VISIT Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, who is paying
a four-day formal visit to Rome, the first by a Romanian high official in the
past 45 years, on Sunday held talks with representatives of the Orthodox, Greek
and Roman-Catholic churches at the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox
Archbishopric of Italy. The Romanian official’s agenda also included the
participation in a symbolic event, the projection of Romania’s flag colours on the
Column of Emperor Trajan, who, in 106 a.d. conquered the ancient kingdom of Dacia,
which was located on Romania’s present territory. President Iohannis is
expected to hold talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella on Monday.
The Romanian president’s agenda also includes talks with representatives of the
Romanian community in Italy, the largest Romanian community abroad, which at
present stays at 1.5 million people, as well as participation in a
Romania-Italy business forum. Iohannis’ visit to Italy comes at a time when
Romania celebrates 100 years since the union of its principalities and 10 years
since the two countries signed their Strategic Consolidated Partnership.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT Romanian Agriculture Minister, Petre Daea will send on
Monday to Brussels, the documents Romania needs to apply for a financial
support from the European Commission to combat the effects of the African Swine
Fever. Romania is expected to receive 40 million euros, which is to be invested
in laboratories and the proper medical equipment to detect the disease and rebuild
its livestock. According to Daea, out of the 8096 households, which were affected
by the disease, over 62 hundred have been paid damages.
MARATHON Kenyan runner Hosea Kipkemboi and Ethiopian
runner Almaz Gelana Erba are the winners of the international marathon race
hosted by Bucharest on Saturday and Sunday. The event brought together 19
thousand participants from over 70 countries. Saturday saw races for children
and teenagers.
IMPORTS Romania’s imports of fruit and vegetables stood at 783.1 million Euros
in the first half of 2018 whereas the value of its exports in this area was almost
10 times lower, data released by the country’s National Institute for
Statistics show. Romania’s exports of fruit and vegetables was of 78.6 million Euros
in the year’s first half and the country’s deficit in the international trade with
fruit and vegetables amounts to 704.5 million Euros. According to the same
survey, imports of fruit and vegetables rose by 4.8% between January 1st
and June 30th as compared to the same period last year while exports
saw a 9.6% increase against the first six months of 2017.
FOOTBALL Romania’s national eleven on Sunday ended in a goaless draw their game
against Serbia, a match counting towards Group 4 of the newly-founded Nations
League. Following a challenge in the box and a penalty shot, which the Serbs
failed to convert, an outnumbered Romanian representative managed to put on a
good show against the visitors on Sunday. Serbia still remains the group’s
leader with 8 points followed by Romania with 6. Romania has two more games in
hand; our footballers will be playing Lithuania in a home match and take on
Montenegro away in November. On Tuesday, Romania’s Under-21 selection will be
playing on their own turf the similar side of Lichtenstein in their last game
of the European Championship qualifiers. Romania’s youth team tops the group
standings and is hankering for a draw to qualify again for the first time in
the past 20 years for a final Under-21 tournament.
(translated by bill)