August 20, 2016 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 20.08.2016, 12:15

VISIT – Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos on Thursday is paying an official visit to the Republic of Moldova. The visit follows as earlier this month the Government disbursed the first installment worth 60 million euros of the total of 150 million euros worth of financial aid to the Republic of Moldova. The loan has been pre-conditioned on a series of commitments for the Moldovan authorities, such as creating a timetable for signing an agreement with the IMF, the reform of the judiciary and combating corruption.

THE QUEEN – The funeral service of Queen Ana of Romania has brought together Romania and Moldova, the Orthodox and Catholic churches, the souls and hopes of Romanians across the world, Heir Princess Margaret has said. The Princess said the Queen served as an example of loyalty to the King and the Nation, while the love, respect and admiration with which Romanians have paid their last homage to her make us hope for a better future. Queen Ana was buried last Saturday at the New Archbishopric and Royal Church, built in the vicinity of the monastery of Curtea de Arges, the place of interment for the Royal House of Romania. The Queen died on August 1 in a hospital in Switzerland, at the age of 92. King Mihai could not attend the funeral service due to his serious health problems.

DIASPORA – Representatives of historical communities of Romanians on the borders and in the Diaspora, taking part in the Summer University at Izvorul Muresului in central Romania, have signed a resolution, calling for the creation of a Ministry for Romanians Worldwide, facilitating proceedings for obtaining Romanian citizenship and setting up new cultural institutes. Romanians living outside borders have also asked for increasing the number of MPs representing a proportional number of Romanian citizens in the Diaspora and the Republic of Moldova. The resolution will be submitted to the Presidency, Parliament, the Government and political parties.

STRIKE ACTION – Romanian carriers have announced they would go on work-in strike. They will run at 30 km/h for an hour every day across the country, until the civil liability premiums for car owners will be reduced to 1,100 euros per year. Employers in the field will also stage a large protest nationwide on September 15. Most carriers are on the verge of bankruptcy, after premiums for trade and passenger transport went up by 300% as compared to last year and by 500% as compared to 2014, carriers say.

ANNIVERSARY – Saturday marked 48 years since the first Dacia car was produced in Mioveni, southern Romania. Today an exhibit at the Romanian Auto Club, the 1100 model was a copy of the famous Renault, based on an agreement between Romanian communist authorities and the French carmaker. The 1300 improved model followed later, which was nearly the only car used in Romania before 1989. In 1999, Renault bought 51% of the Dacia shares and re-launched the factory in Mioveni, bringing out the Logan and Duster makes, today popular all over the world.

RIO OLYMPICS – Marathon runners Marius Ionescu and Nicolae Soare and wrestler Albert Saritov are representing Romania on Sunday, the last day of the Rio Olympics. After two weeks, Romania is ranked 45th in the medal standings, with gold won by the womens epee team, silver won by Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau in the mens tennis doubles, and two bronze, won by Gabriel Sincraian in weightlifting and the womens coxed eight crew in rowing. The results have prompted the chair of the Romanian Olympic Committee Alin Petrache to announce his resignation. The disappointing results also come amidst a domestic investigation into a corruption scandal. The Police is investigating the activity of the company that supplied the equipment of Romanias Olympic delegation. Athletes have complained their gear was torn after only a few days and its color has instilled on their skin. Pax Creative was set up by the former chairman of the Romanian Olympic Committee Octavian Morariu, at present a member of the International Olympic Committee and by the acting secretary general Ioan Dobrescu.

(Translated by V. Palcu)