March 29, 2014
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 29.03.2014, 13:48
The day that Romania joined NATO became a landmark in the national history, as it marked our country’s reaching a new level of stability and security, reads the message conveyed by the Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on the celebration of 10 years since this country joined the North-Atlantic Alliance. Victor Ponta stressed that these ten years have proven that the decision was right, and the current international background is more evidence to that. According to the prime minister, Romania’s capacity as a viable and strong partner in the Euro-Atlantic are had paved its way to the EU integration and towards creating a positive climate for the development of society as a whole. In his message, the head of Government thanks the allies for their support and their openness towards the partnership with the Republic of Moldova.
On Sunday, the Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean will hold talks in Bucharest with his Canadian counterpart John Baird, on topics such as bilateral relations, cooperation within NATO and the current European and international issues. The two will discuss the latest developments in the area neighboring Romania and the security challenges triggered by these developments in the Black Sea area. Minister Corlatean and his Canadian counterpart will travel to Chisinau on Monday. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Canadian official’s visit to Bucharest is proof of the fact that Canada appreciates Romania’s active role in maintaining peace and security in the region, as well as a display of that country’s support for the European prospects of the countries members of the Eastern Partnership, including the Republic of Moldova.
Russia has no intention to and no interest in crossing Ukraine’s border, Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov has stated, according to ITAR-TASS news agency. Lavrov has also said that Russia’s stand with regard to the situation is Ukraine is not far from that of the western countries, which opens the path towards a potential joint initiative. The Russian official will soon meet with the US Secretary of State John Kerry, for talks regarding means of settling the situation in Ukraine. The meeting was set on Friday over the phone by Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin. Obama said a diplomatic solution was possible only if Moscow withdrew its troops and started no action that would violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to the Kremlin, the two discussed the situation in Transdiestr, the pro-Russian breakaway region in the east of the Republic of Moldova. Putin drew attention to what he called the commercial and economic blockade” imposed on the region and stood for a final and peaceful solution to that issue.
The European Commission has demanded explanations regarding the amendments drafted by Bulgarian authorities, under which the South Stream pipeline would be excluded from under the jurisdiction of European legislation, Sofia’s public radio station has announced. Recently, the Energy Committee of the Bulgarian Parliament has adopted a string of amendments under which the South Stream gas pipeline will be treated as interconnector between the Bulgarian and the Russian gas systems. Thus the pipeline would get out of the jurisdiction of the third EU energy package and other providers will no longer have to get access to the gas pipeline. In the autumn of 2013, the European Commissioned noticed that the agreements signed between Russia and several EU members, among which Bulgaria, regarding the building of the pipeline, were in violation of the European legislation, as they did not allow other interested providers, other than Gazprom, to have access to the pipeline meant to bring Russian gas to the centre and south of Europe, without crossing Ukraine.
On Saturday night, between 8.30 and 9.30 pm, dozens of cities and institutions in Romania will keep their lights off to celebrate Earth Hour. 13 Romanian cities run for the title of Earth Hour Capital,. The winner, namely the city that will stand out through activities and events and the most original Earth Hour program will be announced on April 13th. For an hour, all municipalities will cut off power in public institutions, encouraging private institutiosn and citizen to do the same. Earth Hour has been celebrated in Romania since 2009.
On Sunday morning Romania officially passes to the daylight saving time. Thus 3 am will become 4 am and Sunday will be the shortest day of the year, with only 23 hours. The difference between Romania’s official time and GMT will be 3 hours. 70 trains, including 8 international ones, will reach their destinations at different hours. Romania’s neighbors, however, will make the same change, so trains will travel under the same schedules. Romania joined the daylight saving time in 1979.
