Radio România Internațional

Tag: Bystroye Canal

  • March 16, 2023 UPDATE

    March 16, 2023 UPDATE

    FRANCOPHONIE – 30
    years since joining the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF),
    Romania is a champion of promoting La Francophonie and its values, Romania’s
    president Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday in the opening statement of the
    conference marking this special moment. President Iohannis said OIF’s plans can
    only be achieved in a space of peace and stability. The promotion of peace,
    democracy and human rights, as well as protecting the environment and managing
    climate change have become top concerns for the whole world which can only be
    efficiently tackled through international cooperation and concerted effort. Attending
    the international conference in Bucharest was also Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, who said that education is key
    to young French-speaking people who are interested in securing access to jobs
    and living in a healthy environment. Attending the event in Bucharest was also
    OIF Secretary General, Louise Mushikiwabo.


    BYSTROYE – Ukraine has provided
    neighboring Romania with a partial consent for starting measurements on the
    Chilia branch of the Danube River starting Friday. The measurements are to be
    conducted on the sector between kilometers 22 and 116 only during the day.
    Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu said that during previous talks with
    Ukrainian officials he asked that measurements on the Chilia branch of the
    Danube should start at kilometer 11. It is the Romanian official’s opinion that, considering that European Commission
    representatives have supported Romania’s requests, it is in the
    interest of both countries that light be shed on Ukraine’s dredging operations
    on the Chilia branch and the Bystroye canal. The Danube is a major transport
    route for Ukraine, which in the wake of the Russian invasion has been trying to
    export its grain and other foodstuffs using this river. Bucharest fears the
    works might have a negative impact on the ecosystems of the Danube Delta, a
    UNESCO World Heritage protected site. Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister said
    that, after the dredging of the Bystroye Canal, its depth increased from 3.9 to
    6.5 meters.


    MOLDOVA – The Moldovan Parliament
    on Thursday passed a draft law on replacing the phrasing Moldovan language
    with Romanian language in every piece of legislation in the Republic of
    Moldova, including the Constitution. The vote received a standing ovation in
    the plenary sitting from Action and Solidarity MPs, while their Socialist and
    Communist peers displayed slogans referring to the Moldovan language. The
    Romanian Foreign Ministry has hailed the new law, which it says has a deep
    symbolic meaning because it restores scientific truth regarding the official
    language of the Republic of Moldova and reasserts the status of the Romanian
    language as the official language of Moldova. Additionally, the law confirms
    the communion of language, history and culture Romania and Moldova share. The
    adoption of this law also reflects that maturity of Moldovan society and its
    adherence to the community of values underlying the European Union. Today’s
    decision further consolidates bilateral relations between Romania and the
    Republic of Moldova, which are transparent in an open and robust cooperation
    focusing on the democratic reformation of the Republic of Moldova and its
    integration in the European Union, a Romanian Foreign Ministry release reads.


    VISA WAIVER – The Democratic Majority
    Whip Richard Durbin and US senator Jeanne Shaheen, chair of the Senate Foreign
    Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, have
    submitted a draft law recommending the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver
    program, the Romanian Embassy in Washington has announced. The initiative
    follows a visit the two officials paid to Romania last month. The two officials
    highlighted Romania’s major role at NATO and EU levels, also underscoring the
    close relations with the United States. Romania’s Ambassador in Washington,
    Andrei Muraru, described the draft law as the strongest legislative signal Romania
    has received from the Americans. Visa Waiver is a program run by the Federal
    Government allowing citizens from member countries to travel to the USA for
    tourism, business or in transit up for periods up to 90 days without requiring
    a visa. (VP)





  • Ukrainian grain routes transiting Romania

    Ukrainian grain routes transiting Romania


    Romania has agreed that Ukrainian ships transporting grain may transit the Chilia and Bystroye canals. The decision of the Romanian authorities comes in support of Ukraine, and is meant at curbing the effects of the war in this country. According to the Foreign Ministry, the decision is exceptional in itself, given the importance of diversifying and streamlining transport routes used to export grain from Ukraine. The consent expressed by the Romanian side also highlighted Romania’s plans on developing the Bystroye deepwater navigation canal, insisting that it should observe international provisions in the field, including environmental standards. At the same time, Romania remains committed to making efforts at national and European level to facilitate the transit and export of Ukrainian grain, including via the Romanian ports on the Danube and the Black Sea.




    Construction works on the Bystroye Canal, linking the Danube to the Black Sea, started in 2004. Romania called on Ukraine to discard this project, considering part of the canal crosses the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and breaches a number of international conventions in the field of environment protection, affecting certain wildlife species. International authorities ruled in Romania’s favor, yet despite official warnings, Kyiv inaugurated the canal in 2007. In the last four days, 16 ships have transited the canal, Ukrainian authorities say. In this context, military delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey met on Wednesday with UN officials in Istanbul where they discussed the possibility of resuming Ukrainian grain exports from the port of Odessa on the Black Sea. Following the round of talks, the parties agreed to set up a coordination center that will guarantee the safety of navigation routes, Ankara officials say. An agreement is expected to be signed next week. At the same time, the parties agreed to perform joint inspections in ports. The meeting comes amidst soaring food prices reported at global level, in part due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.



    The world’s fourth largest grain exporter, Ukraine was forced to export its grain by rail via Poland, Slovakia or Romania. Its exports are currently blocked by Russian battleships in the Black Sea, while sea mines deployed by Kyiv also pose a problem. In recent weeks, Turkey, a NATO Member State, has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to help Ukraine resume its grain exports. According to Turkish authorities, 20 trade ships are currently waiting in the Black Sea to be loaded with Ukrainian grain. (VP)