July 19, 2015

A roundup of domestic and international news

Corina Cristea, 19.07.2015, 12:02

Romanian
aviation is ready to successfully deal with the challenges pertaining to
Romania’s status as a member of NATO and the EU, and the results obtained so
far have been unanimously appreciated and acknowledged, reads a message
conveyed by president Klaus Iohannis on Romanian Aviation and Air Force’s Day.
The Romanian head of state has hailed the special contribution of the Romanian Air Force, which has had the
necessary capability to manage the Romanian troops in the theater of operations
in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Western Balkans. Several events and ceremonies
have been organized these days to mark Aviation Day, which is celebrated every
year on Saint Elijah’s day, on July 20. Today, the Defense Minister Mircea Dusa
and other Romanian officials have laid wreaths in memory of military and
civilian hero aviators, and 21 planes flew above the capital. Also in
Bucharest, it’s Open Gates Day at the National Museum of Romanian Aviation. The
air base in Campia Turzii, in Cluj county, central Romania, which, starting
next year, will host the first squadron of F16 fighter planes, after the NATO
model, has also organized demonstrative flights with both military and civilian
planes.

A Romanian
infantry brigade team is participating in the neighboring Republic of Moldova,
at the training center in Balti, in the multi-national exercise ‘JOINT EFFORT
2015′. Some 800 soldiers from Georgia, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Romania
and the US are taking part in this exercises, aimed at increasing the
participants’ level of
interoperability, planning and joint action. Also, 70 members of the Romanian
Ground Forces are participating in a multinational exercise in Ukraine. Some 1
thousand 800 soldiers from 18 countries members of NATO and of the Partnership
for Peace are training for defensive and peace keeping operations. In another
development, the Sea Shield multi-national exercise is due to start in the
Black Sea on Monday, organized by the Romanian Naval Forces and focusing on
fighting techniques deployed against submarines. Participating will be 2000
soldiers from 7 NATO countries – Bulgaria, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Romania, the US, Turkey – and also Ukraine.

Banks in Greece
will resume activity on Monday, after three weeks of shut-down. According to
the Radio Romania correspondent, the 60 Euro per day withdrawal cap stays
valid, and transfers abroad are still banned, except for some limited amounts
for students and people on medical treatment.
Greece has got from the EU 7
billion Euro worth of emergency funding, and now negotiations are due to start
on the third aid program, worth 86 billion Euros. In exchange for this money,
Greece has accepted major reforms in the pensions system, a higher VAT and a
tighter control of public expenditure. Starting Monday, Greece will have to
reimburse the European Central Banks over 4 billion Euros. The tax increase
approved by Parliament comes into force also on Monday.

The US Defense
Secretary, Ashton Carter, has today started a tour of the Middle East, aimed at
dissipating fear triggered by the recent accord that the big powers have
concluded with Iran. The Prime Minister of Israel, which is the tour’s first
leg, has termed the document as a historic mistake, as, in his opinion, Iran
will eventually get nuclear weapons and will keep funding terrorism with the
money obtained once international sanctions are lifted. According to analysts
quoted by the Radio Romania correspondent, now Israel needs sophisticated
equipment to be able to maintain its military supremacy in the region.

The
Romanian women’s epee team, made up of Ana Maria Branza, Simona Gherman, Simona
Pop and Loredana Dinu, has won silver at the World Fencing Championships in
Moscow, after it was defeated by China in the finals, 45 – 36. In the first
round, Romania defeated Turkey, then Switzerland, Hungary and Ukraine in the
semifinals. Also, Romania has got one bronze medal in the men’s competition,
won by Tiberiu Dolniceanu in the single saber event, and this secures Romania
its qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Slovakia is one
point ahead of Romania in the Davis Cup competition hosted by the Romanian
Black Sea Coast resort of Mamaia. On Saturday the Romanian pair Horia Tecau/ Florin Mergea was defeated by
the Slovaks Andrei Martin/Igor Zelenay in three sets. On Friday, after the
first simple games, there was a draw, 1-1. Andrian Ungur lost to the Slovak
Martin Klizan, while Marius Copil defeated Norbert Gombos. Today Marius Copil will be taking on Martin
Klizan, and Adrian Ungur will face Norbert Gombos. The winner of the Romania -
Slovakia game will play for qualification to the Davis Cup World Group.