What the newspapers say: April 2, 2008

All newspapers on Wednesday read about the NATO Summit Bucharest hosts on April 2-4 and the sensitive agenda to be dealt with. Elsewhere in the news, as the Romanian Patriarch is hospitalized for a minor fracture, politicians visit him, for electoral purposes, journalists argue. Last but not least, another newspaper reads about new residential areas that are empty due to their exaggerated prices.

History is to be written in Bucharest, Romania as it hosts the NATO Summit this week Evenimentul Zilei reads. Journalists argue that Bucharest will become the world’s capital for two days as cards are to be dealt during this time.

Some 20 Presidents, over 20 heads of state and more than 80 ministers accompanied by 3000 delegations are due to take vital decisions which will sketch the future development of the international scene.

US President George W. Bush arrived in Bucharest last night and today some other heads of state are to join him like French President Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the British PM Gordon Brown.

The newspaper reads that there are several sensitive issues on the table, such as the increasing tension between Russia and US on Ukraine and Georgia’s possible accession to NATO structures. Moreover, Romanian President Traian Basescu accused former President Emil Constantinescu of having conceded the national interest in favor of Ukraine when signing a Treaty with them.

Romanian authorities have made every concession to assure the security of the Summit, as this is an important aspect which will assure the success of the event.

Romania Libera reads about several sensitive issues that need to be addressed during the Summit. NATO Head, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer declared as soon as he arrived in Bucharest that NATO members are most likely to address the issue of Kosovo and the possibility that NATO would deploy troops there.

Another problem on the agenda is NATO expansion with three new members – Croatia, Albania and Macedonia countries which are close to Kosovo. Hoop de Scheffer declared that NATO is pressured to take a decision which might turn out crucial for the future development of the structures.

Elsewhere in the news, Cotidianul reads about the political pilgrimage to the Romanian Patriarch, temporarily hospitalized for a minor fracture. The newspaper reads that Romania’s President, Traian Basescu visited the Patriarch on Monday and was soon imitated by the Social Democrats (PSD) leader Mircea Geoana.

Journalists argue that the move is purely electoral as PM Tariceanu called the Patriarch while Defense Minister Teodor Melescanu was the first to visit him on Monday morning. Political analyst Cristian Parvulescu sustains this view and argues that President Basescu is preoccupied by his electoral capital.

Last but not least, Gandul reads that due to speculators, some 50% of the new residential apartments are empty, a Polish real estate consultant company informs. The newspaper reads that the exaggerated prices reflect on the people’s decision to avoid the residential places.

The paper reads that the price for such an apartment ranges from 3000 to 4000 euro per month while a villa in the same area can be rented for the same price.