September 29, 2013 UPDATE
For a round-up of domestic and international news, click here.
Corina Cristea, 29.09.2013, 19:14
Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Sunday in a TV show that he wanted to adopt a neutral position as far as the gold and silver mining project in Rosia Montana was concerned. Basescu also said that the final decision in the matter belonged to the Government that was wrong to transfer this responsibility to the Parliament. President Basescu pointed out that a referendum on this matter was not out of the question. The cyanide-based gold and silver mining project is seen by opponents — who staged large-scale protests in Bucharest and other Romanian cities – as a threat for the environment and for the archaeological heritage. The project’s supporters, on the other hand, see it as an opportunity to solve the economic and social problems in the area.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, the Romanian Dacian Ciolos and the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, tried to find on Sunday in the Danube Delta ways in which the European Commission could support, through its various financial instruments, the development of this unique natural reserve. The two officials discussed with representatives of the local authorities, of the green NGOs and fishermen’s organizations about the harmonization of a sustainable development in the Delta with the preservation of its biodiversity and local customs. The Danube Delta has been on the UNESCO heritage list since 1991.
China opened a new free trade zone in Shanghai on Sunday, which covers an area of 29 sq km. There will be no restrictions applied to foreign investment here and the bureaucratic system will be permissive. This is said to be China’s most important economic experiment in 30 years. Chinese authorities plan to also use the zone as a test bed for bold financial reforms, including a convertible yuan. A total of 25 Chinese and foreign companies have been approved to set up operations in the Shanghai free trade zone. The Chinese government opened the first such zone in Shenzhen, close to Hong Kong, in 1980.
Koos Richelle, Director General for the European Commissions DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion will pay a 2-day visit to Romania starting on Monday, the European Commission’s office in Bucharest has announced. The European official will meet with local authorities and civil society representatives. Among the issues to be approached are labor force situation in Romania and the social inclusion of the Roma minority.
The first edition of the International Radio Drama Festival “Grand Prix Nova”, organized by Radio Romania, will be held between September 30 and October 5 in Bucharest. Held under the aegis of the International Radio and Television Union and the Romanian Ministry of Culture, the festival addresses radio professionals from all over the world, who are invited to take part in the competition. 27 radio dramas from 22 countries have been selected to participate in this first edition of Grand Prix Nova. The festival is held ahead of the celebration, on November 1st, of Radio Romania’s 85th anniversary.
