November 28, 2014 UPDATE
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România Internațional, 28.11.2014, 12:15
VISIT — Romania’s president elect Klaus Iohannis on Friday said in Chisinau that Moldova’s accession to the EU is a top objective on the foreign policy agenda of Romania. Klaus Iohannis made the statement after meeting with Liberal-Democrat leader Vlad Filat. Klaus Iohannis also had an informal meeting with Moldovan president Nicolae Timofti. Both pleaded for closer relations between the two countries. Iohannis’s visit to Moldova comes two days ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, which are key to Moldova’s upcoming geopolitical policies.
EUROZONE — Romania has complied with almost all requirements for the adoption of the European single currency, Central Bank governor Mugur Isarescu has stated. Isarescu wet on to say that, however, the decision needs to be taken only when Romania’s economic performance becomes similar to that of the Eurozone countries. Central Bank governor Isarescu also explained at the moment Romanian economy was a stable one, yet problems still exist at the microeconomic level. Isarescu also mentioned the great number of firms that in recent years have reached insolvency.
EU FUNDING— The European Commission on Friday approved on Friday the operational programme Romania has presented for using the new European Fund addressing underprivileged people. Under the programme, over the next six years Bucharest authorities will be accessing a fund worth 440 million euros. The main beneficiaries are socially assisted people, old people with low pensions and people with a monthly income below 45% of the minimum wage salary. Adding to the European funding will be some 75 million euros from the state budget.
GITTENSTEIN – Although it joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007, the reforms needed for accession don’t feel as if they had been trully implemented, former US ambassador to Romania Mark Gittenstien wrote in an article for The Wall Steet Jorunal. The US official claims that after the fall of communism in 1989, Romania is still struggling between factions fostering change and reforms, backed by the EU, the IMF and the World Bank, and local tycoons and politicians who only seek personal benefit. Reforms, a functioning democracy and a free market can onl be sustainable if they are fully embraced by the Romanian people, Mark Gittenstein added.
DECEMBER 1 — Romanian Academy members convened on Friday in a solemn session dedicated to the Great Union of 1918. Representatives of the state’s main institutions that had their contribution in the buildup and implementation of the Union — the Romanian Academy, the Church, schools, the ASTRA Association commemorate their joint endeavor that lead up to the notable achievement of the Union, which has also been described as a great success for the Romanian people. On December 1st, 1918 in the central Romanian town of Alba Iulia the delegates of Romanians, the predominant population in Transylvania, Crisana, Maramures and Banat decided that the aforementioned regions unite with the Romanian Kingdom. We recall the regions had been part of the then Austrian-Hungarian Empire. At the end of World War One, the Union came as the final act of the completion process for the Romanian national unitary state. We also recall that back then, all regions with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population that had been part of the neighboring multinational empires were transferred to the jurisdiction of Bucharest. After the December 1989 anti-communist revolution in Romania, the day of December 1st became the National Day of Romania.
ARREST — Former head of Romania’s Organized Crime Directorate Alina Bica has remained in pre-emptive arrest. We recall the High Court of Cassation and Justice on Friday rejected the appeal submitted by Alina Bica. The former head of the Organized Crime Directorate has been facing accusations of approving overvalued compensatory payments for a plot of land in 2011 jointly with three other natural persons, who have also been kept in custody. Bica was a member of the National Property Restitution Authority. According to the national anti-corruption prosecutors, the damage stands at more than 60 million Euros. The former head of the National Property Restitution Authority has also been kept in custody in the same controversial case.
POPE FRANCIS — Pope Francis on Friday began a historic visit to Turkey, which is meant to enhance the positive, constructive and cooperative interaction of Turkey’s people of various religious denominations. In the first part of his three-day visit in Ankara, the Pope will be holding a meeting with the country’s president-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Pope will then visit Istanbul, to hold a meeting with the head of the Christian Orthodox Church. According to news agencies, talks will mainly focus on religious tolerance and fighting extremism. The visit comes against the backdrop of an insurgence in Turkey’s neighbouring countries Syria an Iraq, where large territories are controlled by the Islamic State group. We recall the Islamic State has killed and chased away from their homes ms a large number of Shia Muslims, Christians and other people who do not share their Sunni, ultra-radical beliefs. It is for the third time in history when the Pope visits Turkey, which is a predominantly Muslim country.
FOOTBALL — Romanian champions Steaua Bucharest on Thursday lost 1-nil to Danish campions Aalborg in Group J of Europa League. In the first leg, Steaua trounced Aalborg 6-nil. Steaua still holds mathematical chances of qualifying to the next phase, although it must defeat Dinamo Kiev in the last match on December 11. At the same time Aalborg must not win the away match against Rio Ave of Portugal. Also on Thursday Astra Giurgiu won 1-nil against Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia in Group D. Astra holds no chances of qualifying and will play FC Salzburg away from home in the last group fixture.
