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Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

Sun, 15 May 2011 13:57:51 GMT

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Eurovision Song Contest

Sources [edit]

"Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Final" — Eurovision, May 14, 2011
"Azerbaijan wins the Eurovision Song Contest" — BBC News Online, May 15, 2011
"Winner's Press Conference: "We want to bring Europe together"" — Eurovision.tv, May 15, 2011
"Eurovision 2011: Semifinals results revealed" — ESC Today, May 15, 2011

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Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:51:01 GMT

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

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21 November 2012: Israeli airstrikes damage more offices housing international journalists in Gaza City
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14 November 2012: Israel launches airstrikes against Gaza Strip, kills Hamas commander
23 December 2011: Attorney general drops case against Israeli participants in Freedom Flotilla

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Symbol for peace between Israel and Palestine.

To write, edit, start or view other articles on the Middle East, see the Middle Eastern Portal

The Amalthea, renamed the Hope for its mission as an aid ship carrying goods bound for the Gaza Strip, departed the Greek port of Lavrio yesterday, but is reportedly diverting away from its original destination and now plans to dock at the Egyptian port of el-Arish.

The ship was chartered by Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation to carry goods such as food, medicine, and houses, as well as transporting 27 people described by the foundation as "supporters who are keen on expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people", to the Gaza Strip. The charitable organization's chairman is Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi, the son of Muammar al-Gaddafi, the leader of Libya.

After talks between the Israeli, Greek and Moldovan governments, where the ship is registered, the destination was reportedly changed to Egypt. A statement from the Israeli government said that "due to these talks, the ship will not reach Gaza." This was later confirmed by Libyan authorities to the Greek government.

An official with the Libyan charity involved, Youssef Sawwan, denied any agreement. "We have not cut deals with anyone," he told the BBC Arabic service. "We are heading to Gaza for purely humanitarian reasons, we are not out to provoke anyone or to seek media attention."

A crew member on board the vessel said that although the current destination is Egypt, those on board are prepared to change course towards Gaza again, despite Israel's warning it will prevent the ship from breaking the blockade.

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Sources [edit]

"Gaza aid ship to dock in Egypt after Israel pressure" — BBC News Online, July 10, 2010
"Tensions Rise as Gaza Aid Ship Leaves Greek Port" — Voice of America, July 10, 2010

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Election in Moldova instigates rioting mob demanding recount

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:09:15 GMT

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Moldova

Other stories from Moldova

15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest
11 July 2010: Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt
9 April 2009: Election in Moldova instigates rioting mob demanding recount
8 July 2008: Romanian foreign minister breaks the ice between Bucharest and Chisinau
29 May 2008: Moldovan mobile phone growth results in more than 2 million users

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Location of Moldova

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Riots in the capital of Moldova
Image: VargaA.

Protests which began Monday escalated to a riot on Wednesday consisting of over 10,000 people in Chişinău, the capital of Moldova, protesting the results of Sunday's 2009 Moldovan parliamentary election, which showed an apparent, narrow victory for the Communist Party (Partidul Comuniştilor din Republica Moldova, PCRM). Demonstrators claim the victory was the result of electoral fraud.

The demonstration escalated to a “flash mob” of between 10,000 to 15,000 communicating via online tools like email, micro-blogging tool Twitter, and social-networking website Facebook. "We sent messages on Twitter but didn't expect 15,000 people to join in. At the most we expected 1,000", said Oleg Brega of the activist group Hyde Park.

Police deployed tear gas and water cannons, and fired blanks into the crowd. The rioters threw stones at the riot police and took control of the parliament building and presidential office. A bonfire was built out of parliamentary furniture and all windows below the 7th floor were broken.

Approximately one hundred protesters and 170 police officers are reported as injured. There have been conflicting reports as to whether a female protester died during the altercation.

193 protesters “have been charged with looting, hooliganism, robbery and assault," said an Interior Ministry spokesperson. This announcement sparked another protest by those demanding the release for those detained.

There is wide speculation about who was to blame for the rioting.

President Voronin
Image: Juergen Lehle.

President Vladimir Voronin has expelled the Romanian ambassador from Moldova, blaming Romania for the violent protests. "We know that certain political forces in Romania are behind this unrest. The Romanian flags fixed on the government buildings in Chisinau attest to this" said Voronin. “Romania is involved in everything that has happened.“ Voronin also blamed the protests on opposition leaders who used violence to seize power, and has described the event as a coup d'état.

Protesters initially insisted on a recount of the election results and are now calling for a new vote, which has been rejected by the government. Rioters were also demanding unification between Moldova and Romania. “In the air, there was a strong expectation of change, but that did not happen”, said OSCE spokesman Matti Sidoroff.

Dorin Chirtoacă
Image: Dorin Chirtoacă.

"The elections were fraudulent, there was multiple voting" accused Chişinău mayor Dorin Chirtoacă of the Liberal Party. “It's impossible that every second person in Moldova voted for the Communists. However, we believe the riots were a provocation and we are now trying to reconcile the crowd. Leaders of all opposition parties are at the scene,” said Larissa Manole of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) proclaimed the PCRM to have won 61 seats in initial counts, enough to guarantee a third term in power for Voronin, who has held the position since 2001. But the Central Election Commission has received evidence of election violations, according to RIA Novosti, and upon recounts conducted of disputed polls, the commission reported that the Communists achieved 49.48% of the Moldovian vote, giving them 60 parliamentary seats — one short of the total needed to win the presidential election. "The electoral commission also granted opposition parties permission to check voter lists, fulfilling one of their chief demands," said Yuri Ciocan, Central Election Commission secretary.

Voronin will step down in May, however his party could elect a successor with 61 parliamentary seats without any votes from outside parties as well as amend the Constitution. With the PCRM garnering 60 seats, the opposition will have a voice in the presidential election for a new successor.

Riots in the capital of Moldova
Image: VargaA.

The western part of Moldova was a part of Romania from the Romania's independence until the region was detached by the USSR in 1940 to form the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. On independence in 1990 the country sought union with Romania but the eastern, Russian- and Ukrainian-inhabited areas of the country declared themselves independent from Moldova and formed the state of Transnistria and movement toward union was halted.

Moldova is Europe's poorest country, where average income is less than $250 (£168) a month. The country's neighbours are Romania and Ukraine. Romania is a European Union (EU) state.

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Sources [edit]

"Police regain control of parliament after Moldovan riots" — Daily Times, April 9, 2009
Agence France-Presse. "Moldova Communists short of majority to pick president" — MSN News, April 8, 2009
"Romania blamed over Moldova riots" — BBC, April 8, 2009
Matthew Day. "Moldovans try to burn parliament in protest at 'rigged' poll" — News Scotsman Johnston Press Digital Publishing, April 8, 2009
"Moldova is boiling – protesters demand new vote" — Russia Today, April 8, 2009
"Moldova blames Romania for riots, expels ambassador" — Balita-dot-ph, April 8, 2009
"Moldova News" — The New York Times, April 8, 2009
Sabina Zawadzki and Dmitry Chubashenko. "Moldovan protesters face clampdown in Chrisinau" — Welt Online, April 8, 2009
"Protests in Moldova Explode, With Help of Twitter" — April 7, 2009
Ellen Barry. "After a ‘Spontaneous’ Riot, Moldovans Look for Answers" — New York Times, April 7, 2009
"Police in Moldova regain control after riots -2" — RIA Novosti, April 7, 2009

External links [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

2009 Chişinău riots

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Romanian foreign minister breaks the ice between Bucharest and Chisinau

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:19:26 GMT

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Romania

Sources [edit]

"Romanian ForMin reaffirms Romania’s support for Moldova’s EU accession" — Moldova In The World, July 8, 2008
"Lazar Comanescu: Romania will further support Moldova in its getting closer to EU" — Info-Prim Neo, July 8, 2008
A.c.. "Moldavian press considers Romanian Foreign Affairs minister's visit an ice-breaker" — HotNews.ro, July 8, 2008

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Moldovan mobile phone growth results in more than 2 million users

Thu, 29 May 2008 09:37:52 GMT

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Moldova

Other stories from Moldova

15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest
11 July 2010: Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt
9 April 2009: Election in Moldova instigates rioting mob demanding recount
8 July 2008: Romanian foreign minister breaks the ice between Bucharest and Chisinau
29 May 2008: Moldovan mobile phone growth results in more than 2 million users

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Location of Moldova

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Moldova, see the Moldova Portal

The number of mobile phone users in Moldova increased by 47.3 % in the first quarter of 2008 against the last year and exceeded 2.88 million. This information was published by the Moldovan National Electronic and Information Technology Regulator (ANRCETI).

At the beginning of this year, the number of mobile phone users was of 1.88 million. The penetration rate of such services per one hundred inhabitants increased by 19.7 percentage points and approached 61%.

The first million of mobile telephony users was registered in September 2005. A year and a half later the figure amounted to 1.5 million users. During the first quarter of 2008, mobile phone service suppliers connected over 205.8 thousand new users, by more than three times more against the first quarter of 2007.

The local mobile phone market is divided between three GSM networks (Orange, Moldcell and Eventis) and one CDMA (Unité) mobile operator. Orange Moldova launched its network in October 1998, Moldcell in April 2000, Moldtelecom (under the trademark Unité) in March 2007 and Eventis in December 2007.

Moldcell connected the most users to its network, achieving 103.9 thousand. Overall, as of April 1, 2008, Moldcell had 660.1 thousand users, Orange Moldova had 1.34 million users, Unite had 66.5 thousand users and Eventis had 12.5 thousand users.

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Sources [edit]

"R. Moldova are deja peste două milioane de utilizatori ai serviciilor de telefonie mobilă" — Agenţia Naţionala pentru Reglementare în Comunicaţii Electronice şi Tehnologia Informaţiei (ANRCETI), May 28, 2008 (Romanian)
"Number of Moldovan mobile telephony users exceeded 2 mln" — Basa-press, May 28, 2008

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Moldovan wines win three medals at contest in Bordeaux

Tue, 13 May 2008 11:42:10 GMT

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Bordeaux, France
Image: Galano.

Moldova

Other stories from Moldova

15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest
11 July 2010: Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt
9 April 2009: Election in Moldova instigates rioting mob demanding recount
8 July 2008: Romanian foreign minister breaks the ice between Bucharest and Chisinau
29 May 2008: Moldovan mobile phone growth results in more than 2 million users

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Location of Moldova

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Moldovan wine producers took three silver medals at the third annual international contest of wine tasting and judging of strong alcoholic beverages, the "Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2008". This year the event was held in Bordeaux, France. Previously, the event was held in Portugal and in Maastricht in 2007 and will held in Spain next year.

Moldovan wine makers participated with 12 types of wine. The medals went to the wines produced by the stock company Acorex Wine Holding, Amaro de la Valea Perjei 2003, Pinot Grigio/ Aligote/ Sauvignon Blanc 2005 and Pinot Noir 2005, with the last two being from the Private reserve series.

Last year's fourteenth edition of the contest, held in the Netherlands in 2007, Moldovan wines won three gold medals and three silver ones.

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Sources [edit]

Moldpres. "Moldovan wines win three medals at contest in Bordeaux" — Moldpres, May 12, 2008
"Moldovan wines win three medals at contest in Bordeaux" — Moldovavin, May 12, 2008
"Official list of medals" — concoursmondial.be, May 5, 2008

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NATO summit in Bucharest enters second day

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:16:47 GMT

Thursday, April 3, 2008

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush yesterday, with Romania’s President Traian Basescu and Mrs. Maria Basescu, left, and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Mrs. Jeannine de Hoop Scheffer during the NATO Summit official greeting at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest.
Image: White House/Chris Greenberg.

One of the biggest gatherings of world leaders, the 20th annual NATO summit which began on Wednesday continued today in Bucharest.

NATO leaders begin negotiations in earnest over Afghanistan Thursday, after the opening day of their summit in Bucharest saw a successful French offer of more troops, but a public disagreement over the alliance's enlargement.

In the morning, the heads of the 26-strong alliance will hold their first formal working session, picking up on the themes of Wednesday's dinner - enlargement, Kosovo and Afghanistan, plus other issues.

The conflict of interests involves a delicate diplomatic brinkmanship between NATO's historic open-door policy and Russia's feeling that the alliances' borders are growing too close for comfort.

At the Bucharest summit, Albania and Croatia too will begin the formal process of their membership.

NATO's backing of a United States missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic has been harshly condemned by Vladimir Putin, who will be making his first appearance at this year's summit to express his fears of a new arms race.

The leaders of Albania and Croatia will get their first taste of NATO's highest body, when they sit with their counterparts, alongside Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, in a special session.

The ambitions of Macedonia, the southernmost of the former Yugoslav republics -- have been challenged by neighbour Greece in a dispute over its official name.

Greece refuses to recognise the former Yugoslav republic's name because it is the same as that of the northern Greek province of Macedonia and Athens worries that this could imply a claim on its territory.

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Sources [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

2008 Bucharest summit

"Afghanistan on agenda as NATO leaders meet Ban, Karzai" — AFP, April 3, 2008
"Nato summit begins in Bucharest" — Al Jazeera and agencies, April 3, 2008

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Moldova expels two Romanian diplomats

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:39:06 GMT

Friday, December 14, 2007

Moldova

Other stories from Moldova

15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest
11 July 2010: Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt
9 April 2009: Election in Moldova instigates rioting mob demanding recount
8 July 2008: Romanian foreign minister breaks the ice between Bucharest and Chisinau
29 May 2008: Moldovan mobile phone growth results in more than 2 million users

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Location of Moldova

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Vladimir Voronin in 2006.
Image: Juergen Lehle.

Two diplomats within the Romanian Embassy to Moldova have been declared personae non gratae due to the incompatibility between their activity and the diplomatic status they are holding.

In line with a press statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI), on Wednesday, December 12, Romanian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Moldova Filip Teodorescu was invited to the MFAEI.

"The Foreign Ministry considers such an act as inimical, totally unjustified and incompatible with Romania’s permanent constructive and cooperative attitude towards Moldova," the Romanian Foreign Ministry says in a communiqué releases in reaction...

“I expected many of the problems in our relations to disappear after Romania joined the EU,” said Vladimir Voronin President of Moldova, “but relations between Moldova and Romania have not changed. All those statements are so stupid they don't deserve criticism. Let Europe judge us.”

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Sources [edit]

"Moldova Squabbles with Romania, Cozies with Russia" — Kommersant, December 14, 2007
"Doi diplomaţi ai Ambasadei României la Chişinău au fost declaraţi persona non-grata" — BASA-Press, December 13, 2007 (Moldovan)
"Romanian Foreign Ministry reacts to decision to expel two Romanian diplomats from Moldova" — REPORTER.MD, December 13, 2007 Only synopsis available
"Romania's MFA says decision to expel two Romanian diplomats from Moldova is unfounded" — Moldova Azi, December 13, 2007

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"Voxtel" company will be transformed into "Orange"

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 12:11:07 GMT

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Moldova

Other stories from Moldova

15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest
11 July 2010: Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt
9 April 2009: Election in Moldova instigates rioting mob demanding recount
8 July 2008: Romanian foreign minister breaks the ice between Bucharest and Chisinau
29 May 2008: Moldovan mobile phone growth results in more than 2 million users

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Location of Moldova

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By the decision of the shareholders the "Voxtel" company will be transformed Into "Orange".

The shareholders of "Voxtel" are: France Telecom – 61%, MMT-BIS – 30%, MobilRom – 4%, IFC – 5%.

"Orange" - is one of the world mobile communication leaders and is a daughter enterprise of the "France Telecom" group. The "Orange" group is present in 17 countries, where it has more than 80 million mobile communication subscribers.

Sources [edit]

infomarket.md. "ОПЕРАТОР МОБИЛЬНОЙ СВЯЗИ КОМПАНИЯ VOXTEL СТАНЕТ ORANGE." — infomarket.md,
azi.md. "«Voxtel» Company Will Be Transformed into «Îrange»" — azi.md,
Voxtel. "Compania Voxtel va deveni ORANGE" — Voxtel,

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Moldovan Prosecutor General’s Office finishes investigation regarding Valeriu Pasat

Sat, 02 Jul 2005 04:46:50 GMT

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Prosecutors are investigating Valeriu Pasat, a former Moldovan Defense Minister and current adviser to the Chief of Unified Energy Systems of Russia, for reported sales of Moldovan military equipment for personal gain.

Pasat is being held regarding two charges. The first involves illegal sales of multiple missile launchers to the firm Joy Slovakia, and the second regarding the sale of 21 MiG-29 jets to the United States in 1997. The first deal is reported to have cost Moldova US$1.8 million, with the second costing $53 million.

Pasat's lawyer Gheorghe Amihalachioae stated that Pasat had been given the materials for his criminal case to read. Pasat was summoned to the court, but refused to give testimony, instead stating that Moldovan authorities made up the charges against him for their own political gain.

If Pasat is found guilty on both charges, he could face from five to 12 years in prison.

Sources [edit]

"Investigation of case against Pasat finished in Moldova" — ITAR-TASS, May 6, 2005

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