March 22, 2015
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 22.03.2015, 12:05
Threatening to use force against a NATO member country is inadmissible, said the Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, following statements made by the Russian ambassador to Copenhagen, Mihail Vanin. The Russian official warned Denmark not to join the US — NATO missile-defence system, seen by Moscow as a threat. If this happens, Vanin said, Danish vessels will become targets for the Russian nuclear missiles. In 2014 Denmark accepted to participate with at least one frigate in NATO’s defence system in Europe, a system that will include ground elements, stationed in Romania and Poland, and also navy installations. On several occasions the US and NATO have explained that the defence systems in Europe do not target Russia; they are just security systems ensuring protection from threats posed by countries that do not abide by the international regulations, such as Iran.
Elections are being held today in the Republic of Moldova, for the office of Governor of the autonomous region of Gagauzia, in the south of the country. The favorite in the race is a candidate supported by the opposition pro-Russia socialists and by Moscow. Polls show that most of the 150 thousand inhabitants of Gagauzia, who are Christian-Orthodox Turkish speakers would like tighter relations with Russia and Turkey and only 5% of them wish a rapprochement with the EU. Their options are therefore totally different from those of the pro-European central government in Chisinau, which last year concluded association and free-trade agreements with Brussels and hopes Moldova will become a member of the Union in 2020.
Demonstrations using dogs and exhibitions of equipment used by the police are some of the events prepared for today, which is Romanian Police Day. Children in particular will enjoy interactive contests offering them the possibility to be police officers for one day. The Romanian modern police was established 193 years ago, on March 25th.
According to the president of Beekeepers’ Association, Ioan Fetea, every year Romania exports 50-60% of its total production of honey. The main markets that Romanian honey goes to are Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries, the countries with the highest rates of honey consumption. Smaller quantities also reach China and the Middle East. Romania produces on average some 20,000 tons of honey per year, ranking fourth in Europe, with a total of 1.5 families of bees last year. 40,000 bee-keepers are officially registered in Romania.
Radio Romania’s Concert Hall this evening plays host to the 2015 Radio Romania Awards Gala. Trophies for 14 categories, among which best song, best debut and best message — will be awarded to last year’s most accomplished pop-rock artists in Romania. A special life-long achievement award will go to the well-known song-writer Horia Moculescu. In his opinion, the award is the result of an excellent, 50-year long collaboration with Radio Romania.
Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, the third best player in the world according to the WTA classification, takes on the 21st ranked Serbian Jelena Jankovic, at the Indian Wells final in the US. Halep went straight to the final stage after her opponent in the semi-finals, number one Serena Williams, pulled out right before the game, because of a knee injury. To Simona Halep this is the 17th final. This year she has already secured two WTA titles, one in Shenzhen and the other one in Dubai.
