May 1, 2014
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Roxana Vasile, 01.05.2014, 14:05
The International Monetary Fund has approved a two-year 17 billion dollar loan for Ukraine in order to help the country’s economy, weakened by the pro-Russian insurgency in its eastern regions. Menawhile the pro-European authorities in Kiev are working feverishly to put an end to the rebelion, which pundits fear might end up in secession. In an attempt to prevent contagion yesterday the Ukrainian army was put on a state of full combat alert. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has accused Russia of being behind the insurrection adding the Russian military attache has been declared ”persona non grata”. Currently on a tour to Latin America, the head of the Russian diplomacy Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow was favourable to a dialogue with Ukraine, under OSCE auspices in order to find a solution to the crisis.
The first day of May has seen a lot of demonstrations and protest rallies around the world. In Istanbul, Turkey, the riot police have used water cannons and tear gas against hundreds of protesters who were defying the interdiction to gather in the Taksim Square, an emblem of the anti-government fight. 100 thousand people took to the Red Square in Moscow in a show of support for Vladimir Putin’s muscular policy on Ukraine. Spain’s capital Madrid and other 70 Spanish cities and towns are also expected to see protest rallies against the government’s economic policy. Demonstrations and rallies have also been announced in Greek capital Athens and in Italy. In Paris, trade unions have called for their supporters and members to protest the austerity measures imposed by the new government led by Manuel Valls.
It has become a tradition for Romanians to go to picnics and barbeques on May Day. Some of them have chosen to spend this day in hotels and guesthouses around the country. The most sought after tourist destination remains the Romanian Black Sea coast, where 30 thousand tourists are expected at the weekend. Most of these, almost 80% will be flooding the resort of Mamaia, which is to host a vintage car parade including double-deckers and racecars. Various events, like shows and concerts are to take place in all the other seaside resorts on the Romanian Black Sea coast. The beach in Constanta on Saturday will see a unique event in Europe, the first European sand cycling contest.
Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean, who paid a visit to the United States between April 29th and 30th held talks with Jake Sullivan, Deputy Assistant to the President and the National Security Advisor of vice-president Biden. The Romanian official also met members of US Congress, with whom he talked about cooperation in the field of security as well as the situation in neighboring Ukraine. Corlatean highlighted the importance for Washington to pay increased attention on long term to the Black Sea region in order to discourage any other destabilizing initiatives. In an interview to Washington Post, Corlatean has voiced his concern for what is happening in Eastern Europe and around the Black Sea, pleading again for a stronger US and NATO military presence in the allied countries of the eastern flank, Romania included.
A programme through which the Romanian state is offering 10 thousand euros as well as fiscal facilities to young people willing to open their own business will be extended to the entire population. Through an emergency ordinance, the executive in Bucharest has cancelled the age limit imposed on those interested and the name of the project has been changed from ‘a programme for young entrepreneurs’ into ‘a programme for beginning entrepreneurs’. The project was launched in 2011 and according to data provided by the Trade Registry 13 thousand businesses have been established in the past three years, which led to the creation of nearly 26 thousand fresh jobs. The government’s decision is aimed at giving an impetus to the entrepreneurial spirit, which is lower in Romania than in other countries.
