March 28, 2016
Romania firmly condemns the terrorist attacks in Lahore, Pakistan
Newsroom, 28.03.2016, 12:00
Anti-corruption – The Higher Council of Magistrates has approved today the nomination of Laura Codruta Kovesi for a new term in office as head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. She said that over the past three years, during her term, the number of indictments had increased by 50%, and the number of dignitaries indicted in corruption cases had risen 6 times. She added that the investigation of high-level corruption and recovering the losses incurred by the State remained her main priorities. Also today, the Justice Minister, Raluca Prună, said the decision to nominate Kovesi was based on the remarkable performance of the institution under her leadership. The chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate is nominated by the justice minister, approved by the Higher Council of Magistrates and appointed to office by the president, for a three-year term. The Directorate has been consistently praised in the reports issued under the Cooperation and Verification mechanisms, an instrument used by the European Commission to monitor the Romanian judiciary.
Brussels – The local authorities of Brussels criticised the federal administration for failing to prevent a group of far-right protesters from reaching Place de la Bourse, where a memorial was held for the victims of the March 22 attacks. Over 400 right-wing militants Sunday took part in a rally against the Islamic State group and chanted Nazi slogans. They also protested against the authorities response to the attacks at the Brussels metro and international airport. The police fired a water canon at the group. Meanwhile, investigations continued, and 9 more suspects were arrested, believed to have ties with the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks. Thirty-one people, including the 3 suicide bombers, died in the Brussels attacks. Of the 28 victims, 16 were Belgian nationals and the others were citizens of 8 different countries, the Belgian authorities announced.
Pakistan attacks – The Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly condemned Sundays terrorist attack in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, which left more than 70 people dead and hundreds wounded. The Foreign Ministry reiterated Romanias firm commitment to fighting terrorism and the need to strengthen international efforts to curb all its forms. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the suicide bombing, which he described as an “appalling act of terrorism. The attacks were perpetrated in a park where Catholic Christians were celebrating Easter. A Pakistani Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had targeted Christians. A mostly Muslim country, Pakistan has a roughly 2-million strong Christian community, accounting for some 1% of the total population.
Football – Romanias football team ended the match against defending champions Spain last night in a goalless draw. The game, played on home turf in Cluj, was part of the training stage for this summers European Championship in France. On Wednesday Romania had defeated Lithuania, also at home, 1-nill. In Euro 2016, the Romanian team will play the opening game of June 10th against France, in a group that also includes Switzerland and Albania. Romania last took part in a continental final tournament in 2008, when it left the competition in the group stage.
Tennis – The best ranking Romanian tennis player, Simona Halep, number 5 in the world, will play today against Britains Heather Watson, in the eighth-finals of the Miami tournament, which has 6 million USD in prize money. In the same stage of the competition, also today, Monica Niculescu will face another British player, Johanna Konta. The third Romanian taking part in the Miami tournament, Irina Begu, will play for a spot in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, against the American Madison Keys.
