NATO chief calls for perseverance in Afghanistan Oct 22, 2009
The meeting in Bratislava comes as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visits Central Europe, with stops in Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic. He is discussing the new U.S. missile defense plan and reassuring the strongly pro-American countries that Washington still supports them, even though it scrapped the Bush-era missile defense plan for sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Biden Heads to Poland to Mend Relations Oct 21, 2009
Vice President Joe Biden will be visiting Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic on this trip ... Biden's two-day visit to Poland, where he was to land Tuesday night, will be followed by stops in Romania and the Czech Republic ... In Romania, where a weak caretaker government also leads the country, three candidates campaigning for a November presidential election all hope to be given a boost by Biden's visit. (CBS News)
Romania's government: Progress, of a sort and at a price Oct 19, 2009
Romania's government ... Egos, not the stricken economy, are at the centre of Romanian politics ... Two weeks ago, Romania s prime minister, Emil Boc, doomed his own government to collapse by ousting his interior minister, Dan Nica. (The Economist)
Serbian president in trouble after champagne celebration Oct 17, 2009
The incident happened last Saturday at Belgrade's Red Star stadium - immediately after Serbia's football team trounced Romania 5-0 and clinched its place in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. Serbia's victory triggered huge celebrations around the country. (BBC News -- Europe)
Grenade blast at Moldova concert Oct 16, 2009
Acts from Moldova, Russia and Romania had been performing. "It remains to be seen whether this [grenade attack] was caused by hooligans... or other causes," said Moldovan Interior Minister Viktor Katan. (BBC News -- Europe)
Macedonia guerrillas win seats Oct 15, 2009
28 Apr 1999: The European Union held out the prospect of immediate economic aid and eventual membership to Romania, Albania and Macedonia yesterday as a reward for their continuing support in the Kosovo crisis. . (Yahoo News -- Macedonia)
World Reacts to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Oct 10, 2009
relations with Russia and offer a fresh start to relations with the Muslim world, there is little so far to show for his fine words" Kind of says it all, right? by jameslouiky October 9, 2009 9:53 AM EDT Compare Obama's accomplishments to Reagan?s Obama freed 0 countries from tyranny, ended no war, brought no one together. Reagan Countries liberated from Communist tyranny during or shortly after RONALD REAGAN's presidency: Afghanistan Albania Angola Bulgaria Cambodia Czechoslovakia East Germany... (CBS News)
* Sport Briefs Oct 10, 2009
It said Serbia had been fined for fan misbehavior during the teams qualifiers in Austria and Romania, as well as last months home game against France ... Serbian fans lit dozens of flares and threw them on the pitch in matches with Austria and Romania, having also clashed with security in the latter game ... The Serbian FA and players have appealed to fans to behave during todays Group 7 home qualifier with Romania. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Thousands of Romanian workers protest low wages Oct 7, 2009
Romania gov't collapses as coalition partner quits. Romania's coalition government collapsed Thursday after nine ministers from the Social Democrats quit to protest the firing of the interior minister for comments about possible election fraud ... BUCHAREST, Romania -- Thousands of Romanian workers from all over the country protested low wages in the capital on Wednesday, rallying outside government headquarters to demanded leaders do something to increase their pay. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Jewish filmmakers make documentary on selling’ Jesus (2) Oct 6, 2009
Bly s next project will be a documentary on the hammer dulcimer, a stringed instrument used in folk music from Appalachia to Romania, including klezmer tunes. The common strand (in these projects) is this unique and interesting America, Bly says. (Cleveland Jewish News, OH)
Seeds of change in Iraqi Kurdistan Oct 6, 2009
Mufti spent decades in exile teaching engineering in Nicolae Ceausescu's Romania rather than live in Ba'athist-controlled Iraq. Fitful internecine rivalries among Iraqi Kurdistan's clans had become an anathema to Kurdish intellectuals like Mufti, and the formation of the Movement for Change by Mustafa raised hopes for genuine democracy in the region. (Asia Times Online)
Romanian coalition falls apart Oct 2, 2009
Romanian government falls apart ... Romania's coalition government has collapsed after the Social Democrat Party (PSD) resigned, officials say ... Romania, which has been hard-hit by the global economic recession, is dependant on an IMF loan to pay state-sector salaries, and has seen recent protests by railway workers and magistrates. (BBC News -- Europe)
Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty Oct 2, 2009
LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK Defeated by referendum: Irish Republic Challenges: Czech and Polish presidents yet to sign treaty. If they reject it a second time, the treaty could be scuppered. (BBC News -- Europe)
If Afghanistan is its test, NATO is failing Oct 1, 2009
First, it established a kind of alliance halfway house in 1994 that it dubbed the Partnership for Peace; then, in 1999, NATO accepted the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as members; and five years after that, it expanded into the former Soviet Union by absorbing the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia along with Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Russia has, to put it mildly, been less than thrilled by NATO's eastward leap and then creep. (Asia Times Online)
Canada picks new consul for Buffalo Sep 30, 2009
Moszczenska, who joined the in 1977, most recently served as Canada s ambassador to Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova. She has worked around the world, including Boston, Milan, Ottawa, Indonesia and central Europe. (Buffalo Business First, NY)
In two cities, three run for one contested seat Sep 26, 2009
Four of our children are a sibling group that we lovingly adopted from Romania. Our oldest son is in the Alaska Air National Guard and our second son is doing mission work in South Africa helping the youth. (Wasilla Frontiersman, AK)
Divided left Sep 25, 2009
When the plant was relocated to Romania, Wolfgang was among 1,500 German workers who lost their jobs. "Lots of my old work colleagues and my drinking mates are now supporting the Left party," Mr Echterhoff says. (BBC News -- Europe)
The Imaginary Pirate of Globalization, Antoine Garapon, Eurozine Sep 23, 2009
The Eurozine conference 2007 in Sibiu, Romania, addressed the challenges facing societies, literature, and the media as the need for change meets the urge for normality. Read the conference texts here. (Harper's Magazine)
As US wins minds, Afghan hearts are lost Sep 22, 2009
Current training and mentoring is provided by the US, Great Britain, France, Canada, Romania, Poland, Mongolia, New Zealand and Australia, as well as by the private for-profit contractors MPRI, KBR (formerly a division of Halliburton), Pulau, Paravant, and RONCO.. Almost eight years and counting since the "mentoring" process began, officers at the Kabul Military Training Center report that the army now numbers between 88,000 and 92,000 soldiers, depending on who you talk to; and the basic... (Asia Times Online)
AP Interview: Yushchenko optimistic about NATO Sep 22, 2009
"I'm a great optimist. I'm sure Ukraine will follow the path of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria.". He pointed also to the Russian invasion of Georgia, another former Soviet republic, in August 2008 as a strong selling point for NATO membership, which includes a guarantee that an attack on any member state will be viewed as an attack on the alliance as a whole. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Protesters Compare Obama to Hitler Sep 19, 2009
Ileana Johnson came to America from Romania 30 years ago: "I find myself now, every morning when I wake up, what kind of freedom have we lost today?". You could also find plenty of signs of something else -- a rage that identifies President Obama with Adolph Hitler, or Stalin, that questions his citizenship, that seems to celebrate the death of a famous liberal. (CBS News)
Q&A: US missile defence Sep 17, 2009
This means that they could reach south-eastern Europe, hitting targets in Nato members Greece, Bulgaria or Romania. Russia says that this limited range means that the US missile defence plan is unnecessary, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that negotiations, not threats, were the best way to deal with concerns about Iranian intentions. (BBC News -- Europe)
European public turns against Afghan war Sep 10, 2009
Italy, Spain and Romania, which also contribute to the Afghan mission, have so far not seen major public opposition to the mission. AFP. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Hungary and Slovakia: Frost bite Sep 3, 2009
Hungarians form sizeable minorities in Romania and Serbia; in Slovakia they are a tenth of the population. Slovakia has come under particular scrutiny since the hardline Slovak National Party joined the ruling coalition in 2006. (The Economist)
The aftermath of the Kennedy funeral Aug 31, 2009
Well, Bush did appoint Michael Guest ambassador to Romania, the first openly gay individual to serve as representative of our country abroad, and Mr. Guest s partner was at his side as he was sworn in. That sounds kinda liberal to me, but then, what do I know DADT. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
NZ votes against child smack ban Aug 22, 2009
WHERE SMACKING IS BANNED Austria, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela Source: Endcorporalpunishment. org. (BBC News)
Manufacturing Outlook Boosts Stocks Aug 4, 2009
Hey John_Merritt,The only way to beat Inflation is to buy more from China, India, Romania, Egypt, Algeria, etc. Anything "Made in USA" is too greedy expensive. (CBS News)
Communists Defeated in Moldova Election Aug 1, 2009
Locked between Ukraine and Romania, it has the sad distinction of being Europe's poorest country ... He accused neighboring European Union member Romania of provoking the riots in order to pave the way for a coup against him ... The new government says it will pursue stronger relations with Europe and Romania, with whom it shares many cultural similarities. (Time.com)
Moldovan Opposition Plans Talks to Break Political Deadlock in Parliament Jul 31, 2009
After the April election, Russia expressed concern when opposition protesters carrying European Union and Romanian flags stormed the presidential and parliament buildings in Chisinau, saying this showed the opposition was bent on destroying Moldovan statehood by merging with Romania ... 4 million people, located between Ukraine and Romania, is split between those with a pro-Russian sentiment, led by the ethnic Russian minority, and opponents who advocate closer ties to the West since... (Bloomberg -- Europe)
Communists take early lead in Moldova vote Jul 30, 2009
It was the second time in four months that voters in the former Soviet republic wedged between Romania and Ukraine elected a parliament ... Liberal opponents seeking closer ties with the European Union and new EU member Romania have mounted a tough campaign against the party of Communist leader Vladimir Voronin, who has been president since 2001. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Moldovan Opposition Parties Lead in Parliamentary Election, Results Show Jul 30, 2009
4 million people located between Ukraine and Romania, is split between those with a pro-Russian sentiment, led by the ethnic Russian minority, and opponents who advocate closer ties to the West since seeing comparatively prosperous Romania join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in recent years. Our neighbors to the east and west need a real political partner, not a bogus government that makes empty promises, opposition Liberal Democratic Party leader said by... (Bloomberg -- Europe)
Moldova’s opposition blocs take slim lead in parliamentary elections Jul 30, 2009
It also would help Moldova repair relations with neighboring Romania. Voronin accused Romania of trying to overthrow his government during April 7 riots, and Moldova subsequently imposed visa requirements on Romanians ... Moldova was part of Romania until 1940 and gained its independence after the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. (Boston Globe)
Country profile: Moldova Jul 30, 2009
Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova emerged as an independent republic following the collapse of the USSR in 1991 ... This territory was annexed by the USSR in 1940 following the carve-up of Romania in the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact between Hitler's Germany and Stalin's USSR. ... Two-thirds of Moldovans are of Romanian descent, the languages are virtually identical and the two countries share a common cultural heritage. (BBC News -- Europe)
Q&A: Parliamentary election Jul 30, 2009
It has also pledged to strengthen co-operation with Romania and Ukraine. TheLiberal Party (PL)was the most successful opposition party in the April poll, winning 13. (BBC News -- Europe)
Divided country Jul 29, 2009
The Communists also have a lukewarm relationship with EU-member Romania, Moldova's neighbour. Outgoing President Voronin had backed Prime Minister Greceanii's candidacy. (BBC News -- Europe)
Turkish foreign policy: Dreams from their fathers Jul 24, 2009
Mr Davutoglu points proudly to the recent signing of an agreement between Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria on the Nabucco pipeline that is meant to carry gas through these countries, reducing Europe s dependence on Russia. Yet some say that Turkey is overplaying its hand. (The Economist)
Global Confidence Declines as Unemployment Surge Counters Fiscal Stimulus Jul 16, 2009
Unemployment climbed in Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Romania, Sweden and the Czech Republic in June. South Koreas jobless rate rose to the highest in more than eight years last month, while Japans was at a five-year high in May. (Bloomberg -- UK)
Will Nabucco pipeline deal free Europe from Russian gas? Jul 14, 2009
From left, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, prime ministers Gordon Bajnai of Hungary, Werner Faymann of Austria, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Sergei Stanishev of Bulgaria, and Emil Boc of Romania are seen during the Nabucco Gas Pipeline signing ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday ... Along with EU representatives, officials from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Austria all states the pipeline will transit were in Ankara for Monday's signing. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
The week ahead Jul 13, 2009
Five countries-Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria-will sign an accord for Nabucco, a gas pipeline from the Caspian region and central Asia that will bypass Russia in the south. But Russian leverage over European energy supplies will persist for some time-the pipeline will become operational by 2014 at the earliest. (The Economist)
Tracing Roma origins Jul 11, 2009
They worked on the land or as craftsmen but in two Romanian principalities, Wallachia and Moldova, they were pushed into slavery and feature prominently in property deeds ... Up to two million are to be found in Romania, whose established Roma slave markets horrified Western travellers until as late as the 19th Century. (BBC News -- Europe)
Bulgaria's threat from corruption Jul 5, 2009
" Benchmarks The European Union imposed a special corruption monitoring scheme on Bulgaria, and its neighbour Romania, when they joined the EU in January 2007 because it was felt they were not yet up to EU levels. If Bulgaria does not meet specified benchmarks, the EU can impose what it calls safeguard clauses. Under one provision, a quarter of the subsidies which Bulgaria's farmers receive can be held back. That worries Elizabeta Bozilova, who is operations manager on one of Bulgaria's largest... (BBC News -- Europe)
Spanish immigrants hit hard Jul 2, 2009
But now a similar plan is being considered for more than 70,000 unemployed Romanians. What Spain is trying to do is to take Romanian unemployed out of the Spanish statistics and move them over to the Romanian statistics ... Gheorghe GainarPresident of Alcala's Romanian cultural association. (BBC News -- Europe)
What's the tipping point for revolution? Jul 2, 2009
Shortly thereafter, street protesters in Prague, Czechoslovakia; Sofia, Bulgaria; and Timisoara, Romania; ousted their own Communist bosses and gave the death blow to Moscow's external empire. Within less than a year, West and East Germany were reunited. (Christian Science Monitor)
AP: Web Awash in Tributes to Slain Iranian Protester Jun 27, 2009
"Such a beautiful young lady to have been subjected to the slings and arrows of a corrupt Islamic regime," laments a Facebook page, one of more than 50 established in her memory from Britain and Romania to Australia and Malaysia. Five days after a bullet cut down Neda Agha Soltan on a Tehran street - and grainy videotape that captured her bleeding to death was viewed by millions on YouTube - the Internet is awash in tens of thousands of poems, prayers and tearful tributes. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Racism: From the streets to the courts Jun 26, 2009
Separately, white thugs in Ulster hounded more than a hundred Romanian immigrants mainly Roma gypsies out of their homes and, in most cases it now seems, away from the province altogether ... When the intimidation reached a peak on June 16th, the Romanians were moved to a church hall and then to a leisure centre ... On June 23rd Northern Ireland s government announced that most had decided to return to Romania. (The Economist)
SHARING: 'Civic generation' rolls up sleeves in record numbers Jun 24, 2009
Now 26, the Southern Oregon University graduate leaves next month for Romania to work for the Peace Corps. "I want to devote my life to international service work," says MacGurn, who lives in Eugene, Ore. (USA Today -- Money)
Death Toll In Iran Clashes At Least 17 Jun 22, 2009
We've seen it before: Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Uganda, Pre-Communist Russia. and, again, post-Communist Russia. (CBS News -- World)
Swine flu sends cruise ship home early to Aruba Jun 20, 2009
Venezuela's state news agency, Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, said the passengers were from Spain, Colombia, United States, Argentina, Peru, Netherlands, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Uruguay, Russia, Romania, France, Belgium, Ireland and Italy. Some people on the ship were angry at first, complaining they weren't getting enough information, but the majority had calmed down after being told they would arrive in Aruba soon, Tonk-Croes said. (Yahoo News)
Scary elections in eastern Europe: Time to start fretting Jun 16, 2009
Even in his native Romanian, his puzzling syntax and coarse slang make him a butt of satirists ... But they may be spared this for the time being because a court has banned the newly elected Mr Becali from leaving Romania pending a criminal trial for kidnapping ... Mr Becali s fellow victor on the Greater Romania list is Corneliu Vadim Tudor, a vituperative nationalist who was once court poet to Nicolae Ceausescu, the former Communist dictator. (The Economist)
New round of marathon election Jun 6, 2009
Thursday: UK and Netherlands Friday: Ireland, Czech Republic Saturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech Republic Sunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday. Mr Wilders is facing prosecution over anti-Islamic statements. (BBC News -- Europe)
Dutch far-right 'gain' Jun 5, 2009
Thursday: UK and Netherlands Friday: Ireland, Czech Republic Saturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech Republic Sunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday. If confirmed, the Freedom Party's result is second only to Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats (CDA), which dropped almost 5% to just... (BBC News -- Europe)
Struggling for poll position Jun 5, 2009
In Romania, candidates include George "Gigi" Becali, a former Carpathian shepherd turned entrepreneur and football club owner, infamous for his xenophobic and anti-homosexual tirades. Elena Basescu, daughter of the Romanian President, is also running. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Italian royalty, Lithuania reality show host spice up Euro poll Jun 4, 2009
VILNIUS (AFP) - A Lithuanian reality TV host, an Italian prince and the socialite daughter of Romania's president are among a host of colourful characters hoping to pull Europe's apathetic voters to the polls ... In Romania, Elena Basescu, the daughter of the country's president Traian Basescu, is standing as a candidate. (Yahoo! Asia News)
27 countries, 375 million votes Jun 4, 2009
Elections will take place in all 27 member countries of the EU, with the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania included for the first time. How many MEPs are there and how many does each country elect. (CNN -- International)
Spicing up politics Jun 4, 2009
Dubbed "the Paris Hilton of Romania", Elena Basescu, 28, is a former model with waist-long black hair who also happens to be the youngest daughter of the country's president. She is known to be more interested in parties than party politics. (BBC News -- Europe)
Proud Europeans Jun 2, 2009
Page last updated at 16:19 GMT, Monday, 1 June 2009 17:19 UK. In search of Europe: Italy. (BBC News -- Europe)
Europe's desperate bid to bring out voters May 31, 2009
In Britain, Poland and Romania, fewer than one in three people plan to vote, according to recent surveys. In Spain, which has benefited enormously from EU funds, analysts expect turnout of 40 percent at best. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
EU's 'death' is greatly exaggerated May 30, 2009
In Portugal, Italy, and Romania, citizens perceive the EU as less corrupt and arbitrary than their own politicians. They appreciate the economic development the EU has brought them, and the dwindling of graft as these Mediterranean countries have carried out reforms to qualify for EU grants. (Christian Science Monitor)
The New Poland May 29, 2009
The combination of daily live programming and special reports from CNN correspondents in cities across Poland culminates June 4 with "Autumn of Change, an in-depth documentary that takes a retrospective look at the events leading up to the election exactly 20 years ago. Reflecting the tumultuous year of 1989, which changed Europe forever, "Autumn of Change" will mix live programming and documentary programming, unforgettable historical images with interviews past and present, and a huge online... (CNN -- International)
Europe may elect 'virtual MEPs' May 26, 2009
LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK Defeated by referendum: Irish Republic Challenges: Legal objections delaying ratification in Germany, Polish president also delaying ratification, Czech president yet to sign treaty. In this election Spain has... (BBC News -- Europe)
EU poll diary May 26, 2009
Twenty years ago, Romania was a communist dictatorship ... Today, Romania is one the newest members of the European Union and a member of NATO too ... The flags of Romania, the EU and NATO fly from every public building. (BBC News -- UK)
In memoriam, 2009… May 26, 2009
In the oil fields of Romania and those that surrounded Stalingrad. With those oil fields, the Germans could have kept the war going indefinitely. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Threat from the right May 25, 2009
The latest "Euro barometer" poll found that only a third of Europe's potential electors intended to make use of their vote in a contest stretch from Portugal in the west to Romania in the east, with voting from June 4-7. Campaigning is increasing attention but there is a danger that in the latest five-yearly contest the turnout will be a record low, beneath even the 45 percent of voters who turned out in 2004 -- back in 1979 it was 62 percent. (CNN -- International)
Election country-by-country May 22, 2009
Unemployment and social protection are big issues in Romania, which has gone from being one of Europe's fastest-growing economies to a recipient of international rescue loans. Romania faces tough challenges in the current crisis ... Demand for its exports has fallen and thousands of Romanians who found jobs in older EU member states - notably Italy and Spain - face an uncertain future. (BBC News -- Europe)
Moldova in presidential deadlock May 21, 2009
President Vladimir Voronin and his government accused neighbouring Romania of stoking the violence, causing an angry row between the countries ... Many older people were content to keep the Russian-backed Communists in power, while the younger generation generally backed the centre-right opposition parties, who are keen to move closer to the EU and improve ties with Romania. (BBC News -- Europe)
