May 18, 2014
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România Internațional, 18.05.2014, 13:45
PARLIAMENT – The motion of censure tabled by the Liberal Party in opposition in Romania will be discussed in Parliament after the EU election due on May 25th. The announcement was made by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Valeriu Zgonea. In the motion, submitted this week, the Liberals criticise the government, made up of the Social Democratic Party, the National Union for the Progress of Romania, the Conservative Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, for delaying measures designed to reduce the tax burden. The Liberals also say the Social Democrat PM Victor Ponta is influenced by local political leaders.
WARNING – The Romanian Foreign Ministry warns that several countries in the Balkans and Central Europe are affected by heavy rainfalls. The warning particularly refers to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, where at least 20 people died. The Romanian Foreign Ministry recommends travellers to get information on the state of the roads and to avoid trips to the regions affected by the bad weather. The heavy rainfalls have also caused problems in Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Bulgaria.
COMMEMORATION – The northern Romanian town of Sighetu Marmaţiei is hosting these days a number of events commemorating 70 years since the Jews in Maramures were deported to Nazi camps. The events include exhibitions, concerts, and workshops. A large number of guests, some of them from abroad, have visited the “Elie Wiesel” Memorial House, dedicated to this Nobel Peace Prize winner born in Sighet.
RUSSIA – The Ambassador of Russia to Romania, Oleg Malginov, said the sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow would not help resolve the crisis, but rather contribute to what he called “the escalation of problems.” In an interview to a private television station in Romania, the diplomat said the economic sanctions affect not only the economy of Russia, but the EU as well. The Russian Federation will certainly not collapse, Oleg Malginov concluded.
UKRAINE – Ukraine is heading for chaos, the UN assistant secretary general for human rights Ivan Simonovic said. In an interview to the BBC, he voiced concern with the situation in the east of that country, against the background of the clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists. “What I am really afraid of is that the country is reaching the point of no return if there is no adequate or urgent action taken,” Simonovic added. The statements came in the context of the eastern Ukrainian provinces of Lugansk and Donetsk proclaiming their independence further to referendums that were not recognised by Kiev or the international community.
SPORTS – Gymnast Larisa Iordache is representing Romania in all the four finals of the European Championship held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Iordache will compete in the beam, vault, uneven parallel bars and floor finals. In the latter event, Romania has another athlete competing – Diana Bulimar. On Saturday, Romania’s women’s gymnastics team won the gold, defending the continental champions title won two years ago. Second came the UK followed by Russia. In the juniors competition, Romania won four silver and a bronze medal in the championships in Sofia.
