22 June, 2014 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

România Internațional, 22.06.2014, 19:16

In a recent communiqué Romanian President Traian Basescu denies any involvement in the case in which his brother is being investigated for corruption and stresses he has received neither money nor goods from Sandu Anghel’s family, in exchange for his intervention to change Anghel’s sentence. Mircea Basescu, the president’s brother, is in custody for 30 days, accused of influence peddling. According to prosecutors, he allegedly got 250 thousand Euros to help Sandu Anghel get a smaller punishment for attempted murder and used his status as member of the president’s family to render more credible the statements regarding his influence over the magistrates.

A simple motion filed by the center-right wing opposition in Romania will be debated in plenary Senate session on Monday. Under the motion, the National Liberal Party and the Liberal Democratic Party call for the resignation of the Minister for European Funds, Eugen Teodoroivic, and also for a coherent government policy with regard to the absorption of European funds. Also, the initiators of the motion criticize the postponement of the signing of the Partnership Agreement on EU funding for the 2014-2020 timeframe.

Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean met in Israel on Sunday with his counterpart Avigdor Lieberman. On the occasion the two officials signed a protocol of cultural, educational and scientific collaboration between the governments of Romania and Israel for the 2014-2017 period, as well as the cooperation protocol between the two countries’ foreign ministries. Titus Corlatean and Avigdor Lieberman highlighted the very good cooperation at sectoral level, in particular in economy, investments, research and development, tourism and education. Also the Romanian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of carrying on direct negotiation with a view to reaching a solution that can be accepted by both Israelis and Palestinians. The two officials also analyzed the recent developments in Ukraine and Moldova’s European integration efforts, as well as the relationship between Israel and the EU.

On Sunday in Tulcea, in the south-east, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta reiterated Bucharest’s support for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. He attended alongside his counterparts from the Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, the Check Republic and Serbia a meeting focusing on current European and regional issues, in particular the developments in the eastern neighbourhood. We recall that on the 27th of June the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine will sign the association and free trade agreements with the EU.

Trade unionists from the healthcare sector in Romania have announced they will continue to protest on Monday, by picketing several ministers, including the Finance one. Trade union leaders have stated for Radio Romania that the authorities have found no solutions for their main claim, namely a 10% salary rise. On the other hand, they’ve received firm promises that the claims concerning the status of Public Health Directorates, health-care in school or vacant positions in the sector will be solved.

Bucharest authorities have taken special measures to bring back home the Romanian citizens stranded in the resort of Albena, on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Romanian Tourism Minister Florin Jianu, who went to Bulgaria on Saturday, has today stated that a bus and several platforms will be sent to the neighboring country to help bring the Romanian citizens and their vehicles back to the country. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has stated that there are no Romanians among the 13 victims of the flooding that hit Bulgaria a few days ago.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked 3rd in the WTA classification, will play against Brasilian Teliana Pereira in the first round of the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament, scheduled to start on Monday. Following the draw, Simona, aged 22, won’t face anyone ranked inside the top 90 until round three. 29th seeded Sorana Carstea will play against the American Victoria Duval, and Alexandra Cadantu will face the Italian Camila Giorgi. In the men’s competition, Victor Hanescu’s first opponent at Wimbledon will be the Check Toma Berdych.