Geopolitical Journey: The Search for Belonging and Ballistic Missile Defense in Romania
During the Cold War, Romania confused all of us. Long after brutality in other communist countries declined, Romania remained a state that employed levels of violence best compared to North Korea today. Nicolae Ceausescu, referred to by admirers as the Genius of the Carpathians, ruled Romania with a ruthless irrationality. Government policies left the country cold and dark, and everyday items readily available just a few kilometers south in Bulgaria were rarities in Romania. At the same time -- and this was the paradox -- Romania was hostile and uncooperative with the Soviets. Bucharest refused to submit to Moscow, and this did not compute for many of us. Resistance to Soviet power, in our minds, meant liberalization, like what we saw in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. But not in Romania; Romania played a different game. READ MORE
Romania and Bulgaria are at the door of the Schengen area. Germany has sent the wrong message at the wrong time
Wrong message at the wrong time: it brings grist to the mill and populist Eurosceptic David Cameron. Romania and Bulgaria do not enter into the Schengen area of free movement. Their case will be, at best, reviewed at the end of the year, and nothing says that member states hostile to the entry of both countries have in the meantime changed their point of view to enable them to access One day in space without borders. READ MORE
The Curse of Corruption in Europe's East
This summer, after the police arrived at the handsome villa of the former Romanian prime minister Adrian Nastase to arrest him on corruption charges, he apparently pulled out a revolver and tried to kill himself. Millions of Romanians watched on television as Mr. Nastase, 62, was carried off on a stretcher, a Burberry scarf wrapped around his neck. He survived, and one week later was behind bars. READ MORE
Where Does NATO’s Turkey Go?
This October it’s the 60th anniversary of joining Turkey to NATO. In the heat of the “cold war” it was extremely important part of strategic planning of the North Atlantic Alliance. Those times its task was about counteracting to the extension of geopolitical influence of the Soviet Union. Except for that, together with Greece simultaneously joining the Alliance it was a natural barrier on the way of direct approach of the USSR to an oil-wealthy Near East. READ MORE
Lithuania and Romania share common goals in EU and NATO
President Dalia Grybauskaitė, currently on a reciprocal official visit in Romania, met with the Romanian President of the Senate Crin Antonescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta to discuss the bilateral relations, the negotiations on EU’s new financial framework, the economic situation in Europe, the energy security issues and cooperation within NATO. READ MORE
Opinion: Romania needs a fresh start
Romanian President Basescu remains in office. The referendum failed to get the required 50 percent turnout. But despite that victory, DW's Robert Schwartz argues Basescu should step aside and make way for new talent. READ MORE
Nicolae Timofti: “We would like to be together with Romania in the European Union”
Exclusive interview President of the Republic of Moldova. READ MORE
Southeast Europe Sets 2020 EU Membership Deadline
Ministers have called for furthering regional cooperation and European Union membership by 2020. READ MORE
“Pro-Romanian” President of Moldova
This March 23rd after almost three years pause Moldova obtained its President, thus getting out of evidently prolonged constitutional dead-end. Having just taken the office, the elected President, 63 years old Head of the Supreme Magistrate Council of the Republic of Moldova Nicolae Timofti, have already gained the reputation of the upholder of unification with Romania and “anti-Russian” project in the yellow press. READ MORE
Bucharest to host next meeting of AGRI project participants
Meeting of Economy and Energy Ministers of the countries participating in AGRI project - Azerbaijan, Romania, Hungary and the next meeting of the Managing Board of AGRI LNG Co., a company set up for the project implementation, will be held May 26-27 in Bucharest, SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) said in a statement. READ MORE
