September 19, 2014
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România Internațional, 19.09.2014, 12:00
REFERENDUM — The Scottish people on Thursday voted against opting out of the United Kingdom, with over 55% of votes. Scottish separatist leader Alex Salmond admitted defeat, calling on London to stand by its promises. British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his satisfaction with the Scottish people’s decision to maintain the unity of the four nations. Cameron said the result was an opportunity to bring about a change in the way the country is being governed. The issue of Scotland’s independence has been clarified for a generation to come, Cameron believes, promising to enhance the authority of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Romania’s Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean hailed the result of the referendum, arguing it only confirms the unity and strength of the United Kingdom, as well as Scotland’s place as part of this union. The many challenges facing the EU and NATO on their eastern vicinity require a coordinated and sound reaction, which is why we need further integration, and not fragmentation, so as to make a difference at global level, Minister Corlatean went on to say.
REACTION — The referendum in Scotland is seen as a model for many separatist movements in Europe and the world, France Press reports. Echoes of the referendum were at their highest in the Spanish province of Catalonia, where Parliament is today convening to vote its own referendum on the region’s autonomy. The vote might take place on November 9, although the Spanish Government has argued against it. Another region seeking independence is Flanders, Belgium. In case of a potential split, Belgium would lose half of its population and most of its economic power.
IMF — Romania’s delegation is today holding informal talks in Brussels with representatives of the IMF, the World Bank and the European Commission regarding the forthcoming budget adjustment. Government and National Bank officials have this week had talks with our country’s international lenders for the first time outside Romania’s borders. The next assessment mission of Romania’s agreement with the IMF will take place in Bucharest in late November.
RadiRo — The second edition of the RadiRo International Festival will be held between September 20 and 27 in Bucharest. 5 radio orchestras from Finland, the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Romania will join soloists and conductors on stage as part of the broadest event of its kind in Europe. According to the conductor of the Romanian Radio Orchestra Cristian Mandeal, this year’s program is devoted to the music of Richard Strauss, in order to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the great German composer. The opening festival will feature the Finnish Radio Orchestra, which will be performing for the first time in Romania. Radio Romania has been constantly supporting and fostering classical music ever since its first broadcast in 1928.
FOOTBALL — Romanian champions Steaua Bucharest on Thursday trounced Aalborg of Denmark 6-nil in the first match of Europa League Group J, played on home turf. In the same group Dinamo Kiev grabbed a 3-nil away win over Rio Ave of Portugal. In Group D, Astra Giurgiu lost 5-1 to Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia. In the other group fixture Red Bull Salzburg of Austria held visiting side Celtic Glasgow to a 2-all draw.
UKRAINE — US president Barack Obama has refused to grant Ukraine the special status of “Major Non-NATO Ally”, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has told the CNN. The Ukrainian president on Thursday met in Washington with his American counterpart and delivered a speech before the US Congress. The Ukrainian official told the press that the US and Ukraine have reached a consensus regarding the setup of a special security programme, which is more than being given the status of non-NATO ally. In turn, president Obama announced the US would disburse an additional 46 million dollars to Kiev to help this country cope with pro-Russian militias in Eastern Ukraine.
SURVEY — Some 70% of Romanians have confidence in the Army, while 50% have confidence in the Riot Police and the Romanian Intelligence Service, reads the latest INSCOP Barometer for September, commissioned by the daily paper Adevarul. Ranking last on Romanians’ confidence list are political parties (11%), Parliament (15%), the Presidency (18), the Government and County Councils (27%). Of social or private institutions, over 60% of Romanians continue to place their trust in the Church, followed by universities. Trade unions and banks rank last in terms of confidence. As regards international institutions, Romanians put their trust in NATO and the UN, both with over 50%, and feel less confident about such institutions as the World Bank and the IMF.
BUCHAREST 555 — The Bucharest City Hall is as of today organizing a large-scale event to celebrate 555 years since the first documented account about Bucharest, by means of open-air parties, concerts, theatre shows, parades of interwar outfits, trade fairs and exhibitions. Bucharest has been the capital of Romania since 1862. The first documented evidence of the city dates back to September 21, 1459. The name appeared in an official document issued by Vlad the Impaler ruler of the Romanian Principalities. The lavish architecture of the interwar period and its intellectual elite earned Bucharest the nickname of “Little Paris”.
TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Monica Niculescu on Friday qualified to the finals of the Guanzhou WTA tournament in China, totalling 500,000 dollars in prize money. In the semi-finals, Niculescu outplayed the local favourite Wang Yafan. Currently ranked 60 in WTA standings, Niculescu will take on second-seed Alize Cornet of France, who outperformed Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland.
