November 22, 2013
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România Internațional, 22.11.2013, 13:51
PROTESTS Trade unions in the healthcare system will hold a new round of negotiations with Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu on Saturday, on the medical staff’s demands. They are asking, among other things, for 6% of the GDP to be allotted to the healthcare system. After Thursday’s negotiations Minister Nicolaescu said the all-out strike announced for November 28 seems rather unlikely, while, in their turn, unionists say protests will unfold according to the schedule. The education trade unions are also demanding a 6% of the GDP for this sector. Hey are unsatisfied with the 2014 budget bill and are collecting signatures to block the school year by calling an all-out strike next spring.
NEGOTIATIONS Iran and six major powers on Friday in Geneva have started the third day of negotiations toward a deal to curb Teheran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. No progress has been made in this respect in the preliminary meetings. Teheran wants economic sanctions lifted while the Western powers are asking for guarantees that no nuclear weapons will be built in this country. Iran says its nuclear program is a civil one and refuses to give up its right to enrich uranium.
BUDGET Expert parliamentary committees today continue debates on Romania’s 2014 draft budget and the amendments to this bill. According to Prime Minister Victor Ponta the Parliament might vote on the final draft by mid-December. The head of state, Traian Basescu, has warned he will not promulgate the law unless the extra excise duty on fuel is eliminated.
POLITICS Ukraine’s decision not to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union at the nearing Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius has been motivated by economic problems, Ukrainian PM Mykola Azarov said Friday, France Press reports.The EU is disappointed by Ukraine’s decision to align itself closer to Russia and halt its preparations for signing a European trade and political agreement, thus ruining the country’s chances to eventually join the bloc. The decision follows the Ukraine parliaments earlier refusal to pass a bill that would see jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko allowed to travel abroad for treatment – a key EU deal condition for the summit that was scheduled in Vilnius, Lithuania, next week.
RATING Standard&Poor’s increased the outlook of Romania’s junk credit rating to positive from stable and said it might upgrade it in the second half of next year depending on fiscal rigor and sales of state assets. The country’s long-term government bond rating was maintained at BB+, one level below investment grade and on a par with Croatia and Indonesia, S&P said today in a statement.
COMMEMORATION The United States commemorates today 50 years since the assassination of president John Fitzgerald Kennedy, one of Americas most beloved leaders. Kennedy was shot dead on November 22 in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald. Born in an influential family in Boston, Kennedy was the youngest US president in history and also the first Catholic president.
CULTURE Over 100 book launches in the presence of their authors are taking place today in Bucharest, on the third day of the Gaudeamus International Book Fair. Among them is the audio book collection of the Casa Radio Publishers, “The Golden Tape Library”. Also, those who want to donate books can do that as part of the a special programme. The books will reach Romanian schools in Valea Timocului, in Serbia. The Gaudeamus International Book Fair is organized by the Romanian Broadcasting Corporation. The fair consists of over 600 publishing and exhibition events, with around 400 participants. The guest of honor this year is the Group of Northern Countries, made up of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
