Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ No. 8/ 5th Year 1st – 15th of May 2012 Politics 1. Presidents of Romania and Republic of Moldova wish acceleration of joint energy projects 2. President Basescu believes construction of Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline might be completed in 2014 3. PM Victor Ponta presented the programme for government and the members of the Cabinet 4. Members of the Romanian Cabinet 5. Prime Minister Victor Ponta: We are determined to work together for the good of Romania and Europe 6. PM Victor Ponta: “NATO can count on Romania as a serious, reliable and predictable member of NATO” 7. The office of Foreign Minister has changed hands 8. State Secretary Bogdan Aurescu received the delegation of Japan‟s parliamentary League of Friendship with Romania 9. Thierry de Montbrial launched 'Romanian Journal' in Bucharest 10. MFA Biking Tour Economics 1. Romania‟s Pavilion at EXPO 2012 Yeosu officially opened 2. Romania, 4th in the EU in terms of March 2012 retail trade growth 3. First Dacia Duster cars arrive in the UK 4. Renault Group invests over 35m Euros in training Romanian workers 5. Kirchhoff inaugurates plant in Craiova that will work for Ford Romania 6. Romania exports 80pct of its organic honey production 7. Pound trades at 5.54 lei Culture 1. The Ambassador of Romania visited the University of Essex 2. Shakespeare International Festival in Bucharest 3. East Meets East: The Romanian New Wave in the Olympic Boroughs 4. Poet and broadcaster Robert Şerban debuts in London at the British Library 5. Fairytale Images and Books 6. Glorious new sound with dazzling Romanian pianist-composer Lucian Ban and legendary violist Mat Maneri 7. Enescu presented at the Newbury Festival by the Văcărescu – Tsunakawa Duo 8. Alexandra Dăriescu premiers Lipatti‟s “Concertino” with the Orchestra of St Paul's 9. After the New Man: Photographic Exhibition by Dana Popa 10. Meet “the ROlympians” 11. Bucharest Calling! Ioana Paun presents new work in London 12. Norman Manea: Royal Society of Literature Fellowship Ceremony and Book Launch 13. The Body Adorned: Folk Romanian Costume, Inspired by Queen Maria‟s Style 14. LEARN ROMANIAN IN ROMANIA 15. Sergiu Celibidache 100 Festival Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Phone: 0044 (0)20 7937 9666 Fax: 0044 (0)20 7937 8069 e-mail: [email protected] web site: www.london.mae.ro Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Politics Presidents of Romania and Republic of Moldova wish acceleration of joint energy projects President Traian Basescu and his counterpart from the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Timofti, decided during the meeting in Bucharest to accelerate the development of energy projects already established, including Iasi-Ungheni (north- east country) gas pipeline. 'We had discussions on how we can contribute to the binding of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, via Romania, as the border country for the Republic of Moldova, and we decided together to accelerate the development of the already established projects, among which Iasi - Ungheni gas pipeline, Falciu, Gotesti and Suceava Balti power lines, installation of optical fiber between Isaccea and Chisinau, Iasi-Ungheni- Chisinau railway upgrading, building bridges over the Prut and many other projects. Extremely important is that the gas pipeline to link the gas system of Romania to that of the Republic of Moldova is partially funded by the EU, going that the two countries will bring their own contribution to the project ', President Traian Basescu said in a joint statement with Nicolae Timofti, held at Cotroceni Palace. President Basescu was keen to thank Timofti for his first bilateral visit paid to Bucharest, in the footsteps of the one to Brussels. He stressed that, during the talks with his Republic of Moldova counterpart, issues related to the strategic partnership between Romania and the Republic of Moldova and its EU joining were also discussed. Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Phone: 0044 (0)20 7937 9666 Fax: 0044 (0)20 7937 8069 e-mail: [email protected] web site: www.london.mae.ro Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ President Basescu believes construction of Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline might be completed in 2014 President Traian Basescu said that concerning the interconnection of the energetic infrastructures of the Republic of Moldova to those of Romania, an important project is the construction of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline that might be completed around 2014. 'At this moment, being financially backed by the European Union we try to interconnect the energetic infrastructures of the Republic of Moldova to those of Romania and implicitly of the EU. We have various projects and I would not want to limit ourselves only to the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, because we rely on the power lines Falciu-Golesti and Suceava-Balti - these are new electric lines, for 400 kW, to be able to make a more rapid and better transfer of energy. Moreover, by increasing the capacities of our power lines, we shall succeed in interconnecting also a part of the capacities of providing power energy of Ukraine and Russia to UE and the other way around,' President Traian Basescu told public Radio Romania News station. President Basescu stressed there is no political party in Romania adopting a different approach on the Republic of Moldova or not backing the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline project. 'In addition, there is also the project aiming to upgrade the Iasi-Ungheni railway, the project aimed at installing the optical fiber between Isaccea and Chisinau. The gas pipeline is not the sole project. When the issue of funding Romania's interconnection to Bulgaria and Hungary was discussed at the meeting of the European Council, we raised also the problem of the interconnections. Of course, it is a partial funding, of 50 percent, with the rest of the amount to be paid by Romania and the Republic of Moldova. At today's talks, I told President Timofti that out of the nonrefundable aid of 100 million, Romania is ready to fully cover the costs that have to be borne by the two states. At present, as regards this gas pipeline and the connection Falciu-Golesti and Suceava-Balti, the electrical connection, I can tell you that the feasibility studies are currently conducted,' the head of state also said. (ActMedia, 10 May, 2012) PM Victor Ponta presented the programme for government and the members of the Cabinet Bucharest, May 7th/ Government of Romania – Press Office/ “We aim at a radical change of the mode of governance, a change in attitude, priorities, direction and people wherever it might be the case”, declared Prime Minister Ponta. Details of the full statement of the Prime Minister, please enter: http://www.gov.ro/pm-victor-ponta-we-aim-at-a- radical-change-of-the-mode-of-governance-a- change-in-attitude-priorities-direction-and-people- wherever-it-might-be__l2a117076.html Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Phone: 0044 (0)20 7937 9666 Fax: 0044 (0)20 7937 8069 e-mail: [email protected] web site: www.london.mae.ro Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Members of the Romanian Cabinet Prime Minister – Mr. Victor Viorel Ponta Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Public Finance – Mr. Florin Georgescu Minister of Administration and the Interior – Mr. Ioan Rus Minister of Foreign Affairs – Mr. Andrei Marga Minister of Justice – Mr. Titus Corlatean Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development – Mr. Daniel Constantin Minister of Labour, Family and Social Protection – Mrs. Mariana Câmpeanu Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Environment – Mr. Daniel Chitoiu Minister of Transport and Infrastructure – Mr. Ovidiu Ioan Silaghi; Minister of Environment and Forests – Mrs. Rovana Plumb Minister of Regional Development and Tourism, Mr. Eduard Hellvig Minister of National Defence – Mr. Corneliu Dobritoiu Minister of Education, Research, Youth and Sports – Mr. Ioan Mang Minister of Health – Mr. Vasile Cepoi Minister of Communications and Information Society – Mr. Dan Nica Minister of Culture and National Patrimony– Mr. Mircea Diaconu Minister of European Affairs – Mr. Leonard Orban Minister for Relation with Parliament – Mr. Mircea Duşa Minister Delegate for Administration – Mr. Victor Paul Dobre Minister Delegate for the Business Environment – Mr. Lucian Isar Minister Delegate for Social Dialogue – Mr. Liviu Marian Pop Prime Minister Victor Ponta: We are determined to work together for the good of Romania and Europe Bucharest, May 9th/ Government of Romania – Press Office/ Today, Prime Minister Victor Ponta has attended, along with Cabinet members a meeting with ambassadors of EU Member States accredited to Bucharest. Prime Minister has stated that on May 9, on Europe‟s Day, it is the best opportunity to reaffirm the determination of the Romanian Government to fulfill all commitments at European level. "This special day is the best opportunity to assure you that we are really determined to work together for the good of Romania and Europe," the Head of the Executive has sent to European ambassadors accredited