President Basescu is back to school

The President of Romania Traian Basescu is studying again to pass the exam and validate his ship commander's license. Yesterday he started to attend the intensive courses held at the Romanian Center for Navy Staff Training in Constanta and the final test to reconfirm him as ship commander or not is due on Friday.
The President claimed it was nice to be back to school and mentioned that yesterday he got accustomed to the cannon simulator. "It makes me feel comfortable and the truth is that I have got the right to a valid license", he commented and produced the check showing he paid for the courses. He added the only problem was his attendance, but he expressed hope the lecturers would prove understanding and allow him a flexible schedule. (...)

M.T.
Ziua Marti 21 August 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english

Election of MEPs likely to be held in November 25

The election of MEPs in Romania is likely to be held in November 25, the date mentioned by most parliamentary parties. After yesterday's consultations with the party heads in Victoria Palace, the Romanian PM Calin-Popescu Tariceanu mentioned the government was going to announce the decision in one week's time the latest.
The Democrats didn't attend the meeting with the PM, just as the Social Democrats' leader Mircea Geoana, who had claimed a few days before that he wanted to become a PM.
Norica Nicolai, a vice president of the Romanian Liberals, said the party wanted the scrutiny to take place sometime between late November and December 9. She described November 25 as "reasonable". The other parties agreed it was a good choice. (...)

Ovidiu Banches & A.I.
Ziua Marti 21 Augist 2007 http://www.ziua.net/english