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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW (30.07-5.08.07) |
| (2007-08-03) |
| Last updated: 2007-08-06 16:31 EET |
Romania is in mourning. Teoctist, the 5th Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church passed away on Monday July 30th, following heart failure after surgery. He spent over 20 years of his 92-year-long life as head of the Romanian Orthodox Church. His beatitude was laid to rest on Friday at the Metropolitan seat Cathedral in Bucharest. Romanians paid their last respects to the man who helped the Church become the single most trusted institution, after the 1989 revolution. Fiercely criticised for failing to react as churches were being pulled down during Nicolae Ceausescu’s dictatorship, Teoctist later improved his image by steering the church away from political manoeuvres. During his term as head of the Church, new eparchies, monasteries, and places of worship were set up or resumed their activity, and national campaigns were set up in response to natural disasters, as well as programs combating poverty, domestic violence, human trafficking, drug abuse, and cancer and HIV prevention programs were all carried out. The 1999 visit made to Bucharest by Pope John Paul 2nd upon Teoctist’s invitation will go down in history as the first visit ever paid by the head of the Catholic Church in a predominantly orthodox country. Teoctist lived his vocation as a servant of the church to his last breath:
“If I were ever unable to go to church, it would be painful for me. That is why I’m always ready to go to church and share my joy with the faithful. I’ve never spared my efforts, on the contrary, I’ve made great efforts to serve God and reach out to the faithful.”
Romanians have been facing an unsettled weather. Residents of Bucharest and of 17 counties in the south and south-east of Romania were forced to face a heat-wave during the first days of the week. Temperatures in these areas soared past 37 degrees Celsius. Excessive heat and draught caused fires in several areas across the country, sending hundreds of hectares of forest up in smoke. The weather, however, unexpectedly turned cold throughout the country just a few days ago, with maximum temperatures dropping to 20 degrees Celsius. A record summer low of 3 degrees Celsius was recorded in Miercurea Ciuc (central Romania).
The Romanian government on Thursday approved the subsidies that farm producers will receive for this fall’s sowing activities, in preparation for next year’s crops. The funds are expected to offset the effects of the draught which harmed this year’s cereal crop, with production halved in comparison to 2007. The total sum allotted to diesel and/or bio diesel subsidies, certified seeds, pesticides and fertilizers needed for autumn sowing will exceed 440 million euros. Farm workers will receive the money in the form of vouchers before September 30th. Agriculture minister Decebal Traian Remes explained who will benefit from this money:
“We will require insurance policies to be presented before January 15th 2008. If farmers don’t obtain crop insurance, if they don’t use certified seeds and fail to make use of the required technologies, we will take the money back.”
The government has already begun paying for the damage caused to the spring crops, affected by draught, in areas where 70% of the crops have been destroyed.
Romania has sent the European Commission a national reform program. In 3 weeks’ time, the Commission will begin monitoring the fulfilment of obligations assumed by Bucharest. The document includes the priority measures required for the increased competitiveness of the Romanian economy, in order for it to make up for shortcomings in comparison to other EU members. Adrian Ciocanea, head of the European Affair Department, says that this document is expected to improve fiscal competitiveness, the business environment, a flexible labour market, administrative decentralisation and health care reform, as well as the reform of pensions, research and the education system.
The 2nd ranking Romanian football team, Steaua Bucharest, has got off to a good start in the Champions’ League. In the 2nd preliminary round, Steaua defeated the Polish side Zaglebie Lubin in an away match, 1-nil. Dinamo Bucharest have already qualified in the 3rd preliminary round of the same competition. Romania is represented in the UEFA cup by 3 squads: Otelul Galati, Raoid Bucharest and CFR Cluj.
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