5th August
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Roxana Vasile, 05.08.2013, 16:46
Talgat Kaliyev, the Kazahstan’s charge d’affairs in Bucharest has stated that the proposal of his government, to deliver gas to Bucharest through an extension of the South Stream pipeline via Bulgaria, is realistic and profitable. According to him, Romania’s geo-strategic position and its EU membership are key factors in Kazahstan’s strategy of expanding and consolidating its positions on Europe’s energy markets. The proposal comes after the Nabucco project, in which Romanian company Transgaz has invested tens of millions of euros, was dealt a heavy blow a couple of months ago, after Azerbaijan had announced its decision to use another conveyor for its gas exports to Italy, via Greece and Albania. Nabucco is an alternative to South Stream and it is backed by Russia.
The responsibility for the privatization of the Freight Division of the Romanian Railway Company lies with the Government, not with the country’s Higher Defense Council, said at a press conference on Monday the Romanian President Traian Basescu. On Friday, at the request of the Government, the Council discussed the privatization of that state owned company. The president warned that, unless privatization procedures are finalized, the government will have to pay damages to the winner of the tender. In June, the tender was won by a Romanian company, but Traian Basescu has voiced doubts that the company will be able to pay 200 million Euros in exchange for 51% of the share. Against the background of the recent resignation of the Transport Minister, whose office was taken over as interim by PM Victor Ponta, the privatization of the company turned into a topic of dispute between Government and President.
Romanian ranks 3rd in the EU with regard to the drop in retail trade, in keeping with data presented by Eurostat on Monday. The most significant drops were registered in Spain (minus 6.9%), Slovenia (minus 3.6%) and Romania (minus 3.1%). The most important raises were registered in Luxembourg (27.5%), Lithuania (6.7%) and Poland (5.5%). In the Euro zone, retail trade droped by 0.9% in June 2013, as compared with teh same period in 2012, and went up by 0.1% in the EU.
The Black Sea port of Mangalia on Monday saw the opening of the Week of Romanian Education, Culture and Spirituality, part of a programme entitled ‘Diaspora Estival 2013’. The event, staged by the Department for the Romanians Around the World with the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry, is aimed at strengthening the national identity of the Romanians living outside the country’s borders. The event, which is to host daily debates and conferences on the Romanian language, the country’s history, civilization, its geography, art and literature, will be attended by professors and students from the Romanian communities in the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia and Hungary. Before the event, the Romanian minister delegate for the Romanians around the world Cristian David said the Romanians in the Diaspora could contribute to the modernization of the country by means of their human capital and must be encouraged to invest in Romania.
Over August the 11th and the 25th students from 26 countries, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Spain, Turkey the United States of America and Great Britain will be participating in the 9th edition of an International Summer School called ‘Bucharest Summer University’. The event is aimed at developing the participants’ skills and apprehension through dialogue with experts from the Academia and the business environment. According to the organizers, besides courses, workshops, debates and extra-curricula activities, the students will participate in entertaining activities, trips to Bucharest and around the country as well as theme nights. Bucharest Summer University, which is staged on a yearly basis, has along the years gained the reputation of a high quality cultural and scientific event.
The Central Bank of Romania has decided to cut the monetary policy interest rate down to 4.5 % from 5%. The new interest rate, which is the lowest so far, is due to come into effect on Tuesday. The move follows another Central Bank decision last month, when the interest rate was trimmed from 5.25% to 5%. The central bank has also decided to keep the levels of the minimum obligatory reserve rates for domestic and hard currency liabilities of banks to 20%.
Romania came 1st at this year’s edition of the International Geography Olympiad, as pupils from Bucharest, Galati, Iasi and Pitesti won three golden medals and one silver. The Olympiad was held over July 30th — August 5th in Kyoto, Japan and gathered participants from 32 countries. Also, at the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in Greece the Romanian team has won two golden medals, two silver and one bronze.
