September 20, 2016 UPDATE
President Iohannis, dissapointed with Senate's vote that hampers justice
Newsroom, 20.09.2016, 12:15
CORRUPTION – Romanias President Klaus Iohannis is extremely disappointed with the Senates vote concerning the former Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea and warns that the politicians who hamper justice will never gain citizens trust and respect, a spokesperson for the presidency has stated. The head of state believes that some senators have again proven they have never understood that somebodys quilt or innocence cannot be established by a vote in parliament, but in a court of justice, and has reiterated that a rule of law state cannot be above the law. In their turn, prosecutors with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) have said that the senators’ decision blocks further investigations and prevents Gabriel Oprea from answering to justice. On Monday, the Senators rejected the request filed by the National Anti-corruption Directorate for the prosecution of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea, accused of manslaughter. A police officer died last year in a motorcycle accident while part of Opreas official motorcade. When the accident occurred, Oprea was actually heading for a private destination, which did not entitle him to benefit from an official motorcade.
UN SUMMIT – New York is playing host to the first summit for refugees and migrants called by the UN, during the annual UN General Assembly meeting. Romanias delegation at the summit is headed by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu. The leaders attending the summit are analysing the causes of migrant influxes and are trying to find solutions for the future. The Romanian officials are also promoting Romanias candidacy for a new term as non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2020-2021. On the sidelines of the event, Dacian Ciolos will meet with the UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon and the presidents of Finland and Egypt. On Monday, Lazar Comanescu attended an informal meeting with his Bulgarian, Croat and Greek counterparts on European issues and also met with Victoria Nuland, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State. The two officials talked about the bilateral strategic partnership, regional security, migration and means of approaching it.
COUNTRY PROJECT – A committee having the task to draw up a so-called “country project” has been set up in Bucharest, the Presidency has announced. As many as 23 people are part of the committee, of whom ten independent members, one Government representative and two representatives for each parliamentary party. The committee will convene in the forthcoming period for a first meeting chaired by President Klaus Iohannis. According to the Presidency release, the country project represents a vision about how Romania should look like in the medium and long run, taking into account its status as EU member state and its strategic partnership with the US.
BREXIT – Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country is holding the rotating presidency of the EU, has stated that the Union will make Brexit extremely painful, according to the British newspaper “The Independent”. Fico says Brussels will use Brexit to prove to the other member states how important it is to remain part of the EU. The Slovak Prime Minister has also stated that Great Britain will not be allowed to turn the EU workers into second-class workers, while still benefiting from the advantages of the single market. The British PM Theresa May has refused to guarantee the status of the EU citizens in Great Britain, but has stressed the fact that she wishes they stayed, provided the British citizens are respected in the EU member countries.
ECONOMIC FORUM – Romanias capital Bucharest is hosting the 3rd Annual Economic Forum for Central and Eastern Europe. The event has brought together Forbes editors-in-chief from the entire region, but also authorities and business people. This year, talks are focusing on development, innovation and investment, both at macroeconomic level and by business sectors. The forum is intended as a platform for business models and investment directions.
INSURANCE – The Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) announced on Tuesday that it will set, within 30 days after the enforcement of the Government’s emergency ordinance, the maximum level of the mandatory liability insurance for car owners. Last week Romania’s technocratic government passed an emergency ordinance freezing mandatory liability insurance fees for 6 months at a level to be announced by the Financial Supervisory Authority within a month at the most.
TENNIS – Three Romanian tennis players are taking part in the WTA tournament in Seul, with 250,000 USD in prize money. Top seed and defending champion Irina Begu, overpowered South-Korean Su Jeong Hang, 2-0, to advance to the second round of the Korea Open on Tuesday. Begu will play on Thursday against Jana Cepelova of Slovakia. 55th ranked Monica Niculescu and Patricia Tig, number 135, have already qualified for the second round. Monica Niculescu will take on the Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, and Patricia Tig will try to defeat the winner of the match between Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium and the Czech Kristyna Pliskova. Monica Niculescu and Irina Begu may have to play against each other in the quarter finals.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
