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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW 25-31/08/08 |
| (2008-08-30) |
| Last updated: 2008-09-01 14:34 EET |
Events in the Caucausus are unfolding quite rapidly. After the Russian military incursion into the breakaway region of South Osetia, there followed another quite surprising action by Moscow. On Tuesday, the Kremlin leader, Dmitri Medvedev signed the decree on the recognition of Abhazia’s and South Osetia’s independence. The decision raised criticism and concern on the part of western chancelleries. French Foreign Ministry Bernard Kouchner, whose country is holding the rotating presidency of the EU, voiced concern that Georgia might be followed by other ex-Soviet countries, such as the Ukraine or the Republic of Moldova, both having to deal with pro-Russian separatism, in Crimea and Transdiestr respectively. Romania was quick to react, especially due to its common borders with Moldova and the Ukraine. The Romanian Foreign Ministry said that acknowledging Abhazia’s and South Osetia’s independence was ‘a regrettable, unilateral act, with no legal grounding’, very much likely to impact even more on the situation in the area. Romania, as EU and NATO member country, has reasserted its support for settling the situation in Georgia and Transdiestr, reaffirming the importance of observing Georgia’s and Moldova’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
On Tuesday, Romanian senators endorsed the prosecution of their colleagues, Conservative Codrut Seres, former Minister of the Economy, and Liberal Paul Pacuraru, the current Labour Minister. The first is accused of involvement in information leaks towards some companies competing for privatisation in Romania before 2006. Pacuraru is accused of bribe taking and abuse of office, the anti-corruption prosecutors alleging his son’s company got a contract from a state-owned company, in exchange for maintaining in office a director with the Labour Inspectorate.
The Romanian Government decided on Wednesday that Parliamentary elections will be held on November 30th, 2008. The law stipulates that the election date shall be made public at least 90 days prior to the voting day. As a first, senators and MPs will be voted through the uninominal voting system, constituencies being established under a government decision in July. In 2004, parliamentary elections were held on November 28th.
Romanian pensioners recently got some good news from the government: their pensions will increase two months in advance as to the date established initially. Their pensions are going up 20% on November 1st. Currently, the average pension for former state employees is around 160 Euro. Pensioners who worked in difficult conditions will benefit from a supplementary rise. Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu has explained that the decision to increase pensions earlier is based on a Romania’s solid economic growth lately. Analysts believe, however, that the decision is rather political in nature, given the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Good news for football lovers in Romania as well. As a first, 7 teams have qualified for the European competitions: CFR Cluj and Steaua Bucharest in the Champion League’s groups, Rapid Bucharest, Dinamo Bucharest, Unirea Urziceni, FC Timisoara and FC Vaslui in the UEFA Cup. Coming back to the most important European inter-club competition, on Wednesday Steaua Bucharest beat 1 nil Turkey’s champion Galatasaray Istanbul. The draws held on Thursday came as an unpleasant surprise to the supporters of the two teams. Romania’s vice-champion will play in the F group against Lyon, Bayern Munchen and Fiorentina. CFR Cluj champion will meet in the A Group Chelsea, AS Rome and Bordeaux. Also on Thursday, but in the UEFA cup, FC Vaslui defeated 3-1 Latvian team Liepajas Metalurgs.
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2025-04-03
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