December 18, 2013
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România Internațional, 18.12.2013, 13:00
COMMEMORATION – The western Romanian city of Timisoara continues to host events devoted to the commemoration of 24 years since the start of the anti-communist revolution of December 1989. A group of revolutionaries are making a pilgrimage to Bucharest, in memory of the young people killed 24 years ago in front of the Timisoara Cathedral, and whose bodies were cremated in Bucharest. On December the 18th, 1989, in a Timisoara hospital, communist authorities started investigating the wounded and kidnapped tens of corpses of Revolution martyrs.
ROMANIAN BRANDS – The hottest car in Europe is Dacia, writes the New York Times, and the analysts quoted by the publication say the Romanian brand “has a monopoly on the entry-level market in Europe, and it most likely hold it for at least three to five years.” Providing a no-frills car at a low price, “Dacia has found a foothold in Europe amid high unemployment and economic uncertainty,” the New York Times also reads.
UKRAINE – The opposition in Ukraine firmly criticises the agreements signed in Moscow yesterday by the Russian president Vladimir Putin with his Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yanukovich, which they see as coming against the best interests of Ukraine. Under the agreements, Russia will lend 15 billion US dollars to Ukraine, by purchasing governmental bonds issued by Kiev, and will reduce by one-third the price of natural gas delivered to Ukraine. The USA announced it would analyse the details of these agreements, but said they are not likely to solve the problem of the protests in Ukraine. The EU has sent clear signals that the Ukraine association process is still a valid option. Since November 21st, protests have been staged in Ukraine on a daily basis, after the current power decided to put on hold the EU association process.
EU – The EU will start in January accession negotiations with Serbia and will step up talks on an association and stability agreement with Kosovo, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle announced in Brussels. He appreciated the efforts made by the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo to normalise bilateral relations.
GERMANY – According to an unwritten tradition, Angela Merkel is making her first foreign visit today, to France, at the start of her third term in office as Chancellor of Germany. The visit is seen in Paris as an expression of the will of Angela Merkel and president Francois Hollande to continue to take responsibility towards Europe. France also hopes that the German coalition of Conservatives and Social Democrats will be beneficial for the EU projects. Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande will meet again tomorrow in Brussels, in a summit on EU defence and the banking union.
GREECE – The Greek economy will overcome the recession and start recovering in 2014, the Central Bank of Greece announced. After six years of recession, the central bank estimates for this year a 0.6% increase of the GDP, thanks to investments, exports and tourism.
