Radio România Internațional

Tag: anti-communist revolution of 1989

  • December 15, 2024 UPDATE

    December 15, 2024 UPDATE

    FAC – Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminița Odobescu, is attending the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting hosted by Brussels on Monday. This will be the first meeting presided by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President, Kaja Kallas, since she took office on December 1. The agenda for talks includes Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, developments in Georgia, the Middle East, Syria and Belarus. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will be tackled in light of the recent developments on the ground, amidst growing EU pressure on Russia, including through the adoption of the 15th package of restrictions and the continuation of EU multidimensional support for Ukraine.

     

    INCIDENT – The Romanian Foreign Ministry conducted its own inquiry after a Romanian citizen was detained on the territory of the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, a Georgian territory current under Russian occupation, whose independence is not currently recognized by the international community. The Romanian national was arrested by security services in the pro-Russian separatist region, and was accused of having tried to film military objectives on this territory. Local authorities claim the Romanian citizen had been forced to make the recordings by Ukrainian military spies, who told him this was the only way he could leave Abkhazia. Romanian authorities are in permanent contact with the citizen’s family and are making efforts to provide consular assistance.

     

    GOVERNMENT – President Klaus Iohannis is expected to convene the new Parliament on December 20. The New Parliament will comprise 7 political parties. The Social-Democratic Party (PSD) will have 122 seats, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) 91, the National Liberal Party (PNL) 71, the Save Romania Union (USR) 59, the SOS Romania Party 40, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR) 32 and the Young People’s Party (POT) 31. The group of national minorities will be represented by 19 MPs. The youngest members of Parliament are aged 34 and are members of USR and AUR, while PSD is at the opposite pole, with the largest number of MPs aged 65 and over. The Social-Democrats and the Liberals have the largest number of women MPs. On Friday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will each set up special committees to validate the new mandates.

     

    LEGISLATION – Current deputies and senators are expected to end their mandate by the end of next week. The Chamber of Deputies is set to adopt a new Forestry Code, a milestone in the Recovery and Resilience plan and a government priority that needs to be adopted by the end of 2024. Among other things, the law stipulates seizing all vehicles involved in illegal logging, the construction of green belts around large cities, the right to pre-emption and quality raw materials at affordable prices for furniture manufacturers, introducing video surveillance on forestry roads and a ban on root cutting in protected areas. On the other hand, the Senate is expected to vote on projects that introduce penalties for public office aggregation or a reduction in the number of maximum terms held by heads of secrete services. The current legislature ends its mandate on December 20, when the new Parliament is set to convene in its first sitting.

     

    UKRAINE – Romania is a valuable partner of Ukraine, both in terms of the prospective reconstruction of the country, as well as the war effort, Kyiv informs. The opening of new border crossing points is a point in case, the head of the Ukrainian State Agency for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Development, Serhii Sukhomlyn has said. Five new border checkpoints have been opened, while another six are currently being discussed. The Ukrainian official said the new border crossings are of great help to Ukrainian exporters, and that Romania is a valuable partner not just for its assistance in rebuilding infrastructure, but also owing to the military assistance it provides to Ukraine in the conflict against the invading Russian forces.

     

    TIMIȘOARA – The city of Timișoara (west) on Sunday celebrates 35 years since the anti-communist revolution of 1989. Under the motto “35 years of freedom”, the municipality is organizing a large number of commemorative events celebrating the martyrs of the revolution, as well as the moment when Timișoara became the first city in Romania to be declared free of communism. Religious services, wreath-laying ceremonies, exhibitions, film screenings and concerts are all on the agenda. On Monday, the authorities will officially inaugurate the Freedom Portal, a light installation reproducing sounds from the revolution, followed by the traditional march titled “Heroes never die”. Tuesday is an official mourning day, while festivities are expected to end on December 20 with the concert “Rock for revolution”.

     

    HANDBALL – The Romanian women’s handball team will play Italy in the playoffs for the 2025 World Cup, following Sunday’s draw in Vienna. The two matches will be played in April. The 2025 World Cup will be co-hosted by Germany and the Netherlands over November 26 – December 14, 2025. Romania has taken part in every edition, and its best ranking was 12th place in 2023. (VP)

  • December 15, 2024

    December 15, 2024

    INCIDENT – The Romanian Foreign Ministry conducted its own inquiry after a Romanian citizen was detained on the territory of the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, a Georgian territory current under Russian occupation, whose independence is not currently recognized by the international community. The Romanian national was arrested by security services in the pro-Russian separatist region, and was accused of having tried to film military objectives on this territory. Local authorities claim the Romanian citizen had been forced to make the recordings by Ukrainian military spies, who told him this was the only way he could leave Abkhazia. Romanian authorities are in permanent contact with the citizen’s family and are making efforts to provide consular assistance.

     

    GOVERNMENT – President Klaus Iohannis is expected to convene the new Parliament on December 20. The New Parliament will comprise 7 political parties. The Social-Democratic Party (PSD) will have 122 seats, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) 91, the National Liberal Party (PNL) 71, the Save Romania Union (USR) 59, the SOS Romania Party 40, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR) 32 and the Young People’s Party (POT) 31. The group of national minorities will be represented by 19 MPs. The youngest members of Parliament are aged 34 and are members of USR and AUR, while PSD is at the opposite pole, with the largest number of MPs aged 65 and over. The Social-Democrats and the Liberals have the largest number of women MPs. On Friday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will each set up special committees to validate the new mandates.

     

    LEGISLATION – Current deputies and senators are expected to end their mandate by the end of next week. The Chamber of Deputies is set to adopt a new Forestry Code, a milestone in the Recovery and Resilience plan and a government priority that needs to be adopted by the end of 2024. Among other things, the law stipulates seizing all vehicles involved in illegal logging, the construction of green belts around large cities, the right to pre-emption and quality raw materials at affordable prices for furniture manufacturers, introducing video surveillance on forestry roads and a ban on root cutting in protected areas. On the other hand, the Senate is expected to vote on projects that introduce penalties for public office aggregation or a reduction in the number of maximum terms held by heads of secrete services. The current legislature ends its mandate on December 20, when the new Parliament is set to convene in its first sitting.

     

    UKRAINE – Romania is a valuable partner of Ukraine, both in terms of the prospective reconstruction of the country, as well as the war effort, Kyiv informs. The opening of new border crossing points is a point in case, the head of the Ukrainian State Agency for Infrastructure Reconstruction and Development, Serhii Sukhomlyn has said. Five new border checkpoints have been opened, while another six are currently being discussed. The Ukrainian official said the new border crossings are of great help to Ukrainian exporters, and that Romania is a valuable partner not just for its assistance in rebuilding infrastructure, but also owing to the military assistance it provides to Ukraine in the conflict against the invading Russian forces.

     

    TIMIȘOARA – The city of Timișoara (west) on Sunday celebrates 35 years since the anti-communist revolution of 1989. Under the motto “35 years of freedom”, the municipality is organizing a large number of commemorative events celebrating the martyrs of the revolution, as well as the moment when Timișoara became the first city in Romania to be declared free of communism. Religious services, wreath-laying ceremonies, exhibitions, film screenings and concerts are all on the agenda. On Monday, the authorities will officially inaugurate the Freedom Portal, a light installation reproducing sounds from the revolution, followed by the traditional march titled “Heroes never die”. Tuesday is an official mourning day, while festivities are expected to end on December 20 with the concert “Rock for revolution”. (VP)

  • SRI declassifies the Revolution files

    SRI declassifies the Revolution files

    33 years since the anti-communist revolution, the Romanian Intelligence
    Service (SRI) has declassified all documents concerning the events of 1989. 13
    volumes with copies of archive pages, correspondence, reports and notifications
    compiled by the Securitate, the communist secret police, are included in the
    archive. One of the volumes comprises messages sent by the Securitate to the National
    Television Station, one of the focal points of the revolution. In one such
    message, Securitate officers expressed support for ousting Ceaușescu. The
    message never reached the public however, but Securitate officers expressed
    readiness to come in person to the radio and TV public broadcasters to support
    this move.

    SRI Director Eduard Hellvig recalls that, unfortunately, millions of
    Romanians still want the truth about the events of 1989 in order to close once
    and for all one of the darkest chapters in Romanian history. In turn, president
    Klaus Iohannis said that failing to bring to serve justice for the crimes of
    the Revolution remains a vulnerability of our society that further fuels pain
    and frustration. This summer, the Revolution investigation, whereby former
    president Ion Iliescu, former deputy Prime Minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu and
    former General Iosif Rus, the head of the Military Aviation at the time, stand
    accused of crimes against humanity, was sent back to the Supreme Court. At
    first the case was registered at the Supreme Court in 2019, but judges referred
    it back to the Military Prosecutor’s Office for correcting several issues in
    the indictment. Military prosecutors say Ion Iliescu’s inner circle acted
    skillfully and effectively to take over the political and military power reins
    in December 1989. Iliescu reportedly misled the public constantly, repeatedly
    and systematically.

    A far-reaching nationwide and carefully planned military
    action of unprecedented scope designed to misinform the audiences was carried
    out across Romania, prosecutors say. This led to generating and amplifying
    terrorism psychosis, which eventually brought many people to their graves.
    Romania’s entire military force was allegedly at the whim of the National
    Salvation Front (FSN) Council, a provisional authority that subsequently grew
    into a political party, led by Ion Iliescu. In May 1990, Iliescu was elected
    president of Romania. He secured another two terms, over 1992-1996 and
    2000-2004. Over the years, FSN evolved into PDSR, and then PSD, which is a part
    of the current ruling coalition. (VP)









  • December 22, 2022

    December 22, 2022

    REVOLUTION
    – Events commemorating the anti-communist revolution of 1989 continue today in
    Romania. Religious ceremonies and laying of flowers will be held in all major
    cities across Romania. December 22, 1989 was the day when tens of thousands of
    people took to the streets and forced dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu to flee the
    country in a helicopter that took off from the building of the former Central
    Committee. The revolution that toppled the communist regime broke out in the
    capital city on December 21 with a huge rally staged by Nicolae Ceaușescu, who
    thus hoped to appease the population and stay in power. The rally turned
    violent and the memory of the heroes who were killed that day was honored
    yesterday by means of ceremonies and laying of flowers in emblematic venues.
    President Klaus Iohannis paid a floral tribute at the roadside cross in
    University Square, also observing a moment of silence. We recall the spark that
    ignited the 1989 anti-communist revolution was lit in Timișoara, western
    Romania. The revolution quickly spread to Bucharest and other cities. Overall,
    1,000 people were killed and some 3,000 wounded in clashes with the security
    forces. Romania is the only country in Eastern Europe where the transition from
    communism resulted in bloodshed.




    VISIT -
    The Romanian delegation comprising Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and Chamber of
    Deputies speaker, Marcel Ciolacu, continues its visit to South Korea. Romania
    seeks to develop major economic projects jointly with Korean businesses in key
    fields such as transports, energy, defense, IT, ITNs( IT and Network Solutions)
    and semi-conductors. In fact, more Korean corporations have invested in the
    American project designed to develop modular reactors, which Romania is
    expected to implement in a few years. The defense industry will be the focus of
    today’s talks, after yesterday the officials discussed energy-related topics.
    The two Romanian officials will also meet with the leadership of two companies,
    Hanwha Aerospace, which offers defense solutions, and Hyundai Rotem,
    specializing in the manufacturing of rolling stock, military equipment and
    plant engineering. Yesterday, during their meeting with Prime Minister Han
    Duck-soo in Seoul, the two officials exchanged views regarding ways of managing
    the situation generated by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, regional security
    and NATO’s cooperation with South Korea. Also yesterday, Marcel Ciolacu and
    Nicolae Ciucă met with representatives of the Romanian community in South
    Korea. The Romanian Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the way
    Romanians have succeeded in integrating in Korean society, while at the same
    time preserving their Romanian identity, culture and values. On Friday, the
    Romanian delegation, which comprises several ministers, will visit the
    demilitarized zone separating South Korea from North Korea.






    WAR IN
    UKRAINE – Support for Ukraine is not an act of charity, but an investment
    in global security and democracy, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said
    in a speech before the US Congress. The Kyiv leader also called for maintaining
    support for Ukraine. Washington is by far Ukraine’s most important weapons
    supplier, and American equipment delivered to Ukraine, such as Javelin
    anti-tank systems or HIMARS missile launchers, have been instrumental in
    repelling Russian attacks. On this occasion, the United States have promised a
    new assistance package worth 1.85 billion USD, which includes an anti-air
    missile system, requested by Ukraine a while ago, considering that cities and
    infrastructure are constantly targeted by Russian shelling. During his meeting
    with president Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky said it will take more Patriot
    systems to fend off Russian attacks. Zelensky’s surprise visit to Washington occurred
    300 days since the start of Russia’s invasion, and was his first visit abroad
    since the start of the war on February 24.




    DIASPORA
    – Over December 22-23, Bucharest is hosting the conference titled Romania
    beyond the borders, organized by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians
    (AUR). The meeting with representatives of Romanian communities abroad is
    designed to identify clear-cut and realistic solutions to some of the problems
    facing the Romanian diaspora today. The conference will put up for debate a few
    of the most important measures and decisions Romania needs to take with respect
    to Romanians living abroad: boosting the number of polling stations abroad to
    provide Romanians with real chances of casting their vote, providing
    unconditional protection to every Romanian citizens abroad, introducing
    dedicated classes of Romanian language, culture and history addressing children
    and young people living abroad by cooperating with Bucharest authorities and
    host countries, as well as making more consular staff available and providing
    them with special training. Other measures include simplifying proceedings for
    unlocking activities in Romania’s representative offices abroad or opening
    community centers in the Diaspora that should hire qualified staff to provide
    legal and administrative counseling. (VP)

























  • December 20, 2022 UPDATE

    December 20, 2022 UPDATE

    DEFENSE – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, on Tuesday said that
    the presence of Portuguese military with the South-East Multinational Brigade
    in Caracal alongside other servicemen from North Macedonia and other NATO
    states plays a key role to strengthening Romania’s defense and security. During
    a visit paid by his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Caracal,
    the Romanian president said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has once again
    highlighted NATO’s capacity to act firmly, unitarily and coherently to support
    the Ukrainian people and to strengthen and reinforce allies on the eastern
    flank. Talks between the two heads of state focused on security developments in
    Ukraine and providing humanitarian assistance to this country ahead of the cold
    season, as well as on facilitating grain exports. At bilateral level, the two
    officials tackled the possibility of boosting Romanian-Portuguese cooperation
    in the fields of defense, economy, trade, digitization, renewable energy,
    healthcare and education.




    STRATEGY – The Government of Romania has adopted the 2022-2027
    National Strategy on promoting equal opportunities and combating domestic
    violence. The document stipulates measures and actions in such fields as
    healthcare, education and the labor market, by making national policies reflect
    gender prospects. To prevent and combat domestic violence, the government seeks
    to create more safe housing and to provide psychological and legal counseling to
    the victims. Other measures target marginalized groups such as Roma women,
    women in rural areas and women with disabilities.




    REVOLUTION – The city of Timișoara in western Romania on Tuesday marked a solemn moment
    celebrating the day when Timișoara became
    the first city in Romania free of communism. In line with recent tradition, a
    group of former participants in the revolution stepped on the balcony of the
    Opera building to reenact the events of 1989, when on December 20, tens of
    thousands of people took to the streets of Timișoara to protest against Nicolae Ceaușescu’s dictatorship. The anti-communist revolution quickly spread
    to Bucharest and other cities. 1,000 people were killed and another 3,000 were
    wounded in clashes with security forces. Romania is the only country in Eastern
    Europe where the transition from communism resulted in bloodshed.




    EUROSTAT – The EU’s natural gas consumption dropped by 20.1% over
    August-November 2022 compared to average for the 2017-2021 period, the Eurostat
    reports. The EU plans to cut by 15% its natural gas consumption over August
    2022 – March 2023, compared to the average of the last five years, in order to
    curb the bloc’s dependency on fossil fuels from Russia. According to Eurostat,
    over August-November 2022, natural gas consumption went down in most EU member
    states. The sharpest decline, 40%, was reported in Finland, Latvia and
    Lithuania. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Estonia reported a 30%
    decrease. Despite curbing their consumption, six EU members have failed to meet
    the target, while consumption actually went up in Malta and Slovakia.




    TOURISM – The village of Rășinari in central Romania was
    shortlisted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) among the
    best tourism villages of 2022. Rășinari
    was included on a list of 32 villages in 18 countries across the world
    that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for
    jobs and income. The mayor of Rășinari
    said the village is located at the foot of the mountain. The air here is
    clean, the village is surrounded by fir tree forests, and there are many
    guesthouses and guided tours. There are plenty of things to do and see, the
    official added. The Best Tourism Villages award ceremony will take place in
    February, and comes in recognition of the villages’ commitment to innovation
    and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental. (VP)



  • December 20, 2022 UPDATE

    December 20, 2022 UPDATE

    DEFENSE – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, on Tuesday said that
    the presence of Portuguese military with the South-East Multinational Brigade
    in Caracal alongside other servicemen from North Macedonia and other NATO
    states plays a key role to strengthening Romania’s defense and security. During
    a visit paid by his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Caracal,
    the Romanian president said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has once again
    highlighted NATO’s capacity to act firmly, unitarily and coherently to support
    the Ukrainian people and to strengthen and reinforce allies on the eastern
    flank. Talks between the two heads of state focused on security developments in
    Ukraine and providing humanitarian assistance to this country ahead of the cold
    season, as well as on facilitating grain exports. At bilateral level, the two
    officials tackled the possibility of boosting Romanian-Portuguese cooperation
    in the fields of defense, economy, trade, digitization, renewable energy,
    healthcare and education.




    STRATEGY – The Government of Romania has adopted the 2022-2027
    National Strategy on promoting equal opportunities and combating domestic
    violence. The document stipulates measures and actions in such fields as
    healthcare, education and the labor market, by making national policies reflect
    gender prospects. To prevent and combat domestic violence, the government seeks
    to create more safe housing and to provide psychological and legal counseling to
    the victims. Other measures target marginalized groups such as Roma women,
    women in rural areas and women with disabilities.




    REVOLUTION – The city of Timișoara in western Romania on Tuesday marked a solemn moment
    celebrating the day when Timișoara became
    the first city in Romania free of communism. In line with recent tradition, a
    group of former participants in the revolution stepped on the balcony of the
    Opera building to reenact the events of 1989, when on December 20, tens of
    thousands of people took to the streets of Timișoara to protest against Nicolae Ceaușescu’s dictatorship. The anti-communist revolution quickly spread
    to Bucharest and other cities. 1,000 people were killed and another 3,000 were
    wounded in clashes with security forces. Romania is the only country in Eastern
    Europe where the transition from communism resulted in bloodshed.




    EUROSTAT – The EU’s natural gas consumption dropped by 20.1% over
    August-November 2022 compared to average for the 2017-2021 period, the Eurostat
    reports. The EU plans to cut by 15% its natural gas consumption over August
    2022 – March 2023, compared to the average of the last five years, in order to
    curb the bloc’s dependency on fossil fuels from Russia. According to Eurostat,
    over August-November 2022, natural gas consumption went down in most EU member
    states. The sharpest decline, 40%, was reported in Finland, Latvia and
    Lithuania. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Estonia reported a 30%
    decrease. Despite curbing their consumption, six EU members have failed to meet
    the target, while consumption actually went up in Malta and Slovakia.




    TOURISM – The village of Rășinari in central Romania was
    shortlisted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) among the
    best tourism villages of 2022. Rășinari
    was included on a list of 32 villages in 18 countries across the world
    that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for
    jobs and income. The mayor of Rășinari
    said the village is located at the foot of the mountain. The air here is
    clean, the village is surrounded by fir tree forests, and there are many
    guesthouses and guided tours. There are plenty of things to do and see, the
    official added. The Best Tourism Villages award ceremony will take place in
    February, and comes in recognition of the villages’ commitment to innovation
    and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental. (VP)



  • December 17, 2022

    December 17, 2022

    COMMEMORATION – A day of mourning was on Saturday observed in Timișoara, western Romania, in memory
    of the victims of the 1989 anti-communist revolution in Romania. Official
    ceremonies were held on this occasion, commemorating the first clashes between
    security forces of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s
    dictatorship and people who took to the streets calling for freedom. The event
    was also marked by means of exhibitions, film screenings, debates, concerts and
    a special march. The anti-communist revolution in Romania broke out in Timișoara on December 16, 1989, and
    expanded to Bucharest and other cities on December 21. Over 1,000 people were
    killed and another 3,000 wounded in violent clashes. Romania was the only
    country in Eastern Europe where the transition from communism resulted in
    bloodshed.




    PARTNERSHIP – The governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and
    Romania on Saturday signed an agreement on creating a strategic partnership in
    the field of green energy. In a special ceremony hosted by Bucharest, the
    document was signed by the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the Prime
    Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciucă, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli
    Garibashvili, and the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán. The agreement
    stipulates the building of an underwater cable that would transport energy from
    renewable sources from Azerbaijan to Romania, via Georgia and the Black Sea,
    and from there to Hungary and the rest of Europe. The project represents yet
    another step whereby Romania consolidates its energy security. On Friday, the
    national gas providers of Romania and Azerbaijan, Romgaz and Socar,
    respectively, signed a contract that will allow Romania to access additional
    volumes of gas, when necessary. Romania is committed to invest in energy
    production and infrastructure, Romania’s Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă said on Saturday. In turn, the president
    of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, pointed out his country would become a major
    provider of green electricity for Europe. Attending the signing ceremony were
    also Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, and the European Commission
    president, Ursula von der Leyen.




    SCHENGEN – The European Commission fully supports Romania’s
    Schengen accession, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen,
    said in Bucharest. The EU official said she would work tirelessly to find a
    solution shortly, as Romania is fully prepared to enter the visa-free travel
    area. In turn, president Klaus Iohannis said Romania relies on the Commission’s
    support. We recall that last week, on the sidelines of the Justice and Home
    Affairs council meeting, Austria opposed the Schengen accession of Romania and
    Bulgaria, invoking arguments that many considered to be false and politicized.
    The Netherlands also voted against.




    BAN – The Republic of Moldova has banned six TV stations that
    rebroadcast Russian propaganda about Moldova and the war in Ukraine. The
    country needs to be shielded from propaganda and lies, deputy Prime Minister
    Andrei Spînu wrote on his
    Telegram account. The ban takes effect on Monday and will remain in place
    during the state of emergency, declared after Russia invaded Ukraine on
    February 24. The six TV stations, some broadcasting in Romanian, others in
    Russian, are closely tied to Ilan Shor, a controversial politician and
    businessman who fled Moldova in 2019 after Maia Sandu was elected president.
    Currently in exile in Israel, Shor has supported the anti-government protests
    in Chișinău.




    WORLD CUP – Croatia is playing Morocco in the bronze final at the
    2022 World Cup in Qatar. The two teams were both drafted in Group F. Morocco
    ranked 1st and subsequently ousted Spain and Portugal in the round
    of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. Croatia ranked 2nd and
    knocked out Japan and Brazil in the next rounds. In the semis, Morocco lost to
    France, while Croatia lost to Argentina. Croatia ranked 2nd at the
    2018 World Cup, whereas Morocco is the first African and Arab team to reach a
    World Cup semi-final. On Sunday, in the championship final, the defending
    champions France will play Argentina. (VP)

  • Doina Cornea – the death of a symbol

    Doina Cornea – the death of a symbol

    The teacher, writer, translator and anti-communist dissident Doina Cornea has passed away at almost 89 years of age, after a terrible illness. She was born on 30th May, 1929 in Brasov, in the centre, into a Greek-Catholic family. She was raised in the spirit of the moral and religious values of resistance, both against the Hungarian rule over part of Transylvania during WWII, and the communist regime brought to power after the war by the occupying Soviet troops. As a French teacher at the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj Napoca, in the west, she became famous for her public criticism of Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime.



    Her public letters, which criticised the absurdity and horrors of dictatorship and which began to be aired in 1982 by western radio stations, gave Romanians some hope but were naturally met with fury by the communist authorities. In 1987, together with her son Leontin Iuhas, Doina Cornea distributed letters of solidarity with the workers who were going on strike in Brasov, and both were arrested as a result. Doina Cornea was fired from her university job, submitted to brutal investigations, placed on home arrest and beaten up by the agents of the communist political police, the Securitate. During the anti-communist revolution of 1989, demonstrators in Cluj also voiced their solidarity with Doina Cornea, chanting her name and chasing away the Securitate agents who were watching her home. Here’s Doina Cornea in a Radio Romania archive recording:



    “I don’t know if December 21st is about me. It’s more about a state of mind that existed across the country. I simply fell into line, I did what everybody else did. First my son went out into the street, where they were shooting at people and someone got hit right next to him. He came home and could only say: ‘Slaughter, slaughter!’ That’s all he could say, he was petrified. I was afraid, too, when I went out into the street. Honestly, I was.”



    Co-opted into the new power structure, the National Salvation Front, a rather toxic mixture of authentic revolutionaries and second-tier communists, Doina Cornea quickly separated herself from the way in which they were running the country and became an equally biting critic of the new left-wing president, the former Ceausescu-era minister Ion Iliescu. She was one of the founders of the Anti-totalitarian Democratic Forum in Romania, the Group for Social Dialogue, the Civic Alliance and the Memoria Cultural Foundation, all of which promoted the democratic process in Romania and the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.



    She was close to the Christian-Democrat leader Corneliu Coposu, himself an unparalleled symbol of anti-communist resistance who survived 17 years as a political prisoner without abandoning his cause. Doina Cornea was awarded the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II and the Royal Decoration of the Cross of the Romanian Royal House of Romania by King Michael I, as well as the Order of the Star of Romania and the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.


    (Translated by C. Mateescu)

  • December 19, 2016 UPDATE 2

    December 19, 2016 UPDATE 2

    BREAKING NEWS – A lorry ploughed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12people and injuring over 50 others. According to the German local media, there are suspicions of a deliberate act. The German police confirmed the driver of the lorry has been arrested. Apparently, the co-driver has died in the incident.



    PARLIAMENT –President Klaus Iohannis has announced that he will convene the new Parliament on Tuesday, and will hold talks with the parliamentary parties on Wednesday and Thursday. This week the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, which together hold 54% of the seats in the new parliament, will announce their proposal for the new prime minister. After the President has appointed the PM, the latter will have 10 days to put together a cabinet and the governing program, after which he is to request Parliament’s vote of confidence.




    COOPERATION — Social-Democrat and ALDE leaders Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Daniel Constantin respectively signed the cooperation protocol between the two parties making up the governing coalition for development and democracy. The coalition will have three main objectives: ensuring sustainable economic growth and making new jobs available, observing citizens’ rights and liberties and increasing financial welfare and living standards. The governing program compiles the two parties’ election programs. The cooperation protocol also shows the two parties will nominate a single candidate for the position of Prime Minister. Liviu Dragnea said the president will be notified in a letter regarding the protocol and the fact that the two parties will come for consultations on Wednesday, when they are also expected to nominate a Prime Minister candidate.



    COMMEMORATION – The western Romanian city of Timişoara on Monday commemorated the fourth day of the anti-communist revolution of December 1989, with a conference organised by the Romanian Academy. Twenty-seven years ago, protesters were killed and wounded, and on December 20, Timişoara became the first Romanian city free from communism. Sparked by the locals’ opposition to an abusive measure of the city authorities, the protests quickly spread across the country, culminating on December 22nd in Bucharest, when the protesters stormed the headquarters of the central committee of the Romanian communist party. This is when dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife attempted to flee by helicopter. They were caught and executed on December 25, after a summary trial. Over 1,000 people died and nearly 3,400 were wounded in the clashes, and Romania remains the only Eastern Bloc country where the communist regime was brought down through violence and the communist leaders were executed.



    ASSASSINATION — The Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov died on Monday in a hospital in the Turkish capital after being shot while attending a photo exhibition opening at the Contemporary Art Centre. According to the Turkish media, the attacker impersonated a member of the ambassador’s security detail. The attack comes ahead of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu’s visit to Moscow, where he is expected to hold talks with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.



    RSF — This year 57 journalists have been killed around the world, especially in countries affected by war, according to a report made public by Reporters without Borders, an NGO based in Paris. The largest number of deaths, 19, was reported in Syria, followed by Afghanistan, Mexico, Iraq and Yemen. Most journalists lost their lives in their own countries, and one-third of them were targeted by deliberate attacks. Apart from the 57 journalists, 9 bloggers and 8 media collaborators were assassinated. As for the journalists incarcerated or detained this year, their number has increased particularly because of the situation in Turkey, where more than 100 media workers are currently imprisoned.



    UN — The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for deploying UN observers in rebel-held eastern Aleppo. Observers will oversee the evacuation of civilians and combatants. The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, called on the immediate implementation of the resolution and for overseeing the evacuation from eastern Aleppo, currently host to tens of thousands of people. Some 50 children, blocked in an orphanage, were among to the first to be evacuated, BBC reports.



    HANDBALL — Norway’s women’s team Sunday won the gold medal at the European Handball Championship in Sweden, after having defeated the Netherlands, 30-29 in the final. Norway thus won the 7th European champion title in 12 editions of this competition. In the match for the 3rd place, France beat Denmark, 25-22. Romania came out 5th in this edition of the European championship. The national team had a good performance overall, but failed to qualify into the semi-finals after losing the match against Denmark. In this competition the Romanian players defeated the Olympic champions Russia, as well as Hungary, Croatia and the Czech Republic, and lost a tightly contested match against the European and world champions, Norway.


    (Translated by V. Palcu, updated by D. Vijeu)