September 6, 2017 UPDATE
Tensions between Romania and Budapest / The US Congress approves sale of HIMARS to Romania
Newsroom, 06.09.2017, 19:56
Tensions – Any educational institution in Romania must observe the Romanian law without exception, as the law is not applied in a discriminatory manner on ethnic, religious or any other criteria, has said the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) after Hungary criticised the closing down of a high school in Targu Mures, in central Romania. According to MAE, any attempt to present the situation at the Roman-Catholic High School in Targu Mures as a violation of the rights of national minorities is false, given that there are numerous examples of educational institutions that confirm the fact that the Romanian state ensures, to the largest extent, the Hungarian minority’s right to education in their native language. Earlier on Wednesday the Hungarian Foreign Ministry summoned Romania’s Ambassador in Budapest, Marius-Gabriel Lazurca. State Secretary with the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Levente Magyar, has announced that the Government in Budapest decided to withdraw indefinitely its support for Romania’s candidacy to various international organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The high school’s activity was suspended due to the fact that, following a final Court decision, the high school no longer exists.
Approval – The US Congress has approved the sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related support and equipment to Romania, the Romanian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday. Romania will purchase 54 such devices to equip three battalions. In the upcoming period talks are to be held on transferring the devices to Romania and also on ways to involve the national defense industry in supplying the equipment needed for the system’ maintenance, the Romanian Foreign Ministry also announced.
Visit — The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, will pay an official visit to Romania on Thursday and Friday. The visit’s agenda includes meetings with Prime Minister Mihai Tudose, Senate Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea. Cretu will take part in a conference dubbed “Dialogue with the citizens”. The European Commissioner will also meet with deputy PM Sevil Shhaideh, Transport Minister Razvan Cuc, Minister Delegate for European Funds Rovana Plumb and Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu.
Report — The report of the Romanian Parliament’s inquiry committee into the 2009 presidential election, adopted on Wednesday, found that in 2009 the presidency and government took concrete action to rig the elections, thus helping Traian Basescu win another mandate. The Liberal MPs, in opposition, withdrew ahead of the vote on the report, arguing that debates were first needed. The Prosecutor’s Office had also opened a case in the same matter, which was eventually closed. Initially, the case had been opened following statements made by the journalist and former political adviser Dan Andronic, who claimed that high-ranking officials had allegedly influenced the result of the 2009 presidential election.
Motion — The National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union have filed a simple motion to the Chamber of Deputies, against the justice minister Tudorel Toader. The signatories to the document say the amendments to the justice laws, initiated by Tudorel Toader, are an attack to the independence of the judiciary and an attempt to cancel the progress made in the field. Vehemently criticised by the opposition, civil society and the media, the draft amending the justice laws stipulate, among others, that the country’s president will no longer nominate the chief prosecutors of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, that the judicial inspection unit will be subordinated to the justice ministry and also provides for increasing the number of years to be promoted as magistrate. The Chamber of Deputies will discuss the motion next Tuesday. In another development, MPs with the National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union have announced that also next Tuesday they will file a simple motion against the Education Minister Liviu Pop whom they consider responsible for a number of problems that affect the start of the new school year.
REP OF MOLDOVA — The pro-western government of the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet country with a Romanian speaking population, on Wednesday approved a decision on the participation of Moldovan troops in a military exercise in neighbouring Ukraine. Prime Minister Pavel Filip has said international institutions will cover 80% of the costs with the participation of Moldovan troops in such exercises. The government made the decision after the pro-Russian Socialist President Igor Dodon, the supreme commander of the armed forces, has forbidden the participation of the Moldovan troops in the manoeuvres in Ukraine, without however explaining his refusal in any way. Earlier, Dodon has opposed to the participation of Moldovan military in an exercise unfolding in Romania.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
