21.07.2013
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Roxana Vasile, 21.07.2013, 13:48
Mount Gaina in Alba county, western Romania, on Sunday saw the largest traditional outdoor event in Romania, which took place on a plateau at an altitude of 15 hundred meter. The festival, which included traditional and light music performances, a local artisans fair as well as a contest of tradition and folklore, was also attended by Romanian president Traian Basescu. Ever since its first mentioning back in 1816 the event has been attended by major history figures, such as the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph, while he was visiting the region in 1852.
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Monday will be paying a working visit to Madrid, which includes talks with king Juan Carlos of Spain and his counterpart Mariano Rajoy. Also high on the agenda are the reiteration of Spain’s support in Romania’s efforts to join Europe’s border-free zone, Schengen, talks on the economic and political relations between the two countries as well as the situation of the Romanian minority living in Spain, which accounts for almost one million. Spain is ranking 8th in a foreign investors’ top in Romania.
A joint delegation of the IMF, the European Commission and the World Bank is continuing its visit to Romania. The delegation has so far held talks with president Traian Basescu about a new precautionary loan agreement with the aforementioned international financiers. The Romanian president said the new accord is aimed at macroeconomic consolidation, the salary law and the continuation of structural reforms. Last month Romania successfully concluded another economic programme agreed upon with the international financiers, although it benefited from a series of derogations for some unfulfilled criteria.
Four climbers from Romania have for the first time in the history of this country conquered the 8125 meter-high Himalayan peak of Nanga Parbat, in Pakistan. The team made up of Marius Gane, Zsolt Torok, Aurel Salasan and Teo Vlad reached the summit on Friday afternoon without using oxygen supplies or sherpas. Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest summit in the world, has been considered one of the most difficult to climb.
18 athletes from Romania will be participating in this year’s edition of the world swimming championship due in Barcelona until August 4th. The Romanian delegation includes a water polo team of 13, two divers and three swimmers. According to the Romanian Federation of Swimming and Modern Pentathlon, the Romanian delegation’s objective is to qualify for one of the swimming finals and to obtain a place among the first 12 divers. Romania ranks 26th in a world top with two gold medals, one silver and seven bronze. The world swimming championships in Barcelona are to set a new participation record of 2293 athletes from 181 countries.
The Romanian economy is estimated to see a 2.4% growth rate this year bolstered by a significant harvest and a rise in exports to non-EU member countries, says an Economist Intelligence Unit report. According to the aforementioned report the growth is expected to step up in the period between 2014 and 2017, with an average annual rate below 4%. The London-based Economist Intelligence Unit says that in the following years, the structural funds absorption rate could be above the 12% reported between 2007 and 2013 but administrative deficiencies and the need for the government to co-fund projects are to limit the prospects of a significant growth in the absorption rate.
