December 31, 2013 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
România Internațional, 31.12.2013, 19:14
In spite of economic and social difficulties and of domestic political challenges in 2013, Romanians continue to be a community, Romanian President Traian Basescu said in a message on the occasion of the New Year. President Basescu wished all Romanians, those outside the country borders included, health, happiness and luck. These days almost all Bucharest’s squares have turned into concert venues, given that tens of thousand s of Romanians have chosen to celebrate the New Year out in the streets.
This New Year, HM Queen Elisabeth II has recognized the achievements of Graham Perolls, of one of the most remarkable Great Britons in Romania, the British Ambassador in Bucharest, Martin Harris, has announced on his blog. Graham Perolls is made a Commander of theOrder of St Michael and St George in the New Years Honours List, an order of chivalry reserved for those who render extraordinary service in a foreign country. Graham has been doing just that in Romania for the last 22 years. When Graham came to Romania in 1992 he brought with him the hospice movement. This was founded in the UK in the 1950s around the simple and powerful idea that people have the right to end their days in comfort and in dignity. In Brasov, Graham found doctors and nurses willing to take up this cause and together they founded “Casa Sperantei” — the Hospice of Hope — to provide palliative care to terminally ill children and adults in the city. From Brasov, the hospice movement has spread to cities across Romania and elsewhere in eastern Europe.
Romanian Chamber of Deputies Speaker Valeriu Zgonea conveyed on Tuesday a message of condolence to his Russian counterpart, Serghei Naraskin, following the death of 30 people in an attack in Volgograd. The letter also mentions that Romania will continue to support all efforts aimed at fighting terrorism. Earlier on Tuesday the head of State Traian Basescu and the PM Victor Ponta had also sent letters of condolence. Following the two bloody attacks on Monday and Tuesday, the US has proposed Russia to join efforts in order to make sure that the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi unfold securely. International news agencies have reported that there are concerns that extremists in the unstable area in Northern Caucasus have started a terror campaign. Security measures have been increased throughout Russia. National mourning has been declared until January 3rd .
