The discussions between a joint delegation of Romania\u2019s international lenders and the local authorities have been constructive, although a series of issues remain pending, an IMF communiqu\u00e9 shows. High on the agenda was the government\u2019s intention to cut contributions to social security budget by 5%. The measure didn\u2019t get the lenders\u2019 approval but the accord Romania has signed with the IMF, the World Bank and the European Commission remains operational, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said. The Romanian official has also announced the government\u2019s intention to reduce contributions to health insurance funds as of October the 1st and has given assurances that Romania will respect all the macroeconomic targets agreed upon with international lenders.<\/p>\n
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The European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso has arrived in Azerbaijan the last leg of a tour of the Eastern Partnership states, which also includes the Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet country with a Romanian speaking majority, and Georgia. We recall the two countries, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, are to sign on June 27th the association and free trade agreements with the European Union, which they ratified at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November. In Chisinau, president Barroso signed four agreements under which the Republic of Moldova will benefit from 50 million euros in financial assistance in order to implement reforms. Jose Manuel Barroso is at his third mandate as head of the European Commission, which is due to end this year on October 31st.<\/p>\n
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Tension persists in Ukraine, particularly in Mariupol, a port-city in the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, where government troops are engaged in clashes with a view to cleaning administrative buildings of separatists. The inhabitants of Slovyansk, a pro-Russian fiefdom in the region, are forced to endure repeated power cuts and drinking water shortages. Yesterday in a phone call, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko presented Russian leader Vladimir Putin with his peace plan for the pro-Russian east and denounced an incident in which Russian tanks allegedly entered Ukraine, France Press reports. One of the plan\u2019s key-points is a humanitarian corridor requested by Moscow, which would allow civilians to leave the conflict area. Washington announced that it would check the information according to which Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine and if confirmed, the USA would consider it an escalation of the conflict.<\/p>\n
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Sunni extremists are closing in on Iraqi capital Baghdad in an attempt to enlarge the territories they control. In a blitzkrieg operation Jihadist rebels have made it to northeastern Iraq, where they have gained control over Fallujah and part of Ramadi, in a bid to found an Islamic state in that region. Although numerically superior and better equipped government troops are backing down prompting the government to employ Shia militias, a move that could spark a civil war in Iraq. The Khurds have also capitalized on the situation and got control over some abandoned positions in the oil-rich area of Kirkuk, which they believe should become part of their autonomous region. US president Barack Obama said he was considering several alternatives including that of air strikes in order to help the Iraqi government cope with the situation.<\/p>\n
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Romanian women\u2019s saber team on Thursday walked away with gold from the European fencing championship held in Strasbourg, France, following the finals they won against Russia, 38-34. The Romanian side made up of Ana-Maria Branza, Simona Pop, Maria Udrea and Simona Gherman, who also got bronze in the individual event, have defeated Ukraine in the quarters and Italy in the semis. Romania lost the finals of last year\u2019s championship in Zagreb to Estonia. <\/p>\n
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