May 28, 2016 UPDATE
Russia's hostile statement against Romania a regional security threat, says Bucharest
Newsroom, 28.05.2016, 00:05
The Romanian Foreign Ministry Saturday expressed its surprise at the statements made by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin the previous day, when he said Romania might be within the range of Russian missiles, because it hosts components of the American missile shield. Bucharest says the Russian presidency ignores the actual situation that both Romania and its allies have explained repeatedly, regarding the defensive nature of the shield, which does not target the Russian Federation or any other state. The Romanian Foreign Ministry added that the statements might be viewed as a threat to regional security. Repeatedly distorting the facts can only fuel tensions, which comes against the openness proved by Romania and its Allies with respect to the missile defence issue, Bucharest concluded. Early this month, the American anti-missile system in Deveselu, southern Romania, became operational. It activates when its fixed or mobile radars detect hostile missiles.
The Romanian General Prosecutors Office has commenced prosecution against the Hexi Pharma production manager, Mihai Leva, in a case involving diluted disinfectants which the company supplied to tens of Romanian hospitals. Leva has been heard and is now subject to investigation under Court supervision. In the same case, the Hexi Pharma general manager, Flori Dinu, is accused of misrepresentation and preventing the combating of disease. Prosecutors say she coordinated the staff that promoted the Hexi Pharma products and signed contracts with Romanian hospitals while aware that the products have a different composition from the one specified on the label. The damages caused for the last 4 years alone through the supply of low-quality disinfectants are put at more than 6 million euros. According to judicial sources quoted by the media, Dinu is facing a 30-year prison sentence. The owner of Hexi Pharma, Dan Condrea, seen as the mastermind of the illegal operation, died last Sunday in a car crash which is still being investigated.
The members of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR) voiced their shock at the announcement of the National Anti-Doping Agency that all the members of the canoeing team qualified for the Rio Olympics this August tested positive for Meldonium, banned since the beginning of the year. All the athletes who will represent Romania in the Olympic games will be tested, because we want to keep our image clean, promised the secretary general of the Olympic Committee, Ioan Dobrescu. In turn, the Sports Minister and former rower Elisabeta Lipa said she was amazed and that it was the first time she had ever heard of whole team doping. Previously, the former world champion in professional boxing Lucian Bute failed a doping test after his fight with Swedens Badou Jack, on April 30. If found guilty, Bute will lose the 500,000 US dollar prize and face at least a two-year suspension. Also this year, three athletes and a biathlonist from Romania tested positive for banned drugs.
The Romanian Cultural Institute, the “Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi Institute and the Romanian Foreign Ministrys Department for Policies concerning the Romanians abroad are this year putting together a joint programme to celebrate the Day of the Romanian diaspora. The events, which take place on Saturday and Sunday in Bucharest, bring together representatives of Romanian communities in the Balkan region as well as notable personalities that promote Romanias image. The programme includes a conference on the national identity abroad and the role of Romanian education. A fair will also be organized to showcase the traditions of the Romanian communities, and folk ensembles from Ukraine, Serbia, the Republic of Moldova and Romania will stage music and dance shows. The day of Romanians living abroad will also be celebrated in Cernauti, through 2 folklore performances, and in Madrid, which will host a Romanian traditional music concert.
Nearly 3,000 people attended on Friday in Cluj-Napoca the opening gala of the Transylvania International Film Festival, held in the citys central square. Until June 5, more than 248 films will be screened, of which 216 feature films and 32 shorts. This years festival will include the Romanian premiere of Dogs, the winner of the Critics Award in Cannes. The special guest of the current edition of TIFF is actress Sophia Loren, who travels to Romania for the first time, to pick up a lifetime achievement award.
