October 20, 2014 UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Bogdan Matei, 20.10.2014, 12:16
The spokesman for the Social-Democratic Party (the main political group of the government coalition in Bucharest) senator Dan Sova on Monday was indicted by the anti-corruption prosecutors for influence peddling. MP Viorel Hrebenciuc, leader of the Social-Democratic group in the Chamber of Deputies, has also been indicted in the same file. According to prosecutors, Hrebenciuc would have used his influence to make Sova initiate a legislative proposal on granting amnesty and pardon for some corruption charges, promising him the chairmanship of a party. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) had earlier called on the Chamber of Deputies to approve that Hrebenciuc and Ioan Adam, another Social-Democrat MP, be remanded in custody in a file on the illegal return of thousans of hectares of farm and forestland causing more than 300 million euros in prejudices to the state. Also on Monday, former communications minister Gabriel Sandu was questioned by the DNA prosecutors in another corruption case that was dubbed the Microsoft file. Sandu is facing charges of abuse in office, bribe-taking and influence peddling. Between 2008 and 2010, when he was part of the government led by Emil Boc, (from the Democratic-Liberal Party now in opposition) Sandu would have claimed 1.8 million euros to foster a contract on granting Microsoft licenses. Eight other former ministers have been involved in this case for whose investigation the DNA is waiting for the green light from Parliament and the president of Romania. Several business people are also involed with the Microsoft file.
Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov on Monday said that the pro-Russia breakaway region of Transdniester must have the right to self-determination, if the Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet country with a Romanian majority, joins NATO or decides to unite with Romania. In a speech at the ruling United Russia Party, Lavrov said that Moscow would support what he called Transdniester’s right to self-determination. According to Radio Romania correspondent in Moscow, Lavrov has cautioned the European Union on the negative consequences of applying the so-called Ukrainian script in the Republic of Moldova. Transdniester de facto came out of Chisinau’s control in 1992, upon an armed conflict that left hundred of dead and was settled with the intervention of Russian troops for the secessionists.
Taking a floor at a meeting on regional issues staged in Bucharest by the famous British publication The Economist on Monday, the former Prime Ministers of Italy and Greece, Enrico Letta and Georgios Papandreu respectively, underlined the major role Romania can play in South-eastern Europe. In turn, Iulian Groza, deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Moldova said that the neighboring Romania is a natural advocate of Chisinau in the European Union and one of the main contributors to reforms and infrastructure projects. The event, which has brought together experts, business people and officials from many countries, has high on the agenda major regional issues such as energy, infrastructure, the financial-banking system, opportunities stemming from the development of the sectors of telecommunication and IT as well as expert forecasts on the political, administrative and legislative developments in the region.
The world’s fourth tennis player Simona Halep of Romania on Monday secured a 6-2, 6-3 win against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, in her first match of the 2014 WTA Finals in Singapore. In the same competition the world’s number one Serena Williams has outperformed Serbian Ana Ivanovic in two sets, 6-4, 6-4. The tournament with 6.5 million dollars in prize money continues on Tuesday with the first matches in the so-called White Group, when Maria Sarapova of Russia will be playing Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark while Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic is up against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. Halep is the third player to represent Romania in this famous tournament after Virginia Ruzici and Irina Sparlea, the only Romanian players to have made it to WTA top ten.
