2018
Romanian Intelligence Service declassifies cooperation document, Romanian diplomat expelled from Russia
Newsroom, 31.03.2018, 13:43
Declassification — On Thursday the Romanian Intelligence Service declassified and made public a 2009 agreement concluded with the General Prosecutor’s Office. The document was signed by the then Prosecutor General Laura Codruta Kovesi, who is currently the head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and her assistant, on the one hand, and the then head of the Romanian Intelligence Service George Maior and his first deputy. Based on this cooperation agreement, for 7 years the Romanian Intelligence Service granted assistance to prosecutors, and joint operative teams were set up to document certain cases. The current political class has hailed the declassification of this agreement, claiming that the state institutions concluded abnormal agreements that allowed the intelligence services to interfere in the activity of the judicial police. The opposition, in turn, has said that, on behalf of the transparency principle, the publication of the cooperation agreement was a normal gesture in a democratic state.
Diplomacy — The Romanian Foreign Ministry confirmed the expulsion of a Romanian diplomat from Russia after Romania had previously declared a Russian diplomat ‘a persona non grata’. Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu explained that Bucharest’s decision was a gesture of solidarity with London, following the serious incidents that occurred on the British territory. After the Russian Embassy in Romania labeled the expulsion of the Russian diplomat as ‘a manifestation of collective political madness’ Teodor Melescanu retorted by saying that political madness was the nerve agent attack in the English city of Salisbury, on March 4, against a former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. In order to send Moscow a strong signal that it cannot defy the international legislation on chemical weapons, as many as 150 Russian diplomats from North America and Europe to Australia have been expelled in sign of solidarity with Great Britain.
Religious celebrations — Roman Catholic and Protestant believers from Romania and the world over are celebrating Easter on Sunday. This year Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers celebrate Easter one week later, so this Sunday they will mark Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. To mark this religious celebration Bucharest and other cities across Romania will host religious processions. From March 30 until April 7 Jews will be celebrating the festival of Passover when the recollect how Moses led the Jews out of Egypt following centuries of slavery.
Gendarmerie — This weekend many cities of Romania will be hosting manifestations anticipating the anniversary of 168 years since the setting up of the Romanian Gendarmerie. There will be various events for both kids and adults who will be able to try the gendarmes’ equipment used in missions. In Bucharest people are invited to participate in the Gendarmerie Race to take place on a distance of 5 kilometers. Gendarmerie Day is marked each year on April 3. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)
