October 17, 2014 UPDATE
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Florentin Căpitănescu, 17.10.2014, 12:05
SUMMIT — Romanian President Traian Basescu in Milan on Friday took part in the second day of the Asia-Europe summit ASEM, alongside European Union representatives, as well as presidents and Prime Ministers coming from more than 50 countries on the two continents. This year’s topic is “The Responsible Partnership for Security and Economic Growth”. Basescu has stated the summit was a key one, since it basically tackled the issue of the two regions’ economic relations and sustainable development. Traian Basescu went on to say that included on the talks’ agenda were economic relations, but also security issues. The Romanian president on Friday took part in the restricted session themed as “Dialogue and Cooperation between Europe and Asia, focusing on the future of ASEM”. Basescu then attended the closing session of the Asia Europe Summit, ASEM.
CORRUPTION CASES — The National Anti-Corruption Directorate has referred a request to the Prosecutor General Tiberiu Nitu regarding the notification of the Chamber of Deputies for approving the pre-emptive arrest of Social Democrat MPs Ioan Adam and Viorel Hrebenciuc. The two are suspected, along with other parties, including Social-Democrat Senator Ilie Sarbu, of having been involved in the illegal restitution of thousands of hectares of woodland and farmland. According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, this had caused a prejudice worth 300 million euros to the National Forestry Authority — Romsilva.
MEETING — Romanian Education Minister Remus Pricopie on Friday met with British Education Committee Chairman Graham Stuart. According to a Ministry press release, the two officials tackled joint projects in the field and reforming the education system in the United Kingdom. Also on Friday the Romanian official paid a visit to University College London, an institution with Romanian language courses. Pricopie briefly met with Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne on the sideline of a charity event hosted by the Romanian Embassy in London. The baroness was the European Parliament Rapporteur for Romania in the 2000-2004 period.
FOOTBALL — I regret leaving the helm of Romania’s squad, former coach Victor Piturca announced on Friday. On Thursday evening Piturca terminated his contract with the Romanian Football Federation on a mutual agreement. Piturca signed a contract with Al-Ittihad, a team currently ranking second in the Saudi Arabian First League. Piturca leaves Romania in second place in Group F, with seven points in three matches. Romania defeated Greece 1-nil and Finland 2-nil, both matches away from home, and drew 1-all against Hungary at home. Romania’s next match in the Euro 2016 qualifiers is slated for November 14, in Bucharest, when our team will take on Northern Ireland.
TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Irina Begu on Friday moved on to the semi-finals of the Moscow tournament, totalling over 700,000 dollars in prize money. In the quarterfinals Begu edged out Tzvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. In the semi-finals Begu will play Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic. Last year the Moscow tournament was won by Simona Halep, currently ranked 3rd in WTA standings. Halep is now in Singapore, where she will play in the Champions’ Tournament to take place next week. Halep is thus the third Romanian to play in this competition after Viginia Ruzici in 1983 and 1984 and Irina Spirlea in 1998.
CATHLOIC YOUTH — The two symbols of Catholic youth, a four-metre high wooden cross and an icon of the Virgin Mary reached Bucharest on Friday. The two holy objects have already been taken to several cities in northern Romania, with large Catholic populations. Ever since 1984, when Pope John Paul II entrusted the Cross and Icon to the Catholic Youth, starting the “World Youth Day”, a tradition taking place every two years, the two symbols have been taken across continents, to spread the Christian message of hope. Ahead of “World Youth Day”, which will take place in Krakow, Poland in 2016, the Cross and the Icon make the object of pilgrimages in northern and eastern Europe. Romania will host the two symbols until November 1.
UKRAINE — Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said in Milan on Friday, after meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, that some progress has been made in talks on Russian gas imports. Taking part in the talks were also German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande. The French president expressed hope that both parties would reach a consensus, since the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute risks affected Russia’s gas exports to the EU. Also on Friday Vladimir Putin has given assurances to Western leaders he does not want to divide Ukraine or freeze the conflict in the region, British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced following the meeting in Milan. The British official said unless Russia stands by its commitments, Europe will have to maintain sanctions against this country, Reuters reports.
EBOLA — The Ebola epidemic might turn into a major humanitarian catastrophe, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has warned. Against the backdrop of the Ebola scare, European Health Commissioner Tonio Borg has announced that the European Union will start verifying the efficiency of airport controls in the third Western African countries affected by the Ebola epidemic — Liberia, Sierra Leona and Guinea. In another development, over 15 African nations will benefit from additional support to help prevent Ebola from further spreading, the World Health Organization has announced. Since the beginning of the year Ebola has killed over 4,500 people.
