September 19, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 19.09.2014, 12:15
The European leaders on Friday expressed satisfaction over the result of the referendum in Scotland according to which 55% of the Scottish voters rejected Scotland’s independence from the UK. The secessionists admitted defeat and called on London to respect its promises. The British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his satisfaction with the Scottish people’s decision to maintain the unity of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Mr Cameron said there was now “a great opportunity to change the way the British people are governed, and change it for the better”. Romania’s Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean hailed the result of the referendum, arguing it reconfirms the unity and strength of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as the fact that Scotland is part of the UK. The many challenges facing the EU and NATO on their eastern vicinity require coordinated and sound reactions, which is why we need further integration, and not fragmentation, so as to make a difference at global level, Minister Corlatean went on to say.
The fact that Bucharest is one of the cities involved in the organization of the Euro 2020 shows the confidence of UEFA in the Romanian Football Federation and in its plans of reform and of promoting performance in football — said Friday the president of the Romanian Football Federation, Razvan Burleanu. Bucharest was included among the 13 cities to host matches of the 2020 European Football Championship. The National Arena in Bucharest, which can seat more than 55 thousand people, will host 4 matches: 3 matches in the groups’ stage and one in the eighths final. The youth and sports minister, Gabriela Szabo, a former internationally famous athlete, pointed out that the Government would do its best to prioritize sports infrastructure projects. In turn, the mayor of Bucharest, Sorin Oprescu, gave assurances that Bucharest would be ready to hosts the Euro 2020 matches. According to him Bucharest had already proved a good host in 2012, when the UEFA Europe League final was held in Romania’s capital.
The second edition of the RadiRo International Festival will be held between September 20 and 27 in Bucharest. 5 radio orchestras from Finland, the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Romania will join soloists and conductors on stage as part of the broadest event of its kind in Europe. According to the conductor of the Romanian Radio Orchestra Cristian Mandeal, this year’s program is devoted to the music of Richard Strauss, in order to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the great German composer. The opening concert will feature the Finnish Radio Orchestra, which will be performing for the first time in Romania. Radio Romania has been constantly supporting and fostering classical music ever since its first broadcast in 1928.
US president Barack Obama has refused to grant Ukraine the special status of “Major Non-NATO Ally”, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has told the CNN. The Ukrainian president on Thursday met in Washington with his American counterpart and delivered a speech before the US Congress. The Ukrainian official told the press that the US and Ukraine have reached a consensus regarding the setup of a special security programme, which is more than being given the status of non-NATO ally. In turn, president Obama announced the US would disburse an additional 46 million dollars to Kiev to help this country cope with pro-Russian militias in Eastern Ukraine.
