August 29, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news....
Florentin Căpitănescu, 29.08.2013, 00:30
Xenophobia and racism seem to re-emerge in Europe, Romanian president Traian Basescu said on Thursday, at the end of a two day visit to Slovakia. He attended the ceremonies organised at the Military Cemetery of the Romanian Army in Zvolen (in the centre), where 10,000 Romanian soldiers are entombed and at the monument situated within Slovakia’s Liberation Museum. Earlier, during the meeting he had with his Slovak counterpart, Ivan Gasparovic, the Romanian president said that both countries had adjusted and brought their legislation on ethnic minorities at European standards. Traian Basescu’s visit comes against the backdrop of Slovakia celebrating 69 years since it liberated itself from Fascist occupation, a historical act to which the Romanian Army had a decisive contribution.
The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest advises all Romanian citizens in Syria to leave the country as soon as possible given the worsening situation there. The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the only evacuation routes for the Romanian citizens are the roads to the neighbouring states- Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Romanian citizens in Syria are advised to contact the Romanian Embassy in Damascus by phone, fax or Internet, to signal their presence in the country and communicate their coordinates, as well as those of their relatives, so that in case of emergency they can ask for the Romanian state’s assistance. All Romanian citizens affected by the current situation is Syria are invited to call 24/7 the number +40.21.319.21.37 of the Consular Department for assistance and consular information. According to the estimates made by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, between 12,000 and 14,000 Romanian citizens are currently in Syria.
The alleged chemical weapon attack blamed on the regime in Damascus continues to be a matter of concern for the Western chancelleries, whereas the investigation by the UN team of inspectors on the ground comes to an end on Friday. In London, British premier David Cameron has admitted before Parliament that he is not 100% sure that the regime of Bashar al Assad bears responsibility for the attack. In Paris, president François Hollande has said fresh from a meeting with representatives of the Syrian opposition that the West should intervene in order to halt the escalation of violence. In turn, Berlin has announced that it is waiting for the conclusions drawn by the UN team of inspectors, whereas a survey made public on Thursday, too, shows that one in three Germans stands for an intervention in Syria. In Washington, the House of Representatives has called on president Barack Obama to make public his military plans on Syria. In turn, Moscow reiterated its opposition to a foreign intervention in Syria. Most likely than not, a decision on prospective attacks against the troops loyal to the regime in Damascus will be made after the conclusions of the investigations are made public at the UN Security Council, international news agencies report.
Two highly appreciated Romanian films will be screened during the well-known International Film Festival in Haifa, Israel, which,this year, is held between September the 19th and 28th. The announcement was made on Thursday by the Romanian Cultural Institute. The films will be “Child’s Pose” directed by Calin Peter Netzer and “About people and snails” by Tudor Giurgiu. “Child’ Pose” is Romania’s proposal for the “best foreign film” category of the Oscars this year. In its turn, “About people and snails” won several prizes at international festivals, among which those in Warsaw-Poland and Valladolid- Spain.
The only still inhibited medieval fortified citadel in southeastern Europe, Sighisoara, in central Romania, is hosting, as of Thursday, the 11th edition of the “Proetnica” Intercultural Festival. The event brings together, until September 1st, over 800 representatives of the 20 ethnic communities in Romania. Song and dance shows, workshops, lectures, round tables and a handicrafts fair will be held as part of the event
The Japanese capital city, Tokyo, is hosting for the 9th year in a row the International Classical Music Contest “Romania”. An already traditional cultural event in Japan, the contest will unfold this year between August the 28th and September the 1st. The event in Tokyo is organised by the “Romania” Classical Music Society based in Japan, chaired by Mrs Kazuko Shimada. The contest is destined for music lovers aged over 15, but not necessarily classical music professionals, hence the success it enjoys with the public, as hundreds of musicians take part in the music contest qualifiers.
Following the Champions League group stage draw in Monaco on Thursday, Steaua Bucharest discover their fate in the competition. The Romanian footballers will play in Group E, alongside Chelsea, Schalke and Basel.
