March 31, 2014 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news.

România Internațional, 31.03.2014, 18:42

Romanian President Traian Basescu, two former heads of state in the post-communist period, Ion Iliescu and Emil Constantinescu, respectively, as well as several other Romanian high officials, on Monday took part in a ceremony devoted to the celebration of 10 years of NATO membership. On this occasion, NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has congratulated Romania and has said this is an anniversary moment for the entire Alliance. Rasmussen has also stated that NATO continues to be fully committed to protecting its members at a time of serious security challenges in the region.

Romania plans to be the first EU state to ratify the Association Accord with the Republic of Moldova, Romanian foreign minister Titus Corlatean said on Monday in Chisinau. Alongside the Moldovan Foreign Minister, Corlatean co-chaired the meeting of the intergovernmental commission for European integration and signed bilateral cooperation agreements in fields like justice, media and food safety. Minister Corlatean has also met with the Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti and Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, and has reiterated Romania’s support for Moldova’s European integration.

Romania’s former economy minister, the Conservative Codrut Seres, was sentenced on Monday to 4 years in prison, for complicity to abuse of office. Seres had been prosecuted for hiding, between 2005-2006, illegal activities at the state-owned power company Hidroelectrica, under his authority at the time. The financial damage caused to the state stands 165 million dollars. Another 6 members of the former and current board of Hidroelectrica were prosecuted in the same file, also for abuse of office. The decision is not final and can be appealed.

The former captain of Romania’s national football squad, full-back Cristian Chivu, has terminated his contract with the Italian team Internazionale Milan and has put an end to his career as professional football player. The Italian football club thanked Cristian Chivu, in a release, for his loyalty. Aged 33, Chivu won with his Italian team three champion titles, two cups and two super cups of Italy, as well as Champions’ League and the Club World Cup. Chivu also played for Ajax Amsterdam and AS Rome and participated, with Romania’s national team, in the final tournaments of the European Championship in 2000 and 2008.