May 11, 2016 UPDATE
For a roundup of domestic and international news click here.
Newsroom, 11.05.2016, 12:15
NATO – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis on Thursday is meeting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltengberg, the presidency reports. On Wednesday, the president met with the US Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work. President Iohannis praised Romanian-US relations, highlighting the favourable premises for consolidating and furthering the Strategic Partnership between the two states. In turn, Robert Work reiterated the USAs commitment at bilateral level, as well as at NATO level with a view to consolidate Euro-Atlantic security and defence. The US Deputy Secretary of Defence also had talks with Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu, who argued in favour of a robust and balanced presence of US and NATO troops on the eastern flank. The US involvement is key to strengthening defence and deterring all possible risks and threats to European security, Romanian Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc said upon meeting with the US official. The meetings in Bucharest come ahead of Thursdays official launch of the anti-ballistic shield in Deveselu, southern Romania.
DISINFECTANTS SCANDAL – Hexi Pharma, the company involved in the Romanian hospital disinfectant scandal, applied for insolvency with the Bucharest Tribunal. Following inspections checking the quality of the disinfectants used in public hospitals, non-compliant samples were found in tens of Romanian healthcare units. The checks were triggered by a journalist investigation that revealed that the substances provided by Hexi Pharma were even ten times diluted compared to the standard concentration. The Prosecutor Generals Office initiated an investigation in the case. The PM Dacian Cioloş has said that as of today the first concentration reports concerning the Hexi Pharma samples will be available.
IMF – The International Monetary Fund has analysed the latest report of its assessment mission to Romania, making recommendations to Bucharest authorities. The IMF calls for continuing reforms to redress the economy and attract investment. IMF chief for Romania Reza Baqir says the current positive financial conditions in the public and private sectors are the result of previous progress in implementing reforms, and that any slowdown in this process would lead to Romania losing credibility with its lenders. The last assessment mission to Romania was in March 2016. At present Romania has no agreement with the IMF.
INVESTIGATION – Former Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea, as well as four questers were indicted on Wednesday. They are being accused of abuse of office and embezzlement in a court case regarding illegal purchases with funds from the Information and Internal Protection Department with the Interior Ministry. Gabriel Oprea, at present a Senator, allegedly ordered the increase of the Departments budget to purchase a luxury car, which caused the state a prejudice worth 90,000 euros. This is not the only court case involving Gabriel Oprea. In another investigation Oprea is being accused of abuse of office and the illegal use of the motorcade. In October 2015, a police officer riding in front of the motorcade was killed after his bike fell into a hole in the tarmac.
THE EKENG CASE – Football player Patrick Ekeng of Dinamo Bucharest had a heart condition, forensic pathologists announced on Wednesday. Doctors need a full autopsy, including the toxicology reports, before announcing the final results. On Saturday, Patrick Ekeng collapsed on the playing field without having any contact with a player. Doctors at the nearby hospital claim the player did not receive proper first aid on the field, which the Dinamo medical team has dismissed. The authorities have launched an investigation. The Prosecutor Generals office is treating the case as manslaughter.
TENNIS – Romanias best-ranked tennis player Simona Halep, no. 5th in WTA standings, lost to Daria Gavrilova of Russia in the second round of the tournament in Rome. In the same phase, Irina Begu, 35th WTA, grabbed a spectacular win against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 6th WTA, after five consecutive defeats against this player. On Saturday, Halep won the WTA tournament in Madrid, after defeating Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the final, 62, 6-4. On her road to the final, Halep knocked out Begu in the quarterfinals.
CANNES – Five Romanian films are taking part in this years International Film Festival in Cannes, which began on Wednesday accompanied by exceptional security measures, following the terror attacks in Paris. Graduation by Cristian Mungiu and Sierra Nevada by Cristi Puiu, both of the two directors already awarded in Cannes, compete for the Palme d’Or, whereas “Dogs, the feature film debut of Bogdan Mirică, was selected in the “Un Certain Regard section. In the short film section the Romanian directors Cătălin Rotaru and Gabi Virginia Şarga have entered the film “4:15 P.M. The end of the world. Finally, this years Cinéfondation selection includes the short film “All Rivers Flow into the Sea by Alexandru Badea.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
