September 2, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Leyla Cheamil, 02.09.2013, 00:00
The Transport Ministry in Bucharest and GFR, part of the Grampet Group, signed on Monday the contract for the privatization of CFR Marfa, the Freight Division of the Romanian Railway Company. In June, GFR was declared winning bidder in the privatization of the CFR Marfa. They offered 202 million euros for 51% of the shares in this company. Also GFR said they would make further investments amounting to around 204 million euros. The privatisation of the heavily indebted CFR Marfa is stipulated in the precautionary agreement the Romanian Government signed with the IMF and the World Bank in 2011.
The Parliament of Romania has resumed its sessions after the summer recess. The parliamentary parties have already outlined their legislative priorities for this session, and some of the most urgent projects include the referendum act, the endorsement of the new Constitution, amending the law on the development regions and measures to reduce taxation.
Romanias President Traian Basescu and the Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Monday they supported the idea of a referendum on the issue of gold mining in Rosia Montana, in central Romania. Several thousand Romanians protested in major cities, Bucharest included, against the start of gold mining in Rosia Montana, which the Government supports. The protesters asked Parliament to turn down a government bill that declares the project of national utility and outstanding national importance. Environmental NGOs warn that the cianide used in the technological process entails irreversible environment pollution risks. In addition, they argue, the mining works may destroy the Roman galleries in the region, which are seen as unique in the world in terms of archaeological importance. On the other hand, the government claims the mining works will generate jobs and bring direct economic benefits of over five billion US dollars.
In Romania, only 20.3% of the candidates taking part in the autumn Baccalaureate session have passed the exams, the Education Ministry announced on Monday. The final results will be made public on Thursday, September 5th, after all contestations have been solved. Eighty-eight thousand candidates have sat in this session. The pass rate in last year’s autumn session was 25.5%.
The 21st George Enescu International Festival, the most important cultural event organised by Romania, continues in Bucharest. Radio Romania, a partner to the event ever since its first edition, will broadcast live 63 concerts, of which 59 are offered to partners from the EU. The bi-annual ”George Enescu” Festival was established in 1958, in recognition of the great Romanian musician. Until September 28th, around 150 events will take place, in which 3,000 foreign artists and 1,500 Romanian artists will take part. The bi-annual ”George Enescu” Festival was established in 1958, in recognition of the great Romanian musician.
United States President Barack Obama has launched an intensive lobby campaign to persuade the Congress to approve attacks against the Syrian regime, accused of having resorted to chemical weapons. The US Secretary of State John Kerry announced the US has received and analysed samples that prove the use of sarin gas in the attacks of August 21st. In his turn, the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Monday he was personally convinced that the Syrian government is responsible for the attack with chemical weapons that killed hundreads of people. Meanwhile, in France, seen as the main partner of the US in a prospective military campaign, after the negative vote in the British Parliament, discontent with an intervention in Syria is growing among political actors. Russia continues to oppose a foreign military intervention in Syria.
