Radio România Internațional

Tag: army

August 5, 2021 UPDATE

Covid-19 Romania.
Secretary of state with the Romanian Interior Ministry, Raed Arafat, reiterated
the need for the population to get the Covid vaccine and keep wearing facemasks to
reduce the risk of infection with the novel coronavirus. In an interview on Radio
Romania, he explained that there is a real threat of daily cases rising, but that
everyone can help contain the spread of the virus. He pointed out that no further
restrictions are being considered, but that if Romania passes 2 cases per 1,000
inhabitants, the rules in force before August 1 would be re-instated, and if it
passes 3 cases per 1,000 inhabitants, then measures will be further tightened.
Meanwhile, the number of new cases is growing. 244 new infections from 28,000
tests and two deaths were reported on Thursday. 72 Covid patients are receiving
intensive care treatment. Romania was moved to the green list of countries for
entering the UK, which means travellers from Romania will no longer have to
isolate, whether they are vaccinated or not. However, they must still present a
negative PCR test taken before entering the UK and take another test two days after arrival.
The measure will come into effect on Sunday.

Government.
The government approved in a meeting on Thursday the
extension of the state of alert in Romania for a further thirty days from 11th
August. According to prime minister Florin Cîţu, this will not be accompanied by new restrictions. Also
on Thursday, the
government approved a decision to donate Covid vaccine to Tunisia, Egypt,
Albania and Vietnam, said prime minister Florin Cîţu.
He said Romania will also provide assistance to Greece to help extinguish its
wildfires, by deploying a team of firefighters.

Exercise. More than 350 army divers from Romania, Azerbaijan,
Bulgaria, Georgia, the US and Ukraine are participating in a multinational
training exercise off the Romanian Black Sea Coast. The Eurasian Partnership
MCM Dive exercise, which will last 4 days, is led by the Romanian Navy’s 39 Diving
Centre. The Romanian Navy also participates in the drill with the Vice Admiral
Constantin Bălescu minesweeper, the Captain Commander Alexandru Cătuneanu
Hydrographic Survey Vessel and with an autonomous underwater vehicle. Ukraine
participates with the Oleksandr Okhrimenko salvage ship. The exercise is
designed to improve operational and tactical interoperability among the
participating units.

Fires.
The heat wave persists in several European countries, which have been fighting
vegetation fires for a number of days. The authorities are on alert in Greece,
where flames threatened the capital Athens on Wednesday. In Turkey, the damage
is huge, and a thermal plant threatened by flames has been evacuated. Forest
fires are also spreading in Bulgaria, where two forest rangers have died and a
third has been injured. Italy, Albania and North Macedonia are also struggling with wildfires. The European Commission promised to send planes, helicopters and
firefighters to Italy, Greece, Albania and North Macedonia to help these
countries fight the fires.

Olympics. Five
Romanian wrestlers are competing in the Tokyo Olympics: Alin
Alexuc-Ciurariu in Greco-Roman wrestling and four wrestlers in freestyle: Alina
Vuc, Andreea Beatrice Ana, Kriszta Tunde Incze and Albert Saritov, who won a
bronze medal at the Rio Games. First-time Olympian Andreea Beatrice Ana was
defeated today by two-time world champion and European champion Vanesa Kaladzinskaya
of Belarus by technical superiority. Romania so far won four medals at the Tokyo
Games, one gold and three silver. (CM)

5 August 2021
NATO strengthens response system in the East

The main components of the first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to be part of the Romanian Army equipment arrived late last week at the Black Sea port of Constanţa.

Two years ago, Bucharest purchased from the US company Lockheed Martin, for some 1.5 billion US dollars, 3 HIMARS long-range artillery systems. The first one is scheduled to become operational this year.

Each system has 18 launch units. Romanias order refers to 3 separate types of guided missiles, able to hit ground targets up to 300 km away. The systems include the ammunition, the command and control elements, sensors, logistical support, maintenance, encryption equipment and training programmes for personnel at all levels.

A major component of the artillery system, the multiple rocket launchers will operate independently or jointly with other systems in order to fulfil missions. They may be made available to NATO, as part of Romanias commitments within the Alliance and of regional initiatives.

The equipment will be tested in the forthcoming period by the 81st “Maior Gheorghe Șonțu Tactical Missile Battalion in Focșani, the first unit of the Romanian Ground Forces to be using this kind of equipment. The National Defence Ministry said the Ground Forces must be equipped with high-performance support means, providing enhanced capabilities tailored both for classical and unconventional warfare, given the diversity of situations in which the Romanian Army must contribute troops, both on national territory and abroad.

The Ministry also pointed out that the long-range rocket launch system is able to provide support both during participation in military operations, and during the training process.

Last week Parliament was updated by president Klaus Iohannis on the National Defence Ministry and Interior Ministry forces available to take part this year in missions abroad, and on the deployment to Romania, if necessary, of NATOs very high readiness forces.

This year the Romanian Army will take part in NATO, EU, UN, OSCE missions and operations outside Romania, and in the anti-ISIL/DAESH international coalition, as previously undertaken. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

22 February 2021
October 25, 2020

ARMY DAY Romania has today a modern and well trained army, able to ensure compliance with the commitments taken within NATO and in terms of implementing the EU common security and defence policy, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said on the celebration of the Romanian Army Day on October 25. Its significant contribution to strengthening regional stability in South Eastern Europe makes the Romanian Army a security provider at the Black Sea, a region facing multiple and dynamic challenges, the president added. The new generations of troops are paying tribute to all the heroes that have sacrificed their lives in theatres of operations, the defence minister Nicolae Ciucă said in his turn, mentioning that in World War II Romanian troops fought heroically to free the country, turning October 25, 1944 into a symbol of national emancipation from foreign occupation. In building our defence, we rely on our NATO and EU membership, as well as on the Strategic Partnership with the US, which is now stronger than ever, the Romanian defence minister also said. In keeping with its NATO commitments, Romania is already hosting a number of Allied command and control structures, and in the near future the South-East Multinational Command will also be opened in Sibiu. At present, 1,150 Romanian military are deployed in foreign theatres of operation.

COVID-19 Bucharest is considering the reintroduction of night curfews in several parts of the country, the PM Ludovic Orban said after 3 counties in central Romania (Alba, Cluj and Harghita) as well as the capital Bucharest have passed 3 infections per thousand inhabitants this week. According to the most recent national update, 3,855 new cases and 73 deaths were reported in 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 6,391. Over 800 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care. Romania is one of the 23 European countries where the pandemic causes serious concern at EU level, both in terms of the daily infection numbers among the elderly, and in terms of the death rate, which is the second-largest in Europe.

PANDEMIC A growing number of countries have introduced further restrictions as the number of COVID-19 cases is rising at a fast pace. Spain and France are seeing the largest numbers of infections, over 1 million cases each, out of the total 8.5 million reported in Europe as a whole. Most of Poland is rated as COVID red zone, with restaurants and schools partly closed down, weddings banned, shops and churches closed and people over 70 requested to stay at home. Slovakia has a curfew in place until November 1, while in the Czech Republic travel restrictions are valid until November 3. Slovenia also ordered a partial lockdown, while Greece imposed a night curfew in Athens and Thessaloniki, and face covering is compulsory outdoors. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has once again called on German citizens to reduce social interaction. Belgium shut down all sports and cultural activities as of Monday, and several regions in the French Wallonia are under lockdown. In the UK, Wales is in lockdown until November 9, with Ireland also introducing a 6-week lockdown. Denmark has also introduced tougher restrictions, and in Bulgaria Sofia and other major cities are closing down today all night restaurants and pubs. Across Europe, the number of COVID-19 related deaths has passed 260,000.

AL-QAEDA Afghan forces have killed Abu Muhsin al-Masri, a top Al-Qaeda leader wanted by the United States, the National Directorate of Security in Afghanistan announced. Abu Muhsin al-Masri had been accused of providing materials and resources to a foreign terror group and of plotting to kill American citizens. Abu Muhsin al-Masri, believed to be Al-Qaedas number-two, was targeted in Ghazni province. Also in Afghanistan, funerals were held for the victims of Saturdays suicide bomb attack in the capital city Kabul, claimed by the ISIS group. Scores of people were killed or wounded in the blast that took place in the mostly Shiite area of the city, with many students of a private education centre among the victims.

WINTER TIME On Saturday night, Romania switched to winter time, with the local 4 am becoming 3 am. 2020 may be the last time the seasonal change of clocks occurs, as the European Commission has proposed scrapping this practice in Europe. Member states will be able to choose whether to remain on permanent winter time or summer time. Countries choosing to stay on summer time will make the last change next March, while those that wish to remain on winter time will perform the last switch in October next year. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

25 October 2020
12 December 2019

Government bills. The minority
Liberal government in Bucharest today asked Parliament for a vote of confidence
on three bills referring to the amendment of the justice laws, free local road
transport for pupils, pensioners and people with disabilities, and to the
budget caps on next year’s spending. Given that the Senate already approved
yesterday some of the justice amendments proposed by the government, namely
postponing by two years the early retirement of magistrates and by one year the
transition to three-panel judges, the government says it will only ask for a
vote of confidence on the postponement of the increase in the length of service
required to enter the magistracy. Unless a no-confidence motion is filed within
the next three days, the bills proposed by the government will come into force
as soon they are signed into law by the president.

EU Council. The EU multi-annual budget,
its efforts to combat climate change and Brexit are the main subjects discussed
by the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. Romania is
represented by president Klaus Iohannis, who is expected to support the
allocation of significant funding to the cohesion policy and the common
agricultural policy. With respect to climate change, Iohannis is expected to be
in favour of continued efforts from the European Union to achieve the
transition to climate neutrality. The Romanian president believes it is
essential to have a common understanding of the principles and conditions that
allow member states to contribute equitably to the Union’s goal to achieve
circular economy and one that is neutral in terms of its climate impact.

Army. Romania is to purchase
another five F-16 planes from Portugal, with the same configuration as the 12
that are already in the possession of the Romanian Air Forces. MPs have adopted
a bill on the continuation of the multiroll aircraft programme. The bill also
provides for the modernisation of all of the Romanian Army’s F-16 planes. The
bill has been backed by all parliamentary groups and the defence minister has
hailed the passing of the law.

UK elections. The Conservative Party
led by prime minister Boris Johnson is tipped to win the early parliamentary
elections taking place today in the United Kingdom. According to opinion polls,
the Conservatives are expected to win 399 seats in Parliament, 21 more than at
the previous elections in 2017. The opposition Labour Party is projected to win
231 seats, 31 less than in the previous elections, the Liberal Democrats are
tipped to win three extra seats to reach 15, the Scottish Nationalists are
expected to win six extra seats to reach 41, while the Welsh MPs and the Greens
are expected to win 4 and 1 seat, respectively. If this scenario becomes
reality, Boris Johnson could have a clear path to pass his EU deal through
Parliament and for Brexit to take place on the 31st of January.
Previous parliamentary elections have demonstrated, however, that opinion polls
are not infallible. If none of the parties wins a majority, talks will be
needed to form a hung Parliament, a scenario which could be in Labour’s
advantage.

France strikes. Public transport in France is again disrupted today by
strikes in response to the government’s intention to reform the pensions
system. Most trade unionists are categorically opposed to the replacement of
the current system. Prime minister Édouard Philippe on Wednesday made public
the pensions reform bill, which is to apply fully beginning in 2022. He said
the new system maintains the retirement age at 62, but that the government will
encourage employees not to retire by means of a system of reductions and
bonuses.

Israel. In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu remains the prime minister of an interim
government after the Knesset has voted for its own dissolution and the holding
of new early elections in March next year. The leaders of the major parties,
Likud and Blue and White, Benjamin Netanyahu and Beny Gantz, respectively, have
failed to form a government. The two have made no fundamental compromise
allowing the formation of a ruling coalition and have accused each other for
this failure.

12 December 2019
October 25, 2019 UPDATE

ARMY DAY President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday that the regional and global security environment is continually changing, and Romania needs a strong and well trained army, able to further contribute to promoting security and stability in the region, to the fulfilment of its NATO commitments and to implementing the Common Defence and Security Policy in Europe. The statement was occasioned by the Romanian Army Day, celebrated with special events at military units and memorial sites across the country. Military ceremonies and cultural and educational activities were also organised in the theatres of operations abroad where Romanian troops are deployed. Flowers were also laid at memorial sites celebrating Romanian soldiers in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Moldova and Hungary. On the 25th of October 1944, the Romanian Army freed northern Transylvania from Horthy occupation and continued to fight on the territories of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria alongside the Allied troops, contributing to the great victory of May 9th 1945 that marked the end of WWII in Europe.

NATO Defence ministers from NATO member countries discussed in Brussels on Thursday and Friday about Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, the training mission in Iraq, and Operation KFOR. According to a news release issued by the Romanian Defence Ministry, participants analysed the implementation of the NATO initiative to enhance the Allied forces interoperability, response and generation capacities. They also exchanged opinions on the fair sharing of responsibilities within the organisation. Representing Romania, the state secretary for defence policy Doru Frunzulică talked about the need for a stronger NATO presence in Romania, to counter the threats and volatile security situation at the Black Sea.

BREXIT The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states had not made a decision on Friday as regards the postponed date of Britains exit from the Union. According to Radio Romanias correspondent, attending the meeting of EU ambassadors was also the blocs chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, who described the talks as excellent. The diplomats agreed that a deferral is called for, but are still trying to reach a consensus on its exact duration. The UK has officially requested a postponement to the end of January. A new meeting of the EU ambassadors will take place early next week.

TENNIS The Romanian Simona Halep was drawn in the Purple Group of the WTA Finals in Shenzhen (China), scheduled to take place between October 27 and November 3. She plays in the same group with the Romanian-born Canadian Bianca Andreescu, the Czech Karolina Pliskova and the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, according to Fridays draw release. The Red Group includes world no. 1 Ashleigh Barty, of Australia, Japans Naomi Osaka, the Czeck Petra Kvitova and the Swiss Belinda Bencic. Halep, no 5 in the world and winner of this years Wimbledon trophy, takes part in the tournament of the worlds elite eight for the sixth time in her career. This years edition offers record-high prizes, 14 million US dollars, twice as much as last year.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

25 October 2019
25 October, 2019

Army Day.
Army Day is celebrated today in Romania, with various events being held in
garrisons across the country and at memorial sites. Special activities are also
held in the theatres of operations abroad where Romanian military are deployed.
Flowers will be laid at memorial sites celebrating Romanian soldiers in
Austria, Bosnia and Hertegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of
Moldova and Hungary. On the 25th of October 1944, the Romanian Army
freed northern Transylvania from under Horthyst occupation and continued to
fight on the territories of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria alongside the
allied troops, contributing to the great victory of May 9th 1945
that marked the end of WWII. Romania’s strategic priority is and will remain a
strong transatlantic relationship and today the army is a professional
institution worthy of its past and its heroes, president Klaus Iohannis said on
Friday. Acting prime minister Viorica Dancila also said that the high
professional level and human quality of the Romanian soldiers have an essential
contribution to consolidating the country’s defence capacity and its
international reputation as a provider of security.

Exercise. Around 1,400 Romanian and
foreign military are taking part in the Scorpions Legacy 2019 multinational exercise
held between the 25th of October and the 8th of November
in Cincu, in Brasov county, in the centre, the press office of the
Multinational Brigade South-East in Craiova said in a statement. The exercise
is meant to train the staff of this brigade and of the affiliated units in
Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal using computer-assisted command exercises, on the
ground training and tactical exercises. The Multinational Brigade South-East in
Craiova, southern Romania ensures command of forces deployed in the
south-eastern region of the NATO borders, playing an important role in the
Alliance’s collective defence.

Culture statistics. The prices of
cultural services in Romania have seen the biggest drop in the European Union
in the last decade, according to figures published by Eurostat. The prices of cultural
services such as cinema, museums, theatres and libraries went up in the EU by
1.7% a year on average between 2010 and 2018, but there are three states where
these prices went down: Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, which has seen a 1.5%
drop per year. The Eurostat report also shows that the price of newspapers and
periodicals has gone up by 34% in Europe, and that the price of books has grown
by 9%. Looking at how much people spend on cultural goods and services, Sweden
is in the first position in the European Union in terms of household expenditure,
with 5%, while Romania is the last place with 1.8%.

Laser. A
conference dedicated to the most powerful laser in the world, which is located
in Magurele, near Bucharest, known as the Extreme
Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics project (ELI-NP) was held at the Hudson
Institute in Washington, DC. The participants included members of the American
scientific community, the US Department of Energy and the Department of State,
as well as guests from Romania who are involved in the project in Magurele.
Romanian ambassador to the US George Cristian Maior said the laser project in
Magurele expands and consolidates the Romanian-American strategic partnership
in an area in which both countries have the necessary expertise and potential
to collaborate. The project was initiated in 2015 and its aim was to build the
biggest laser in the world. According to experts, the project paves the way for
countless opportunities in the field of scientific research.

Football. The Romanian football
champions CFR Cluj won an important victory on Thursday, when they defeated the
French side Rennes 1-nil in the Europa League Group E. In the other group
match, Celtic Glasgow defeated Lazio Rome 2-1 at home. CFR now rank second in
the group with 6 points. Celtic are in the first place with 7 points, Lazio are
in third with 3 points, while Rennes are in the last place with 1 point.

25 October 2019
The Centennial of the 1919 Romanian Army Campaign

World War I, after 4 years of bloody conflict and tragedy, did not come to an end suddenly. It left every individual, ethnic and political group, and every nation feeling profound trauma. The winners faced the aftermath of the war, trying to find solutions to even out the social and economic situation, while the defeated had to face the humiliating situation they were put in. The war continued in 1919, but this time it was not between the warring blocs, but were area battles and skirmishes in Central and Eastern Europe. The break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire came with violence that only subsided in the summer of 1920, along with the signing of the Treaty of Trianon. After the Bolshevik regime led by Bela Kun took power in Hungary in 1919, based on the model applied by Lenin in the Soviet Union, that country became the main source of instability and the main obstacle in the way of peace. The main targets for the Hungarian communists were Romanians and Czechoslovakians.

Historian Serban Pavelescu provided us with a sketch of what was facing Romanians in 1919:

“We can say that the aftermath of the armistice of 11 November 1918 is a veritable war after the war. Basically, the Romanian state was put in the situation of using its military to defend the Romanians in the historical provinces, which had declared in March, November, and December 1918 their wish to join Romania. The country was surrounded by hostile forces, opposed to the union of the territories, and to the existence of the Romanian state. To the east it had Soviet Russia and Soviet forces in Ukraine, to the north and northeast it was facing territorial claims from Ukraine, from all sides of the political spectrum, nationalist or Bolshevik. To the west it had Hungary, first represented by the regime that followed the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with which Romanians had negotiated the separation of Transylvania from Hungary based on a referendum. In the southwest, Romania faced Serbia, which had its own territorial claims, based on promises made by the Allies during the war. In the south, Romania faced resistance from Bulgaria, which was reluctant to vacate Dobrogea and meet the provisions of the armistice.

The war between Romania and Hungary started by the Hungarian red army had two stages. The first was that of April- May 1919, when the Hungarians attacked Romanian troops in Transylvania, then the second around the half of May 1919, when the Hungarians attacked a second time, after being pushed back. Serban Pavelescu pointed us to another war, however, in the diplomatic field:

“We are practically talking about two wars. One was at the peace conference, another on the battlefield. It was a very strange war, where military operations were carried out between two or three rounds of negotiations, in between armistices imposed by the great powers. For instance, military operations ceased on May 1, 1919, as per the wish of the great powers. This allowed Bela Kun’s troops to reorganize and launch a devastating attack on May 20, 1919, not against Romanians, but against the Czechoslovakians. The attack against the Romanians fails, it was quickly repulsed. In less than two weeks, Hungarian troops occupied all of Slovakia. As for the front on the river Tisza, after two or three days of holding defense, the Romanians went on the counteroffensive, and once they got over the river, the Hungarian troops were routed and the Romanians occupied Budapest.

The second stage of the Romanian-Hungarian war ended in August 1919. The Hungarian capital was occupied, and the Soviet republic was dismantled.

“The occupation of Budapest was a problem, because, even though Romania had been attacked, and it was pushing against an enemy that had attacked it twice, it was asked to cease the assault. There was enormous pressure, and it was only by the initiative of Romanian commanders with authority in the field that Budapest, Hungary’s most sensitive political and military point, was occupied and the Soviet republic dissolved. At that time, it could be said that the population of Budapest received the Romanian troops with gratitude. In addition, Romania had additional objectives. On the one side, they had to crush the enemy and make it impossible for them to attack. On the other, it was gaining a better position at the peace conference. The Romanian troops left Hungary only after the Treaty of Trianon of June 1920. Considering the tribulations that the Romanian delegation at the peace conference faced, I believe it was a wise move.

100 years ago, Romania took military action in Central Europe in order to secure its state stability, in line with the will of the people that had voted to unite it. The Romanian military intervention against Bolshevik Hungary ultimately brought along with it much needed peace.

16 September 2019
February, 2019 UPDATE

ECONOMY- Romanian economy slowed down from a 7% growth rate in 2017, to 4.1% in 2018, according to estimates made public today by the National Institute of Statistics. Data indicate a lower GDP growth rate as compared to the predictions made by the National Forecast Commission, which indicated a growth of 4.5% in 2018. Also in the last quarter of 2018 the Romanian economy slowed down to 0.7%, from 1.7% in the second quarter. Recently, the European Commission too has shown that the economic boom registered by Romania in 2017 slowed down in 2018.

2019 STATE BUDGET – Romanian MPs have started discussing the articles of the 2019 draft state budget and social security budget, after finalizing general debates on Wednesday. The final vote is due on Friday. The bills have been endorsed by the specialized parliament committees. As to the version proposed by the Government, the budgets earmarked for the Finance ministry, the Romanian intelligence office and the Security Guard Service have been diminished. The Education Ministry has got more money for investment, just like the Transport Ministry. The budget was built on an estimated 5.5% economic growth rate, a 2.5% deficit and a GDP of some 200 billion Euros.

JUSTICE – Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, on Thursday called on the Department of Criminal Investigations in the Judiciary to clarify as soon as possible the situation regarding the case opened on the name of the former head of the National Anticorruption Directorate in Romania, Laura Codruţa Kovesi. The President says this Department should not be a political instrument of investigation and intimidation of magistrates and prosecutors. The declaration has been made after the former head of the National Anticorruption Directorate in Romania, Laura Codruta Kovesi, has announced she has been cited by the Department of Criminal Investigations in the Judiciary to testify as a suspect. She is accused of official misconduct, bribery and false testimony. Kovesi has stated she is innocent and that there is no coincidence that she received the subpoena right before her being heard in the European Parliament as prime candidate to lead the European Public Prosecutors Office. In another development, the Prosecutors Office of the Superior Council of Magistracy has decided to appoint Calin Nistor head of the National Anticorruption Directorate, where he is currently deputy chief prosecutor, and interim head of the directorate, following Anca Jurmas refusal to carry on her mandate. The office became vacant after Ms. Kovesi was revoked by president Klaus Iohannis, following a ruling of the Constitutional Court. Subsequently, the justice minister proposed Adina Florea as head of the Directorate, but the head of state rejected the proposal.

ELA – The European Parliament and the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council on Thursday reached a provisional agreement on the Commissions proposal to establish a European Labour Authority (ELA). According to a press release, the new authority will support fair labour mobility within the EU, allowing citizens and businesses to seize the opportunities offered by the single market, while supporting cooperation between national authorities, including in preventing and tackling social fraud and abuse. Next, the agreement will be submitted to the Councils Permanent Representatives Committee for approval. Once the Member States Permanent Representatives confirm the agreement, it will be subject to a final vote by the plenary of the European Parliament.

SURVEY – The Army continues to be the institution that Romanians trust the most, according to a survey conducted by INSCOP over January 21st – February 5th. Next come the church, the gendarmerie and the police. According to the same survey, 39.7% of the Romanians trust the National Anticorruption Directorate, and 39.1% trust the Presidency. Bottom of the rankings are political parties, with 11.8% and Parliament with 9.8%. As regards international institutions, Romanians trust NATO – 49.9%- , the EU – 47.8% – and the European Parliament – 44.7%. The European Commission enjoys the trust of 43.8% of the Romanians. The sample used in the survey was 1,080 people, aged over 18.

NATO – The meeting of the NATO defence ministers continued in Brussels on Thursday. On the second day of the meeting, they exchanged opinions on the evolution of the missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq, during a session devoted to NATO operations and missions. The Romanian minister Gabriel Leş has underlined the importance of supporting the Afghan peace process, laying special emphasis on the fact that the Afghan authorities should assume full responsibility for it, with support from the North-Atlantic Alliance. Also, he talked about enhancing Romanias contribution to Mission Resolute Support in 2019, totalling over 800 military on theatres of operations. The last working session of the ministerial meeting, which enjoyed the participation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, as well as of the representatives of Sweden and Finland, focused on aspects related to NATO-EU cooperation in the field of defense, laying emphasis on the initiatives with the potential of boosting the Strategic Partnership between the two organizations and turning this action-line into an essential element of the package of measures aimed to boost security at European level.

ROMANIAN-ITALIAN RELATIONS – The Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini hopes that several economic issues will be resolved during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. In an interview with the Radio Romania correspondent in Rome, the Italian official has stated that he appreciates the contribution of the Romanians who work legally in Italy and has voiced his intention to sanction and isolate those very few offenders that might tarnish the image of honest workers. There are some 1.2 million Romanians living in Italy, making up the largest foreign community in that country.

INFRASTRUCTURE- The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, has approved the allocation of 517 million euros for the building of 6 km of rail, a segment of the 14 km metro line planned to connect Bucharests central area to Henri Coanda airport. The project also covers the building of six new metro stations and the purchase of 12 trains.(Translated by M. Ignatescu and D. Vijeu)

14 February 2019
December 27, 2018 UPDATE

DEFENCE The Supreme Defence Council convenes in Bucharest on Friday to review the request made by the Defence Minister, Gabriel Leş, regarding the filling of high-level vacancies in the Romanian Army, the Presidency announced. The Defence Minister had previously announced he would not extend Gen. Nicolae Ciucăs term in office as Chief of Staff, due to conclude on December 31st. The latest Supreme Defence Council meeting was held on December 19th, when the Armys procurement plan for 2019 – 2028 was approved, along with the forces and equipment that Romania will deploy next year for missions and operations abroad. 1902 Romanian troops will take part in international operations, which is 127 more than this year, while the Interior Ministry will contribute 759 troops and police to EU, OSCE, NATO and UN missions. Romania will continue to take part in NATOs Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan and will maintain its contribution to Allied operations in the Western Balkans. Also, for the first time, a transport and evacuation helicopter unit will participate in the UN mission in Mali.

JUDICIARY The Prosecutor General of Romania, Augustin Lazar, says his dismissal as requested by the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader disregards the law and the EU recommendations, and is of a strictly political nature. Lazar argues that Minister Toaders statements and measures are liable to undermine the public confidence in the ability of the judicial system to perform its constitutional role. The Justice Minister had announced he would send President Klaus Iohannis the documents to complete Lazars removal from office, initiated in October. The head of state described the measure as a mistake, and the prosecutor section of the Higher Council of Magistracy did not agree with the dismissal. Lazar, accused by the Justice Minister of professional and managerial underperformance, filed a lawsuit against the decision, which is to be tried by the Supreme Court. The Opposition in Bucharest says that the attempt to dismiss Lazar, after this summer the National Anti-Corruption Directorate chief Laura Codruta Kovesi was also sacked, is a form of political retaliation and a move designed to hinder the fight against corruption.

BORDER Border police from Romania and the Republic of Moldova will set up joint teams to monitor the common state line. The joint patrols will help improve cooperation in view of combating cross-border crime, the authorities of the 2 states explain. A protocol in this respect was signed on November 22nd in Bucharest, during a joint meeting of the 2 national governments. The Republic of Moldova has a similar agreement signed with its other neighbour, Ukraine.

HANDBALL Romanias mens handball team is playing against the Czech Republic on Friday, in the semi-finals of the “4 Nations Cup held in Poland. In the other semi-final, the host country is facing Japan. On Saturday the 2 winners will play against each other, and so will the other 2 semi-finalists. After New Years the national team, coached by Spains Manuel Montoya and the Romanian Eliodor Voica will be on a training session in Slovakia, followed by a tournament with Croatia and Netherlands also taking part. The Romanians failed to qualify to the World Championship due in Germany and Denmark next month. The Romanian womens team however has already booked its ticket to next years World Championship in Japan, after finishing 4th in the European Championship in France this month.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

27 December 2018
The Odessa Massacre

The events that took place over October 22nd and 25th 1941, when the Romanian army rounded up and executed the Jewish population in Odessa are known as the Odessa Massacre. The operation was carried out in retaliation for a bomb attack on the Romanian Command headquarters allegedly masterminded by the Jews on October 22nd. The attack killed 16 Romanian officers, including the city’s military commander, general Ion Glogojanu. 46 troops and NCOs, several civilians and 4 German navy officers also died in the attack.

Because the perpetrators had not been captured, the Romanian troops launched an operation against the Jewish civilians in the city, which were perceived at that time as supporters of the Soviets and the partisans. General Iosif Iacobici, who was in charge of the retaliatory measures, reported that many Jews had been hanged on lamp posts in the city squares, some had been shot dead on the spot while others rounded up outside the city for execution. The number of victims ranges between 22,000 and 40,000.

Archivist Florin Stan from the Diplomatic Archives of the Romanian Foreign Ministry has written a volume of WWll Jewish History in which he explains that the Massacre in Odessa must be understood in the greater context of the war’s early days.

Florin Stan: “In order to better understand what happened in that October 1941, we must go a little back in time and have a look at some events that had taken place on the frontline after the liberation of Bessarabia and North Bukovina in late June 1941. On August 6th 1941, in Berdicev, a town located in present-day Ukraine, the head of the Romanian state, gen. Ion Antonescu had met Hitler to confirm the intentions of the Romanian government to carry on military operations in the East alongside the Wehrmacht forces. A historian specialized in WWll history explains that out of all Germany’s allies only two could be considered effective participants in the anti-Soviet campaign, namely Romania and Finland, which operated at the extremities of the Eastern front at the same time enjoying substantial autonomy from Germany. Antonescu’s ambition to prove the potential of Romanian troops in the battles of liberating and conquering Odessa – a major strategic point on the Eastern front – was well known.”

Anti-Semitism had reached its peak in the early 1940s. An ideology of hatred, intolerance and racism, fascism pervaded not only the politics, a certain regime or state, but also people’s daily life. So clichés used by the propaganda machine were seen as undeniable truth. Florin Stan believes that anti-Semitism was an attitude that preceded the massacre in Odessa, a logical effect of the entire climate of hatred instated in Europe, particularly in order to justify failures of one sort or another.

Florin Stan: “The protracted campaign to seize Odessa forced the Romanian government of the time to come up with explanations. One such stupid explanation was provided by gen. Ion Antonescu himself, who described the Jews as the devil incarnate. Another slogan circulated back then was that ‘without Jewish commissioners we would have long been in Odessa’ and a counter-intelligence bulletin released in September concluded that all Jews were actually waging war against the Romanian troops. That kind of propaganda led to oversimplification, blaming civilians as well as the servicemen who were fighting on the eastern front. Romanian troops entered Odessa on October 16th, after the city had been abandoned by the Soviets. Shortly after the invasion, patrols started to mark the Jewish houses and a ghetto was set up on the premises of the local prison on October 18th. All the Jews who had been rounded up in this ghetto were awaiting deportation and the seizure of all their belongings shortly before the bomb attack on the Romanian Command headquarters was seen as a carefully planned move.”

However there were people who took a stand against these atrocities, and even the authorities reached the conclusion that the Jews were used as scapegoats.

Florin Stan: “An example is the attitude of Odessa’s mayor Gherman Pantea, who in the morning of October 23rd was horrified by what he saw at the crossroads. An angry city mayor had told the Romanian officers that the atrocities committed in the city are a blood stain on the Romanian military uniform, which nobody could ever wash away, as those executed had not been proved guilty of any crime. An inquiry into the massacre was launched shortly and in November that year, gendarme general Constantin Vasiliu briefed Ion Antonescu on its conclusions; it was clear that the victims of the massacre had not been among the masterminds of the attack on the Romanian Command headquarters.”

The Odessa Massacre was one of the counts gen. Antonescu and three of his collaborators were charged on. The four were executed in June 1946 and the Court of Appeal in Bucharest in 2016 reconfirmed the death sentence in response to an appeal made by the son of one of those executed.

(translated by: Daniel Bilt)

20 August 2018
July 28, 2018 UPDATE

AIR SHOW – Baneasa International Airport Saturday hosted the 10th edition of the most impressive aviation event in Romania, Bucharest International Air Show & General Aviation Exhibition (BIAS). This years edition was devoted to the centennial of the Romanian nation state. Attending BIAS were 150 military and civilian aircraft, over 100 pilots and parachute jumpers from 13 countries – Romania, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Britain, Germany, USA, Greece, Austria, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and Lithuania. Visitors were invited to watch elite demonstrations and air stunts, and to see the aircraft on display as part of the exhibition. The special guests were the aerobatics demonstration team of the Turkish Air Forces, the Turkish Stars, the only such team in the world using 8 supersonic fighter jets.

NAVY – Three NATO military vessels are docked between July 28th and 31st at the Constanta military port at the Black Sea. After having stopped at the Burgas port in Bulgaria and Odessa in Ukraine, the Romanian dredger ‘Lt. Lupu Dinescu’, the Turkish mine sweeper ‘TCG Anamur’ and the German tender ‘FGS Rhein’ are in the third port these days, taking part in the multinational exercise BREEZE 18 in Bulgarian waters and in international Black Sea waters, as well as in joint naval exercises with Ukrainian vessels. On Sunday, the Romanian, German and Turkish ships will be open to the general public.

JUDICIARY – Serbia denied Romanias request for the extradition of its former MP Sebastian Ghiţă. The High Court of Justice in Belgrade also ruled that Ghita was eligible for asylum. Subject to several criminal cases pending in Romania, Sebastian Ghiţă left the country in December 2016. He was apprehended in April 2017 in Belgrade, while trying to use a forged Slovenian passport, and was subsequently released on bail.

ANTHEM DAY – National Anthem Day will be celebrated on Sunday in all military units around the country, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Bucharests Tricolour Square will host a religious service and an anthem related music show. July 29th was proclaimed the National Anthem Day in 1998. The current anthem is called “Wake up, ye, Romanian and was chosen after the fall of the communist regime in December 1989. The anthem is based on a patriotic poem written and published by Andrei Muresanu in 1848.

ARMY – The Romanian Defence Ministry carries on an army equipment upgrade programme, for which over one-third of this years total defence budget will be allotted, the line minister Mihai Fifor has announced. He added that a system of anti-ship missile launchers will be purchased. “We want any major equipment upgrade project of the Romanian Army to be able to channel as much money as possible back into the national defence industry, Mihai Fifor said. For example, he added, of the 36 Piranha 5 armoured vehicles to be delivered to the Army this year, 6 will be produced at an industrial facility in Bucharest.

GREECE – The 2 Romanian military planes, one fitted with fire-extinguishing equipment and another to provide logistic support, which were sent to wildfire-ravaged Greece this week, have completed their mission and returned to the country on Saturday. According to a news release issued by the National Defence Ministry, the planes sent to Athens on Wednesday conducted fire extinguishing missions on mainland Greece and on the island of Crete. The Romanian aircraft were serviced by around 20 military staff. Meanwhile in Athens, PM Alexis Tsipras has taken full political responsibility for the tragedy caused by the devastating fires east of Athens, which killed at least 88 people last week. Amid accusations of utter failure to protect the citizens, Alexis Tsipras promised a national plan to fight decade-long building code violations.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

28 July 2018
Sports Club RRI

Early this week the Romanian Army celebrated the Ground Forces Day. Just like every year, this day was marked by special ceremonies, advancements in military ranks and the awarding of decorations for merit. Among the military that have benefited from promotions this year are three top athletes, members of the Steaua Army Sports Club. They are Alina Dumitru, who became a lieutenant colonel and Andreea Chiţu and Sandra Izbaşa, both promoted to the rank of captain.

Alina Dumitru is the only athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in Romanian judo. She was born on August 30, 1982 in Bucharest. Her achievements in sport are impressive — a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. She is also a multiple European champion.

Andreea Chiţu has also achieved great results in judo. She was born on May 7, 1988 in Bolintin Vale. She won silver in two world championships, in 2014 in Celiabinsk, in Russia and in 2015 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Adding to these are four other medals in European championships, namely, gold in 2012 in Celiabinsk and in 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan, then silver in 2013 in Budapest, Hungary and bronze in 2014 in Montpellier, France.

Romanian gymnast Sandra Izbaşa was born on June 18, 1990 in Bucharest. She is double Olympic champion, having won the floor title in 2008 in Beijing and the vault title in 2012 in London She also won a number of medals in European and world championships as of 2005 until 2012.

25 April 2018
Sports Club RRI

Early this week the Romanian Army celebrated the Ground Forces Day. Just like every year, this day was marked by special ceremonies, advancements in military ranks and the awarding of decorations for merit. Among the military that have benefited from promotions this year are three top athletes, members of the Steaua Army Sports Club. They are Alina Dumitru, who became a lieutenant colonel and Andreea Chiţu and Sandra Izbaşa, both promoted to the rank of captain.

Alina Dumitru is the only athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in Romanian judo. She was born on August 30, 1982 in Bucharest. Her achievements in sport are impressive — a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. She is also a multiple European champion.

Andreea Chiţu has also achieved great results in judo. She was born on May 7, 1988 in Bolintin Vale. She won silver in two world championships, in 2014 in Celiabinsk, in Russia and in 2015 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Adding to these are four other medals in European championships, namely, gold in 2012 in Celiabinsk and in 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan, then silver in 2013 in Budapest, Hungary and bronze in 2014 in Montpellier, France.

Romanian gymnast Sandra Izbaşa was born on June 18, 1990 in Bucharest. She is double Olympic champion, having won the floor title in 2008 in Beijing and the vault title in 2012 in London She also won a number of medals in European and world championships as of 2005 until 2012.

25 April 2018
March 3, 2018 UPDATE

ELECTION – Over 51 million Italians are expected to cast their votes in Sunday’s general elections. The election campaign was feverish, with heated debates over immigration, security and the country’s struggling economy. Opinion polls have been banned in the past two weeks but analysts believe no party will manage to secure majority. Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia, that seems to have made a comeback in people’s preferences, the anti-establishment party Five Star Movement and the centre-left Democratic Party, who led the ruling coalition from 2013 to 2018 are the main contenders.

COMMEMORATION — On Sunday Romania marks 41 years since the devastating earthquake of March 4, 1977, the most powerful that has ever hit Romania. Measuring 7.2 degrees on Richters scale, the earthquake killed 1,570 people, most of them in the capital Bucharest, and caused damages worth over $2 billion. Around 230,000 homes were destroyed or seriously damaged and 760 economic facilities became inoperative. The earthquake generated a severe economic and social crisis, which historians say the communist authorities never fully overcame before their demise in 1989. Specialists warn that hundreds of buildings in Bucharest are at risk in case of a powerful earthquake.

CONSULTATIONS – Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, has announced that the first stage of public consultations on the topics of interest for Romania’s EU Council Presidency has been completed. According to Negrescu, 500 relevant actors participated in the debates, in a bid to contribute to the preparation of a highly important project for the whole society and came up with a lot of constructive ideas that are to be analysed, in the upcoming period, by the public system representatives. Romania will hold the EU Council Presidency between January 1 and June 30, 2019.

MIGRANTS — Almost 3 thousand illegal migrants were caught at Romania’s western border in 2017. Most of them were from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya. The migrants used several methods to get to the border, such as telephone apps to find the shortest route, or the guidance of other people. In most cases, the ones who guided the illegal migrants to the border were legal migrants who have been living in Romania for a long time.

ARMY – Romania’s Defense Minister Mihai Fifor, has announced that around 64 hundred people will be employed in the army, among whom soldiers, physicians and psychologists. Romania, Minister Fifor has said, needs to strengthen its military capabilities in order to continue to be the most important security supplier in the Black Sea. In this context, Mihai Fifor has announced that the procedure for the construction of four multifunctional corvettes has been launched. The minister also said that the winner of the auction would have to build all four corvettes in a Romanian shipyard.

FLU — The number of people who died of flu in Romania since the beginning of the cold season has reached 72, with three more deaths being reported recently. Almost all victims were also suffering from chronic diseases and had not been immunized. Over 800 people are currently being treated for flu. Most of them are in the capital Bucharest, but also in counties like Constanta, Olt, Brasov and Iasi. Health Minister Sorina Pintea says that for the time being we cannot speak about flu epidemic in Romania.

RUGBY — Romania’s national rugby team defeated Russia on Saturday on home turf, 25-15. The match counts towards the third round of the 2018 Rugby Europe International Championship. After losing to Spain in the previous match, Romania needed this win to keep alive its chances of qualifying to the 2019 World Rugby Cup hosted by Japan. The Romanians will also play against Belgium and Georgia on March 10th and 18th respectively.

TENNIS — The Romanian-Dutch team Horia Tecau /Jean Julien Rojer won the doubles’ final of the ATP tournament in Dubai after defeating on Saturday the team made up of Jamie Cerretani of the US and Leander Paes of India, 6-2, 7-6 (2). This is the second consecutive title in Dubai for Tecau and Rojer, seeded 2nd in the competition. For the Romanian tennis player this has been the 52nd doubles’ final of his career, of which he won 34 and lost 18. (Translated by Elena Enache)

3 March 2018
March 3, 2018

CONSULTATIONS – Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, has announced that the first stage of public consultations on the topics of interest for Romania’s EU Council Presidency has been completed. According to Negrescu, 500 relevant actors participated in the debates, in a bid to contribute to the preparation of a highly important project for the whole society and came up with a lot of constructive ideas that are to be analyzed, in the upcoming period, by the public system representatives. Romania will hold the EU Council Presidency between January 1 and June 30, 2019.

MIGRANTS — Almost 3 thousand illegal migrants were caught at Romania’s western border in 2017. Most of them were from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya. The migrants used several methods to get to the border, such as telephone apps to find the shortest route, or the guidance of other people. In most cases, the ones who guided the illegal migrants to the border were legal migrants who have been living in Romania for a long time.

ARMY – Romania’s Defense Minister Mihai Fifor, has announced that around 64 hundread people will be employed in the army, among whom soldiers, physicians and psychologists. Romania, Minister Fifor has said, needs to strengthen its military capabilities in order to continue to be the most important security supplier in the Black Sea. In this context, Mihai Fifor has announced that the procedure for the construction of four multifunctional corvettes has been launched. The minister also said that the winner of the auction will have to build all four corvettes in a Romanian shipyard.

COMMEMORATION — On Sunday Romania marks 41 years since the devastating earthquake of March 4, 1977, the most powerful that has ever hit Romania. Measuring 7.2 degrees on Richters scale, the earthquake killed 1,570 people, most of them in the capital Bucharest, and caused damages worth over $2 billion. Around 230,000 homes were destroyed or seriously damaged and 760 economic facilities became inoperative. The earthquake generated a severe economic and social crisis, which historians say the communist authorities never fully overcame before their demise in 1989. Specialists warn that hundreds of buildings in Bucharest are at risk in case of a powerful earthquake.

FLU — The number of people who died of flu in Romania since the beginning of the cold season has reached 72, with three more deaths being reported recently. Almost all victims were also suffering from chronic diseases and had not been immunized. Over 800 people are currently being treated for flu. Most of them are in the capital Bucharest, but also in counties like Constanta, Olt, Brasov and Iasi. Health Minister Sorina Pintea says that for the time being we cannot talk about a flu epidemic in Romania.

RUGBY — Romania’s national rugby team are today taking on Russia at home turf in Cluj, northwestern Romania. The match counts towards the third round of the 2018 Rugby Europe International Championship. After losing to Spain in the previous match, Romania needs a win and a bonus point to keep alive its chances of qualifying to the 2019 World Rugby Cup hosted by Japan. Last year in Sochi Romania won 30-10 against Russia. The Romanian team is ranked 16, while Russia is in 20th position. (Translated by Elena Enache)

3 March 2018