Romanian hostage taken by militant group
A jihadist group based in the Sahara and once part of Al Qaeda’s network announced that it was holding a Romanian hostage, just five days after it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
„The Romanian government will be fully responsible for the fate of its hostage if it delays in seizing the opportunity offered to it to release its citizen,” said a statement signed by the group’s leader, Abu Walid al-Sahraoui. The Romanian citizen, whose name has not been disclosed, was abducted on April 4 at a manganese mine in Burkina Faso, where he worked as a security agent.
Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta told reporters he would discuss the issue with President Klaus Iohannis at a meeting on Tuesday.
Interpol’s 43rd European Regional Conference in Bucharest
Romania’s capital Bucharest is hosting Interpol’s 43rd European Conference between May 19 – 21 as the institution convenes regular regional conferences in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia bringing together police from around the world and discussing ways to tackle common crime issues. Participants include delegates fron 50 countries and representatives of international organisations. Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization, with 190 member countries. Its role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place.
Ethnic minority MPs meet Romanian President Klaus Iohannis
MPs representing ethnic minorities in Romanian Parliament are expected to meet Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday. The meeting at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in the capital Bucharest is taking place following a request from representatives of ethnic minorities. Talks between the two sides will include such issues as education, healthcare, protection of historical heritage and restitution of clerical and civil property.
Târgu-Jiu City Hall under investigation
Prosecutors of Romania’s Anticorruption National Directorate (DNA) have raided the building of the City Hall in the Romanian southern town of Târgu-Jiu on Tuesday, according to judicial sources quoted by Radio Romania. The case involves the city mayor Florin Cârciumaru and a local businessman who signed contracts with City Hall oficials. Similar raids were conducted in other six locations in the southern Gorj county including public institutions, companies and private homes. The investigation refers to crimes commited between 2008 and 2015, DNA sources said.
Alexandru Danga
