Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ____________________________________________________________________________________________ No. 2/ 4th Year 15th - 31st of January 2011 Politics 1. The annual meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Bucharest 2. Romanian integrated customs system for border security praised by EU Schengen diplomats 3. PM Emil Boc assures Croatian counterpart of Bucharest support for Zagreb's EU entry 4. CSAT endorses draft National Strategy for integrated border management 5. We want normal relation, on equal bases, with Russian Federation 6. We are working on a Pope’s visit to Bucharest 7. Romania’s BSEC Chairmanship Economics 1. We will start this year infrastructure upgrading of interest to Dacia Renault plant 2. Banks are interested in staying in Romania 3. Deutsche Bank could enter Romanian market 4. World Bank approves 300mln Euros loan for Romania 5. EBRD supports development of rural leasing in Romania 6. CEC Bank needs funds, privatisation seen likely 7. Romania is to come out on foreign markets in first quarter 8. Pound trades at 4.95 lei Culture and Education 1. A charity evening celebrating Romanian music & art 2. Meeting of the Committee of Hospices of Hope Romania foundation 3. Opening of Rita Horowitz water painting exhibition 4. Acting the Manager and Managing the Act - Behind the scenes with Constantin Chiriac, in an open discussion with Dr Mike Phillips OBE 5. In Romania, art sales exceeded 8 million Euros in 2010 6. The Cage by Adrian Sitaru wins Grand Prix at Prague International Short Film Festival 7. Prestigious line-up for Enescu music festival 20th edition 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 We intend 2011 to be the year of Romanians in terms of foreign policy Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - President Traian Basescu told a recent meeting with heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Bucharest that the Romanian state officials intend 2011 to be the year of Romanians in terms of foreign policy. "Among the events the Romanian people will celebrate this year is the centennial birth anniversary of Emil Cioran (...) Emil Cioran is a great Romanian author and philosopher who created a huge amount of works outside Romania, specifically in France. His contribution to the development of the Romanian and French cultures, and by this to the building of a durable bridge between the two countries, is remarkable. I mentioned Emil Cioran because he is a significant representative of the Romanian Diaspora and we intend 2011 to be the year of Romanians in terms of foreign policy," the President said. The President opened his speech by reviewing the events that marked the year 2010. "It was the year of big tragedies, from the major earthquake in Haiti, the oil spill in the US, the floods in Pakistan, the fires in Russia and Israel, numerous aviation accidents, including the one that left Poland's president and his wife dead, to the cholera epidemics in the same hard-hit Haiti. Yet, it was also the year of hope for the citizens of Moldova, who reaffirmed their trust in the pro-European coalition of Chisinau, for the Iraqi citizens, who witnessed the end of a long- going political crisis, and for the citizens of Greece and Ireland, who felt European solidarity besides the bitter taste of economic austerity," said President Basescu. He also told the diplomats about the big global changes, including the fact that the presence in the world markets of China, which became the world's second largest economy, is being increasingly more felt. The President underscored that this year Romania will mainly pursue foreign policy objectives that have direct and practical consequences on the daily life of the people. Accession to the Schengen Area this year remains a major objective and Romania should not be treated discriminatorily. "Accession to the Schengen Area this year remains a major objective to Romania. (...) In a union of democratic states, such as the EU is, the rules unanimously established by their representatives have to be observed. I can assure you that we are equally concerned with providing security for the Schengen borders, the same as all other member states are," Romanian President told the attending chiefs of diplomatic missions accredited in Bucharest. He added that Romania has fulfilled and continues to fulfil all its obligations entailed by accession to the border-free Schengen Area. "Romania cannot be treated discriminatorily; any other approach, any other conditions would create a dangerous precedent that would have negative effects on the credibility of the entire EU," said Basescu. The Romanian diplomacy will 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ continue to act for the liberalisation of the Romanian nationals' access to the European labour market, said Basescu. "The Romanian diplomacy will continue to act for the liberalisation of the Romanian nationals' access to the European labour market and I am counting here on cooperation with the member states. Also in support of the Romanians who choose to live temporarily or permanently abroad we will try to introduce the postal voting that will facilitate the expression of their political options (...)," the President said. He mentioned that Romania will cooperate with its foreign partners for fair treatment of Romanian nationals to avoid 'inopportune generalisations,' but also to penalise offences individually as mandated by law. The President stated that Romania will continue to deploy its efforts to consolidate its presence in the European institutions, insisting on the application of the provisions in the Lisbon Treaty concerning the inclusion in the European External Action Service of diplomats from national services. "We will continue our efforts to consolidate our position in European institutions, to actively and directly participate in the decision-making process of the European Union. To this end, we will insist on the application of the provisions in the Lisbon Treaty concerning the inclusion in the European External Action Service of the diplomats from national services. The legitimacy of this service, its capability of identifying major consensual objectives of the European external policy and of passing decisions in favour of all the member states depend on securing a balance among all the members," the President said. He underscored that 2011 will be a year of major challenges to the EU, including generating a balanced and sustainable internal economic growth, securing stability for the Eurozone and the European Union overall, reducing the labour productivity gaps between the Union and the emerging states and treating seriously the effects of the ageing process of the European population. "2011 will also be the year of Central Europe in the European Union, given the succession of Hungary and Poland in the rotating presidency of the EU. Both countries can count on Romania's support to achieve their goals. Managing the economic and financial crisis, implementing the Danube Strategy, continuing the enlargement of the European Union, reforming the common agricultural policy and the cohesion policy, updating the European neighbourhood policy by a consistent and integral approach of regional cooperation, boosting and improving the efficiency of the Eastern Partnership are all common objectives of Romania, Hungary and Poland," President Basescu added. He said the year 2010 was to Romania a time when it consolidated its European integration by finalising preparations for accession to the Schengen Area, advocating its own initiatives in the European arena and sketching up its profile as a significant contributor to the civilian missions of the European Union. The President mentioned that energy security will be another major objective, and Romania will aim to diversify supply sources and routes. In 2011, Romania will continue its policy of solidarity with and support for the Republic of Moldova, Basescu told the meeting hosted by the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. He stated that 2010 witnessed a boost, expansion and deepening of ties between Romania and Moldova. In the same context he added that Romania will continue to support the efforts for the resolution of the sensitive files of the region, particularly the peace process in the Middle East. In his speech, the President stated that Romania will continue to develop "mutually advantageous" relations with African and Latin American countries. 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ At the same time, he underscored that the world is facing grave problems and the United Nations still provides the best framework for solving them. He announced that Romania will run for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council in