May 17, 2014 UPDATE
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Valentin Țigău, 17.05.2014, 12:05
GYMNASTICS — Romania’s women’s team on Saturday won gold in the team event at the European Gymnastics Championships held in Sofia, Bulgaria. With an overall score of 172.754 points, the team made up of Larisa Iordache, Diana Bulimar, Andreea Munteanu, Silvia Zarzu and Alina Stanila climbed onto the highest step of the podium. Silver went to the United Kingdom, while Russia won bronze. The team coached by Octavian Bellu and Lucian Sandu has thus succeeded in defending the continental title won two years ago in Brussels. In the cadet competition, Romania won two medals — Laura Jurca grabbed silver in the individual all-around event and bronze with the team.
RATING UPGRATE — All three international rating agencies, Standard & Poors, Fitch and Moody’s consider Romania as a country with a capacity of stable development and good investment grade, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has announced after Standard & Poor’s upgraded on Friday Romania’s credit rating from BBB minus to BB plus. According to Bloomberg, the rating improvement follows sound economic growth and fiscal discipline measures taken by the Government. Romania shares the same rating with Russia, Brazil and Spain.
EXPORTS — After 20 years Romanian exports have for the first time exceeded imports in the field of agriculture, Line Minister Daniel Constantin has announced. The Romanian official went on to say that Romanian agriculture has developed considerably over the last period, especially with the help of European funds, the main source of funding in this sector. Minister Constantin also recalled that in 2013 Romania ranked first at EU level in terms of sunflower harvest and 2nd in terms of corn harvest.
OFFICIAL VISIT — Romanian Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc on Thursday and Friday paid an official visit to the Italian capital Rome, where he met with his Italian counterpart Andrea Orlando. Talks focused on topics on the EU agenda, such as the post-Stockholm Program, the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, the European Package, as well as bilateral topics in the field of civil and criminal law. The Romanian official also met with Anti-Mafia Prosecutor General Franco Roberti and other prosecutors as part of the Anti-Mafia National Directorate.
UKRAINE — Tensions are escalating between Ukraine and Russia after pro-Russian separatists have intensified their actions into Ukrainian territory. Some 2 million voters in eastern Ukraine might be banned from voting in the presidential elections of May 25, unless the Governments intervenes to guarantee their security, the Central Election Commission in Kiev has announced. Russia has questioned the legitimacy of these elections, claiming ironically that the vote will be held “under cannon fire”. The presidents of the United States and France have argued in favour of imposing new sanctions against Russia if Moscow continues to destabilize Ukraine.
SUPPORT FOR BRANCUSI — Polish ambassador to Romanian HE Marek Szczygiel said on Saturday that several foreign ambassadors are supporting the efforts of public authorities to make the “Hero Path” Architectural Ensemble in Targu Jiu, sculpted by Constantin Brancusi part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Ambassador Szczygiel and another 37 foreign diplomats are visiting Gorj County. The ensemble in Targu Jiu includes such famous sculptures as the Table of Silence, the Gate of the Kiss and the Endless Column.
