September 17, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Ştefan Stoica, 17.09.2013, 12:00
Romanian Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, presented in Parliament on Tuesday the letter of intent for a new precautionary loan agreement with the European Commission, IMF and the World Bank. The loan will be valid two years and will amount to 4 billion euros. The Government has undertaken to the IMF that it will sell most of the state-owned companies subordinated to the Economy Ministry. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has recently said that the only tax increases agreed on with the IMF under the new deal have to do with luxury products, to offset the lower VAT on bread, and the payment of healthcare contributions from the rental incomes of individuals. The document is to be endorsed by the IMF board in September.
The leaders of the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament on Tuesday discussed the establishment of a special commission to analyse the bill passed by the Government as regards the gold mining project in Roşia Montană. Over the past few days tens of thousands of people protested against the project in Bucharest and elsewhere in the country. The protesters argue that the cyanide-based mining process will have a negative impact on the environment, whereas the supporters of the project, particularly the locals, claim the mining works will create new jobs and solve the economic and social problems in the area.
Romania has expressed deep regrets for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, on a relatively large scale, including on civilians, as described in a UN report on the August 21st attack outside Damascus. The Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly condemns the use of chemical weapons, which it sees as unacceptable. The Foreign Ministry has also expressed hopes that a resolution on the dismantling of the chemical arsenal of the Syrian regime will be adopted as soon as possible by the UN Security Council. According to Bucharest, this resolution should stipulate constraining measures, in case Damascus does not see through its commitments.
On Tuesday, the French actress Brigitte Bardot asked for the support of European Commission President Jose Manuel Baroso, following the adoption of the law under which stray dogs can be euthanased in Romania. France Presse reports that the actress implored the EU official to take action against what she called slaughter. According to the law recently passed in Romania, dogs that do not have owners and are not claimed within 14 days since they are taken from the streets, can be euthanised. The law must be promulgated by the president of the country before coming into force.
