No, I am not indulging in my usual hyperbole. Today’s analysis comes from Deutsche Welle (link in Romanian), German state media. On Tuesday, RM Prime Minister Filip “Mr. Midnight” Pavel gave a press conference saying that Moldova is 63% on track in terms of specific requirements that the Association Agreement requires for RM and that he expects his government to be caught up on the … Continue reading Pavel Filip Blowing Smoke Up Everybody’s Ass
Once again, Romania has been promised one thing and then delivered another by the American government: U.S. Ambassador to Romania Hans Klemm on Monday said he was not very optimistic about Romania’s chances to join the United States’ Visa Waiver Program in 2016. Yep. I’ve been chronicling this drama for years. Indeed, here’s the same story from two years ago. And here is my story … Continue reading Permanent Sadface
I almost completely disagree with the majority of this article from a Romanian author describing Moldova’s current problems. But I do note that the author is absolutely right about one thing: Russia has another considerable advantage, namely that Romania lacks focus and expertise on Moldova. Romania has in the past years been Moldova’s closest partner in support of its European trajectory. Currently, however, there are … Continue reading A Well-Kept Secret
You’ll have to have a subscription to the FT to read this story, but the opening sentence is a doozy: Pavel Filip, Moldova’s new prime minister, took office last week in a manner more befitting a dictator on his last legs than the leader of the EU’s one-time success story in Eastern Europe. Ouch! The story goes on to tell what you can read here … Continue reading Romania Offers Bribe to RM
I was perusing through the Moldovan news when I found a strange throw-away blurb in the middle of an article (in Romanian) about something else. Back on January 6, the new Moldovan Ambassador to Germany was presenting his credentials when, out of the blue, the German president asked the new ambassador what the procedure was for RM to formally unite with Romania. That’s shocking enough … Continue reading Nuland Still Scheming
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