Vice-President US, Joe Biden – “We believe that a better relationship with Russia is the benefit of all”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was on tour in Poland, Czech Republic and Romania, between 20-24 October 2009.
Regarding the visits to Poland and the Czech Republic, analysts Stratfor states defining its relations with the United States, where Obama administration’s decision to abandon the missile shield project promoted by ex-president George W. Bush.

Today, Vice President Biden met with Romanian President Traian Basescu, with dismissed premier Emil Boc and with Opposition leaders.  Also, he gave a public speech in the Hall of the University Library of Romania. In his speech in Bucharest, Joe Biden sent several important messages for the European partners and NATO allies.  Biden sent the European partners that “the U.S. is still a player in the region and an ally in security”. But according to political analysts, beyond these messages, Biden’s tour remains one of consolation.

But let’s see what the main ideas and the context in which they were uttered.

Visit of Vice – U.S. President in Bucharest takes place one day before the  start of presidential election campaign. Thus the joint statement after meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu can detect two aspects: administration in Washington has not had a top partner in the person of the current president, but is open to dialogue, irrespective of who will win the Presidential elections. Also, the fact that the speech for European partners was elected Bucharest,  stresses stronger bilateral relationship between Romania and the United States. Moreover, can talk  about  strategic location that America gives to Romania on his interests and in the design of the NATO Alliance in the Eastern European area.

On the public diplomacy, Joe Biden tried in his discourse from the University Library, to ensure that countries in the East European region that, despite a change of Obama discourse, Washington has not changed security objectives. But while he insisted that: “We believe that a better relationship with Russia is benefit of all. Pragmatic relationship, too”. Meanwhile, he said the reconfiguration of the missile shield is not a favor done to Russia, but a more efficient way to meet new security challenges. Biden reiterated the importance of Article 5 and firmly reject the imposition of spheres of influence between global powers. “Nothing without you, nothing more than your desire” were sure NATO partners of U.S.

In the same context: “Any missile defense system in Europe should be collective,”  said on Thursday the spokesman of Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Nesterenko, quoted by RIA Novosti. He also stressed that “Russia wants to start with Washington a careful assessment of the new U.S. missile shield in Europe”, adding that Moscow does not consider that U.S. plans to place SM-3 missiles in Poland are already established.
Nesterenko’s statement comes after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk  said Wednesday – when U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visit to Warsaw – that Poland is ready to participate in the new U.S. missile shield, as this is especially possible location in 2011 in Poland of  U.S. SM-3 missile.

The same important: Beyond public diplomacy in a speech in Bucharest, the representative of the White House for the first time spoke about the Romanian-American partnership in concrete Constanta-Trieste pipeline project. That while the premiers Putin, Berlusconi and Erdogan discussed again about  South Stream.

Chinese government will provide Romania a grant of 500,000 euros

China is continuing its offensive on the Eastern European front. Thus, after the huge financial loan to Moldova Republic,  the Chinese government will provide Romania a grant of 500,000 euros for projects in the field of agriculture and small and medium enterprises, under an agreement signed Tuesday by representatives of the two countries.

According to a press release, Emil Boc interim Prime Minister of Romania met with Vice President of the Republic of China, Xi Jinping. With this occasion were signed bilateral cooperation agreements in agriculture and Small and medium enterprises sector, and an agreement on economic and technical basis of which Romania will receive non-reimbursable assistance from China worth a total of 5 million yuan, the equivalent of 500,000 euros.
Xi Jinping visits to Romania in the context of 60 years anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Note that next week, China will publish the first estimates for the macroeconomic third quarter of this year. According to an AFP analysis, economists expected an advance of 9.5% rate that would mark a new approach towards the big Asian rival, Japan.

Democracy of Romania – where next?

The proposal of the President of Romania for the post of prime minister can be described as “from the political crisis in constitutional crisis”. After consultations with the parliamentary parties, President Basescu decided to nominate for the prime minister of  Romania to Lucian Croitoru, adviser to the BNR Governor Mugur Isărescu and ex-representative of Romania to the International Monetary Fund.

Note that the new appointed premier is  only option of president Basescu, without the support of Parliament. Immediate reactions of political leaders in Bucharest were categorized attitude of  President Basescu as an “irresponsible, undemocratic and unconstitutional”.

Romanian Government was dismissed by motion of censure

The Romanian Government was dismissed by motion of censure. Premier Emil Boc and his minority Cabinet 2 successfully lost confidence Romanian Parliament. This is the first time in post-revolutionary history of Romania when the Government is dismissed as a result of a motion of censure. For a resolution of censure motion needed 236 votes  of 471. Finally, 254 voted for the motion adopted by Parliament.

Procedurally, if a motion of censure is adopted, “Parliament, signed the Presidents of both Chambers, report President of Romania this situation, for the designation of another candidate for prime minister”. Romanian President Traian Băsescu stated that “Government Boc was removed in a democratic manner and in accordance with the Constitution”. Also President Traian Băsescu called parliamentary parties in consultations that starting at 17.00 (Bucharest Time). The situation on the political scene was reflected immediately on the capital market. Immediately after the vote on the motion of censure and dismissal of the Government, 1 euro reached 4.3 Ron. With the dismissal of the government, business analysts argue that the danger of breaking the agreement with the IMF did not exist, but that the deadlines for the conditions imposed by the IMF is almost impossible.

One of the names circulating for the post of the future prime minister is that of Klaus Johannis, Mayor of  Sibiu City.  He said Tuesday before the vote in Parliament on the motion of censure, that he is willing to begin talks to his appointment to head a future government. To remove suspicions that the PD-L Government’s dismissal is related to the context of political struggle that preface presidential elections, the opposition said it is willing to support a government of technocrats.

Party Prime Minister Putin will continue to make law in the Moscow City Duma

Today, some of my loyal readers were expected to write something about the  local elections in Russia. Well, I’ll not do. Because nothing happened out of the ordinary. No changes anything.  So, nothing can be commented.

The success of United Russia party (over 60% of the votes of the population) are based on two aspects: the constant popularity of Prime Minister Putin and the party apparatus (and propaganda) very efficiently. If it add Russian opposition inability to think and act with one voice, it goes without saying that the current elections could not bring anything sensational.