June 7, 2014
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Bogdan Matei, 07.06.2014, 12:00
CEREMONY — Romania’s president Traian Basescu on Saturday attended the investiture ceremony of his Ukrainian counterpart pro-Western president Petro Poroshenko. Elected after an early presidential ballot on May 25 after six months of internal protests, followed by the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Federation and rising tensions in Eastern Ukraine, Poroshenko said the main priority of his term was to ensure the stability in Russian-speaking regions. Upon being sworn in office, Poroshenko said he would not compromise to Russia over his country’s European path and the status of Crimea other than Ukrainian territory. In turn, president Basescu expressed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, pro-Russian separatists have shot down a Ukrainian air force jet close to Slaviansk, a hotbed of Russian separatism. Kiev sources say the aircraft was carrying humanitarian aid for the population. In Donetsk, rebels have taken control of a hospital.
VISIT – Three members of the US Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs are today visiting Romania. Former Republican president candidate John McCain, his colleague Ron Johnson and Democrat Chris Murphy will meet with president Traian Basescu, representatives of the Government and Romanian MPs. Seen as two of the most influential US Congressmen and famous for the vocal opposition to Moscow, McCain and Johnson also visited the Republic of Moldova in April to express US support to the pro-Western power in Chisinau, against the backdrop of rising tensions in neighbouring Ukraine. The visit to Bucharest follows after last month US vice-president Joe Biden visited Romania, while Pentagon leader Chuck Hagel met Romanian Defence Minister Mircea Dusa on Thursday in Constanta on the Romanian Black Sea Coast.
COMMEMORATION — A Romanian folk art monument devoted to the 66,000 Romanian military killed, wounded or reported MIA in the war against Nazi troops in Czechoslovakia in WWII will be unveiled in Dobroutov, the Czech Republic. The Romanian Foreign Ministry writes a crucifix will be placed where on June 2, 1945 a wooden cross was raised by Romanian soldiers in the memory of those who lost their lives in battle. The ceremony marking the event follows after the Czech Republic celebrated 69 years since the end of WWII and 20 years since it signed the Treaty of Friendly and Cooperation Relations with Romania.
WARNING — The Romanian Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has issued a warning, informing Romanian citizens that as of Saturday, June 7 and until Monday, June, 10 PM, all freight vehicles with a total weight beyond 7.5 tonnes are forbidden from transiting neighbouring Hungary. The Ministry recommends all Romanian citizens to access relevant websites as well as the website of the Foreign Ministry, www.mae.ro for regular updates.
CONGRESS — The People’s Movement Party in opposition is today holding internal elections to choose its leaders. Its current president MP Eugen Tomac has decided not to seek a second mandate. Three MPs are seeking his place, among whom former Liberal-Democrat Minister Elena Udrea and Daniel Funeriu. At the latest European Parliament elections the newly founded party grabbed 6% of the votes. The congress will be held concurrently with negotiations between the National Liberal Party and the Liberal-Democratic Party, both in opposition, over their fusion into a right-wing alliance that is to designate a common candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections of November. We recall that the Social-Democratic Party won the European Parliament elections in Romania with 37% of votes, grabbed 16 of Romania’s 32 seats in the European Parliament.
SIBIU FESTIVAL — The 21st edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival continued on Saturday with a string of performances, exhibitions, conferences, workshops and book launches. Theatre critics rank Sibfest the 3rd largest festival of its kind in the world, after those in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Avignon in France.
PILGRIMAGE — Some one hundred thousand Christians from all over the world are today expect to arrive on Mount Sumuleul Mic near Miercurea Ciuc, central Romania, to attend a Pentecost pilgrimage. Attending the pilgrimage will also be Hungarian president Janos Ader, who is on his first visit to Romania alongside his wife. The pilgrimage to Mount Sumuleu is considered on the largest events of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, and has been a tradition for over four centuries.
TENNIS — Romania tennis player Simona Halep is today playing Maria Sharapova of Russia in the Roland Garros finals, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. On Thursday in the semi-finals, the Romanian outperformed Andrea Petkovic of Germany in two sets. It is for the first time that Halep, who has been declared the woman tennis player with the greatest ascension in 2013, qualifies for a Grand Slam final. The last woman tennis player from Romania to play in a Grand Slam final was Virginia Ruzici, back in 1980, also at the Roland Garros, a tournament that she had won years before, in 1978.
HANDBALL — The Romanian men’s handball team is today playing Sweden as part of the first leg of the 2015 World Cup playoffs. Romania’s coach Christian Gaudin expressed confidence ahead of the match and in the potential of the handballers, although recognizing the team from Sweden is favourite to win the game. The return leg will be played on June 15 in Goteborg.
