Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ No. 4/ 4th Year 16th of February – 1st of March 2011 Politics • The visit of President Băsescu to Kuweit • ForMin Teodor Baconschi is paying a visit to Israel and Palestinian National Authority • Minister Teodor Baconschi met with Jean-Claude Mignon, head of France’s delegation • to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly • Macedonian ForMin, Antonio Milososki, signed in Bucharest a Memorandum of cooperation in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration field • The official opening in Edinburgh of a Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania • Joint statement adopted by Romanian and Bulgarian Parliaments • Romania, Visegrad Group campaigning for deepening Eastern Partnership • Romania Continues Efforts To Evacuate Its Citizens From Libya Economics • PM Emil Boc: List of public-private partnership projects completed by 1 March • Romania’s tourism will be promoted on the internet • Romania May Rethink Entire Energy Strategy • Record 100-million-euro bio product exports for Romania in 2010 • E.ON Energy Romania - integrated natural gas and electricity supplier • Maritime cooperation protocol between Romania and Turkey • Romania and Turkey may cooperate in IT field • Rockefeller Group plans to invest over 100 million euro in the real estate market in the region including Romania • Economy Ministry: Romania Government to privatize Oltchim next year Culture and Education • Service of installation for the Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University • Politics of Memory in Post-Communist Europe • Bestowal of the Order "Military Virtue" to Scottish fireman • Photography exhibition “From East to West: A Portrait of Romanian Diaspora” • Opening of Rita Horowitz water painting exhibition • Annual meeting of the Romanian health care professionals working in the UK • Ion Grigorescu @ Tate Modern • Gazes and Faces: Romanian Portraits • Culture Power/ Culture, Modernity and Extremism • Sighisoara reaches final stage of Europe Prize Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Tel. 020 7937 9666 Fax: 020 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 The visit of President Băsescu to Kuweit The Arab states in the Gulf region represent a priority for the foreign policy of Romania, the main objective being the increase of our country’s visibility in the area and the business people’ s interest for Romania, stated President Traian Basescu during his visit to Kuweit. According to a press release of the Presidential Administration, on the occasion of the visit to Kuweit, President Basescu had talks with Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, the emir of Kuweit, occasion on which the head of state « presented Romania’s interest to the consolidation and development of bilateral cooperation in the domains of mutual interest, especially th economic one ». « According to what was stated by President Traian Basescu, the Arab states in the Gulf region represent a priority for the foreign policy of Romania, the main objective being the increase of our country’s visibility in the area and the interest of the business people community to the opportunities for investment offered by our country. They were presented the opportunities of cooperation in the domain : energy, industry, agriculture and tourism », the source said. In th same context, the head of state announced the organisation in Bucharest, between 8-9 March 2011 of the Economic Forum for Cooperation in the Gulf – Romania : business opportunities in Central and South-Eastern Europe. This initiative is part of Romania’s strategy to ensure the Romanian presence in the member states of CCD and draw investments from these countries, according to the press release. At the same time, the two heads of state discussed the topic of the recent evolutions on the political stage in North Africa and Middle East, exchanging opinions with regard to the meaning of the people’s movement in the region and the impact of political evolution on the perspective of peace process. President Traian Basescu had a meeting with Sheik Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, prime minister of Kuweit. According to the presidential administration, the talks offered the occasion of an analysis of the projects started on the occasion of the official visit of President Basescu to Kuweit in 2008. At the same time, the Kuweit prime minister expressed his appreciation for Romania’s initiative to organise the Economic Forum in Bucharest, in partnership with the Council for Cooperation of the Gulf, confirming Kuweit’s interest for the event. « The same appreciation for Romania’s initiative, regarding the organisation of the Economic Forum was expressed by other heads of delegation, present in Kuweit, with whom the Romanian head of state had talks » the press release shows. President Traian Basescu took part between 25-26 February to the manifestations organised in Kuweit on the occasion of 50 years celebration since the independence of this state and 20 years since the liberation from under Iraqi occupation. (ActMedia, 28 February 2011) ForMin Teodor Baconschi is paying a visit to Israel and Palestinian National Authority Romanian Foreign Minister Baconschi started a visit to Israel on February 28; a visit to the Palestinian National Authority is on Minister Baconschi's agenda on March 1, informed Foreign Ministry spokesperson Doris Mircea. The visit to the State of Israel takes place at the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The Romanian chief diplomat will be received by President of Israel, Shimon Peres, and will hold talks with his Israeli counterpart, as well as with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Policy Committee Shaul Mofaz, and the with opposition leader Tzipi Livni. Arundel House, 4 Palace Green London W8 4QD UK Tel. 020 7937 9666 Fax: 020 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ On the same occasion, Minister Teodor Baconschi will visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum, where he will lay a wreath; the Romanian ForMin will also meet with representatives of the local community of Romania-born citizens and with high-profile members of the local business environment. The talks with the high Israeli officials will provide an opportunity of assessing the stage of bilateral relations and explore ways to strengthen such ties in areas of mutual interest. The sides will also exchange opinions on developments in North Africa and the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry official pointed out. The agenda of the Foreign Minister's visit to Ramallah - the administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority - includes a meeting with Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and of the National Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, with Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Government Salam Fayyad, and with his Palestinian counterpart Riad Al-Malki, said the cited source. Talks with the high Palestinian officials will focus on the prospects of bilateral cooperation, especially on economic ground, the possibilities for Romania to contribute to the construction of Palestinian institutions, as well as on recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East. (ActMedia, 28 February 2011) Minister Teodor Baconschi met with Jean-Claude Mignon, head of France’s delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Press release, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania 02/22/2011 Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi received, on 22 February 2011, a group of French parliamentarians, headed by Jean-Claude Mignon, chief of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The visit takes place at the invitation of the head of the Romanian parliamentary delegation to PACE, deputy Cezar Preda, and falls in the context of parliamentary diplomacy demarches in support of Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area. The Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the need for direct, open political dialogue between Romania and France, with a view to overcoming the current difficulties, and showed Romania was prepared to join the Schengen Area, as confirmed by all the evaluation missions. “We need a clear perspective and we are ready to respond to all specific concerns of the French partners,” Minister Baconschi stated. Moreover, the Minister said European Union security was a priority to Romania, this country being as capable as the other Member States to ensure it at the highest standards. Major investment in securing the Union’s external border and the cutting-edge technology used are arguments to this effect. Speaking of Roma social integration, Minister Baconschi emphasized the full awareness of the responsibility incumbent on the Romanian authorities. Against this background, he specified Romania wanted an approach geared to identifying solutions and tangible measures to support the Romanian citizens in distress in the territory of the French state. Macedonian ForMin, Antonio Milososki, signed in Bucharest