29 April, 2015

News and Current Affairs from Romania

Ştefan Stoica, 29.04.2015, 11:59

Romanian PM Victor Ponta between 30 April- 5 May goes on a tour of Arab countries in the Gulf, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuweit and the United Arab Emirates, aiming to strengthen dialog and to enhance trade relations. Investment and business opportunities are high on the agenda, especially in construction, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, energy, IT, tourism and health. A number of agreements and bilateral protocols will be signed in foreign relations, education and research, tourism, health, air transportation, as well as oil and gas.

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is today on a working visit to Warsaw to meet his Polish counterpart, Grzegorz Schetyna. The ministry informs that the main aim of the visit is consolidating the political and security dialog between Romania and Poland, meant to strengthen and diversify the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, covering both regional and European issues. The agenda covers topics of current interest on the European agenda, including preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, the situation in Ukraine, the NATO agenda, Moldova’s European aspirations, and energy security.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry informs that four Romanian sailors are are among those manning the Danish cargo ship seized by the Iranian Navy in the Persian Gulf. According to officials, the ship’s owner confirmed that the entire crew is safe, and will most likely continue on their way when the situation is resolved. The ship was seized on Tuesday by the Iranian navy because the company it services allegedly failed to make good on past debt, according to an Iranian official. Iranian state television informs that the 24 strong crew, captained by a Bulgarian officer, has sailors from Bulgaria, Myanmar, Romania and the UK.

Nepal is mourning after Saturday’s catastrophic earthquake, which, according to the latest count, left at least 5,000 dead and 10,000 injured. The authorities admit that they are unable to organize proper rescue operations and to help the afflicted due to lack of equipment and specialized personnel, and are calling for international aid. The UN said that eight million have been affected by the tremor, while a million and a half people are in urgent need of water, food and tents, as many homes have been leveled. Many countries and international organizations have mobilize to provide help in Nepal. At the same time, all the climbers stuck on the Everest, many affected by avalanches, have been rescued.

Police in Baltimore deployed tear gas and used pepper spray to disperse rioters who violated the night curfew imposed after violent protests broke out on Monday. They followed the funeral of an African American youth, who died in police custody of yet unknown causes. Demonstrators gathered last night threw stones at the police, prompting the police to retaliate. The National Guard has been called in, and 2,000 of its members are assisting 1,000 police on the city’s streets. Religious leaders have called on protesters to abstain from violence. President Obama condemned the violent protesters, while admitting there is a crisis in the relationship between police and minority communities.

Six Romanians were among the 156 people safely evacuated from a burning ferry close to the Spanish Mediterranean coast, the Romanian Foreign Ministry informs. Passengers came from at least 12 countries. The ferry carries up to 1,000 passengers and 150 vehicles.

The Romanian government discusses today the possibility of lending a 40 million Euro loan for the Hunedoara Energy Complex in the south west of the country, a loan approved by the European Commission. The loan, however, in the government’s proposal, would separate mines in the Jiu Valley basin and the two thermal power plants they supply with coal. According to unions, this measure would lead to bankruptcy. At the same time, they clain that the administration does not have enough funds to cover wages for the 6,000 employees. Union leaders warn that widespread miner protests are to be expected if the miners’ jobs are threatened.