May 12, 2014 UPDATE
A look at some of the main stories in Romania today.
România Internațional, 12.05.2014, 12:00
Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday received Deputy Director of Central Intelligence Agency Avril D. Haines. Talks focused on the situation in the region and the good cooperation existing between the Romanian and American security services. The Romanian president announced that US Vice President Joe Biden and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel would soon be visiting Romania. The visits come against the background of the conflict in Ukraine and efforts by the US and NATO to assure their allies in Central and Eastern Europe that Washington is making a common front in the face of mounting Russian pressure.
EU foreign ministers have expanded the sanctions imposed on Russia following the annexation of Crimea, adding 13 new names to the list of 48 Russian and pro-Russian officials whose assets have been frozen and who are banned from entering the European Union. The assets of two Crimean companies have also been frozen. Romania was represented in Brussels by its foreign minister Titus Corlatean. In Moscow, the Kremlin called on Ukraine to respect the results of a referendum held by pro-Russian militants in various areas in the east of the country. The representatives of the pro-Russian separatists in Lugansk, in south-eastern Ukraine, say they are not taking part in the presidential elections held in Ukraine on the 25th of May and have called on the United Nations to recognise the independence of their region. They have already proclaimed their win in Sunday’s referendum, when they say around 90% of the voters stood for independence. The voting took place amid tensions in the region, with Ukrainian government forces carrying out a military operation against the separatists. The Ukrainian authorities, as well as Brussels and Washington, have denounced the referendum.
Consumer prices in Romania went up by 0.27% in April compared to the previous month, and by 1.21% as opposed to April 2013, the National Institute for Statistics reports. In the first four months of the year, the monthly inflation rate stood at 0.4%, as compared to 0.5% in the same period last year. The National Bank of Romania expects the inflation rate to drop from 3.5% to 3.3% by the end of the year.
Employees of the Romania Postal Services have scheduled a token strike for Tuesday over poor work conditions and bad management. This action is part of a string of protests initiated last week. On Sunday, 4,000 postal workers picketed the government building, announcing future action as well. The management of the Postal Service, which failed to privatise the institution last year, says the market for paper mail is plummeting, which made it necessary to reduce the number of staff. By late March, the institution had accrued debts to the state budget of over 200 million lei, the equivalent of around 45 million euros.
The Minister delegate for Romanians Abroad, Bogdan Stanoevici had talks in Jerusalem with Immigration and Integration Minister Sofa Landver about a number of projects aimed at immigrants in Israel. They looked at ways to help immigrants integrate while preserving their identity. The two discussed future exchanges in education between Romanian and Israeli universities. The Romanian officials also met Natan Sharansky, the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel. The talks emphasised the importance of better relations between the two countries, especially in social matters. Stanoevici also met with representatives of HOR, the oldest and largest organisation of Romanian-born Israelis. The representatives of the 30 branches of the organisation pointed out various issues facing its members, especially Holocaust survivors. Around 400,000 Romanian Jews and their descendants live in Israel.
