Radio România Internațional

Tag: Bucharest

  • January 10, 2016 UPDATE

    January 10, 2016 UPDATE

    CHILD WELFARE- The Romanian and Norwegian authorities will continue talks next week on the five children of the Bodnariu family, who have been taken into custody by the Norwegian child welfare services, Barnevernet, after reportedly having been physically disciplined by their parents. Romanias Ambassador to Oslo is due to meet representatives of the Norwegian Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion on January 13. Also, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced that, at its initiative, the Romanian Child Protection Authority has issued a proposal for the Norwegian side to agree with the childrens integration into their uncles family in Romania and is waiting for an answer in the coming days. In turn, the Bodnariu family have contested in court the measures taken by the Norwegian local authorities. Meanwhile, rallies of support for the Bodnariu couple have been staged in several cities across Romania and abroad.



    HEAVY PRECIPITATION-The National Meteorological Authority has issued a warning against heavy precipitation valid for western, northern and central Romania until Tuesday morning. Meteorologists forecast very heavy rainfalls in the north, where 25-30 litres are likely to fall per square meter, and even 40-50 litres per square meter, in isolated places. Sleet is expected to fall in the mountains. On Monday, the sky will continue to be overcast in most regions, but temperatures will be higher than usual for this time of the year. The lowest temperatures will range between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, whereas the highs will vary from 6 to 14 degrees Celsius.



    EXPULSION– A Jordanian national, Jamal Khalil, was expelled from Romania on Saturday, for national security reasons. The High Court of Cassation and Justice has dismissed the defences appeal against a ruling issued by the Court of Appeals in Bucharest in late 2015. Jamal Khalil has been declared undesirable for 15 years, after the relevant authorities have discovered solid evidence leading to the conclusion that the Jordanian citizen carried out activities which put in jeopardy Romanias national security. According to the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) Jamal A. Abdel Jabbar Khalil Shalash, who has been living in Romania since 1991, was monitored by the Service since 2014. The intelligence agency said the Jordanian national was unconditionally supporting the Islamic State terrorist group, for which he was conducting online propaganda campaigns, being willing to get involved in prospective actions targeting Romanias security.


    TOUGHER ASYLUM LAWS -
    German Justice Minister, Heiko Maas, has said he
    believes the sexual assaults and street muggings against women in Cologne on
    New Year’s Eve were coordinated and
    prepared ahead of time. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild
    am Sonntag, Maas has said his suspicion is that a specific date was
    picked up, and a certain number of people expected, which adds a whole new
    dimension to the investigation. He accused xenophobic organisations of using
    these crimes in order to stir up hatred against immigrants. The New Year’s
    string of attacks created a shock wave in Germany and magnified criticism
    against the openness policy towards migrants, pursued by German chancellor     Angela
    Merkel. On Saturday, at the end of a political meeting, Merkel stood for
    toughening laws to expedite deportation for asylum seekers who commit crimes.


    EU-UKRAINE – The EC President, Jean Claude Juncker, stood in favour of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine, ahead of a referendum in the Netherlands, set for April 6, that might block the ratification of the document. In an interview to the Dutch media, the President of the European Commission urged Dutch voters to say “yes in the referendum on the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine. A negative vote is tantamount to a victory scored by Russia and could open the doors to a continental crisis. The Dutch should go to the polls on April 6 and should vote in the referendum as a European strategist, being aware that the agreement is also to the benefit of the Netherlands, says Jean Claude Juncker. The initiators of the referendum say however that a rejection of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine will help stabilise the relations with Russia and calm things down



    H-BOMB TEST– North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the hydrogen bomb test carried by his country is a self-defensive step against a U.S. threat of nuclear war. Kim Jong Un has also said his country has “the legitimate right of a sovereign state to do that and deemed it “a fair action that nobody can criticize, the Korean state news agency has reported. A fourth nuclear test carried out by North Korea on Wednesday angered both China, its main ally, and the United States, who hadn’t been earlier notified of the test, although the U.S. government and weapons experts doubt North Koreas claim that the device was actually a hydrogen bomb, Reuters reports. Analysts believe the test, which produced an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 degrees, too weak for a real hydrogen bomb test, was meant to open the stage for a rare congress of the ruling Workers Party, the first such meeting since 1980. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has expressed concern, saying it is a provocation to peace and security.


    FIRE -
    Three people who sustained severe burn injuries in a fire which broke out in a
    coffee shop in the capital city of the Republic of Moldova, Chishinau, on
    Sunday were flown over to Bucharest by a specially equipped aircraft of the
    Romanian Air Forces. 17 people, among whom children, with burns and smoke
    inhalation injuries were taken to various hospitals in Chishinau. The authorities
    say the fire might have been caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder, but the
    circumstances of the accident should still be investigated.


    BUCHAREST ON VOGUES “MUST-TRAVEL LIST– Romanias capital city, Bucharest, has been added by the US Vogue Magazine on the “Must-Travel List. In an article posted on the Vogue website, the American journalists present seven urban attractions, to help tourists “discover all of the newness this old city has to offer, as “while the historic wartime architecture remains, Bucharest also upholds a modern, cosmopolitan vibe. These include several bars, coffee shops and stores in the city centre, apart from well-known tourist objectives such as the Romanian Athenaeum or the National Contemporary Art Museum, hosted by the Peoples Palace. One such attraction is considered to be a bar with “an industrial design and an urban vibe, boasting a delicious Italian menu and a club downstairs, “one of the coolest nightclubs and concert venues in the city. Other locations include a coffee shop where they roast their own coffee, “a slightly concealed storefront in an old typography building, that houses some of the worlds coolest fashion labels, or a store which is “the place to visit for exclusive fragrances, niche colognes and obscure scents.

    TENNIS– Romanian tennis player, Simona Halep, WTA’s no.2, on Tuesday will meet French Caroline Garcia in
    the second round of the Sydney Tournament, with 753,000 dollars in prize money
    up for grabs. The two tennis
    players will be meeting for the first time, with Halep being first seeded. Last week, the Romanian tennis player withdrew
    from the Brisbane International, after suffering injuries ahead of a second round
    match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who won the tournament.


    (Translated and edited by Diana Vijeu)

  • The 1989 Uprising in Romania

    The 1989 Uprising in Romania

    During the Communist period, that lasted more than 40 years, Romania was a country difficult to live in. The obsessive control exerted by the regime on the population, by means of the much-feared Securitate, the then political police, the cold in people’s homes, the lack of food, the violation of fundamental human rights and of the right to freedom of speech and even of the right to life in the case of political opponents, were the instruments used by a ruthless regime. A former political dissident, Radu Filipescu, talked about the oppression of the Communist regime in an interview to Radio Romania:



    “Communism was a society of failure. One cannot speak in positive terms about those times, one can only speak about a personal experience. It is good that the Communist regime fell, that Ceauseascu was toppled, even if we still have a lot of things to set right.”



    26 years after the 1989 anti-Communist uprising, the Romanian society is still far from the ideals that Romanians nourished at the time. And that happens in spite of the fact that Romania has rediscovered its European vocation. A member of NATO since 2004 and of the EU since 2007, Romania now enjoys rights that it could not even dream of during Communism. A former prime minister of post-Communist Romania, Petre Roman, talked at Radio Romania’s microphone about one of those dreams:


    “The big win of the Revolution was freedom. When you have freedom you don’t appreciate it enough. People nowadays consider freedom a current, normal reality”.



    However, after all these years, many Romanians continue to be disappointed. A big disillusion of these 26 years is the failure to finalize the so-called Revolution case that has been recently closed. The opening of the case was considered a natural attempt to find the people guilty of crimes, to establish the historical truth and to come to terms with the past, given that more than 1,000 Romanians lost their lives in December 1989. But the wish for justice to be done is still alive. The wife of a man killed in Sibiu at the 1989 Revolution told Radio Romania:



    “For us it was a tragedy back then, and continues to be a tragedy now. We want our voice to be heard, after 26 years, we want the big leaders, politicians, governing parties or whomever they are to listen to us, to pay attention to our wishes. It is not possible to close the Revolution case. No people have been found guilty of the crimes in Sibiu, but 99 people died here during the 1989 Revolution”.



    The closing of the Revolution file is the result of a society which, according to many Romanians, is going in the wrong direction, but in which they can feel free, though.



    (Translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • December 8, 2015 UPDATE

    December 8, 2015 UPDATE

    The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis will be receiving the British PM David Cameron on Wednesday. The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference. The British PM is making a visit to Romania, during which he is also to meet the Romanian PM Dacian Cioloş. The talks will tackle, among others, the migrant crisis. Prior to the visit, the Romanian PM said that, in the context of London preparing a referendum with respect to Britains EU membership, Bucharest thinks the UK staying in the EU would be beneficial to both London and Brussels.



    A 17-year old from the southern Romanian city of Craiova, suspected of jihadist propaganda, was taken for questioning by Romanian prosecutors on Tuesday. The high-school student has allegedly posted support messages for the IS group. This is apparently the first Romanian citizen taken into custody under suspicion of jihadist propaganda. So far 9 foreign citizens have been expelled from the country for activities related to terrorist ideologies or movements. Another over 240 Middle East citizens have been denied access to the country, according to the Romanian Intelligence Service.



    The Committees for European Affairs in the two Parliament Chambers Tuesday approved the mandate of the Romanian PM Dacian Cioloş for the European Council meeting of December 17 and 18. The idea of Romania being represented by its prime minister came from the President Klaus Iohannis. In this context, the PM said he suggested a meeting of the two parliamentary committees, focusing on European affairs, given that one of the priorities of his Cabinet is to start preparing Romanias agenda for the presidency of the EU Council in 2019.



    While on an official visit to Montenegro, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in the Romanian Parliament Valeriu Zgonea emphasised Romanias support for the national objectives of that country, namely the EU and NATO integration. According to a news release, Zgonea was received by the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, and had talks with the Parliament Speaker, Ranko Krivokapic. On this occasion, Zgonea said Montenegros NATO accession will be a valuable gain for the Alliance.



    The Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazăr Comănescu, in his capacity as sitting president of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Tuesday received the Secretary General of the International Permanent International Secretariat of the BSEC, Michael Christides. The visit takes place in the context of the conclusion of Romanias presidency of the organisation, in December, and ahead of the meeting of the Council of BSEC Foreign Ministers, due on December 11 in Bucharest. According to a news release, the topics of the talks included key issues on the agenda of the organisation and the contribution of Romanias current BSEC presidency term to fostering regional economic cooperation.



    The USA will never recognise Russias annexation of Crimea and will continue to apply sanctions against Russia and against Vladimir Putin personally, until the last occupant leaves Ukraines Donbas, the US vice-president Joe Biden said in Kyiv on Tuesday. In an address to the Ukrainian Parliament, Biden also said the president of the Russian Federation was afraid Ukraine might become a successful state and the people in the east of the country, temporarily occupied, will no longer want to be a part of the Russian world. During his visit to Kyiv, Biden announced the US will grant Ukraine additional assistance, amounting to roughly 200 million US dollars.

    (translation by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The Gaudeamus International Book Fair

    The Gaudeamus International Book Fair

    More than 300 exhibitors, 700 different events and a record number of 125,000 visitors have confirmed the fact that the Gaudeamus International Book Fair is the leading event on the domestic book fair market. The guest of honour of the fair, which took place between the 18th and the 22nd of November, was the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations and Institutions in Romania (GADIF), while its honorary president was Victor Ieronim Stoichita, an art history researcher and professor.



    Its organiser, Radio Romania, through its Media Cultural Centre, is the only radio station in the world to develop such an extensive programme aimed at promoting written culture. Now in its 22nd year, the fair had three main themes: childrens literature, great inter-war writers and Romanian contemporary literature. Daria Ghiu, from Casa Radio publishing house, explains:



    Daria Ghiu: “As far as childrens literature is concerned, in the Radio Prichindel collection, which we expand every year, we launched the audiobook and the illustrated text of Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland. This year its the 150th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of this famous book and there is even a website dedicated to this anniversary. Exhibitions have also been staged, including one in London about the first editions of the book and how the story has been illustrated over the past 150 years, including by Salvador Dali. The text is not easy to illustrate, because it is such a complicated, playful and spectacular text and its difficult to create something new. The product we launched is based on a radio dramatisation from 1968, a version that is well known to almost all generations of radio listeners. Our package includes a CD and a book illustrated by a young artist, Ana Botezatu. I was surprised how good the illustration was. It uses collage and it reminds me of avant-garde art and Dadaism, I even compared the artist with Hannah Hoch. The result is something completely new.



    One of the books launched by the Humanitas publishing house at this years Gaudeamus fair is called Our Imaginary Friends and brings together leading literary figures in Romania such as Serban Foarta, Elena Vladareanu, Emil Brumaru, Marin Malaicu-Hondrari and Antoaneta Ralian. This book by multiple authors teaches us that a child can live in his or her own world for a few days, but can also remain in this world forever, that some parents can themselves see the imaginary friends of their children and that you can be 91 years old and still wonder whether you are in fact your imaginary self. The coordinator of this interesting volume, Nadine Vladescu, tells us more:



    Nadine Vladescu: “I was very happy that Antoaneta Ralian, who is 91 years old, accepted our invitation to be part of this book. She wrote about her imaginary friend, a young man called Marcel, which is her masculine alter ego and is somehow inspired by Marcel Proust. She talks about Proust beautifully and with a lot of depth, using a very personal kind of psychoanalytical approach. In this book, we also find out about other imaginary friends, just as interesting as Marcel. Its a very successful heterogeneous mix. As the critic Tania Radu wrote on the back of the book, the content of the book is a very natural mix. There are 13 different stories and 13 very different imaginary friends, from an imaginary balloon to a snail who is also a prince, the young man called Marcel, the woman as goddess, the adored woman, a very likeable pig who plays the bassoon, a spirit who can take any form, a mischievous doll, an alter ego in the mirror, and, at the head of this table around which the writers imaginary friends are gathered, sits God himself. I wont divulge whose friend he is, but will let readers find out.



    The frACTalia publishing group was established this year, at the initiative of a group of Romanian writers and graphic artists. Iulia Militaru, one of the initiators, tells us more about the titles launched by the group at Gaudeamus:



    Iulia Militaru: “While some publishing houses close down, others have record sales. At the end of the day, its all about how you manage things. We hope we will make it on this market and strike a balance between what we publish and how much profit we make, because there is always this problem. We didnt set out to make a profit from the sale of our books, but out of passion. This year at Gaudeamus, we launched our publishing house and presented several books of poetry, two debut works and a new edition of an older work.



    The poetry books in question are by Razvan Pricop and Octavian Perpelea, as well as a new edition of Andra Rotarus debut work to mark ten years since debut.

  • Gaudeamus – the only book fair organized by a public radio

    Gaudeamus – the only book fair organized by a public radio

    300 exhibitors, over 700 related events, first-time participants and many surprises are in store for the visitors of the 22nd edition of the Gaudeamus International Book Fair hosted by Bucharest from Wednesday to Sunday. This is one of the most important book fairs in Romania and aboard. Gaudeamus is the only book fair in the world organized by a public radio — Radio Romania. Its main target is to support the Romanian culture through exhibitions devoted to books and education. The 2015 edition takes place under the motto “The most read book fair at the most listened to radio”.



    This year, the guest of honor is the Group of French-Speaking Embassies, Delegations and Institutions in Romania (GADIF), the host of the event being Victor Ieronim Stoichita, a researcher and art history professor who currently lives in Switzerland. For 5 days visitors will have the opportunity to attend book launches, creation workshops, round tables and exhibitions. Of the traditional projects of the Fair one could mention “Books return home”, “Best Olympiad winners”, “The GAUDEMAUS Raffle”, Books and multimedia, the Education Stock Exchange, the “Ion Creanga” Children’s Book Fair, the Gaudeamus Creation Workshop, the mini-exhibition entitled “Lost and found publishers”, the “The School of Yore” exhibition, etc.



    On Sunday, the last day of the fair, the GAUDEAMUS awards will be granted, as every year, to three of the exhibitors. One of the awards will be granted for the “Most wanted book of the fair” and will be offered based on the visitors’ vote. Other awards to be granted on Sunday are the Excellence Award, the Antoaneta Ralian Translation Award, the Education Award and the Miss Reading Award. The “Mircea Santimbreanu” Press Trophy for the radio, TV, news agencies and online sections will be granted to the accredited journalists who will report on the fair.



    (translated by L. Simion)

  • Lessons from a Tragedy

    Lessons from a Tragedy

    October 30, 2015 is one of those days that Romania will never forget. What should have been for many young people a nice weekend night out at a rock gig, turned into the bleakest day of their lives. The last one, for tens of them. For other tens of young people it was the first day of a completely different life, marked by complex and unpredictable medical interventions, physical pain and grief caused by the nightmarish moments in Bucharest’s Colectiv nightclub, where a fire changed the destinies of hundreds of people in a matter of seconds. The tragedy brought to light many and serious administrative and legislative flaws. It sparked emotion, solidarity with the victims and outrage at the perceived culprits.



    The authorities launched inspections in all clubs and bars in Romania. A mere 10% of them comply with the relevant legislation, experts say, and warn that in case of an earthquake, for instance, thousands of people would die in Bucharest’s Old City. The Romanian Society of Architects warns that the fire at Colectiv has revealed severe irregularities and errors in the fire safety authorisation and inspection process. The president of the Romanian Society of Architects, Serban Tiganas, explains in an interview with Radio Romania that the situation of big city architecture in Romania is rather poor:



    “One of the reasons has to do with the legislative framework regulating the constructions sector. Romania is still governed by an obsolete outlook, which does not focus on the soft elements, so to say, the elements that are harder to assess or measure, such as the overall quality of architecture, and in which the essential thing is for the building not to come crumbling down during an earthquake, not to kill you while using it and to have enough polystyrene insulation to preserve heat. That’s just about it. So we have a rudimentary, imbalanced system of laws governing this sector. The second major problem is related to the enforcement of these laws, such as they are, with obviously good and reasonable parts, although difficult to implement. Romania is in a position where the inspection, fines and everything else entailed by enforcing these regulations face a lot of obstacles. And this is something everyone has learned well: you can build pretty much anything or stray from what the permit allows you to build, and nothing happens. And that is a disaster. The third problem is a matter of education, and here we have two aspects. On the one hand, there’s the education of the professionals in this sector. Our profession is subject to the pressure of degradation or of a loss of efficiency and coherence. On the other hand, there’s the education of the general public, in other words, you cannot have great architecture or be a good architect unless you have good clients. A good client is someone who understands the need for high-quality space, therefore the need for good architecture, instead of just focusing on cutting costs, as is usually the case in Romania.”



    The money was also the reason why the owners of Colectiv nightclub chose cheap and unsuitable material for sound insulation, a type of sponge that lighted instantly from the fireworks that were part of the show. The fire spread quickly and a thick smoke, heavy with toxic gases, caused severe internal burns to the victims. Meanwhile, the law regulating the authorisation of nightclub running, which was already under revision, was tightened, with fines substantially increased, the owners who breach regulations subject to criminal charges and the clubs closed down.



    On the other hand, Romania saw the exemplary mobilisation of civil society. Tens of thousands of people lit candles and laid flowers, organised silent marches and felt compelled to join in the support efforts. Thousands of people queued in hospitals to donate blood. Here is the director of the Bucharest Transfusion Centre, Doina Gosa:



    “This mobilisation is impressive, to be honest I have never seen anything like this in my life. People were extremely responsive to this tragedy… To the fact that most of the victims were so young, and died or suffered terrible burn injuries… As we all know now, the greatest possible physical pain is the one caused by burns. We’ve seen on all television channels that the doctors who gave first aid were also deeply affected and sympathised with the victims, although doctors are trained to do this and are accustomed to crises, to severe injuries and all sorts of traumas.”



    The tragedy prompted tens of thousands of people to take to the streets, in Bucharest and other cities in Romania and abroad. They demanded a reform of the entire political class, and following their protest, the Victor Ponta cabinet stepped down.

  • Rallies Carry on in Romania

    Rallies Carry on in Romania

    The fatal fire at Colectiv nightclub in downtown Bucharest on October 30 and the public outrage that followed it have caused an earthquake in central and local public administration, but the resignation of PM Victor Ponta did not appease the people, who continue to protest in many Romanian cities.



    As he had promised, the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis came down on Sunday night in Bucharests University Square, the meeting place of those who want a corruption-free country and politicians who focus on the national interest instead of their own gains. The demands expressed openly for the sixth consecutive night included the replacement of the political elite, early parliamentary elections, the appointment of a technocratic cabinet, or even the resignation of the countrys president.



    The presence of Klaus Iohannis in University Square animated the various groups of protesters, who crowded around to talk to the President. Some of them received answers, but most only managed to cry out their disappointment and demands, some of them applauded the President, others booed.



    “I want peace and quiet as soon as possible, and I want things to work, as you promised!


    “For 26 years a lot of laws were passed in Romania but against Romania and its people. We should cancel all of them and replace them with laws that protect our rights.


    “The voices in University Square must be heard, whether they come from the left or the right of the political spectrum. A political solution is needed, and you, as the President, are in a position to make this happen.



    After the President left the Square, some protesters gathered in an unplanned debate group:



    “Fellows, the greatest evil for the Romanian people is, in my opinion, parliamentary immunity. Moreover, I think a technocratic government for one year would give us a chance to elect good people.


    “We must keep in mind that politics works through political parties.



    Meanwhile, back to the Presidency headquarters, the head of state posted a message on his Facebook account, stating that what he saw in University Square was a sense of rebellion, but also hope that things can change. The political consultation process initiated by the President last week is yet to generate solutions, as the main parliamentary parties still hesitate to take responsibility for a new government. For the first time in Romania, civil society members were also invited to take part in the talks. Their message was that the current political class has lost its legitimacy and that the new cabinet must be formed of people having no problems with the judiciary.



    New talks are scheduled for early this week, in view of solving the political crisis, but the President is also expected to come up with suggestions for a solution.

  • November 6, 2015 UPDATE

    November 6, 2015 UPDATE

    The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has announced today that a new round of talks will be held next week, for the designation of a new prime minister. On Thursday and Friday the head of state met with representatives of parliamentary parties and, for the first time in Romanian politics, with civil society members. President Iohannis, who Thursday appointed the Education Minister Sorin Câmpeanu as interim PM, said a solution could be presented towards the end of next week. The talks take place after the Social Democrat Victor Ponta resigned, against the background of large scale street protests in the past few days. Last week’s deadly fire at a nightclub in Bucharest, which killed 32 people and left more than 100 severely injured, fuelled public anger at the political elite. Tens of thousands of people protested every evening in Bucharest and other Romanian cities, demanding the reform of the political class and demonstrating against corrupt politicians.



    65 people who were injured in last Friday’s fire at a Bucharest nightclub continue to be in a critical condition. The fire killed 32 people. The health minister, Nicolae Banicioiu, pointed out that skin transplant surgery has so far been performed on several patients and in some cases surgery was performed to help them breath. The state secretary, Raed Arafat, announced that several countries offered to take over some of the patients. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate prosecutors have started investigation for abuse of power at the city hall of Bucharest’s sector 4 where the tragedy occurred. They are investigating how the authorization for the functioning of the nightclub was issued. The three owners have been taken in temporary custody. They are being investigated for gross negligence and irresponsibility. In another development an explosion occurred Thursday night at a bread factory in Brasov, in central Romania, which killed one person and wounded another 5. The authorities are investigating the causes of the explosion.



    The growth of the Romanian economy will be accelerated this year and in 2016 reaching 3.5% and 4.1% respectively. It is supported by the fiscal relaxation measures that boost domestic consumption but that will deepen the budget deficit, show the autumn estimates made by the European Commission. The estimates are better in comparison with those made in spring. Romania’s economic growth may exceed expectations if Romania manages to absorb more European funds. Also the EC improved estimates related to the budget deficit from 1.2% in 2015 to 2.8% in 2016 in comparison with the spring prognosis when it had anticipated a budget deficit of 1.6% this year and of 3.5% in 2016. With a low unemployment rate and following the reduction by 4% of the VAT, domestic consumption is expected to grow in Romania in 2016 to reach a maximum post-crisis level, but the level will drop in 2017, the EC report shows. The EBRD also anticipates the growth of Romania’s economy by 3.5% in 2015 and by 3.7% in 2016.



    Refugees and immigrants will continue to come to Europe through Turkey, their number being likely to reach 5 thousand per day this winter, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said Thursday. This means that the total number of people who will reach the European continent this year will exceed one million, Reuters reports. As many as 760 thousand people already crossed the Mediterranean in 2015, reaching mainly Greece and Italy after fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq as well as other conflict areas in Africa. Over 3,400 immigrants have died this year in their attempt to reach Europe by sea.

  • November 5, 2015 UPDATE

    November 5, 2015 UPDATE

    Balance and stability in Romania are the two objectives of the interim prime minister Sorin Campeanu for the period in which he will hold this position. He was designated interim PM on Thursday by President Klaus Iohannis. In his first speech, he said he wanted the support of parliamentary parties with which he will maintain dialogue and gave assurances to the business environment that he would do his best not to generate loss of trust. After Wednesday’s resignation of PM Ponta, President Klaus Iohannis started consultations with the parliamentary parties with a view to designating a new candidate for the position of prime minister. On Thursday the president held consultations with the representatives of the Social Democratic Party, holding the majority in the governing coalition, with the National Liberal Party, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, both in opposition, and with the national minorities group. On Friday consultations will continue with the representatives of the National Union for the Progress of Romania and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, both in the governing coalition, and, for the first time, with the representatives of civil society, that, in the past days, has protested virulently in the street against the politicians’ corruption.



    The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday met with the interim PM Sorin Mihai Campeanu. The presidential administration pointed out that the talks focused on the priorities for the coming period, namely the state budget for 2016 and providing hospitals with all they need to take good care of the people injured in the terrible fire that occurred last Friday in a Bucharest nightclub. According to the quoted source, the two officials decided on the continuation of the ongoing projects that are essential for the development of Romania.



    Protests continued on Thursday for the third consecutive day in Bucharest and the main cities of Romania. Thousands of people have asked for changing the political class and eradicating corruption and also for punishing those who are responsible for the tragedy that occurred last Friday in a Bucharest nightclub when more than 30 young people died. On Wednesday tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Romania asking for the dissolution of Parliament and holding early elections.



    The process of appointing a new government increases uncertainties over macroeconomic policies, especially that the budget for 2016 has not yet been established, said Thursday the governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isarescu. He pointed out that the effects of this move on the economy would depend on how fast the new government would be formed and on the decisions they make. Mugur Isarescu has given assurances that the macro-economic situation is stable and in general the country’s economic situation is good. In another development, the national bank decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate at 1.75% per year and to keep the current level of the minimum required reserve rates applicable to the bank’s liabilities in the national currency and in hard currency.



    133 people, of whom 80 in a serious condition, are still in hospital following the fire in the Colectiv nightclub which caused the death of 32 people, the authorities announced. The death toll could rise significantly, doctors have warned, given that the club décor that burnt in the fire gave off extremely noxious gases and the injuries caused are atypical, including burns involving large areas of skin, lung necrosis and extensive respiratory damage. Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu has given assurances that the hospitals where the injured are being taken care of have all necessary medicines and materials and has hailed the support of foreign doctors.



    The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a majority Romanian-speaking population, will check the legality of the dismissal through a no confidence vote of the three-party government headed by the Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet. A request in this respect was submitted to the Court by a Liberal Democrat MP, who says that the motion’s initiators, the Socialists and pro-Russian Communists, have accused Strelet of corruption without presenting any proof in support of their accusation. In spite of being part of the government coalition, the Democratic Party MPs voted in favor of the motion. Negotiations are under way for forming a new majority. Pundits are skeptical about the result and do not rule out the possibility of early elections.

  • Solidarity with Tragedy Victims

    Solidarity with Tragedy Victims

    Friday nights fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, which killed more than 30 people, has deeply impressed the Romanian society, which has mobilized in an unprecedented humanitarian effort. Sympathy messages are pouring in from abroad as well.



    President Klaus Iohannis Monday said he was impressed with the messages received from foreign heads of state and government, ambassadors and other officials, and thanked all of them. “There are warm words of support and encouragement sent to all Romanians, and I am reading them with a lot of emotion, Iohannis said. The President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, was among the first to send his condolences to the victims families.



    In turn, the European Commissioner for Regional Policies Corina Cretu voiced her grief and shock upon hearing about the tragedy in Bucharest. She called on fellow Romanians to remain united through this difficult moment. The embassies of the USA and the Russian Federation flew their flags at half-mast, while the ambassadors of the USA, Great Britain and France came to the Colectiv club to light candles and bring flowers in memory of the victims. We should note that several foreign citizens were among the victims of the fire.



    While on a visit to Romania, the President of Poland Andrzej Duda laid flowers and lit a candle at Colectiv. The Presidents of Armenia, Estonia and Turkey have also sent messages of condolences to their Romanian counterpart. The authorities of the neighbouring Republic of Moldova have donated nearly 700 litres of blood to help the injured, while in Chisinau thousands of people have lit candles and kept a moment of silence in front of the Romanian Embassy building.



    President Nicolae Timofti said it was time for the Republic of Moldova to prove it stood by its Romanian brothers, given that Romania has always shown its solidarity with the citizens of Moldova.



    Prince Charles, known as a friend of Romanians, wrote, “I was utterly appalled to hear of the dreadful tragedy in the Bucharest nightclub on Friday and wanted you to know how deeply I feel for all those Romanians who lost their loved ones in this terrible fire. My heart also goes out to the poor victims who are in hospital and to their families who wait anxiously by their bedsides. My thoughts and special prayers are with you and the Romanian people, Prince Charles said in a message to President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

  • A national tragedy

    A national tragedy

    Romania is in shock after Friday’s tragedy, when hundreds of young people, who had come to see a show by the band ‘Goodbye to Gravity’ at the ‘Colectiv’ Club in Bucharest, were the victims of a fire started by fireworks. To most of us, words are useless. That is why, on Sunday, over ten thousand people participated in a silent march, in memory of the dozens of young people killed and in solidarity with the hundreds that are still in hospital, many of them in critical condition.



    At first, following a call posted on Facebook, some one thousand people gathered in the emblematic University Square, in downtown Bucharest, but their number grew significantly until they reached the place of the terrible tragedy. Romanians of all ages, most of them dressed in black, marched in a silence that was more shaking than any cry of pain or revolt. Those heading the parade were holding a huge flag, with the mourning sign on it, and reading ‘Heroes will never die’.



    “It’s true that the tragic event impressed everybody. This is not something that one can comment on, at least I cannot. I’ve just seen somebody at the chapel, somebody I knew. May God have mercy on their souls! What can I say, it’s truly shocking!”



    “It could’ve been me, It could’ve been anybody. I hope everything will be done as it should and they will not try to sweep it under the rug. The people responsible must pay for what happened.”



    At the place of the tragedy, which had turned into an open-air shrine, another two thousand people had already gathered, bringing flowers and lit candles. Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis, Princess Margareta of Romania, the US and French Ambassadors to Bucharest, Hans Klemm and Francois Saint-Paul respectively, as well as public figures, went to the place and took a moment of silence. Lit candles and flowers have been laid in other towns and cities across Romania.



    In Bucharest, people’s spontaneous solidarity, right after the inferno at the club, has been impressive. The entire medical staff has been exemplary. They have been helped by medical students and also by specialists coming from Israel and France. The number of blood donors has tripled, one of them being the Israeli ambassador to Bucharest, Mrs. Tamar Samash. Volunteer teams have been busy bringing food and water to both the victims and the medical staff. Several store chains have provided various products, and travel companies have offered free plane or bus tickets for the victims’ relatives. The Psychologists’ Association has provided free counseling for families, and a lawyers’ association has announced its availability to help, free of charge, any legal action that the relatives may want to start.



    Many foreign officials and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Bucharest have conveyed messages of condolences to the grieving families and to the Romanian people.




  • Measures in the aftermath of the Bucharest nightclub fire

    Measures in the aftermath of the Bucharest nightclub fire

    Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has called on the responsible authorities to conduct a serious and effective investigation into the tragedy at the ‘Colectiv’ club in Bucharest, which ended in a staggering number of casualties. The head of state has also called on authorities to take the necessary measures and make sure that such tragic events will never happen again. President Klaus Iohannis:



    “We are no longer allowed to tolerate the incompetence of some authorities, the inefficiency of some institutions, and we can no longer allow corruption to spread and kill. Each and every one of us must act responsibly, like active and accountable citizens, who know when and how to take action, together, because they care about the country and society they live in.”



    Prime Minister Victor Ponta has called for an urgent control plan targeting all the clubs, restaurants and other entertainment facilities in the country, to prevent such events from occurring again. Inspectors have already started to conduct large-scale control operations in restaurants, clubs, cinema halls and malls, which usually host events, to see whether they observe the legal functioning conditions. These control measures are precautionary, and documents are verified to see if the owners have got the necessary licenses authorizing them to host shows that involve the use of pyrotechnical and flammable substances.



    The measures have been taken as the tragedy at the ‘Colectiv’ club has raised many questions as to the way in which authorities allow such facilities to function. Witnesses to the disaster have said that the materials used to ensure the sound insulation at the club were not fireproof, and there was nobody there to organize the evacuation, as the law dictates. Cristian Soricut, a specialist in the field, has told Radio Romania:



    “The first measures concern the building as such. It must be done with fireproof materials, the facility must have proper access ways, and the building or modernization license actually must be issued on the basis of these requirements. Secondly, it’s a matter of organization. Also, security in case of fire is a major thing. Here we can talk about fume exhaust systems, alarm system, fire extinguishers.”



    Fire prevention legislation will become harsher. The State Secretary with the Interior Ministry, Raed Arafat, has said that people in charge were working on changing the legislation when the tragedy occurred, and that just a few papers are yet to be issued for the law to be enforced. He has explained that fees are not enough to make club owners take all the necessary measures and, in the future, those who will not have the necessary documentation might face criminal charges and their facilities will be closed down.


  • November 2, 2015 UPDATE

    November 2, 2015 UPDATE

    COLECTIV NIGHTCLUB FIRE — Romanian president Klaus Iohannis on Monday awarded the National Order of Merit in the rank of Knight to blogger Claudiu Petre and musician Adrian Rugina, who gave their lives trying to save several people from the deadly fire on Friday night in Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest. Meanwhile the death toll has reached 31 dead, with 135 people still severely injured. According to Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu, a patient died on Monday, while of the 135 injured, 90 are in critical or severe condition. The Romanian official added the death toll might rise in the coming days. 10 of the patients have been released from hospital care. Monday was the third day of national mourning in Romania. The tragedy prompted an impressive mobilisation of the Romanian doctors, helped by fellow physicians from Israel and France, and the number of blood donors has tripled. In Bucharest, Senators and Deputies held a moment of silence in the memory of the victims of the deadly fire. Hundreds of people gathered on Monday in front of the nightclub to bring floral tributes and light candles. The Prosecutor’s Office and the Police have opened a criminal investigation. Two of the club’s owners on Monday were brought in by prosecutors, suspected of manslaughter and involuntary bodily harm. Several foreign embassies in Bucharest flew the Romanian flag at half mast. Numerous countries have expressed condolences for the victims of the tragedy, while the Foreign Ministry has announced a book of condolences will be opened in each of Romania’s diplomatic missions abroad.



    INVESTIGATION — Former Minister of Regional Development and Tourism Elena Udrea is being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in a new corruption case regarding a 3-million-euro loan contracted by the Romanian Development Bank (BRD). According to a press release, Udrea is suspected of accessory to abuse of office. In the same case Popa Sorin Mihai, a former deputy director of the bank at the time, is being investigated for obtaining undue benefits and abuse of office. This is the fourth criminal investigation involving Elena Udrea, after the Microsoft affair, the Bute Boxing Gala and the Hidroelectrica scandal. In the latter Udrea was indicted on Friday. A close associate of former president Traian Basescu, gaining in influence during his two terms in office, Udrea is one of the most influential politicians investigated for corruption.



    NATIONAL BANK — The currency reserves of the National Bank of Romania went up in October by 2.8 billion euros, to 31,5 billion, reads a National Bank press release. The increase is mostly due to 2.2 billion euros in revenues the Finance Ministry obtained after the National Bank issued eurobonds last month. Romania’s gold reserve is close to the 104 tons mark, totalling 3.5 billion euros.



    STATISTIC — The number of foreign tourists arriving in Romania grew by nearly 20% in the first 9 months of the year, according to the National Statistics Institute. Arrivals in September 2015 were 18.5% higher than in the same months of the previous year. However, in 2014 for example, the money spent by foreign tourists across Romania, around 1.1 billion euros, accounts for less than the total incomes of Disneyland Paris — 1.3 billion euros, the INS explains. According to the World Tourism Organisation, Romania has a share of 0.3% in world tourism in terms of the number of tourists and 0.4% in terms of revenues from tourism. In other news, as of Monday Romania is taking part in World Travel Market 2015 (WTM). This is the second-largest travel fair in the world, bringing together over 180 countries and more than 50,000 experts. Romania has a 308 sq.m. pavilion at this fair.



    VISIT — Romanian president Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday is receiving his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, who is on an official visit to Bucharest. The Polish President will also meet with Prime Minister Victor Ponta. On Wednesday, Andrzej Duda will co-chair, alongside Klaus Iohannis, the top-level meeting of states in Central and Eastern Europe, attended by NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow. Taking part will also be the presidents of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary and the Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies.



    MOLDOVA — The Liberal-Democrats in the Republic of Moldova are yet to decide whether they will take part in the negotiations with the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party to form a new ruling coalition. Sworn in less than 3 months ago, the Cabinet headed by the Liberal Democratic Party leader Valeriu Streleţ was brought down on Thursday through a no-confidence motion tabled by the Socialists and the pro-Russian Communists, but also backed by the Democrats. On Friday, President Nicolae Timofti appointed the Liberal deputy-PM Gheorghe Brega as interim prime minister. He said the priority for the Republic of Moldova is to form a new pro-European government as soon as possible.



    PLANE CRASH – Some of the victims of the Egypt plane crash were repatriated to Russia on Monday. The Airbus A 321 operated by the Russian airline Metrojet, with 224 people on board, crashed on Saturday shortly after taking off, in the Sinai region in Egypt. It was carrying Russian tourists who had spent their holidays in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh back to Sankt Petersburg. All the passengers and crew died. The investigation, in which Russian experts are also taking part, is difficult, because the remains of the aircraft are scattered on a 20-km area. The two black boxes have been recovered and will be analysed in Moscow. This is the worst crash in the history of Russian aviation. A similar accident took place in 1985, when an Aeroflot plane went down in Uzbekistan, killing 200 people.

  • November 2, 2015

    November 2, 2015

    This is the third day of national mourning in Romania, commemorating the victims of the fire that occurred Friday night at a club in Bucharest. According to the latest reports 30 people died and 150 were injured. Ninety patients admitted in 12 hospitals in the capital city are in a critical or severe condition and the number of deaths may further increase. Prosecutors and the police have opened an investigation and are hearing the witnesses. The tragedy prompted an impressive mobilisation of the Romanian doctors, helped by fellow physicians from Israel and France, and the number of blood donors has tripled. Many countries have sent their condolences to the victims families.



    The former Romanian minister for regional development and tourism Elena Udrea has been heard today at the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in a corruption investigation involving a 3 million euro loan taken out from the private bank BRD. She is facing charges of accessory to abuse of office. Thirty people are prosecuted in this case for the fraudulent contracting of 17 loans. This is the fourth case against Elena Udrea opened by the anti-corruption prosecutors, after the ones known as Microsoft, Gala Bute and Hidroelectrica, in which the former minister was prosecuted on Friday. A close aide of former president Traian Basescu and very influential during his ten years in office, Udrea is one of the highest-profile Romanian politicians probed into for corruption.



    The number of foreign tourists arriving in Romania grew by nearly 20% in the first 9 months of the year, according to the National Statistics Institute. Arrivals in September 2015 were 18.5% higher than in the same months of the previous year. However, in 2014 for example, the money spent by foreign tourists across Romania, around 1.1 billion euros, accounts for less than the total incomes of Disneyland Paris – 1.3 billion euros, the INS explains. According to the World Tourism Organisation, Romania has a share of 0.3% in world tourism in terms of the number of tourists and 0.4% in terms of revenues from tourism. In other news, as of today Romania is taking part in World Travel Market 2015 (WTM). This is the second-largest travel fair in the world, bringing together over 180 countries and more than 50,000 experts. Romania has a 308 sq.m. stand at this fair.



    The European Union Monday promised to work with the new government in Ankara, after the early legislative elections held Sunday in Turkey. According to the EU, the elections, won by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) have confirmed the Turkish peoples strong commitment to the democratic process. The EU promised to join efforts with the new government to improve its partnership with Turkey and carry on bilateral cooperation, to the benefit of all citizens. PM Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party won 49.4% of the votes and is to hold 316 of the 550 seats in Parliament. The Republican Peoples Party (CHP) came out second, with 24.5% of the votes, followed by the Nationalist Action Party with around 12%. The pro-Kurdish HDP carried little over 10% of the votes.



    The Liberal-Democrats in the Republic of Moldova are yet to decide whether they will take part in the negotiations with the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party to form a new ruling coalition. Sworn in less than 3 months ago, the Cabinet headed by the Liberal Democratic Party leader Valeriu Streleţ was brought down on Thursday through a no-confidence motion tabled by the Socialists and the pro-Russian Communists, but also backed by the Democrats. On Friday, President Nicolae Timofti appointed the Liberal deputy-PM Gheorghe Brega as interim prime minister. He said the priority for the Republic of Moldova is to form a new pro-European government as soon as possible.



    Some of the victims of the Egypt plane crash have been repatriated to Russia today. The Airbus A 321 operated by the Russian airline Metrojet, with 224 people on board, crashed on Saturday shortly after taking off, in the Sinai region in Egypt. It was carrying Russian tourists who had spent their holidays in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh back to Sankt Petersburg. All the passengers and crew died. The investigation, in which Russian experts are also taking part, is difficult, because the remains of the aircraft are scattered on a 20-km area. The two black boxes have been recovered and will be analysed in Moscow. This is the worst crash in the history of Russian aviation. A similar accident took place in 1985, when an Aeroflot plane went down in Uzbekistan, killing 200 people.

  • 27 dead in Bucharest nightclub fire

    27 dead in Bucharest nightclub fire

    According to information provided by the authorities, the death toll of the powerful fire that broke out in a nightclub in downtown Bucharest on Friday night has taken the number of victims to 27. Over 180 persons are being treated in hospital. The line authorities have issued a code red allert. It is an emergency plan that comes into effect at the Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU) and the Interior Ministry when prompt action is required in multiple-victim accidents, and particularly if the number of victims is beyond the response capacity. In such cases, more forces are mobilized. Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea has said the line ministry is in a state of general alert, following the fire. Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has expressed his compassion for and solidarity with the families of those affected by the tragedy.