April 22, 2014
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Valentin Țigău, 22.04.2014, 12:00
UKRAINE — The situation remains tense in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists show no sign of being willing to accept the agreement signed last week in Geneva. Washington has warned it would impose fresh sanctions on Moscow unless headway is made towards solving the crisis. US vice-president Joe Biden is paying a visit to Kiev to express America’s support for the new Ukrainian authorities. The US official has announced that the presidential elections of May 25 will represent the most important ballot in the history of Ukraine. “Ukraine is confronted with humiliating threats and discouraging issues, but the US is ready to help Ukrainian leaders seize the opportunity of creating a united Ukraine”, the American official added. Addressing Ukrainian MPs, Biden also said the US would help Ukrainian economy, although Ukrainian authorities must fight corruption at home.
CITIZENSHIP — Tiraspol has accused Chisinau of preventing citizens in the breakaway region of Transdniestr from obtaining Russian citizenship. The Foreign Minister in Tiraspol says Transdniestr has proposed Moldova to simplify procedures for renouncing the Moldovan citizenship, a move also backed by Russia’s Ambassador to Chisinau. According to the local press, inhabitants on the left side of the river Niestr need certificates attesting they do not hold any prior citizenship in order to become Russian or Ukrainian citizens.
ENERGY SECURITY — The European Union must ensure energy security in order to secure natural gas supplies, since its dependency on Russian gas imports is one of its vulnerabilities, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Financial Times. Russia currently supplies one third of the EU’s gas and oil reserves. Its military intervention in Ukraine and the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula has sent a shockwave throughout the international community, Reuters reports. Its actions have determined the US and EU leaders to impose new sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s inner circle and to threat to shut down key sectors of the Russian economy unless Moscow deescalates tensions in Ukraine.
EARTH DAY — Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 worldwide, this year the event focusing on the theme “Green Cities”. Earth Day is devoted to raising the awareness of millions of people worldwide towards creating a sustainable and healthy environment by making global communities more eco-friendly. At present over half of the world’s population lives in cities. In over 190 countries public events will be devoted to saving the planet.
FLOODS — The heavy rainfall of the last few days and the ensuing floods have caused the flooding of hundreds of households and tens of kilometres of roads. Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Tuesday visited flooded areas in Teleorman County to assess the damage. Meteorologists maintain a code orange and code yellow alert against floods in Teleorman, Giurgiu and Ialomita counties. It is warm for this time of the year, with highs ranging between 15 and 25 degrees.
ECONOMIC MISSION — A Dutch economic mission is today paying a business visit to Bucharest. The delegation is made up of representatives of over 20 Dutch companies interested in investing in such fields as transports, horticulture or water management. The Netherlands if one of Romania’s main investors. Last year this country’s investments in Romania stood close to 7 billion euros.
ACCIDENT — At least 104 people were killed and another 198 are still missing after a ferry sank off the South Korean southern coast, an official death toll read on Tuesday. The ferry had 476 people onboard, including 352 high school students. South Korean president Park Geun-Hye has offered guarantees that floating cranes will not refloat the ferry as long as it hasn’t undergone a thorough inspection. This is the most serious naval accident in the recent history of South Korea.
