August 14, 2015

Click here for a roundup of news from Romania

Newsroom, 14.08.2015, 12:00

WEATHER – The heat wave continues to sweep most regions of Romania, sweltering temperatures being reported in the west and south-west. Meteorologists still maintain the code orange alert in five counties in western Romania and the code yellow alert for another 9 counties, also in the western half of the country. The temperature humidity index has exceeded the critical threshold of 80 units. The highs of the day range from 29 to 38 degrees Celsius. The noon reading in Bucharest was 32 degrees. Drought has lately affected almost all regions of Romania and has caused Romanian farmers damage worth over two billion euros. The Danube river level has also dropped alarmingly, which makes traffic on the river very difficult.

ECONOMY – Romania, alongside the Czech Republic and Poland, registered the highest economic growth rate in the EU in the second quarter of 2015, as compared to the same period of 2014, the European Office for Statistics, Eurostat, has announced. In April-June 2015, the GDP increased by 4.4 % in the Czech Republic, by 3.7% in Romania and by 3.6% in Poland. In the same period, the GDP increased by 1.6% in the EU and by 1.2% in the Euro zone. In another move, the data made public by the National Institute for Statistics today, show that in the first half of the year, Romanias GDP increased by 3.7% as compared to the similar period of 2014, whereas in the second quarter of 2015 it increased by 3.2% as compared to the similar period of 2014. In early May the European Commission improved Romanias economic growth estimates up to 2.8% for 2015 and up to 3.3% for 2016, due to the consistent domestic consumption and the return of investments.

ANNIVERSARY – Gratitude Day is today celebrated in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, just a day before the 113th anniversary of the Romanian Navy Day. It pays tribute to all marines who lost their lives on missions at sea, both in times of peace and war. Also today, the last preparations are being made for Navy Day, an event which will involve the participation of 2,000 military and civil marines, over 35 ships and boats of various classes and categories, as well as 9 aircraft. This year, the Romanian Navy Day has a two-fold significance, as it also marks 155 years since the decree on setting up the Modern Military Navy was issued, in 1860.

DIPLOMACY – Romanias new ambassador to the United Nations Organisation, Ion Jinga, was received in New York on Thursday by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, to whom he presented the letters of accreditation, a communiqué issued by Romanias Permanent Mission to the UN shows. Ion Jinga has mentioned Romanias remarkable tradition in the field of multilateral diplomacy, confirmed by its 60 year presence in the UN, the relation with this organisation being a priority of Romanias foreign policy. In turn, Ban Ki-moon has said the arrival of the new Romanian ambassador comes at the best possible moment, marked by the adoption of the sustainable development objectives for the 2015-2030 period and in a symbolic year, when the UN celebrates 70 years of existence.

TIRASPOL – Moldovan deputy prime minister for reintegration, Viktor Osipov, and the foreign minister of the self-styled Republic of Transdniester (a pro-Russian breakaway region in the east of the Republic of Moldova), Nina Shtanski, met on Thursday in Tiraspol, after dialogue was interrupted for months. The talks were also attended by representatives of the mediators and of the observers in the current 5+2 negotiation format, that is by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the OSCE, the EU and the US, respectively. According to the press in the Republic of Moldova, the two officials approached, among others, the issue of the farming land owned by Moldovan citizens on the territory controlled by separatists. Transdniester self-proclaimed its independence, which has never been internationally recognised, in 1992, following a war which left hundreds of victims.

UKRAINE – Over 100 trucks carrying some 1,000
tons of humanitarian aid from Russia, reached the border with Ukraine, being
destined for the pro-Russian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the
east of Ukraine, Agerpress reports. According to the Russian Ministry for
Emergency Situations, since August 2014, Russia has sent to eastern Ukraine
over 42,000 tons of humanitarian aid, this being the 35th convoy.
Each time, Ukraine has drawn attention that, by sending those humanitarian
convoys, with an unknown content, without the agreement and permission of the
Kiev authorities, Russia infringes Ukrainian and international laws. The
conflict in eastern Ukraine between the Ukrainian army and the pro-Russian
rebels has left over 6,800 people dead since April 2014. Kiev and the West
accuse Russia of supporting the rebels.

GREECE- The Eurozone finance ministers are set to meet today in Brussels,
to decide on a new bailout for Greece, after Athens and its international
creditors reached a draft deal early this week. This morning, following an
all-night debate, the Greek Parliament adopted the text of the agreement, which
provides for new budget adjustments and reforms that the Greek state should
carry out in exchange for receiving a third bailout package, with an evaluated
value of 80-86 billion Euros, for a three year period. In order to take effect,
the agreement should be approved by the Eurogrup. In another move, the IMF, one
of the main lenders of the country, alongside the Europeans, has announced the
institution expects the Europeans to make decisions on reducing Greece’s debt
burden before making a decision on whether or not it gets involved in
financially supporting the country anew, the head of the IMF mission in Athens,
Romanian Delia Velculescu has announced.

TENNIS – Worlds number three tennis player, Romanian Simona Halep, second seeded, will face today sixth seeded Polish Agnieszka Radwanska (WTA 14th ranked) in the Rogers Cup quarterfinals in Toronto, with 2.5 million dollar prizes up for grabs. On Thursday, Halep defeated German player Angelique Kerber (WTA 11th ranked). Also today, two other Romanian players, Irina Begu and Raluca Olaru will be facing in the quarterfinals the pair Carolin Garcia/Katarina Srebotnik.