September 30, 2013 UPDATE
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România Internațional, 30.09.2013, 12:38
Prospective investments in the gold mining project in Rosia Montana have been a constant concern, whereas the first reports on this matter were made back in 1999, Romanian Intelligence Service chief George Maior said on Monday. The Romanian official said Rosia Montana was a matter of national security, and the Romanian Intelligence Service has given increased attention to any actions that might influence decision-making or to any attempts by extremist or anarchist groups to hijack protests. Maior appeared before the special Parliament committee set up to investigate the controversial Government-backed law allowing a Canadian-based company to use cyanide-based methods to exploit gold deposits in Rosia Montana, central Romania. Opponents call on the Government to withdraw the bill from Parliament, ban cyanide-based mining operations in Romania and to make Rosia Montana a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Supports of the project however believe the project would solve the area’s serious economic and social problems.
The National Bank of Romania on Monday reduced the monetary policy interest rate by 0.25% to a record low of 4.25%. The new interest rate will come into force as of Tuesday. The Romanian Central Bank performed its previous operation on August 5th, when the annual key interest rate was lowered from 5% to 4.5%. The National Bank of Romania on Monday also decided to maintain the cash reserve ratio for liabilities in national and hard currency unchanged.
Starting September 30, the first edition of the Grand Prix Nova International Radio Drama Festival is hosted by Radio Romania, under the High Patronage of Crown Princess Margaret of Romania. Competing are 56 productions from 22 countries. The festival marks Radio Romania’s 85th anniversary, celebrating on November 1st the first public radio broadcast in Romania. The first radio play was broadcast in Romania in February 1929.
Bucharest and other eight counties in the southeast are under a code orange alert for heavy rain until Wednesday. Rainfall may exceed 70 litres per square meter. Another code yellow alert for heavy rain and strong wind targets several counties in the west, south and southeast. In the mountains, at altitudes over 2,000 meters, rain is already mixed with snow. The highs of the day range between 6 and 16 degrees Celsius.
Romania fully supports Moldova’s EU integration process, Romanian Chamber of Deputies Speaker Valeriu Zgonea said after meeting with Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Corman in Bucharest. The Moldovan official told Romanian MPs that Moldova was now closer to EU integration than ever before, expressing confidence that there was no other alternative to developing the country and that Moldovan MPs have the obligation to build a modern European State. The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted a Declaration for supporting the Republic of Moldova in its EU integration efforts, arguing in favour of signing in 2014 the country’s Association Treaty with the EU and the Free Trade Treaty. In another development, Moldovan Parliament Speaker met with president Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean.
Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean and EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki on Monday talked about the sustainable development of the Black Sea Region and consolidating regional cooperation. The two officials said the forthcoming Black Sea Conference to be held next year in Bucharest would be a good opportunity in that respect. Also on Monday Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with Environment Minister Rovana Plumb, who said that Romania needed a sustainable development strategy for the Black Sea Region, and that would require the financial support of the European Commission.
Romanian President Traian Basescu has convened a meeting of the Supreme Defense Council on Tuesday. According to the President’s Office, the agenda of the meeting includes the strategy for the national security industry and a draft law on the setup and maintenance of a minimum oil and mineral oil supply. The Council meeting will also tackle other matters of national security.
At least 50 people were killed on Monday in a series of car bombings in Baghdad and its outskirts. Authorities say there were nine such attacks, eight of them mostly targeting Shiite residential areas. The string of violence in Iraq has killed 870 people in September. Violence has spiked in Iraq this year against the background of a deep political crisis, France Press news agency reports.
