May 21, 2015
For a roundup of domestic and international events, click here.
Newsroom, 21.05.2015, 12:00
EASTERN PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT — Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis is as of today attending the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, Latvia. Leaders of the 28 Member States will meet with their counterparts from Ukraine, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Republic of Belarus to agree on the next cooperation phase. The Eastern Partnership is an integral part of the EU Neighbourhood Policy, involving six countries from the former USSR, in an attempt to bring these countries into the EU family. The Partnership was made official at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Prague, in May 2009.
VISIT — Prime Minister Victor Ponta met with his Moldovan counterpart Chiril Gaburici in Chisinau today. The two officials signed a Memorandum of cooperation on the projects needed to inter-connect the two countries’ gas and energy networks. The Moldovan Prime Minister said the document creates the circumstances for integrating Moldova on the EU energy market. Prime Minister Gaburici also said Romania became Moldova’s most important trade partner in 2014. In turn, Victor Ponta said Romania remained the most vocal supporter of Moldova’s European aspirations.
CELEBRATIONS— Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians in Romania are today celebrating the Ascension of resurrected Jesus to Heaven, this year coinciding with the feast day of Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen, observed by both Orthodox and Catholic Christians. Also today the Orthodox Church pays heed to its heroes who gave their lives on the battlefield, in concentration camps to defend their homeland, their freedom and dignity. Floral tributes are presented at monuments to heroes and in great mausoleums in Bucharest and other cities.
SURVEY — One third of Romanians see justice as the most important democratic public institution, according to data included in a recent survey conducted by Inscop. Ranking second is the presidency, with over 22% of responses, the Government with nearly 20% of responses and Parliament with 15.6%. At the same time, the barometer reveals that over 70% of Romanians would sign a petition to support a public cause, with only 22% of respondents saying they would refuse to sign. The survey was commissioned by the paper Adevarul and conducted by Inscop on a sample population of 1,085 people, with a maximum error margin of plus/minus 3%. Respondents were interviewed at home by survey representatives.
CORRUPTION — Former Finance Minister Darius Valcov has been indicted by anti-corruption prosecutors in a case where he is being investigated for influence peddling. Presently under pre-trial arrest since April 2, Valcov is accused of awarding preferential contracts as Mayor of Slatina to a businessman while pocketing 20% of their value. Prosecutors also claim that in the 2010-2013 period Valcov got 2 million euros worth of bribes and another 2 million lei by means of intermediaries.
BAN — The Romanian Foreign Ministry says it has received no information concerning the decision to ban entry to the United States to certain Romanian citizens. On Tuesday, a US State Department official said that former and current officials from Romania and Bulgaria have been declared undesirable on US territory as a result of corruption accusations. The US Embassy has confirmed the information, adding that the identity of the people in question has been kept secret under the US law.
TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Marius Copil, ranked 207th in ATP standings, has advanced to the last qualifying round in the men’s singles of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament in France. In the second round Copil knocked out John-Patrick Smith of Australia. Also in the second round Victor Hanescu is playing Kyle Edmund of the UK. Another two Romanian tennis players, Sorana Cirstea and Patricia Tig are today competing in the women’s singles. Sorana Cirstea, ranked 145th in WTA standings, is going up against Mariana Duque-Marino, 102nd placed in the standings, while Patricia Tig, 176th-ranked, is facing Shahar Peer of Israel, 119th in the standings.
FOOTBALL — Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday evening won the League Cup after defeating Pandurii Targu Jiu 3-nil on National Arena stadium in Bucharest. Pandurii Targu Jiu therefore lost their first final in domestic competitions to a Steaua lineup that relied mostly on substitutes. Steaua’s chances of completing a historic treble this season are still high. Steaua has won the League Cup and will play Universitatea Cluj in the Romanian Cup final on May 31. In the championship, Steaua is 2nd-placed, but is separated by only 1 point from current leader ASA Targu Mures.
EUROVISION — The second semi-final of the Eurovision song contest is taking place today in Vienna. Romania’s representative, the band Voltaj, is already qualified in Saturday’s final with their song All Over Again. The song is part of an awareness-raising campaign regarding the situation of children whose parents leave them at home, seeking jobs abroad. So far, Albania, Armenia, Russia, Hungary, Serbia, Belgium, Estonia, Greece and Georgia have qualified to the final.
