Radio România Internațional

Tag: air policing

  • Romania – the Eastern Flank

    Romania – the Eastern Flank


    Four F-16 jet fighters plus one 80-strong Turkish detachment have been carrying out enhanced air policing missions in Romanias airspace for more than two months now. They arrived in Romania in late November and on December 5th they got NATO certification for carrying out air policing missions in Romania. Since then they have carried out numerous flights and training missions jointly with their Romanian counterparts on F-16 planes and for a short period of time with the German Eurofighters deployed to Air Base 57 in Mihail Kogalniceanu, south-eastern Romania, in December.


    The Turkish servicemen, who have been stationed at Air Base 86, “Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniţă” in Borcea (south-eastern Romania), are for the first time in Romania to carry out enhanced air policing missions. However, suchlike missions arent their first, because they have already carried out similar operations in Lithuania and Poland.


    “Shortly after we had landed we were getting ready for mission. We got battle-ready in 15 minutes, ready to start air policing missions. We are here to protect the airspace against any military or civilian aircraft that might violate international flight rules. We are ready 24/7 to intervene against any aggression but we havent encountered any yet, so weve had only training missions, alert simulations, the so-called “Tango Scramble” to maintain the response capability at a higher level permanently, Major Unsal, one of the Turkish Air Force pilots stationed in Borcea, told Euronews. When not training the Turkish pilots are enjoying their stay in Romania. “The food is very good. I can say that I like very much the gulas and shaworma here; they are very similar to the traditional food in Turkey. There are lots of historical sites and we are glad we have been here and can see them,” Major Unsal went on to say.


    Both the Romanian servicemen and the allies who have done air policing in Romania have carried out scores of real interception missions. War planes also took off whenever Russian drones flew over Romanias airspace on their way to hit the Ukrainian ports on the Danube. The last incident of this kind was in December. Out of the four Turkish F-16 fighter jets deployed to Borcea, one is with double command, which could be linked to the recent opening here of the European Training Center for F-16.


    The first two months of mission, out of the four initially envisaged, have ended and last week saw the rotation of the Turkish Air Force detachment on mission in Romania.


    Four F-16 fighters and 73 servicemen belonging to the Turkish Air Force, which are to ensure the second rotation of the mission of the detachment stationed in Romania, arrived at Airbase 86 in Borcea on January 25. Their mission in Romania will end in March. A detachment of Eurofighters from Britain is expected to arrive at Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in March also for enhanced air policing missions.


    From January 27th until February 4, the US 82 airborne division jointly with the Romanian allies is carrying out joint drills including transport of military gear and equipment by means of both the military helicopters and ground facilities. The drill is covering a large area, the air corridor between the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase and the main training range in Cincu, in the county of Brasov, central Romania.


    (bill)


  • May 14, 2019

    May 14, 2019

    COUNCIL -
    Romanian Agriculture Minister Petre Daea is today presiding the meeting of the
    EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. The main topic on the agenda is
    the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy Reform Package. Ministers will also
    exchange views on the new delivery model set out in the Commission proposal for
    a regulation on the CAP strategic plans. On the sidelines of the Council
    meeting, ministers will discuss a strategic long-term vision for a climate
    neutral economy from the point of view of agriculture, as well as the declaration
    of cooperation for a smart and sustainable digital future for European
    agriculture and rural areas.

    EASTERN
    PARTNERSHIP – Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu called
    for continuing reforms and modernization processes in ex-soviet states from the
    Eastern Partnership. On Monday Minister Melescanu attended the Eastern
    Partnership ministerial meeting in Brussels, bringing together Armenia,
    Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The Romanian
    official hailed the 10th anniversary of the Partnership, coinciding
    with the Romanian presidency of the Council of the European Union, as a good
    opportunity to reassert the importance of the partnership to both EU citizens
    and the citizens of the Eastern Partnership.

    MILITARY -
    An Italian military unit is deployed by NATO at the Mihail Koglniceanu base in
    southeastern Romania, charged with carrying out air policing missions for the
    first time in Romania. Over the next four months, 130 Italian military, pilots
    and technical crew and four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft will join Romanian Air
    Force military and MiG-21 Lancer jets to carry out these missions under NATO
    command. The joint air policing missions are aimed at developing the reaction
    and deterrence capacity and consolidate interoperability between the two
    countries’ Air Forces. The deployment of the Italian unit to Romania is part of
    the action plan for ensuring NATO operational capacity in response to security
    challenges on the Alliance’s eastern flank.

    CANNES FESTIVAL – The 72nd edition of the Cannes Film
    Festival is kicking off today and will run until May 25. Romania is represented
    in the official and alternative film sections. Corneliu Porumboiu this year
    competes for the Palme d’Or with his latest feature La Gomera / The
    Whistlers, his first film produced abroad, on La Gomera island in Spain and in
    Singapore. The short reel program entitled Romanian Short Waves will also be
    featured in the Short Film Corner devoted to short reels and young talent. Among
    the 13 short reels selected are Bogdan Muresanu’s Christmas Gift, Adi Voicu’s
    The Last Trip to the Seaside and Today Artist, Tonight Taximetrist by
    Dumitru Grosei. Also representing Romania is filmmaker, screen writer and
    producer Catalin Mitulescu as a jury member for the Cinefondation and short
    reel section.

    EUROVISION -
    The first semi-final of the Eurovision song contest is today taking place in
    Tel Aviv. Representatives of 17 countries will tonight compete for a place in
    the final. Last year’s winner, Netta Barzilai, will open the contest with a
    remix of the song that won the trophy in 2018, Toy. Easter Peony, Romania’s
    representative, will perform On a Sunday in the second semi-final on May 16.
    The final will take place on May 18. The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will
    bring together representatives of 41 countries enrolled in the race for the
    trophy.

    TENNIS -
    Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (113 WTA) is today playing Daria Kasatkina of
    Russia (21 WTA) in the opening round at the WTA tournament in Rome, totaling
    3.4 million dollars in prize money. Also today, Mihaela Buzarnescu (29 WTA) is
    playing the former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (27 WTA).
    In the second round world no. 2 Simona Halep will play the winner of the match
    pitting Merketa Vondrousova against Barbora Strycova, both from the Czech
    Republic.

    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • May 1, 2017 UPDATE

    May 1, 2017 UPDATE

    MAY DAY — Over 80 countries on Monday celebrated May Day, also known as the International Workers’ Day set up in 1889 to commemorate the Heymarket affair in Chicago. In Romania, the communist regime had twisted the holiday to serve as propaganda. Currently, May Day is a public holiday marking the beginning of the summer season. Over 40,000 tourists visited the Romanian Black Seacoast, especially the resorts of Mamaia and Vama Veche, while some 20,000 tourists chose mountain resorts as their holiday destinations.



    AIR POLICING — Over May 1 — August 31 a squadron of the Royal Air Force will be deployed to the Mihail Kogalniceanu military airbase in eastern Romania, where it will carry out air policing missions jointly with the Romanian Air Force, the Romanian Defense Ministry has announced. The squadron consists of 150 military, using Typhoon fighter jets for the first time in Romania. The British fighters will be supported by MiG-21 LanceR jets. Typhoon is one the world’s fastest aircraft, fitted with anti-air radars. Deploying RAF jets to Romania is part of NATO’s action plan to secure operational capability on the Alliance’s eastern, northern and southern flanks. The joint air policing missions will contribute to developing the reaction and deterrence capacity and to consolidating interoperability between Romanian and British air forces.



    MACRON — The European Union must reform itself to avoid France potentially leaving the European community, French pro-European presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has said. Macron is currently favourite to win in the second round of the presidential race which will be held this Sunday. His opponent is National Front representative Marine Le Pen. During the election campaign I have constantly advocated European ideas and policies, because these are very important things for the French people and for our country’s role in the context of globalization, but the dysfunctionality of the Union is no longer sustainable, Macron went on to say. Marine Le Pen on the other hand has overtly expressed her Eurosceptic beliefs during the campaign, promising to stage a referendum on France’s EU membership.



    STUDY — The Romanian economy is facing a severe labour market crisis, with the number of employees and the degree of qualification reporting a huge drop in recent years, which might actually worsen in the future. This is the main conclusion of a study made public on Monday by KeysFin financial consultancy agency. According to the research, the main cause is the exodus of Romanians towards the West, particularly after Romania joined the EU in 2007. On the other hand, the number of job vacancies has gone up since 2009, from 39,000 to 60,000 in 2016, the study also shows.



    SYRIA — A UN task force charged with identifying people who committed atrocities in Syria is due to start its activity soon, as a first stage in apprehending war criminals. The announcement was made on Monday by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. The setup of the task force, adopted at the UN General Assembly in December, was condemned by the Bashar al-Assad regime as an unacceptable involvement in the country’s domestic affairs. Over 320,000 people were have been killed since conflict broke out in 2011.



    EUROVISION — Romania’s representatives at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, Alex Florea and Ilinca Bancila have arrived in Kiev, playing host to this year’s edition. The two will be performing the song “Yodel it!” in the second semi-final, on May 11. The big final is scheduled for May 13. Romania’s best performances in the Eurovision are second place in 2005, with a song performed by Luminita Anghel and Sistem, third place in 2010 grabbed by the duo Paula Seling and Ovi and fourth place in 2006, a feat accomplished by Mihai Traistariu. (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • May 1, 2017

    May 1, 2017

    MAY DAY — Over 80 countries on Monday celebrated May Day, also known as the International Workers’ Day set up in 1889 to commemorate the Heymarket affair in Chicago. In Romania, the communist regime had twisted the holiday to serve as propaganda. Currently, May Day is a public holiday marking the beginning of the summer season. Over 40,000 tourists visited the Romanian Black Seacoast, especially the resorts of Mamaia and Vama Veche, while some 20,000 tourists chose mountain resorts as their holiday destinations.



    AIR POLICING — Over May 1 — August 31 a squadron of the Royal Air Force will be deployed to the Mihail Kogalniceanu military airbase in eastern Romania, where it will carry out air policing missions jointly with the Romanian Air Force, the Romanian Defense Ministry has announced. The squadron consists of 150 military, using Typhoon fighter jets for the first time in Romania. The British fighters will be supported by MiG-21 LanceR jets. Typhoon is one the world’s fastest aircraft, fitted with anti-air radars. Deploying RAF jets to Romania is part of NATO’s action plan to secure operational capability on the Alliance’s eastern, northern and southern flanks. The joint air policing missions will contribute to developing the reaction and deterrence capacity and to consolidating interoperability between Romanian and British air forces.



    MACRON — The European Union must reform itself to avoid France potentially leaving the European community, French pro-European presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has said. Macron is currently favourite to win in the second round of the presidential race which will be held this Sunday. His opponent is National Front representative Marine Le Pen. During the election campaign I have constantly advocated European ideas and policies, because these are very important things for the French people and for our country’s role in the context of globalization, but the dysfunctionality of the Union is no longer sustainable, Macron went on to say. Marine Le Pen on the other hand has overtly expressed her Eurosceptic beliefs during the campaign, promising to stage a referendum on France’s EU membership.



    COLLECTIVE PARDON — A few dozen people on Sunday protested the Government’s decision to pass a law on collective pardon. Protesters say the criminal legislation in Romania should be strengthened. The Chamber of Deputies is this week expected to debate and vote a draft law reducing the sentence of certain inmates due to improper detention conditions. The European Court of Human Rights has decided that detention conditions in Romanian prisons go against the European Convention for Human Rights and has given Romanian authorities 6 months to come up with a plan to solve the issue. The National Penitentiary Authority director Marius Vulpe has warned that collective pardon or house arrest is only a short-term solution to prison overcrowding.



    FRONTEX — On April 25 Romanian border police officers on the Aegean Sea saved 38 people, of whom 17 children, traveling on an overcrowded raft about to sink, the Romanian Border Police General Inspectorate has announced. The people were originating from Syria, Iraq and Kuwait. Since their deployment in Greece earlier this year, the Romanian border police working on Coast Guard ships have saved a total of 704 people in danger travelling on small-sized boats in Greek waters as part of individual or concerted FRONTEX efforts.



    HANDBALL — The Romanian men’s handball team Potaissa Turda on Sunday qualified to the Challenge Cup finals after defeating Valur Reykjavik of Iceland in the return leg of the semi-finals, played on home turf, 32-23. Potaissa qualified on aggregate after losing 30-22 to Valur in the first leg. In the final, the Romanian team will go up against Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. (Translated by V. Palcu)