April 17, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international events.
România Internațional, 17.04.2014, 14:32
Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov announced on Thursday in Geneva that Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and the United States reached an agreement ’in stages’ to ease tensions in Ukraine. According to Lavrov, the four parties gathered in Geneva will work to establish a broad national dialogue to ensure that peoples rights are protected. The West is accusing Ukraine of supporting the pro-Russian activists who seized several official buildings in the easten part of the country. President Vladimir Putin has again denied the presence of any Russian soldiers or agents in Ukraine and has accused the power in Kiev of favouring force over dialogue. In reaction to the developments in Ukraine, NATO has decided to taughen its air, maritime and ground defence measures in its East European member countries.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry hailed the adoption, on Thursday, of a European Parliament resolution on Russia’s pressure on Eastern Partnership countries and destabilization of eastern Ukraine. The Romanian Foreign Ministry reiterates its support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine and of all Eastern partners, an aspect clearly stipulated in the resolution. The European Parliament has voiced deep concern as regards the worsening situation in Ukraine, and has called on Moscow to immediately suspend its support of the violent separatists and the armed militias headed by Russian special forces and to withdraw its troops from Ukraine’s eastern border. The resolution also stipulates that the EU must be prepared to impose economic sanctions on Russia, at once.
The Government of the Republic of Moldova has criticised Wednesday’s decision of the legislative in Tiraspol to ask for the recognition of the independence of the breakaway region of Transdniester and for its annexation to the Russian Federation. Chisinau authorities describe this move as defying the process of settling the conflict in Transdniester and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. In Bucharest, president Traian Basescu had called on Moscow to stick to the commitments it has made as a member of international bodies and to help stabilize the situation in the region. In President Basescu’s opinion, any discussion about retracing borders is unacceptable. In his turn, Prime Minister Victor Ponta has reiterated the fact that Romania supports Moldova’s territorial integrity. According to Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean, a situation like this calls for the rapid involvement of the Organisation for Security and Coperation in Europe, because initiatives such as those taken by the legislature in Tiraspol can run counter to the fundamental principle of settling a conflict through political channels.
Orthodox and Catholic believers from all over the world, Romania included, commemorate on Maundy Thursday, the last dramatic moments in the life of Jesus Christ. Maundy Thursday is observed during Passion Week and is also referred to as “Holy Thursday”. It commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples on the night before he was crucified. In contrast to joyful Easter celebrations when Christians worship their resurrected Saviour, Maundy Thursday services, are typically more solemn occasions, marked by the shadow of Jesus betrayal. This year, both Orthodox and Catholic believers celebrate Easter on the same day, April the 20th.
