• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at

04. 05. 12. - 17:00

• more General News news...
• RSS Feed General News

04. 05. 12. - 17:00

Traian Basescu deems Russia’s pre-emptive attacks threats ‘propaganda’

Michael Leidig

The Romanian leader reacted on Thursday to the statements made by Russia's top military officer Nikolai Makarov who told a security conference in Moscow that Russia might carry out pre-emptive attacks on the US-led NATO missile defence facilities in Europe.

Basescu said that Russia’s concerns over the missile defence shield on its security represent only ‘a propaganda game", meant probably to justify ‘military investments in the Russian Federation".

The Romanian leader told a radio programme that the defence shield is not directed against Russia, and has a defensive role only.

"I want to exclude and to say in a crystal-clear fashion, that (…) never these facilities will be used against the Russian Federation and whoever is imagining a military conflict in Europe between Russia and the EU is unrealistic.  (…) It is a childish thing, a propaganda game that should probably have to justify some military expenses in the Russian Federation (…). It’s not the only country who plays this kind of games to justify to its public why the money is directed towards the military industry", Basescu said.

Russia reiterated on Thursday its proposal to NATO for building a common defence shield system that would assure the security of the entire continent. Previously, NATO had rejected such an offer.

The Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrusev said on Thursday that by placing the defence shield in Eastern Europe, the strategic balance between NATO and Russia would be broken.

Military experts from 50 countries are taking part since Thursday in a two-day international conference on security matters in Moscow, aimed at assessing the impact of the anti ballistic shield on the global security and to discuss co-operation in the area of missile defence.

Romania and the US signed an agreement in 2011 to host some of the elements of the American anti-missile shield.

Tragic Ski Girl Dies
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl has died after skiing into a tree at high speed during a family holiday tragedy in the Austrian Alps.

Peak Performance
Police chiefs in Hamburg, Germany, are celebrating after new crime figures showed there wasn't a single bank robbery in the city last year.

Chinese Fakeaway
Chinese property developers who've been thwarted in a bid to buy up an entire Austrian village have settled on the next best thing - an entire life-sized replica.

Austrian children help Romanian kids
A charity project run by the middle school in Hippach has been recognised with an award for its social work by officials in Tyrol.

Mother kills disabled daughter because she couldnt take care of her any longer
A Romanian woman killed her 8 year-old disabled daughter on Wednesday (yesterday)because she couldn't pay for her care, Libertatea newspaper reports.

Policeman accused of sex with the son of his girlfriend
A Policeman from Vulcan, Western Romania is currently being investigated for having sex with a minor, the son of his girlfriend, Cancan newspaper informs today (Thurs).

Serial killer survivor walks away alive after fall
An 85 year-old woman who survived the most cruel and notorious serial killer in Romania some 40 years ago, recently fell from the first floor of her apartment building and she walked away safe and sound, Cancan newspaper reports today (Thurs).

The son of Qatar Airlines BA beaten up in Romania
The son of the Board of Administration of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker, was beaten up over the weekend at the launching party of a posh club in Mamaia, at the Romanian Black Sea shore, Cancan newspaper reports.

Majority starts president’s suspension procedures
A day after the Social Liberal Union (USL) legislators dismissed with a large majority of votes the two Speakers of the Parliament, the Union started today the procedures for the suspension and possible impeachment of President Traian Basescu. This is the second time when the Parliament asks for Basescu’s suspension.

Some 177 Roma repatriated by French authorities to Romania
Some 177 Romanian citizens of Roma origin were repatriated on Tuesday night from Lille, France, Romania TV news channel informs today (Weds).