January 15, 2014
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international events.
Florentin Căpitănescu, 15.01.2014, 14:32
The World Bank has slightly revised Romania’s economic growth forecast for 2014, raising it to 2.5 %, from 2.2 %. According to the Global Economic Prospects report which has been released today, Romania in 2013 had an economic growth standing at 2.5 %. For 2015, the World Bank’s forecast of an economic growth stands at 2.7 %, on a par with the forecast growth for 2016. Romania’s budget deficit in 2014 is set to reach 1.8 %. In another development, the World Bank raised the world-level economic growth in 2014, to 3.2 %, thanks to the growth of the most developed economies.
Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu’ s birthday has been commemorated on January 15 each year since 2011 as the National Culture Day. Landmarks of national culture are celebrated on this day, that is notable names in literature, music, theater film, sculpture, painting and architecture. On this day, the state-owned radio station has been broadcasting a series of cultural programmes, via Radio Romania’s Culture Channel and Radio Romania’s Music Channel. Events are staged at home and abroad, with artistic and cultural personalities attending.
Romania in front of the whole world must have a stronger stance regarding the irreversibility of its foreign and security policy, the country’s; president Traian Basescu has said today, at the meeting with the ambassadors accredited to Bucharest. Basescu went on to say that the Romanian state guarantees stability, democracy and a low risk level for its citizens, being at once consistent with the line it has been following, that of strengthening the Strategic Partnership with the USA and NATO”s role and impact in the region, as well as enhancing its EU integration. Making specific reference to the measures required, following labor market restrictions being lifted and the prerequisites for Romania’s Schengen accession, president Basescu warned that “Romanian citizens became victims of nationalistic stances” in some of EU member states, also emphasizing Romanian citizens were being discriminated against across Europe.
Romanian tennis player Monica Niculescu has qualified for the the second round of the Australian Open, which is the year’s first Grand Slam, following a notable win in the game against the world’s 15-seed, the German Sabine Lisicki, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. In the forthcoming fixture Niculescu will be facing the Russian Ekaterina Makarova, a WTA 22-seed. Two other Romanian tennis players, WTA 11-seed Simona Halep and WTA 76-seed Monica Nicuescu have made headway into the competition’s second round, where they will go against WTA 50-seed Varvara Lepchenko and WTA 11-seed Milos Raonic, respectively. In the Australian Open’s doubles event, three other Romanians qualified for the competition’s second round Florin Mergea and the Austrian Oliver Marach, Horia Tecau and the Dutch Jean Julian Roger, currently playing in their first partnership season, as well as Raluca Olaru, who will be pairing up with Ukrainian-born American tennis player Varvara Lepchenko.
