April 10, 2014 UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Roxana Vasile, 10.04.2014, 20:18
Romania, which is very concerned about the latest developments in the neighboring Ukraine, is waiting for a redeployment of NATO’s maritime, air and land capabilities towards Eastern Europe, Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean told France Press on Thursday. According to him, the Black Sea zone has to be among the key priorities of NATO and the European Union. The head of the Romanian diplomacy has insisted that after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a blatant violation of international law — the position of the Allies and of the Union has to be a very firm one in order to eliminate any risk of contagion in the region.
As of Thursday until April 17th, six US F-16 fighters will be participating in a joint drill with the Romanian Air Force due to take place in central Romania. Over 200 Romanian soldiers, pilots and technical personnel will be joined by 250 military from the US Air Force for this exercise, whose main aim is to develop cooperation between armies of NATO members and to exercise techniques, strategies and procedures with the American partner. In another move, US warship Donald Cook is already in the Black Sea, as part of the US efforts of supporting its East-European allies, concerned after the Russian buildup at the border with Ukraine, CNN reports. The destroyer is fitted with guided missiles and will take part in exercises and will be visiting ports on the Black Sea.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has sent a letter to leaders from 18 countries, including Romania and the Republic of Moldova on the economic risks related to the Ukrianian crisis — RIA Novosti agency has announced. According to the Kremlin leader, the situation of the Ukrainian debt for natural gas supplied by Russian giant Gazprom might have an impact on the gas conveyance to EU countries, which are supplied with gas through pipelines that are transiting Ukraine. Russia proposed that a solution to Ukraine’s economic problems be found on equal terms with the EU. In Prague, NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has recommended that in order to reestablish dialogue, Russia start pulling out its troops massed along the borders with Ukraine. Rasmussen has cautioned that any new military action by Russia will have severe consequences and attract tough economic santions. Tension mounted in eastern Ukraine after on Sunday pro-Russian protesters had taken over official buildings in two Russian-speaking cities in that country.
The National Anti-Corruption Directorate’s general Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi on Thursday asked the Senate to give its consent for Social Democrat Senator Ovidiu Marius Isaila to be remanded in custody. Isaila is currently under investigation for influence peddling and abetting forgery in private signed documents. On Wednesday the National Anti-Corruption Directorate prosecutors ruled that the suspended President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mikhail Vlasov should be prosecuted while being remanded in custody for influence peddling. In another move, Romania’s Supreme Court has ruled that a non-custodial investigation should take place in the case of the mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, currently facing bribe-taking accusations. Mazare will be placed under judicial control. A similar decision has been taken in the case of Israeli businessman Avraham Morgenstern, also under investigation in the same file, facing bribe-giving accusations. According to Anti-Corruption prosecutors, in 2011 Radu Mazare took 175,000 Euro from Morgenstern, so that the latter’s firm could win the open tender for building a housing project district in Constanta.
