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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW (6-12.08.07) |
| (2007-08-10) |
| Last updated: 2007-08-13 15:23 EET |
Following a long spell of scorching heat, Romania was hit by heavy rainfall early this week. Hundreds of houses mainly in the south, south-east and east of the country were flooded, attics caved in and national roads were damaged. Several localities were cut from power. The county of Constanta saw the heaviest toll, as the rain ravaged the Black Sea coast, with summer in full swing. Hotel owners, as well as local authorities have worked hard to restore storm-swept beaches. Water draining in the sand dug 60-cm deep and 4-meter wide ditches. Many Romanian tourists in neighbouring Bulgaria were stranded when water flooded the city of Ruse. The cars they left behind in the area have been recovered and will be shipped back to Romania.
Bucharest is alive with debates and speculations, a month before the election of the new Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. He will succeed Teoctist, who passed away in late July. The National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives said they would inquire whether clerics of the Orthodox Church violated the secret of the confessional and became informers of the former political police of the Communist regime. The investigation will specially regard candidates to the highest position in the Church hierarchy. Over the past year, many have called for the clergy's Securitate files to be disclosed. Teoctist himself was accused of having collaborated with the political police, which he denied. The Romanian Orthodox Church has stated it did not oppose the files' opening, but it wanted the process to observe truth and justice.
Mugur Isarescu, governor of the National Bank of Romania, told a press conference that inflation reduction targets, set for the coming period, can be attained. A 3.9% inflation is forecast for the end of this year, while the end of 2008 is expected to see a 3.7% inflation. The governor has, however, drawn attention to important risks that may affect the disinflation process, such as wages going up far beyond productivity, pensions increasing and Romanians' making loans. To add to this, the fiscal policy specific to an electoral period may undergo relaxation, while the difference between currency inflows and outflows may increase and tensions grow on the food market, as a result of the extended draught.
Romanians in need of constant medical treatment have faced new problems, as subsidized prescriptions are, again, not available. As early as the beginning of the month, many drugstores ran short of funds required for the release of partially or totally free prescriptions. The management of the Health Insurance House, which increased the funds poured into this sector, is not blaming insufficient funds, but the fact that too many prescriptions are being recommended. Meanwhile, people in need of medicines stand in line since the crack of dawn, for fear of hearing the typical cue – 'there is no more money'.
The existence of US military bases on Romanian soil – the Mihail Kogalniceau and the Babadag bases at the Black Sea, the Smardan base (on the Danube) and the Cincu base in the Carpathian Mountains will play an important role, with benefits ranging from strictly financial (as far as residents in the area are concerned) to strategic ones. American investments will contribute to the prosperity of local companies and that of locals themselves. Through the end of this year, the US will invest more than 60 million dollars to streamline the Mihail Kogalniceanu air force base. The base will officially open in the latter half of August, when about 1000 US troops are expected to arrive. They will train together with Romanian military and are expected to gain experience that will help them ensure international security. Also in the military field, Defence Minister Teodor Melescanu has called for a larger budget for the 2008, that is 2.38 of the GDP, an amount necessary for the Romanian army to meet the NATO standards.
“We’ve got to make it to the groups, we aren’t allowed any mistakes”, said former great Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi, the present coach of Romania’s vice-champion squad, Steaua Bucharest. On Wednesday night, the Romanian side qualified for the third preliminary round of the Champions League; after the return match, a very tense one, not recommended to those with a heart condition, against Poland’s champions Zaglebie Lubin. After a one-nil away game, Steaua have clinched a two-one win in Bucharest, qualifying on aggregate three-one. In the third qualifying round, the Romanian footballers will take on the champions of Belarus, Bate Borisov. Another Romanian side playing in the Champions League, the champions from Dinamo Bucharest will play the Italians from Lazio Rome.
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