FOR TWENTY THREE YEARS RO M A N I A’ S O N LY E N G L I S H L A N G UAG E D A I LY ’CLOCK N INE NO: 5778 l DECEMBER 23, 2014 - JANUARY 5, 2015 SINCE 1991 • WWW.NINEOCLOCK.RO • PRICE: RON 4.5 25 years on from the 1989 bloody sacrifice: Corlatean replaces Geoana as chairman of Parliament’s Schengen accession commission Memorial ceremonies pay tribute to the Revolution heroes n Upon the 25th commemoration of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, a few hundred Bucharesters gathered at ground zero of the events that happened 25 years ago, the Revolution Square. n People chanted famous Revolution slogans: ‘Freedom, freedom!’, ‘Down with communism!’ or ‘We love you, freedom, we win or die!’, the national anthem was sung and the Romanian flag with the cut off coat of rams in the middle was waved as a symbol of the 1989 anti-communist fight. n Amidst the buildings which still carry in their walls the bullets blindly fired in the streets of the Capital during those nights of terror, the people read moving poems and remembered until late into the night the events that shook up the communist order and brought Romanians the most priceless gift – freedom. n Similar commemorative ceremonies were organized in other Romanian cities as well, such as Timisoara, the place where the uprising of the people against Ceausescu’s dictatorship began, Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Piatra Neamt, Brasov, Baia Mare, Buzau, Lugoj, Resita, Covasna, etc. n Even in Chisinau, the capital city of R. Moldova, a few dozens of young people gathered at Stefan cel Mare’s monument and lit up candles arranged in the shape of number 89. The event was organized by the ‘Young Moldovans’ platform that promotes the reunification of R. Moldova with Romania. n The Ministry of National Defence organized on Monday several military wreath laying ceremonies at the monuments dedicated to the martyr-heroes of the December 1989 Revolution. n President Klaus Iohannis on Monday laid a wreath of flowers at NINE O’CLOCK MPs decided on Sunday that Titus Corlatean will replace Mircea Geoana as chairman of the Lower Chamber’s and Senate’s join commission on Schengen accession. The Parliament adopted the decision with 413 votes in favor and no votes against. According to this decision, Senator Titus Corlatean will replace Senator Mircea Geoana as member and chairman of this special commission. Senator Mircea Geoana was excluded from PSD at the end of November during the party’s National Executive Committee meeting. the University Square Monument dedicated to the memory of the 1989 Revolution victims. n President Klaus Iohannis evoked the moment of the Romanian Revolution from exactly 25 years ago, which 'made possible this evolution that for many unexpected. 'It is good to remember that, exactly 25 years ago, the Romanian Revolution made possible this unexpected evolution for many but, also, I believe that it is good we remember the people who sacrificed themselves so that we can feel this joy today,' said Iohannis. See Page 2 INSIDE: Politics Catalin Predoiu: I am ready to be prime minister and form a competent government g Page 3 Business European fund absorption reaches almost 60 pc in transport sector g Page 11 NINE O’CLOCK SUPPLEMENTS December 23: Japan celebrates Emperor Akihito Birthday PHOTO: AGERPRES Pages 5-10 TODAY’S WEATHER EDITORIAL By Gabriela Bogdan IN BUCHAREST Variable: 12˚C CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES ON MONDAY - DECEMBER 22 € Euro (EUR) $ Dollar (USD) Fr Swiss Franc (CHF) £ Pound (GBP) Swedish Crown (SEK) ¥ Yen (JPY) 1 SDR RON 4.4674 3.6433 3.7120 5.6895 0.4751 3.0548 5.3038 Santa Claus is coming to town W ith the good and bad, the year 2014 will be over and history in a few days. We are all enraptured by the holiday rush, we are all penetrated by its spirit and magic. And, as always, when we bid our farewells to a year, we put all our thoughts, hopes and expectations in a better and more prosperous New Year. However, at the same time, since the turn of the year is always a good time for retrospection as well as for making plans for new projects, dreams and hopes for the future, we draw the line and count the achievements and failures of the year that is ending, shaping up new and beautiful projects for the year that follows. To Romanians, the period preceding the Holidays is not just an opportunity for joy and preparation, with big hopes and expectations, of the ‘to do list’ for the coming year, with lessons learnt from the successes and underachivements of the year that ends. Continued on Page 4 IN THIS ISSUE Politics & Home News Comments Special Economy & Business Leisure Tourism 2, 3, 4 4 5-10, 13, 14 11, 12 15 16 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The editorial staff of Nine O’Clock wishes its readers a Merry Christmas spent together with their loved ones, and best of luck in 2015. We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for always being by our side and we promise that we will remain, also in 2015, your accurate information provider to offer a clear image of Romanian politics and society. Let’s hope that the New Year will be a better one for all of us. Happy New Year and our best wishes to all! The next print edition will be issued on January 6, 2015. Our website http://www.nineoclock.ro will be updated daily with the most important news.