October 20, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Mihai Pelin, 20.10.2013, 13:35
POLITICS – The prime minister of Romania Victor Ponta starts on Monday an official three-day visit to the US. At the White House, he will have talks with vice-president Joe Biden about the strategic political and military partnership of the two countries, as well as about the inclusion of Romania in the visa-waiver programme. The Romanian prime minister will also meet with World Bank head, Jim Yong Kim, with several Congress members and representatives of important American companies operating in Romania, to discuss investments in energy, IT, heavy industry and modern technologies. Ponta’s visit to the US comes after the Romanian defence minister Mircea Duşa met on Friday with officials in the American State Department.
ECONOMY – Starting on Tuesday, the Romanian government intends to sell 15% of the shares of Romgaz, and estimates to get between 300 and 400 million euros. Fifty-seven million shares are up for sale, in the largest such operation so far. As a novelty, the stock will be sold both in the Bucharest and the London stock markets. The stock will cost between 5.4 and 7.1 euro per share, and the government intends to offer discounts for small investors. Romgaz, which will become the first Romanian company listed in the London stock market, is the largest producer and provider of natural gas in Romania and operates over half of the country’s reserves and exploitation facilities.
ELECTIONS – Voters in Luxembourg are invited to polling stations today, in early elections triggered by corruption and secret service scandals in which prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker is also reportedly involved. The coalition government collapsed in July, after the prime minister was accused of having failed to end illegal secret service operations. Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Christian Social Party (CSV), had led Luxembourg’s government since 1995, which makes him the longest-serving democratically elected leader in the world. For 8 years he also headed the Eurogroup, which brings together the European finance ministers. In Luxembourg, the Christian Social Party has led all but one governments since World War 2. CSV and its coalition partners, the Socialists, held 39 of the 60 seats in Parliament.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS – The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who brokered the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, returns next week to Europe to kickstart the peace process, the State Department announced, while denying that negotiations are stuck, France Presse reports. On Monday in Paris Kerry will have a meeting with the Saudi foreign minister, Saud Al-Faisal, and the Arab committee monitoring the peace initiative presented by the Arab League as part of the renewed peace process. The American official will discuss the same topic in Rome with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Kerry will also be received by the head of the Italian government, Enrico Letta. Since the end of July, direct contacts between Israel and the Palestinians have taken place under the US aegis.
