Interview with Dr. EVELIN HUST, director of the Goethe Institute in Bucharest.

Spending four years at the Goethe-Institute headquarters in Munich before coming to Romania and before that, other six years in India, the new director of the Goethe-Institut in Bucharest (since June), Evelin Hust said she chose to come in Romania for the country’s ‘very middle European flare.”

Germany marks 25 years since the unification. What does unity mean these days with so many challenges ahead Germany, ahead European Union in general? (see the refugees crisis, etc)

It’s a tough question. I think unity means that one has to create an understanding for sharing the main values, and for sharing the pleasant aspects as well as the difficult ones of that unity – actually quite similar to a married couple. We all know that creating unity is a process that takes time. Like, the political reunification of the two Germanys 25 years ago took quite some time to become a mental and social reality, even considering that we are a common people with a common language, yet with fundamentally different political experiences in the decades before. E.g., I am from West Germany, I was 19 when the wall came down, so I’ve been fully socialized in Western Germany. When I meet friends from Eastern Germany you realize that for our generation, nearly half of our life we lived with the wall. And the first two decades of ones lifetime are very formative ones, so the two Germanys have been an important determinant of our social development. But now we have a new generation who was born in the time without the wall. For them, Germany has always been unified so it is like a natural state, not to be questioned.

The European Union is still in the process of developing a shared understanding of major aspects, and even more so an understanding, that one has to share the good things of that Union as well as the burdens. However, I am hopeful, that there will be a generation not so far away, that will have grown up in a unified Europe and for whom it will be very natural as well that everyone has to contribute to the shared vision.

When it comes to the integration of the refugees into the European Union I do feel that the German reunification gives reason for hope. Obviously, many argue that it is not comparable at all, since we are the same people with the same language etc. Yet, without a strong political will and also economic resources dedicated to it, it would also not have naturally happened. In this respect, the integration of the refugees will need even more political will and economic resources – yet, I do not see an alternative to it, since we cannot wish the people seeking help and shelter in Europe away.

If you had to sum up some of the most important cultural events of the Institute, what would be the highlights and what was their feedback? And what upcoming events do you have in store?

We’ve just had “Clujotronic-Games edition” in Cluj in September 17-20. The project is developed under the artistic leadership of Thorsten Wiedemann, founder of A_MAZE Berlin independent game salon, comprising some workshops and sessions of computer games revealing hybrid forms of art and technology, their potential and other related issues. The interactive exhibition “Source Code” signed by Etienne Mineur is enabling a general perspective on the historical evolution of technology in the computer games field. The project represented a partnership within Elysee program between the French Institute, Goethe Institute Bucharest and the German Cultural Center in Cluj-Napoca.

We also had the ninth edition of “Cetate IX” workshop for interpreters running during September 21-24 in Portul Cultural Cetate. The translators coming from Romania, Republic of Moldova and other Eastern European countries focused this year on the new dramaturgy of German language, having writer Katja Brunner as guest.

In October we’ll have the Night of European Literature, where Goethe- Institut together with the Theatre Lab is presenting an amusing reading performance from “Sternenklar” novel by Ulrich Woelk. The event is scheduled on October 9, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Astronomic Observer in Carol Park, Bucharest.

Afterwards, DE.KOLECTIV return to Bucharest on October 10, for the fourth edition of this special event dedicated to the German electronic music. DE.KOLECTIV is relocated this year at FORM, a new location opened in an art deco villa and will propose an eclectic experience ranging from experimental acts and reinterpretations of African beats to the Berliner dark techno.

What is also upcoming in October are the German Film Days already booked up for 16-22 October and we are proud that this is the 10^th edition, so we have an anniversary. The event, developed in partnership with the Filmmakers Union in Romania, is presenting a selection of new important films, artistic movies and documentaries. “Victoria” directed by Sebastian Schipper will be screened in the opening. The highly awarded movie is following four young men through their nightly escapade in Berlin, which is ending badly.

Another major project will take place in November at the Radio Hall. The Richard Strauss’s famous work, ‘Der Rosenkavalier’, will be accompanied by Robert Wiene’s homonymous silent movie. The work will be performed by the Romanian Radio National Orchestra, conducted by Stefan Geiger. I would like to emphasize that this project represents a collaboration with Arcub (The Cultural Center of the City of Bucharest), the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation and the European FilmPhilharmonic Institute, Berlin.

We try to be present in various cultural fields and, on one hand we work with professionals, artists, and on the other hand, we work for the general public.

For next year we also have big plans for activities in the public space. I also want to introduce a stronger focus on German literature and also on how a certain part of Romanian literature is perceived in Germany, as there is a special interest now on that. For instance, Mircea Cartarescu won the Leipzig award for European Understanding, and also other Romanian writers are becoming more popular now.

What is the Institute’s current infrastructure? Besides the usual German language classes, libraries, etc.

Unfortunately we don’t have an own hall to host our cultural programs,. However, swe have five very well equipped classrooms with smartboards where we offer language courses every day from eight o’clock in the morning till nine thirty in the evening. We also opened the new library in December last year, which can be visited during the week and we have introduced the Saturday opening lately. You can check out books, but you can also leisurely sit and browse the books with a coffee in situ. In addition we also provide an online library, so everyone can get German literature online from home.

When it comes to events we usually use the facilities of partners, as we don’t have a big space in our institute. I don’t think it’s necessarily a disadvantage, because it means we also need partners, which keeps us secure that there is a considerable interest on the Romanian side, so it’s not just a “German” splendid isolation activity.

How many students (children and adults) have joined this year to attend the Institute’s classes to learn German?

There are 2,000 students distributed over four semesters, with the majority of them being adults, 90 percent. It’s a mix of students who want to study in Germany, for we don’t have high study fees in Germany, which is very attractive, and we also have many corporate employees. We have courses for companies, and we usually send teachers at their headquarters. There are not necessarily German companies, but various companies dealing a lot with Germany. Basically, it’s a very young audience. And we’ve recently started courses for children.

Are Romanians good consumers of German language and culture? (as it seems to rank second after English now in a country so called francophone, at least until 25 years ago, the main foreign languages learnt in Romanian schools were English, French and Russian) What do you think the German and Romanian cultures have in common at this point and what are the reasons that attract Romanians to learn German?

At the end of the day we are Europeans. I think it’s a mix of cultural, economic and social factors. Moreover, the image of Germany changed worldwide, as Berlin became a cool, arty kind of city, and that attracts people to come to Germany. Many people have realized the opportunities they have not only by migrating to Germany, but also the opportunities on the local labour market if one speaks German.

And yes, Romanians are interested in the German language and culture, especially the younger generation is interested to know more about Germany today.

There are other five German Cultural centers in Romania, based in the main cities. What are the results so far?

I have already visited the centres in Kronstadt/Brasov, Hermannstadt/Sibiu and Klausenburg/Cluj – and I still plan to travel to Temeswar and Iasi. In all cities we have a very good response, be it for the language courses or for the cultural programs. Like the programme I visited just recently in Cluj was very well attended. Yet, I feel the cities where the German cultural centers are based are quite different, and thus they have to cater to a slightly different audience. Hence, we encourage that every cultural center develops its own program addressing particularly to the local community, as well as participating in tours that would touch all the cities.

What kind of art and cultural field is representing Germany more at this point?

I think the strength of the German cultural scene is that it is strong in most artistic fields. We have for example an excellent theatre system; every city has its own repertoire theatre, and in addition we have a very innovative independent scene, with collectives like Rimini Protokoll or She She Pop. We also have an extremely energetic and varied music scene. Very popular is the electronic music scene, which we want to bring here as well, see e.g. the DE.KOLECTIV coming soon. Also film has gained more and more quality and innovation in the last years. For quite a while, the German film industry had nothing much to boast about, but now we really have a lot of top young directors making interesting movies. Please come and check them out at the 10^th Film Festival in October! Dance is also still very strong in Germany with choreographers like Sasha Waltz, and literature has consistently been strong as well. Hence, it is quite tough to give credit to all of this in our work here in Bucharest – but we try our best!

The Germany embassy, Goethe Institute and most of the embassies and cultural institutes in Romania and in the world have a very prolific activity on social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Linked in, etc) Do you consider it’s a new era for the art and culture? The e-art, the e-culture or there is still room for the traditional delivering ways?

I strongly believe they have to go hand in hand. We have the illusion that everything can just happen in cyberspace, and I strongly believe tthat culture must also go through people-to-people meetings. At the end of the day, a live performance or a personal meeting has a much stronger impact. Yet, within social media and websites, you can reach much wider audiences and it is a perfect tool for communication and exchange, as well as for interesting experiments. Hence, our philosophy is actually to integrate the „online“ with the „offline“, and try to design it in a way that they reinforce each other.

For example, for next year, when I said we want to focus more on German literature, we are discussing to publish more articles online, start a blog for more information and debates, but also to invite more writers to address the audience directly.

How do you find Romania, Bucharest, as you said it’s the first time you came here? Have you managed to travel outside Bucharest? Is there anything that you dislike?

What I find fascinating about Bucharest is that it sits somehow between the East and the West and has integrated both of them quite nicely. I personally like this eclectic style. I have been here during summer. I had some problems with the traffic, as I go by bike and I’d be very happy the city would manage better the cycling lanes. However, for a Capital, a metropolis, the city is quite green. I liked the parks, I used to walk a lot in Herastrau, Tineretului and Carol parks. Despite the probably less appealing “block of flats” the city is very urban and I like it.

When it comes to disliking something, I am here too shortly to have developed a dislike; I guess it takes a while to accommodate and to see the pros and cons.

I lived in India before, so comparing things, from this point of view the traffic here is quiet (laughing).

Even I did not have a big problem with the heat when a lot of people were complaining.

I also travelled a little bit throughout the country. Before coming here I’ve been to Iasi to take Romanian lessons for two weeks. I’ve already been in Moldavia, to the monasteries, and also to Maramures.

I was astonished, since it’s a very middle-European landscape, I really enjoyed travelling from Sibiu to Brasov, with Fagaras on the side and the surrounding meadows.

Romania is not spectacular as if you’d see something striking as Niagara fall for instance, but it’s very pleasant landscape, not different from the German one. And last but not least – I have met so many nice people, I feel already quite at home.

Anti-corruption prosecutors are conducting searches at the City Hall HQs in Cluj-Napoca, Alba Iulia, Sibiu, Targu Mures and Zalau on Wednesday regarding some contracts clenched by the local administrations for deratization and pest control services.

Coral Impex deratization company is targeted, judicial sources told local media.

According to them, the investigation is not eyeing any mayors, but only the contracts and other related documents. The alleged corruption deeds were committed during 2013-2015.

According to a DNA press release, searches are taking places at 32 locations, with five of them being HQs of public institutions and the rest of them being offices of some private companies and private residences.

Cluj Mayor Emil Boc (former Democrat Liberal premier) said that anti-corruption prosecutors had asked for the documents related to the contract with Coral Impex against suspicions regarding some corruption crimes committed by several clerks of the local public administration. He also pointed out he had not grasped any problems regarding that contract. Boc explained the contract has been signed in 2006 and has been extended in 2010, but mentioned the extension has been legal, conducted through the Local Council.

Cluj City Hall paid RON 8.5m to Coral Impex this year for deratization services. According to the city hall’s spokesperson, the highest invoice to this company was paid in September- RON 1.1m.

In his turn, Alba Iulia mayor Mircea Hava said searches are being sought at the office of an inspector from the city hall, with the investigation targeting an auction from 2011.

Sibiu City Hall also told a press release that searches are under way eyeing an employee of the Technical Department.

AIESEC organizes EuroCo 2015 international conference in Bucharest during October 15-20. European Congress 2015 (EuroCo 2015) is one of the biggest AIESEC international conferences which gathers in one place the LCPs(current&elects), LCVPs and the MCVPs from CEE and WENA regions. This year, Romania hosts the conference at RIN Hotel in Bucharest, with 250 young leaders from more than 50 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa being expected to attend the workshops.

Through this conference each LC and MC has the opportunity to understand the global direction, the new initiatives and this will ensures continuity and implementation of global strategy.

Several external events will also take place during the five days of the conference: Youth Speak Forum, which links the AIESEC young volunteers and important leaders of the national and foreign entrepreneurship, and Global Village or the Multicultural Fair that brings into the limelight the importance of the diversity, as well as the need of understanding among cultures aiming at decreasing the conflicts among nations. All of these are related to AIESEC goal through displaying a portrait of culture with the help of apparel, objects, music, food and traditional dances.

One day before the conference kicks off, the participants will visit Bucharest and, in order to have a more insightful perspective behind Dracula’s stories, after the conference the attendees will travel at the heart of the country where they will visit Transylvania’s castles, Brasov, Sibiu and Curtea de Arges cities.

„One of the main goals is to create a proper background for the 250 young to develop their activities and to set strategies. Another goal as important as the previous one is to promote Romania’s wonders worldwide,” said Klaudia Mondek, the main coordinator of EuroCo 2015 international conference.

AIESEC is a global platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. It is a non-political, independent, not-for-profit organisation run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education.

AIESEC is present in Romania since 1990, when a team from Austria came to our country with a purpose in mind: to create AIESEC in Romania. Since then the AIESEC network has grown to the point that 14 cities host 13 local committees and 3 initiative groups: Arad, Brasov, Bucharest, Constanta, Cluj-Napoca, Craiova, Galati, Iasi, Oradea, Pitesti, Sibiu, Suceava, Targu-Mures and Timisoara.

AIESEC in Romania has hosted EuroCo before, in 2012, and been awarded two prizes in 2006 (International Excellence Award in AIESEC International) and in 2014 (International Global Absolute Growth Leadership Award in “Global Leaders Summit”, China).

Romania Journal is among the conference’s media partners.

Bruges, Regensburg, Tallinn, but also two Romanian cities, Sighisoara and Sibiu are among the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, according to Adevarul.

Bruges, Belgium

Called the ‘Venice of the North’, Bruges is a charming medieval town, first documented in 1128. The Old Town was declared UNESCO heritage. The historic buildings are well preserved, as well as the small and winding lanes and the main tourist attraction is Belfort tower, over 80 meters high. This city is the perfect destination for chocolate and beer lovers, Belgium being famous for these products.

Regensburg, Germany

It is one of the oldest cities in Germany and was founded 2,000 years ago by the Romans. The medieval center is very well preserved with gothic building and an impressive cathedral. The city was registered on the UNESCO list.

Tallinn, Estonia

The capital of Estonia is a beautiful medieval city with old buildings, narrow streets and still keeps the walls that once protected the city from invaders. The Old Town is located on the hill of Toompea and is very well preserved.

Prague, the Czech Republic

The Czech capital is one of the most visited medieval cities in the world. Tourists come to Prague and visit the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square, admire Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque buildings, very well preserved in the old center of the city.

Sibiu, Romania

Sibiu is one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Romania, but also in Europe. The old center was revamped; it has a large square surrounded by well-preserved buildings, comfy terraces and narrow streets. Among the most important sights there are the Council Tower, Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization, Brukenthal Museum, the Evangelical and Orthodox Cathedral or the ancient defense walls. Sibiu was declared the European Capital of Culture in 2007 and included on the Forbes list of the most beautiful places in the world.

Sighisoara, Romania

Sighisoara is a unique city-museum in the southeast and central Europe, with a very well preserved old town. The Fortress is perfectly preserved and the Clock Tower houses an interesting museum and offers a great view over the city. Among the most important tourist attractions you can include the Clock Tower, the Synagogue and The Covered Stairway that goes up to the Evangelical Church, where you can visit an old cemetery.

The 19th edition of the French Film Festival kicked off today October 26 to run until November 8 in eight Romanian cities and it includes an interesting week in collaboration with famous Cahiers du Cinema magazine.

The festival opens in Bucharest and Brasov on October 30; in Timisoara, Iasi and Cluj-Napoca on October 29; in Sibiu on October 28 and in Constanta on October 26. In Buzau, the festival is running November 6-7.

The French Film Festival includes the categories of the past editions — “Panorama” and the “Young Director” competition — along with special events such as a white night of French thrillers, and a golden day.

The selection of the six films for the “Semaine de Cahiers,” Chaiers’ week, event, is an introspection of noir and thriller films and a retrospect of French filmmaking. The selected films are: “Alphaville” by Jean-Luc Godard (the 1960s), “L’Etrangleur” (The Strangler) by Paul Vecchiali (the 1970s), “Vivement dimanche!” (Confidentially Yours) by François Truffaut (the 1980s), “J’ai pas sommeil” (I Can’t Sleep) by Claire Denis, “La Ceremonie” by Claude Chabrol (the 1990s) and “La chambre bleue” (The Blue Room) by Mathieu Amalric (2014).

Seven premieres by young French film directors will be also presentd, in the presence of some of them. Spectators may vote in the Public Prize category, with the winning film to be subsequently distributed in Romania.

The “Panorama” category enables the audience to discover or rediscover emblematic productions of the contemporary French filmmaking.

The 2015 edition of the festival pays homage to Belgian-born director Chantal Anne Akerman, known for her feminine and feminist films. The selected production, “La folie Almayer” (Almayer’s Folly) (2011), starring Stanislas Merher, Aurora Marion and Marc Berbe is a screen adaptation of the homonymous book by Joseph Conrad, with four nominations to the Magritte Award.

On November 1, the French Film Festival in Bucharest, in partnership with Les Films de Cannes a Bucarest, holds a golden day to celebrate world’s best 2015 productions.

All the films are screened in their original language with subtitles in Romanian.

“Gong” Theatre in Sibiu is presenting “The Terror Labyrinth” on October 30 and October 31, as of 8 p.m., an itinerant show dedicated to Halloween celebration.

The event turns into a real journey through a hallucinating labyrinth set up in the theatre’s lobby, the halls, the actors’ booths and even a loft entrance.  Created with the help of an equipment of dolls, actors, video screenings and scenery elements, the new space of the theatre represents an extrasensory journey at the edge between life and death.

The access is allowed in groups of two persons, at every 2 minutes each, during 8 and 10 p.m., only with previous appointment. A ticket is RON 7. The show is forbidden to persons under 12 and also to pregnant women and persons suffering of claustrophobia, epilepsy or cardiac diseases.

Transylvania ranks first in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions worth visiting next year. Mountain thrills and edgy art in Vlad’s former home, this is how Lonely Planet travel guide invites tourists to come to Transylvania.

“Put the crucifix away and discard that bulb of garlic – you won’t be needing them in today’s Transylvania, which blows away stereotypes faster than the flapping wings of a bat out of hell.

Drive a stake into the heart of those Transylvanian stereotypes. Yes, this region of Romania has all the moody castles and fog-draped mountains you can wave a crucifix at. But visit Transylvania today and you’re just as likely to sashay through a wickedly inventive art gallery, spy on bears, or ski the Carpathian Mountains.

Yes, horses and carts still rumble through the wooded countryside, but they’ll soon share the roads with Uber cabs ferrying visitors to chic Airbnb lodgings. Look past the ‘Count Drakula’ T-shirts and you’ll notice an ever-increasing number of art galleries, good value ski resorts and epic nature tours,” reads the quick description of the famous Romanian region.

The travel guide mentions the wildlife of the Transylvanian mountains, the 6,000-strong bear population and the Libearty sanctuary, the bison repopulation initiatives in the Carpathians, but also cities like Cluj-Napoca “dubbed an art city of the future by Phaidon”, Brasov, “which attracts as many nightlife lovers as vampire hunters” or the delightfully colourful Sighisoara.

“Best of all, in Transylvania there’s no need to hole up in a remote ski resort. Poiana Bra?ov is only half an hour from Bra?ov city, and P?ltini?, one of Romania’s highest resorts at 1440m, is less than an hour from Sibiu. Cutting-edge art and a taste for the piste haven’t eclipsed the rural Romania of your imagination. Fortified churches sprout across Transylvania, with some of the best in Biertan and Viscri. When a breeze rattles the pastel-coloured wooden shutters and scarlet-clad Roma villagers march through the fields, this region casts a powerful spell,” also reads the review.

Sibiu’s ‘Liars’ Bridge’ is also mentioned, as well as Targu Mures’ Culture Palace, “one of the region’s most bewilderingly beautiful sights”.

At the regional flavours chapter, Lonely Planet enumerates sarmale (cabbage leaf roll of seasoned meat), mamaliga (cornmeal porridge), Hungarian ethnics’ goulash, papanasi (curd-stuffed donuts) and the famous tuica (the local firewater).

Traffic on Transfagarasan high road will close down between Piscu Negru and Balea Cascada Chalet, starting on Monday, November 2 until mid-2016.

The alpine high road is closed due to the risks of rocks falling down and landslides in the area.

Transalpina road will also be closed between Ranca and Curpat until March 31.

Transfagarasan or DN7C is a mountain paved road crossing the southern section of the Carpathians Mountains. It has national-road ranking and it is the second-highest paved road in Romania after Transalpina. The road starts near the village of Bascov, located near the city of Pitesti, ending on the crossroad between DN1 and Sibiu.

Also known as Ceausescu’s Folly, it was built as a strategic military route that stretches 90 km with twists and turns that run north to south across the tallest sections of the Southern Carpathians, between the highest peaks in the country, Moldoveanu, and the second highest, Negoiu. The road connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia and the cities of Sibiu and Pitesti.

The Transfagarasan was constructed between 1970 and 1974, during Nicolae Ceausescu’s communist rule as a response to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union.

Built mainly by military forces, the road had both a high financial and human cost. Work was carried out in an alpine climate, at an elevation of 2000 meters, using junior military personnel who were untrained in blasting techniques. Many non-commissioned officers (NCOs), foremen, and soldiers died due to hazardous working conditions. Roughly six million kilograms of dynamite were used on the northern face, and official records state that about 40 soldiers lost their lives in building accidents.

The Transalpina or DN67C located in the Parang Mountains is one of the highest roads of the Carpathians, linking Novaci, south of Parang, to Sebes in the north.

The road is said to have been built under King Carol II during the WWII by German troops and that’s why locals used to call it The King’s Road. A legend says that communist dictator Ceausescu had Transfagarasan Road built just to outrank Transalpina.

Transalpina

Warehouses DePauw (WDP) has completed two logistics units, in Brasov and Ploiesti, and has another four projects under construction.

For these, the Belgian real estate developer envisages investments of EUR 25 million and a total area of 40,000 sqm, the latest financial report of the company shows.

The project in Brasov covers an area of 5,000 sqm and the existing tenant, Inter Cars, has been doubled. The investment budget for this project is approximately EUR 2 million. Inter Cars has signed a ten-year lease for the new build, and has also extended the contract of its existing buildings for the same period.

In Ploiesti there is a new build of 12,000 sqm for Federal-Mogul, an internationally renowned manufacturer and supplier for the automotive sector. Federal-Mogul has signed a ten-year fixed lease. The investment budget is approximately EUR 7 million.

In Braila WDP is developing a warehouse of approximately 16.000 sqm of storage space on a plot of concession located near the Danube. After phased completion (scheduled in the autumn 2015), the space will be rented by the Japanese company Yazaki, a renowned international supplier to the automotive industry, on the basis of a long-term lease of fifteen years, with an option to extend. Yazaki is currently already active at several locations in Romania. This project requires an investment of approximately EUR 9 million.

As regards WDP’s project in Ramnicu Valcea, Faurecia, a global player in the development and supply of car parts, will move into a newly to be developed warehouse of approximately 12,000 sqm at this site, strategically situated along Pan-European Corridor IV – one of the Pan-European corridors, important in the transport sector – on the basis of a ten-year fixed lease. WDP anticipates its completion in Q1 2016 and an investment amount of approximately EUR 8 million for this project.

The Belgian real estate developer has also a project situated along Pan-European Corridor IV and in the immediate vicinity of Sibiu’s international airport. The construction is underway of a logistics warehouse of approximately 8,000 sqm for supply to the railway sector by tenant Siemens.

Siemens has entered into a ten-year rental commitment for this purpose. WDP anticipates that this new build will be completed in the course of the second quarter of 2016. The investment budget is approximately EUR 5 million.

Also, WDP will develop in Sibiu a strategic hub, consisting of a warehouse with offices of approximately 4,500 sqm and a large car park for DPD, a current tenant in Courcelles, Belgium.

DPD has signed a fifteen-year fixed lease. WDP anticipates completion in the course of the second quarter of 2016. The investment budget is approximately EUR 3 million.

The total value of WDP’s projects in progress, including in Romania amounts to EUR 68.6 million.

In late September, WDP had in Romania three leased property with a total area of almost 26,000 sqm and nearly 100 hectares of land. The total value of the properties owned in Romania amounts to EUR 40.3 million, representing 2 percent of the total portfolio.

Of all the countries where WDP is present – Belgium, Netherlands, France – the properties in Romania have the highest investment yield of 8.9 percent.

Mayor of Sibiu commune Șelimbăr, Daniel Maricuța, suspected of corruption and of taking EUR 1.8m bribe, has been held on remand on Wednesday, along with the secretary of Șelimbăr town hall, Elena Scumpu.

The mayor had been taken for hearing earlier in the morning and at the end prosecutors have taken him into custody for 24 hours.

DNA prosecutors carried out investigations on October 14 against Daniel Maricuta, who allegedly was offered as bribes, by a developer who built many blocks, in exchange for the construction license and other documents, apartments worth over EUR 1.8 million.
In this file, the prosecutors conducted searches at the Selimbar city hall, the Office of Cadastre Sibiu, at the homes of several employees of the Șelimbăr Town Hall, including the one of the mayor Daniel Maricuța as well as at notaries offices. The investigation aims illegal retrocession of land, amounting to over EUR 114 million.
The sources said that in the commune of Șelimbăr, several neighbourhoods with houses and buildings were built, and no developer could have obtained a building permit, licenses, unless the criminal group allegedly led by Daniel Maricuța gained material benefits.
DNA prosecutors also conducted searches in 61 locations in the counties of Sibiu, Brasov, Ilfov and Neamt, two of which are premises of public institutions, in a case of corruption deeds committed during 2005-2015.

Over 2,600 military with 360 arsenal devices are ready to march at the military parade due on December 1 in Bucharest. The parade is scheduled in Constitutiei Square as of 11 a.m. If the weather allows it, there will be also aircrafts flashing across the sky.

At the same, as a first, this year’s parade in Bucharest will welcome two brigades that have never march on National Day before, with one consisting of injured military in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Alba Iulia, the city of the Great Union (the place where the Union of 1918 was sealed) is yet another destination for this long weekend ahead of us, a destination that is mixing the solemnity of the anniversary moment with leisure time and sightseeing. Thus, visitors who’ll venture at the heart of the country the upcoming days will be able to attend the military parade, can visit Alba Carolina Fortress, the Union Museum and the Union Hall.

Events on Romania’s National Day will kick off on Sunday in Alba Iulia with a concert dedicated to the 300^th anniversary of Alba Carolina fortress. The concert is performed by “George Enescu” Philharmonic choir in Bucharest and Sibiu Philharmonics. On Monday a folk costume parade is scheduled, along with exhibitions and concerts.

On December 1, the military parade will be dubbed by wreathing ceremonies, religious services, and a concert by Voltaj. However, this year, Alba Iulia local councilors decided to drop out the fireworks moment due to the ‘Colectiv’ tragedy, so the pyro show will be replaced by a laser performance.

The Union Hall and Museum will welcome tourists with the museum employees dressed up in historical costume, featuring Romanian historical personalities such as Mihai the Brave, King Ferdinand, Queen Marie and Avram Iancu. The museum is opened from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A military parade will be also staged in Sibiu, next to a folk show, while tourists choosing to spend the National Day mini-vacation here will be able to enjoy the city’s basic attractions, with the Christmas Market Fair as piece de resistance. The fair, opened since November 20 in the city’s Piata Mare, will display a 20m high Christmas tree and over 70 cottages unveiling traditional products, toys, sweets and hand-made objects.

However, the county’s offer is wider, as the ski slope in Păltiniș is more than available, as well as Bâlea Lac fresh snowpack already measuring 29 centimeters, but also the huts, rustic boarding houses and  Christmas customs and tradition display in Marginimea Sibiului.

Closer to Bucharesters, Prahova Valley is coming with special discounts for this year’s December 1 celebrations, with Predeal and Poiana Brasov having many parties and backpacking in store.

German Siemens, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization, will open a new wagon parts factory in Sibiu next year.

“During the 110 years of presence in Romania, Siemens was involved in developing the country’s infrastructure and modernized strategic sectors such as energy or transport. Therefore, Siemens continues to invest in Romania,” George Costache, CEO of Siemens Romania, said on Thursday in a press conference.

He gave no other details but noted that the investment value will exceed EUR 3 million, the estimated budget according to media sources. According to the urban permit issued in August, the Sykatec Sibiu factory will be built on a land of 30,900 sqm in Western Industrial Area of Sibiu, meaning also 200-250 new jobs.

More precisely, parts for wagon, especially for subways, various cables and metallic confections will be made in the new production facility.

The fact that Siemens in interested in the Romanian market is supported also by the recent investment made by the German Group. It’s about the regional R & D center software developed in Cluj and opened this February, following a EUR 4.5 million investment.

The company also operates two IT centers in Brasov and Bucharest rejoining over 300 specialists who work for Siemens Corporate Technology and Siemens Industry Software. At the same time, Siemens has production facilities in Sibiu and Buzias.

“In Buzias too, where electric motors are produced, we will invest to expand production capacity in the coming years,” Costache said while adding: “Investing in research and development and adaptation of new technologies that have already shown results on other markets, are the pillars on which Romania may continue to grow.”

At the end of fiscal year 2014, the German company registered locally a turnover of EUR 138 million and totaled about 1,600 employees in Romania.

At the same time, in 2015 Siemens celebrates 110 years of presence in Romania, and on this occasion the company brought for the first time in Bucharest, a faithful copy of the Curiosity robot, which is currently exploring Mars for NASA.

NASA scientists have used Siemens PLM software, developed also with the support of Siemens team in Brasov, to digitally design, simulate and virtually assemble the machine, as well as to test the prototype before launching and Mars landing.

Slimnic Fortress  or Stolzenburg (meaning the Proud Fortress) ranks as one of the most peculiar and scenic places worth visiting in Transylvania, due to its towers, strong walls, contra forts and most particularly to the Gothic imbricate arches. The fortress is on the list of national historical monuments.

Even if the first documentary attestation about Slimnic commune appears in 1282, the fortress is first mentioned is only in 1529. However, the historians place the citadel’s beginnings in the 14^th century, revealing that it had a strong strategic role, as an outpost of Sibiu Fortress up to the north. Slimnic is located on the way from Sibiu to Mediaș, on the Burgbasch hill and it truly displays a classy view above the village and the surrounding hills. Up from the 12-m high Bell Tower, the view over the fortress premises is as enjoyable as over the outside places.

The oldest part of the fortress is a Gothic chapel with a flat-shaped polygon loft over which the bell tower is hiking on three floors.

There were rumours that an old royal palace was located on this hill, but the archaeological researches mention the existence of an old church dominating the north premises. Yet, due to the Turkish invasions in the 15^th century, the church has never been finished. Thus, the locals gave up erecting the church and they strengthened the fortification’s walls instead.

Only the outside walls and the northern wall have been preserved from the fortress’ initial structure. Yet, the remaining structure is still impressive, mainly due to its odd design and the loft’s tall structure, despite the fact that the construction’s goal as shape and esthetics remains a mystery.

As the fortifications were actually never finished, in 1529 the fortress was conquered by the Hungarian King John I (John Zapolya), when many locals have been impaled. However, on the same year, the locals conquered again the citadel, enjoying Sibiu’s support. Historians recount that in 1658, the fortress stood to a Turkish siege.

Half century later, during the uprising of the anti-Habsburg fighters in 1704, Slimnic village was set of fire and the fortress was conquered in 1706, remaining under the control of these anti-Habsburg fighters, named “curuti”.

The legend has it that during the curuti’s siege, the fortress’ defenders, some of the village’s men and few tens of Austrian soldiers, used to hold tight on their positions, giving no sign of starvation, prompting the attackers to wonder how such thing is possible. They didn’t know that tens years ago, after King Zapolya’s siege, the Transylvanian Saxons had dug a deep long tunnel that linked the fortress to the village’s Saxon cemetery, under the road that connected Sibiu Fortress to the one in Mediaș. So, several days a week, the villagers used to “bury” their dead, but in the coffin there was in fact food. So, during the night the fortress defenders used to cross the tunnel and bring fresh food for the soldiers.

According to the story, a young Transylvanian Saxon woman fell in love with a curut soldier and would have disclosed the tunnel’s secret to him. Thus, the attackers cut down the fortress’ supplies and managed to defeat the besieged for good.

Another legend says that in old times, a great sorcerer used to live here together with his three beautiful daughters and all three daughters were shining in magic. They got married to three king’s sons and decided that each of them would build a fortress. The elder daughter built a citadel on Tălmaciul Hill in just one day, and was named the Country’s Crown/ Landskrone due to its beauty. The middle daughter chose Stolzenberg village to erect her fortress and thus she built Stolzenberg citadel in three weeks.

The youngest sister, who of course was the most beautiful and the smartest, chose the lowest hill to build her fortress: Michel from Cisnădioara (Michelsberg). However she would have said: “I cannot do anything by myself, but with God’s help I hope to built a fortress and a church up here”. The parable, typical to the Lutheran religious spirit among the Transylvanian Saxons of those times, was that, although the first two fortresses were built to make a splash, they didn’t resist and are now just ruins, while Michelsberg, set up by the sorcerer’s youngest daughter, defied time and is still standing.

But about Cisnădioara/ Michelsberg fortress, we’ll talk some other time….

For the continuing transformation of Romanian town of Sibiu, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) granted it a new long-term loan of RON 67.5 million (EUR 15 million equivalent) to further develop urban infrastructure.

According to a press release, the investment will finance the rehabilitation of about 25 kilometres of streets in the town’s newly redeveloped areas and will improve road maintenance by engaging private sector companies under multi-annual performance-based contracting.

“Our objective is to continue improving urban infrastructure which is essential to quality of life. By financing key infrastructure improvements, the EBRD has helped the local administration in making Sibiu a very modern city and a top touristic destination in Romania. I am delighted to continue working together,” Astrid Fodor, the interim mayor of Sibiu said.

The loan will also support the implementation of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, a set of measures to improve mobility for residents and businesses in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

This is the first project under the EBRD’s new programme entitled Romania Framework for Sustainable Mobility and Access to Regional Transport, or SMART, which finances improvements in public transport infrastructure and services in the country.

“The EBRD is very proud to have been part of this transformation and we are pleased to provide new financing for improved mobility and safe and efficiently managed streets. This will further boost the city’s economic competitiveness as one of the main tourist and cultural attractions in Romania,” Matteo Patrone, Regional Director for Romania and Bulgaria at the EBRD, added.

Modernising urban infrastructure became a priority after 2004 when Sibiu, formerly known as Hermannstadt, was selected as the 2007 European Capital of Culture, together with Luxembourg.

The first term of the lawsuit that President Klaus Iohannis has opened, an appeal for annulment, to recover the house on Bălcescu Street in Sibiu, has ended with a postponement, turnulsfatului.ro reports.
The President’s lawyers, the firm Musat and Associates, showed up on Monday before the Brasov Court of Appeal judges. The magistrates decided, however, to postpone the lawsuit for January 25.
According to the law, the annulment appeal does not suspend the final sentence. Thus, until a new ruling, the Iohannis family no longer owns the apartments in the building on Bălcescu Street in Sibiu, partly rented by Raiffeisen Bank.
The annulment appeal is the last judicial review the Iohannis spouses can take in this file.

Read also: http://www.romaniajournal.ro/brasov-court-of-appeal-iohannis-loses-house-downtown-sibiu-sentence-is-final/

The largest mill complex in southern Europe can be found in Rudăria village at the foot of Almajului mountains in Banat, Caraș-Severin county. The complex is sheltering over 22 mills, spread alongside the Rudăria river on about 3 kilometers long, which have been crushing down the grains for centuries in an ancestral ritual that locals preserve like a real treasure.

Almajului Valley is surrounded by picturesque mountains: up to the north and northwest there are Aninei and Semenic Mountains, while in the south the valley is embraced by Almajului Mountains and in the south west by Locvei Mountains. The eastern part of the valley opens out to the Timiș-Cerna corridor.

The landscape is breathtaking: chestnuts, hornbeams, beeches and acacias are blurring the low side of the river, while bushes are climbing on the grey rocks and wild flowers are embalming the fresh air.

On the road between Anina town and DN 6, the visitor can find Rudăria Mill Complex, recently restored and now patronized by “Astra” Museum in Sibiu.

Rudăria village is now named Eftimie Murgu, taking its name after the one of professor and revolutionist Eftimie Murgu, who was born on these lands.

Rudăria derives from a Slavic word (ruda which means mineral and reka which means river).

Despite the village was first attested in 1241 and the first eight mills were officially reported in 1722, the mills were set up in this area around the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries.

In 1874, there were 54 functional mills, but the successive floods cut their number to half.

Locals not only use the mills to grind their grains but also as a meeting place where they can chat or share important moments of their lives. The names of the mills are taken after their great grandparents, but also derive from their creative imagination: The Mill from the Tunnel, Trăiloanea Mill, Firiz Mill, Roşoanea, Popeasca, Maxinoanea, Hămbăroanea mills or the Screech between the Rivers Mill.

A mill in the complex, which is usually grinding some 130-140 kilos of grains every 24 hours, is managed by 15 t0 25 families of the village. They agree to share their turn, meaning they are allowed to use the mill in turn for 12 to 24 hours. Locals take pride in these mills, claiming the flour milled here has a special taste, as the wheels moved by the water is grinding the grains slowly, unlike the electric mills that have higher speed.

The village also shelters a small mill museum, where visitors can study a mill piece by piece to understand its mechanism.

President Klaus Iohannis and his wife filed a notification at the Romanian Supreme Court asking for the file on Sibiu house being moved from Brasov Court of Appeal. The notification relates to the court’s final ruling in November last year that made Iohannis couple definitively lose a house downtown Sibiu.

The request for the case relocation was filed on December 17 last year and has a first hearing on February 17, according to Agerpres.

Local media says that President Iohannis argued in the request that the judges in Brasov don’t meet the impartiality and independence condition, as they have faced the media’s pressure all these 10 years when the file has been judged.

The house is located at 29 Nicolae Bălcescu street in Sibiu. It initially belonged to Maria and Eliseu Ghenea, who left it to one of Eliseu’s sisters in the 70s. She also died without having any children, so in 1977 the building was bought by the lodgers. However, in 1999, the purchase agreement through which the lodgers have bought the house has been annulled in court, after a complaint filed by the son of one of the Gheneas’ nephews, Nicolae Baștea. Klaus Iohannis bought the house from Baștea’s heirs.

Yet, the former lodgers sued Iohannis family asking for the extinguishment of the contracts through which Klaus Iohannis and his wife acquired the house, by challenging his quality of Nicolae Baștea’s heir by right.

The fortified church in Cisnădie, Sibiu county was built in the 12^th-13-th century as a Romanesque basilica, protected by patron Saint Walpurga. It is the settlement where the first clock tower from Transylvania and the first lightning rod in southeastern Europe were built, known as a center of cloth processing.

The fortification surrounding was erected between 1460-1530 and is made up of two concentric curtain walls strengthened with towers, bastions and ditches which could be filled with water. On the southeast side of the church there is a defense tower encompassing a circular chapel.

Later on, in the 15^th century, the church was fortified in order to protect the local Saxon community against repeated Ottoman sieges.

An extremely valuable element inside the church is the Bruiu altar. The old altar painted by Vincensius in 1525 was donated to the Brukenthal Museum in Sibiu.

In 1795 the church was hit by a thunder for a third time therefore during its restoration the tower was rebuilt in its current shape and equipped with a lighting rod, the first ever to be mounted in Transylvania. The rod is made of copper, after the method of magistrate Raimarus from Hamburg.

Some of the towers have been preserved until today: ” Keeper Tower”, “City hall Tower”, “Bacon Tower”, “Sickle Blacksmith Tower”, ” School Tower” and the tower from the parish garden.

The oldest tower bell dates from 1663, a gothic bronze font and the old altar gates in baroque style. The clock installed in the 195-feet high (bell and clock) tower has been working since 1868; no repairs were ever needed!

The fortress also shelters other important pieces such as the tombstone embedded in the wall and depicting the priest Johannes Hutter Sibiensis, dating from 1683 and a bronze bowl from the 16^th with an Arabic inscription from the 17^th century.

Mediaș is the second largest city in Sibiu County, Transylvania. But most of all, it is one of the best-preserved historical centers in Romania and also some well preserved medieval fortifications.

Although evidence of human presence in the area dates back to the middle Neolithic, the city was first mentioned during the Roman occupation as Per Medias (meaning the town at the crossroads). According to the tradition, the town was founded in 1146, being so one of the oldest cities in Transylvania. The first document that mentions the city is dated 3 June 1267. In 1283, after the Saxons settled in Transylvania, the city became Sacerdos de Mediaș, while in 1389, it was renamed Villa Medies.

During the Middle Ages, Mediaș, like most other towns in Transylvania, was strongly fortified. Its 33 craft guilds built, maintained and defended the bastions of the walled city against invading forces. The fortified church of St. Margaret represented the core around which the citadel gradually developed.

The medieval center of the city has a particular charm, with narrow winding lanes, centuries-old houses and a large pedestrian square surrounded by colorful facades.

The fortified St. Margaret Evangelical Church, erected in the 15th century on the ruins of a Roman basilica, dominates the old town. The church, enclosed by two rows of walls and several defense towers (one of which served as prison cell for Vlad the Impaler in 1467), features three superb Gothic altarpieces, a colorful Baroque organ and some early 15th century frescoes. The church displays a collection of 14th century bronze artifacts and Oriental carpets brought by the tradesmen.

One of its towers, the Trumpeters’ Tower, is particularly special. In 1450, the Tower of Trumpeters, so-called because guards would search the horizon and sound an alarm by trumpet to warn people against enemy attack or fire, was added to the citadel’s defense system.

The legend says that the trumpeter would’ve been thrown out from the top of the tower if he made a mistake. Trumpeters’ Tower is also where Hungarian King Matyas locked Vlad the Impaler in 1476.

In 1880, a huge clock, showing the phases of the moon, was set up in the tower.

Another symbol of the town is the Tower of the Buglers, which is about 70 meters tall. Its construction started in the 13th century. In the 15th century it was raised to 5 tiers.

If you happen to be in the city, do not miss Franciscan Church and Monastery either. Built in gothic style in 1444, this church was later renovated in baroque style and a rococo style altar was added. The annex once served as silversmiths’ workshops.

As an economic center, Mediaș is famous for its windows manufacturing history. The factory now called Geromed was set up in 1921 and extended its products with blackboards, mirrors, windscreens and stained glass.

But above all, Mediaş is known best for its role in production of methane gas. The area where Mediaş is located on the site of the largest natural gas field in Romania. The headquarters of Romgaz, the national gas exploitation enterprise – and of Transgaz – the natural gas carrier – are based in Mediaş.

Mediaș is also known as a great wine center. The grapes and wine leaves visible in the city’s coat of arms refer to the (once well-known) wine from Mediaş. For example, the wine is mentioned early in Bram stoker’s Dracula: “The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable”.

The neighborhood of Mediaș city also gives as good as one gets. It is surrounded by dozens of fortified churches, two of them listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, on a 20-km area: the Fortified Church of Valea Viilor , 5 miles south from Mediaș and Biertan Fortified Church, 12 miles east of the city.

Bazna spa, officially recognized for the first time in 1302, is 18 km from Mediaș. The spa offers mineral water springs, rich in salts, mineral mud and a special type of salt, called “Bazna salt”.

A less known, interesting fact about Mediaș is that a pensioner from the city has found an impressive treasure dating from the Bronze Age in the woods with the help of a metal locator. He donated it to the city museum without accepting any reward.

Over 2,000 people marched in Sibiu on Saturday in support of Bodnariu family and of the other two families whose children have been taken away by Barnevernet, the Norwegian child welfare. They hold placards displaying their support messages to Bodnariu, Nan and Radulescu families, to the family concept in general, expressing their outrage towards Barnevernet: “Mom has no substitute”, “Norway, give Bodnarius back their children”, “Family doesn’t mean State”, “Better to be a poor mom in Romania than mother whose children are stolen in Norway.” Most of the demonstrators were accompanied by children.

A delegation of Norwegian journalists was also attending the mass meeting.

Photo credit: Silvana Armat; www.turnulsfatului.ro

‘We are stunned by the impressive number of people engaged in these actions. We want to find more about Romania’s reaction in this case‘, journalist Eystein Rossum said, as quoted by Sibiu local newspapers. Eystein Rossum is a correspondent for the political section of Mediehuset Bergens Tidende, a famous publication in East Norway and Naustdal.

According to the Norwegian journalists quoted by Sibiu local paper “Turnul Sfatului”, the Norwegian media doesn’t cover this case much.

The county council leader Ioan Cindrea, Sibiu prefect Ovidiu Sitteri, as well as more Evangelic and Orthodox priests joined the rally. Several people attending the Sibiu meeting came from Brasov and Arad.

A similar meeting attended by around 1,000 people took place in Cluj-Napoca, asking for the Romanian president and premier to involve more to solve these cases.

Most of the demonstrators were Pentecostal. They displayed banners with messages in English: “Norway, don’t separate Bodnariu family’s children”, “Reunite Bodnariu family”, “Norway, it’s time to give back our children”, “Norway, stop Barnevernet from stealing our children”.

Pastor Marin Pintilie asked president Klaus Iohannis and PM Dacian Cioloș to involve more and to prove more determination in settling Bodnariu’s case.

A draft resolution on the topic “Ensuring balance between child’s interest and need to keep families united,” mentioning the Bodnariu family’s case, initiated by the members of Romania’s Parliament Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), was filed these days on the occasion of the first part of the PACE ordinary session.

“The motion for resolution notes that the abusive and disproportional interpretation of the child’s best interest principle can lead to the unjustified separation of children from parents, mentioning the case of the Marius and Ruth Bodnariu couple,” reads a Senate’s press release.

The initiators argue that in 2013 only, out of the about 53,000 cases reviewed by the Norwegian child protection services, in about 9,000 situations the children were separated from their families, which points to a system issue of the Norwegian social services in charge with child protection. The motion signatories ask the Assembly to urgently examine this deficiency.

Mass meetings have been held in several cities in Romania this month to express support for the Bodnarius case, in Bucharest, Arad, Suceava, Cluj-Napoca but also within the Romanian communities living abroad such as Ireland, Spain, Great Britain and Denmark.

A Romanian parliamentary delegation went to Norway about ten days ago, ‘imperatively’ calling on the local governor, where the Bodnariu family lives, to review the placement order for the children, allegedly disproportionate and seen as an abusive interpretation of the principle regarding the superior interest of the child.