June 16, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
România Internațional, 16.06.2014, 11:41
Romania’s President, Traian Basescu, has taken note of the deepening crisis in eastern Ukraine and has called on the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw all its support for the pro-Russian paramilitary troops and to help stabilise the situation in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Federation supports the escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine by allowing pro-Russian separatists cross the state border, says a release by the Presidency. “The Russian Federation is thus responsible for fuelling the conflict between the paramilitary separatist structures and the Ukrainian army,” the document says.
EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger warned Monday that the bloc may face gas shortages this winter. Russian gas giant Gazprom announced on Monday it would put into place a system of advanced payments for gas delivered to Ukraine, cutting off supplies pending payment. The announcement came after the failure of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the EU, and after the former gave an ultimatum to Kiev for the payment of 1.95 billion dollars owed for past gas deliveries. Gazprom sued Ukraine in the International Arbitration Court in Stockholm for the total payment of 4.5 billion dollars owed. The Russian group announced they would continue full deliveries to European consumers, calling on Ukraine to provide transit. Gazprom, the largest natural gas producer in the world, provides a third of the gas Europe uses, half of which transits Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseni Yatseniuk has said that behind Moscow’s decision to halt gas deliveries to his country is Russia’s plan to destroy Ukraine.
Romanian PM Victor Ponta said on Monday that Romania has enough natural gas reserves to cover its needs for the next six months. He said there should be no problems during this period of time in supplying individual and business customers. Ponta also said that a stable and predictable Romanian political stage is needed as the regional situation, especially the crisis in Ukraine, is worsening, with a risk of Russian gas supplies to Europe getting cut off. PM Ponta also said at a meeting with the vice chairman of the American corporation ExxonMobil, Mark Alberts, that the gas reserves in the Black Sea might have an essential contribution to ensuring Romania’s energy security, and that the Government is determined to support investment in the oil and natural gas sector.
Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors went on several searches at the Ministry of Health and three hospitals in Bucharest. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate, which coordinates these prosecutors, suspects irregularities in public acquisitions of medical equipment, occurring between 2008-2011, using public funds and foreign aid. The estimated losses are gauged at 7 million Euro. The prosecutors also had the assistance of the European Commission anti-fraud office and the Romanian Intelligence Service. Last month, the NAD ran two other investigations, one involving five physicians and one nurse accused of performing illegal operations, and another involving several physicians and other health personnel. The latter were placed under preventive arrest for falsifying prescriptions.
The second edition of the Grand Prix Nova International Radio Theater Festival began in Bucharest on Monday. Up until June 22, over 40 productions from 21 countries will be presented as part of the festival. Associated events include auditions and debates with members of the jury and competitors. The festival is organized by Radio Romania, under the high patronage of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Margaret of Romania.
