Ponta Says He Doesn’t Trust Basescu But Compromise Was Necessary
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Saturday on TV station Antena 3 he still does not trust President Traian Basescu and does not see the head of state as a political ally.
Ponta said that, despite claims from his ruling coalition partners that he has made a pact with Basescu, he did what he had to do for the benefit of the country.
“Sometimes you have to compromise to get things moving in the right direction for everyone. I am confident my actions will have positive effects not for Mr. Basescu and not even for me, as I will surely pay in terms of public image, but for Romanians and I am at peace with the decision I made. I think it’s worth the price as the benefits outweigh the criticism thrown in my direction,” said Ponta. (Jurnalul National)
Democrat Liberals Elect Top VPs, Secretary General
Anca Boagiu, Liviu Negoita, Dorin Florea, and Andreea Paul were elected Saturday as the opposition Democratic Liberal Party’s top vice-presidents.
The party national coordination board also elected Gheorghe Flutur as the party’s secretary general.
Most vice-presidential candidates who backed Elena Udrea for party president at the meeting on March 23, among them Teodor Paleologu and Gheorghe Udriste, didn’t amass enough votes. (Puterea)
Russian Military Inspectors To Fly Over Romania, Hungary
Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territories of Romania and Hungary under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Russian experts will conduct the inspection flights on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between April 7 and 13, the ministry said in a statement. The aircraft will take off from Romania’s Bucharest Otopeni Airport and Hungary’s Kecskemet Air Base, RIA Novosti reported.
During the flights, Russian and foreign specialists will monitor the operation of surveillance equipment on board the aircraft as set out in the Open Skies Treaty.
The Open Skies Treaty, which entered into force on January 1, 2002, establishes a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its 34 member states to promote openness and the transparency of military forces and activities. Russia ratified the deal in May 2001. (Romania Libera)
EU Denies Romania New Extension On Reverse Taxation System On Cereal
The European Commission has rejected Romania’s request to continue applying a reverse taxation system on cereal beyond June 1 this year, saying the procedure must not be used systematically to make up for authorities’ inadequate measures against tax evasion.
A document drafted by the Finance Ministry in March shows the Commission has not approved a new extension and said the previous extension had been granted in specific circumstances and Romania had undertaken to implement tax reforms and return to its previous VAT collection system.
According to official data, Romania loses out on billions of lei annually from cereal trading due to VAT fraud. (Curierul National)
Economy Minister Says New Solution Needed To Restart Oltchim
Romanian state-owned chemical plant Oltchim currently needs EUR15 million to keep working with the raw material it has available, said Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian.
He added the ministry is working to find ways to improve the plant’s situation by next week.
“The plant is in good shape. Installations are working and the plant is competitive. The issue there was defective management, as spending was too high, products were sold too cheap and the plant amassed debt,” said Vosganian, adding a new solution needs to be found to get the plant up and running again. (Puterea)
Lamb Meat To Sell For Around RON30 Per Kilo This Year
Lamb meat will sell for RON30 per kilo this year around Easter, said the chief of the national union of sheep and goat breeders Marcel Andrei.
He said farmers had high costs with herds over the winter, and will not be able to fully cover them from RON30/kilo but the price of meat considers purchasing power.
Most Romanians celebrate Orthodox Easter on May 5 and traditional Easter dishes include lamb. (Jurnalul National)
UK Research Report Finds Romanian And Bulgarian Migration Woes Ungrounded
The UK’s National Institute of Economic and Social Research drew a report on potential Romanian and Bulgarian migration expected as of 2014 which confirms the British government’s claims against immigrants are ungrounded.
The report found that, although migrant numbers are unpredictable, impact on public services is likely to be modest.
The research was commissioned and funded by the British Embassy in Bucharest Romania to estimate the potential impact of future migration on the UK, and particularly the impact on services, including education, health and housing. It included a review of data and of research literature produced in the UK and Romania and Bulgaria. (Romania Libera)