Radio România Internațional

Tag: Crimea

  • Romania, the Eastern Flank

    Romania, the Eastern Flank

    A team of trainers from British
    Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) has coordinated a course of command and
    leadership in Romania in cooperation with the units subordinated to the 18th
    Search and Supervision brigade Decebalus based in Timisoara, western Romania.
    The British team stationed in the Czech Republic has the mission to provide military
    training courses, training assistance, counseling to the partner countries
    helping them to develop professional armed forces and capabilities able to
    participate in multinational support, regional and peacekeeping missions.




    The team spent two weeks with the
    32nd Search and Surveillance Battalion Mircea in Timisoara where it
    built the theoretical framework for the training of the Romanian servicemen and
    then moved on to the training ground.




    Sergent Darryl Rennie, who is a
    trainer with the BMATT, told us quote it is important to work with the NATO
    partners and see how we can work together. Our purpose here is not only to
    teach our way of operation, but we are also interested in the way the Romanian
    army operates and learning their rules so that we may cooperate with each
    other, share experiences, and make the most of these courses.




    Captain Ben Griffiths, the head
    of the BMATT, is for the first time in Romania and told the radio programme ‘Military
    Journal of the Romanian Army’ that the British team comes twice a year and its
    relation with the Romanian ground forces is a good one. We have many lessons
    to learn from our Romanian partners, regarding their way of operating. And this
    strengthens interoperability. This is a real chance to train together so that
    in the future we’ll be able to fight side by side. So, understanding our
    cultures, our behaviours and the structure of the organization is very useful.
    Ben Griffiths went on to say.




    Regarding the social interaction
    between the servicemen, Sergeant Vydlove Cech, associated-instructor with the BMATT,
    has mentioned that being of the Czech nationality he is familiarized with the
    cultural elements and gastronomy in eastern Europe and his colleagues really
    like the good food they have found here, the beautiful culture and cities and
    the wonderful nature.


    In another development the US
    army has completed the works for a 34 million dollar project at the 71 Air Base
    in Campia Turzii, central Romania.


    The project consists of a center
    for air operations, a hangar for planes and a parking platform for the aircraft
    used.


    The projects unfolding in Romania
    are contributing to the training and response capability of the US troops
    stationed in Europe and strengthening the collective defence and security of
    the NATO allies, says Roger Vogler, the head of the engineers department of
    the US army.


    The investment is part of a 100
    million dollar programme the USA has been carrying out in Campia Turzii to
    expand the action range of the US forces in south-eastern Europe, according to
    Stars and Stripes. The US partners started the streamlining works at the 71 Air
    Base in 2021. The funds for this project have been earmarked by means of the
    European Deterrence Initiative the US launched in 2014, after the annexation of
    the Crimean peninsula by Russia.


    (bill)

  • January 21, 2022 UPDATE 2

    January 21, 2022 UPDATE 2


    TALKS US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said he would continue his dialogue with Moscow but called on Russia to pull out the troops it deployed to the border with Ukraine. After the talks with his Russian counterpart Serghei Lavrov, which he described as a candid exchange of concerns and ideas Blinken said that next week Washington would present Moscow with ideas under the form of written responses. In turn, Lavrov has confirmed the USA has pledged written responses to Moscows requests concerning the European security architecture. Romanias president Klaus Iohannis on Thursday hailed the announcement made by his US counterpart Joe Biden over an increased US military presence in Romania, if security would get deteriorated. Iohannis has also added that the strategic Romanian-French partnership will be strengthened in the Black Sea area after the announcement made by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that France is ready to send troops to Romania as part of the NATO missions. Russia has amassed 100 thousand troops at its border with Ukraine but denies any plans for an invasion.



    STRIKE Trade unionists from Bucharests Public Transportation Company (STB) have decided to carry on their all out strike in spite of a ruling from the Bucharest Court, which deems the protest as illegal and calls for the immediate cessation of the strike. The strike has kept the Romanian capital city paralyzed for the second day in a row and the protesters have ignored the courts decisions on Friday and Thursday, under which they should have resumed activity. The STB workers have called for pay rises and the resignation of the companys director and said they would not resume work unless their claims were met. City mayor Nicusor Dan believes the protest is political and has called for the observance of the law while Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu has cautioned over the seriousness of not complying with a court rule.



    COVID-19 19,649 new infections have been reported in the last 24 hours in Romania, an all-time high since the start of the pandemic. Yesterday, the country had over 19 thousand infections and 49 related fatalities were also reported on Friday. Health Minister Alexandru Rafila says the COVID-related mortality rate is at present ten times lower compared to October last year. The Romanian official added that an innovative antiviral treatment will also be made available shortly. 8 million Romanians have so far received at least one dose of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. The rate of vaccination stands at 47.5% of the total eligible population, the head of the National Committee for the Coordination of anti-COVID-19 Vaccination Activities, medical doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă has announced. According to Dr. Gheorghiţă, the highest vaccination rate (56%) is reported in the 50-59 age bracket. The Health Ministry announced that the bed occupation rate in hospitals stands at 22% at national level, meaning classes in schools will continue with full physical attendance next week as well.



    MINISTRY Romanias Foreign Ministry has rejected the statements of the Foreign Ministry of Russian Federation concerning the allied military presence on NATOs eastern flank, which it considers inopportune and ungrounded. The Ministry recalls in a communiqué that the NATO presence in the allied countries, which is the result of the decisions made at the highest level by allied leaders and implemented by responsible allied political and military structures is a response to the Russian Federations increasingly aggressive behaviour in the eastern neighbourhood starting 2014, when it occupied Crimea. This behavior continues to intensify in spite of NATOs attempts to engage in a constructive dialogue, the Ministry in Bucharest says. Russia on Friday asked for the withdrawal of NATO troops from Romania and Bulgaria as part of any treaty.


    (bill)


  • December 25, 2021

    December 25, 2021

    CHRISTMAS The Western rite Orthodox
    believers, the Greek Catholics and Catholics from the world over, including from
    Romania, a country with an Orthodox majority, are today celebrating Christmas,
    the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Christmas holiday invites us to be
    generous, as the magi in the time of Christ, to show love and compassion to all
    around us and offer gifts not only to children but also to the elderly, the
    sick, the lonely and sad’, says Daniel, the patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox
    Church. In turn, president Klaus Iohannis has conveyed a Christmas message, in
    which he referred to the spirit of this holiday at the end of another difficult
    year. The head of the Romanian state wished the Romanians to enjoy this
    holiday, underlining that together we can overcome this difficult period. Christmas
    is marked through special religious sermons in churches and monasteries across
    the country but also through beautiful traditions and rich family dinners. Old
    ritualists, who are a majority in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia are
    celebrating Christmas on January 7th.








    COVID-19 The fifth wave of the pandemic, which is most severe as compared
    to the fourth wave is expected to arrive in Romania in less than three weeks,
    the country’s Interior Minister Lucian Bode has announced. The spread of the
    Omicron variant will be accelerated by the Romanian workers from abroad, who
    are to arrive in large numbers for the winter holidays. The number of the new
    infections is still low in Romania with roughly 600 new cases announced on
    Saturday and 29 related fatalities. Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost
    1.8 million Covid infections have been reported in Romania and 58 thousand
    related fatalities. Shortly after the authorization in the USA of the
    anti-Covid drug, Paxlovid, Romania’s health minister, Alexandru Rafila is
    making moves to import the new drug as soon as possible. Rafila has already had
    a series of meetings with representatives of Pfizer, the company that produces
    the vaccine. According to the latest surveys, the drug reduces by almost 90%
    the risk of hospitalization and death. The US has also authorized an anti-viral
    pill produced by Merck.






    OMICRON Airline carriers in the USA
    have been severely affected by the Covid-19 infections driven by the Omicron
    variant, which created greater uncertainty among Christmas holiday travelers.
    According to Flightaware.com a quarter out of the over 4 thousand flights
    cancelled globally is in the United States alone. The situation became possible
    due to the flight crews who tested positive and were forced to go into
    isolation in order to contain the pandemic. The USA, like other countries, has
    seen a surge in the Covid-19 infections and although the Omicron variant is
    less severe than Delta, scientists are worried by the growing number of
    infections. Government data in Britain showed a record tally of more than 122
    thousand Covid infections nationwide on Friday, marking a third day in which
    the number of new cases has surpassed 100 thousand. The government headed by
    Boris Johnson preferred to postpone the tightening of restrictions as Omicron
    poses lower risks than the Delta variant. France has also exceeded the
    threshold of 94 thousand new Covid infections, a record high since the
    beginning of the pandemic. Outdoor mask mandates have again come into effect in
    Greece, Spain and Italy.









    TROOPS Over 10 thousand Russian servicemen that had been deployed close
    to the Ukrainian border returned to their barracks, the Interfax news agency
    announced, quoting sources of the Russian army. They participated in maneuvers
    held close to Ukraine and also in Crimea, a region Russia annexed in 2014. The
    latest Russian military buildup at the borders with Ukraine fuelled concern among
    Ukraine’s and western leaders that Moscow had planned an attack. Russia denied
    all allegations adding that it needs pledges from the West, including from NATO
    that the alliance will not expand towards its borders.








    (bill)

  • March 17, 2019 UPDATE

    March 17, 2019 UPDATE

    EU — The EU on Sunday reiterated its commitment regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, 5 years after the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and of Sevastopol by Russia, shows a statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. The EU reiterated that it did not recognize the annexation, which it considers a direct challenge to international security with serious consequences for international legal order which protects the territorial integrity, the unity and sovereignty of all states. The EU equally keeps its commitment to fully implementing the non-recognition policy for Crimea, also through restrictive measures. In Bucharest the Foreign Ministry officials said they supported the statement of the EU foreign policy chief Mogherini. They also condemn the illegal annexation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea which they consider a violation of the principles and norms of the international law.



    Meeting – Bucharest is hosting, on Sunday and Monday, a ministerial meeting dwelling on Diaspora policies. The meeting is organized by the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU and is taking place in the context of the free movement of labor force and of debates on migration and integration. The Romanian authorities believe that the exchange of good practices, the presentation of and consultation on the national strategies regarding the Diaspora could be useful instruments at both European and national level. The talks will focus on ways through which the European countries could establish relations of economic and cultural cooperation with the Diaspora, the initiatives for supporting its linguistic and cultural development, the policies that contributed to the rapid integration of the Diaspora community members as well as the policies meant to support the return of the members of the Diaspora to the countries of origin.



    Brussels — Romania’s rugby team on Sunday defeated the Belgian team in Brussels, 43-17, in the last leg of the 2019 Rugby Europe International Championship (REIC). In the other matches, Georgia defeated Russia and Spain had the upper hand on Germany. Romania comes 3rd in the rankings after Georgia and Spain.



    Belgrade — Thousands of people on Sunday gathered in Belgrade in front of the Serbian presidential headquarters to protest against president Aleksandar Vucic, whom they accuse of authoritarianism and subordination of the press, news agencies report. Vucic accuses the protesters of excessive violence after some of them on Saturday evening stormed the public television headquarters. The protesters denounced the bias of the public television and its dependence on the government. Protests against president Vucic started on December 8 last year, and have been held every Saturday in Belgrade and other Serbian cities ever since.



    London — The British Labor opposition will force a vote on a motion of censure if the Conservative PM Theresa fails again to obtain a vote on a Brexit deal in Parliament, the leader of the Labor Party Jeremy Corbyn announced on Sunday, according to Reuters. He called on all MPs to work together in order to find an urgent way out of the Brexit deadlock. The British Parliament on Thursday evening approved the motion through which Theresa May’s government is asking for a postponement of Brexit after March 29. The postponement needs to also be accepted by the EU leaders who will gather in Brussels on March 21 and 22. (translation by L. Simion)

  • Conflict in Romania’s Vicinity

    Conflict in Romania’s Vicinity

    We are
    dismayed at this use of force by Russia which, against the backdrop of
    increasing militarization in the area, is unacceptable, the 28 EU Member
    States said in a public statement presented by the EU High Representative for
    Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, at the end of the third day of talks on
    the escalation of military violence between Kiev and Moscow. The Western powers
    have condemned Russia’s actions, calling for the release of the three vessels
    captured in the Kerch strait and of the 24 Ukrainian servicemen, at present
    under a two-month pre-trial arrest on charges of illegal border crossing.
    Moscow has admitted it used part of its equipment to force the Ukrainian ships
    to a halt, while Kiev claims it had previously warned Russia that its ships
    would transit the area en route to Mariupol port on the Sea of Azov.

    The
    president of the Conflict Prevention Center, Iulian Chifu, spoke about the
    situation in a show on Radio Romania:


    The Russian
    Federation has now opened its third battlefront with Ukraine. What’s more
    serious is the fact that this new aggression occurred on its territory. We’re
    not talking here about the annexation of Crimea by means of little green men, its military aggression in Eastern Ukraine,
    where they acted by means of volunteers, stray military, as Mr. Lavrov called
    them. Russia now considers Crimea to be its territory and is trying to assert
    this by annexing the Sea of Azov. It has built that bridge, which is also
    illegal, and now it acts as if those waters are Russian property, denying
    access and demanding permission to anyone who wants to pass. It’s about three military Ukrainian vessels, coming from
    an Ukrainian port and heading for another Ukrainian port, which was denied
    access through the Sea of Azov. The situation escalated into clashes and then fire
    shots, claiming victims.


    The
    incident occurred near the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014 and
    the tension grew after 2015, when rebels supported by Moscow rose against the
    Kiev government in the eastern region of Donbas, starting a war that killed
    dozens of people. A singular approach to the Kerch case is incorrect, no mater
    whom we may accuse, according to university professor Dan Dungaciu, the
    director of the Institute of Political Sciences and International Relations of
    the Romanian Academy:


    This episode is
    just one element in a saga that started back in 2014, when the Russian Federation
    did what it did: it annexed Crimea, entered the eastern part of Ukraine and is
    now indirectly controlling two regions there. What is Kerch in fact? Before
    Crimea’s annexation, it was just a strait between Ukraine, Crimea, which was
    par of Ukraine, and the Russian Federation. On the Russian side, there was a
    command unit checking all crossings through the strait. Now we are in the
    situation in which Crimea belongs to Russia too, de facto, but not de jure, and
    on the right shore there is also Russia. Therefore, Russia is controlling all
    entrances. Adding to that was the famous bridge that the Russians built quite
    fast.


    It is the bridge that links Crimea to Russia, a strategic bridge as Professor
    Dan Dungaciu said:


    When they built that bridge, they built it at a height of 30 meters.
    There are many ships taller than 30 meters, which can no longer pass underneath
    the bridge and are stuck in the Sea of Azov, which, at present, also due to
    this bridge built by the Russian Federation, is more of a Russian sea. In fact,
    the decisive moment was 2014. They should have been criticised then and the people in the region understood very well
    that unless you are part of NATO or the EU there is nobody there to defend you,
    because being part of the UN is not enough. So what has happened to Ukraine is
    also due to the inability of its political elites, of their lack of projects,
    as for 20 years they have believed they can play both ends – the East and the
    West. Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are prisoners of their own false
    political vision, based on a Russian saying according to which taking advantage
    of both sides is the smart thing to do. This is how these two countries have
    made politics so far and have not clearly opted for NATO or the EU.


    Given the recent developments, the EU has urged both sides to keep calm
    and asked Moscow to reinstate free circulation in the Kerch strait. NATO
    Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stressed that Russia is not a member of
    NATO, whose principle is the collective defense of its members, but has pointed
    out that the Alliance supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
    against Russian threats. Meanwhile in Kiev, the Ukrainian Parliament instated
    the martial law for an unlimited period of time.







  • November 9, 2018

    November 9, 2018

    PARIS – On Saturday and Sunday, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis will participate in events commemorating the centennial of WWIs armistice. The Romanian head of state, invited by the French President Emmanuel Macron, will attend the centennial ceremony at the Triumphal Arch alongside leaders of the belligerent countries in WWI and also leaders of the states that supported the war efforts. Also, Klaus Iohannis will attend the inaugural edition of the Paris Peace Forum, president Macrons initiative, focused on supporting and striving to improve global governance in the fields of peace and security, environment, development, technological advancement and economy. In Paris, president Iohannis will also meet with Romanian research students. According to the Romanian Presidential Administration, the meeting organized at the Romanian Embassy in Paris is devoted to Romanian contributions to the development of science and technology, in the Centenary Year of the Great Union.



    COLECTIV – The first 25 witnesses have been subpoenaed to testify today, at the Bucharest Tribunal, in relation to the fire that broke out three years ago at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest. We recall that on October 30th, 2015, during a rock concert, a fireworks show started a fire, which killed 64 people and wounded another 200. The owners of the club and the former district mayor Cristian Popescu-Piedone are being tried in relation to this case. The owners are accused of encouraging and allowing the access of people beyond the clubs admitted limit, especially given that the facility did not have enough emergency exits. Also, they allowed the fireworks show, although the clubs interior arrangements were unfit for such activity. On Thursday, survivors of the fire talked with the health minister Sorina Pintea about implementing in Romania a rapid intervention mechanism in case of accidents that cause third-degree burns.



    TRADE DEFICIT – According to the National Institute of Statistics, Romanias trade deficit grew by more than one billion Euros in the first nine months of the year. Thus, the deficit of the trade balance, which is the difference between the value of imports and that of exports, has reached 10 billion Euros. This year, a big share of both imports and exports has been held by transport machinery and equipment.



    VISIT – The Romanian and Canadian Defense Ministers, Mihai Fifor and Harjit Singh Sajjan respectively, are paying a visit to the Mihail Kogalniceanu air-base in south-eastern Romania. The two officials will meet with soldiers from the Canadian detachment deployed in Romania for enhanced air-policing missions, as well as with Romanian Air Force staff. A communiqué issued by the Romanian Defense Ministry reads that the Canadian detachment, made up of 135 soldiers and CF-188 Hornet fighters, are carrying out, alongside MiG-21 LanceR aircraft and Romanian Air Force soldiers, enhanced air policing missions under NATO command. According to the same communiqué, jointly deployed Air Policing missions contribute to the development of reaction and deterrence capacity, as well as to the enhancement of interoperability between the Romanian Air Force and the Canadian Royal Air Force.



    SANCTIONS – The US has announced new sanctions against individuals and entities in relation to the annexation of Crimea and the violation of human rights in the Ukrainian regions controlled by Russia, France Presse reports. Financial sanctions are aimed at preventing such individuals and entities from doing business with Americans and banning them access to the US market. The Washington Administration stated in July it did not recognize the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.



    HANDBALL – Romanias womens handball champions CSM Bucharest on Sunday plays away from home against FTC-Rail Cargo Hungary, in Champions Leagues Group D. The Hungarian team ranks first, with 6 points, followed by CSM Bucharest with 4, and Kristiansand of Norway and Bietigheim of Germany with 3 points each. The first three highest ranking teams will qualify for the main groups. On Thursday, in the mens competition, the current holder of the national title, Dinamo Bucharest, defeated Ademar Leon of Spain on home turf. Dinamo gained 10 points and now tops the group rankings. The main counter-candidates for play-offs qualification are Ademar Leon, which currently has 9 points, Wisla Plock of Poland and Elverum of Norway, with 8 points each.


    (translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)


  • The security of the Black Sea region

    The security of the Black Sea region

    Significant changes in the security of the Black Sea region have taken place in recent years, and NATO, as an alliance with a direct interest in this matter, is closely watching the situation and acting to maintain a certain balance. The situation has further deteriorated following the Georgian conflict in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. “Russia’s actions are destabilising the entire Black Sea region and threaten not only the security, but also the democracy of the states in the area”, said the Romanian foreign minister Teodor Melescanu.



    Minister Teodor Melescanu pointed out that from Crimea and the east of Ukraine, we are seeing an increase in the Russian logistical military presence in support of naval operations and remote infrastructure that are transforming the Black Sea into a platform for the projection of military power to other regions of the world. Teodor Melescanu said the multitude of risks and conventional and hybrid threats in Europe’s immediate vicinity has had major repercussions on the interests, relations and strategic considerations in the Black Sea area.



    Faced with these distinct types of threats, the best answer is a unitary approach by NATO and European Union members. Speaking to Radio Romania, the state secretary in the Defence Ministry and the head of the Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations Mircea Dusa spoke about the measures the North-Atlantic Alliance is considering in the near future: “These measures mainly seek NATO’s adaptation to the new security situation on the eastern flank as a result of the crisis in Ukraine, of Crimea’s annexation, of the measures that need to be taken on the southern flank given the situation in the Middle East and northern Africa and the measures taken on the northern flank of NATO and the European Union. These important themes refer first and foremost to the increase in the defence capacity and the gradual increase in the defence and combat capacity. Other measures refer to the deterrence and defence posture and some new concepts NATO is considering for the near future.”



    “Security of the North Atlantic Alliance is closely related to security of the Black Sea” and fresh decisions for this region are going to be made at the NATO summit in July. This is what James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said at the Bucharest forum where he made an assessment of the situation in the Black Sea — An increased Russian military buildup in the Black Sea as well as its deployment of a series of capabilities which actually block the free access and movement of NATO and its allies in the region, all these are changing the security environment in the region. At the same time Russia is using Crimea and the access to the entire region in order to exert its power in the Middle East.



    According to Appathurai, besides military means, Russia also resorts to hybrid threats such as propaganda, disinformation and funding one party or another in order to cause division among the states in the region both at domestic level and in the relations between them. During their two-day meeting in Brussels, NATO defence ministers approved a new initiative, which will allow the Alliance to mobilize 30 battalions, 30 squadrons and 30 warships in 30 days. This task force will include about 30 thousand troops, 300 planes and at least 30 warships or submarines. The ministers also greenlighted new command centres in the German city of Ulm and in Norfolk, the USA.



    The two structures have come to strengthen the Alliance’s defence and deterrence posture and consequently its capacity to prevent conflicts. According to news agencies, the decisions recently made by the ministers are a decisive stage in the preparation of the NATO summit scheduled for July, with a view to establishing an all-out coherent defence for the Alliance. They are meant to create an efficient, coherent and credible defence and deterrence posture, by adjusting NATO’s command structure, by strengthening the response capability of the troops in keeping with the initiative of raising the degree of operability and response, beefing up the maritime response capability as well as improving the strategic approach of the Alliance’s southern dimension.



    As regards Romania, it has seen the first NATO structures on its territory after the Wales Summit — the NATO Force Integration Unit and the Multinational Division Southeast, which is focusing inclusively on the security objectives in the Black Sea region as well as on the measures, Romania, as a NATO member, has taken in this period with a view to increasing defence capabilities in this region. These also include measures that are part of the programme focusing on equipping and modernizing military capabilities in the Black Sea area.

  • March 18, 2018

    March 18, 2018

    WEATHER – More than half of the national territory is affected today by a sharp decrease in temperatures, by up to 15 degrees Celsius compared to the multi-annual average, according to a code yellow alert issued by weather experts. The highs of the day range between minus 8 to 10 degrees C. Until Sunday night, in 32 counties in the centre, east and south, including the capital city Bucharest, heavy raifalls are expected, first rain and then sleet and snow. Strong winds are reported in most of the country, with gusts of 55 – 65 km/h. Meteorologists say the weather will remain unseasonably cold until the end of next week. Several rivers in the north, centre and south are subject to code orange and yellow alerts for flash floods, until Monday at noon.





    DEFENCE – This years first meeting of the Supreme Defence Council, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis, will be held on Tuesday. According to the presidential administration, the participants will analyse the work conducted by the Council and relevant institutions in the field of national security in 2017, and will set the main goals for this year. Other topics of interest with respect to national security will also be approached.




    BOOK FAIR – The Leipzig Book Fair comes to an end in Germany today. Romania was the guest of honour, and under the motto “Zoom in Romania it organised over 70 events to promote contemporary Romanian writers. For 4 days, readers had an opportunity to meet several Romanian authors already present in the German market, such as Mircea Cărtărescu, Norman Manea, Nora Iuga and Filip Florian, as well as young writers like Lavinia Branişte and Bogdan-Alexandru Stănescu. During the event, more than 40 works translated from Romanian were promoted. The Leipzig Book Fair is one of the most important such events in Europe and the world. Meanwhile, Romania is also taking part these days, alongside 45 other countries, in the 38th Paris Book Fair. Romania, as you have never read it is the motto of the Romanian stand, which presents more than 50 recent releases and over 20 events.




    BESSARABIA – The “Basarabia National-Cultural Association of Romanians in Odessa region organised this Saturday the 2nd Forum of Romanian Language Teachers in the region of Odessa. The theme of this years forum was “Education in the native language: accomplishments, reality and prospects. Taking part in the event, held in the Romanian Information Centre within the Ismail State University of the Humanities, were teachers from pre-school, secondary school and university-level institutions from the region of Odessa, in Ukraine.





    MOSCOW – Russia is holding presidential elections today, precisely 4 years since Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula. The incumbent president Vladimir Putin is seeking a fresh 6-year term in office, and is facing 7 challengers, including a Communist millionaire, Pavel Grudinin, a former TV anchor, Ksenia Sobchak and a nationalist veteran, Vladimir Zhirinovsky. The main opponent for Kremlin, Alexey Navalny, was banned from running on account of a criminal sentence that he claims was staged by the authorities. Putin has been heading Russia for the past 18 years, as either president or prime minister.





    CRIMEA – The European Union does not recognise the annexation of Crimea by Russia, which took place 4 years ago, and continues to condemn this violation of international law and direct challenge to international security, says the EU diplomacy chief Federica Mogherini in a news release. The Romanian Foreign Ministry joins in the statement of the EU High Representative on the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. Romania firmly condemns, once again, the breaching of international law principles and rules. On this occasion, Romania reiterates its support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.




    RUGBY – Romanias national rugby team, ranking 17 in the world, is playing today against Georgia, in the last stage of Rugby Europe International Championship 2018. Romania is playing for qualification in the 2019 Japan World Cup. So far the national team has defeated Russia, Germany and Belgium and lost to Spain. So far in the competition, Georgia tops the standings and Romania comes second. The winner secures its participation in the 2019 World Cup.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • March 17, 2018

    March 17, 2018

    CRIMEA – The Romanian Foreign Ministry supports and
    joins the declaration of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
    Affairs and Security Policy regarding Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. In
    a communiqué issued today, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest states that, 4
    years since the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the
    city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, Romania is once again firmly
    condemning that violation of international law regulations and principles.
    Also, Romania is reasserting its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and
    territorial integrity.








    RIUF – More than 100 universities
    and education institutions from 18 countries are attending in Bucharest, on
    Saturday and Sunday, the 22nd Romanian International University Fair
    (RIUF). According to the organizers, participating in the fair are education
    institutions from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, France, Switzerland,
    Romania, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the US,
    Singapore, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and Bulgaria. Visitors
    will find information about free tuition in the Nordic countries, but also
    about a scholarship fund of 3,000,000 Euro for bachelor and master degrees in
    Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany. At the RIUF YouForum there will be
    more than 30 workshops, talks and presentations. The topics of discussion
    include online marketing, branding, gaming, IT, architecture, non-formal
    education and technology.








    RUSSIA – The Russian Foreign Ministry has today
    announced the imminent expulsion of 23 British diplomats, following a similar
    decision announced by London after the poisoning of a former Russian spy and
    his daughter in England, blamed on Russia. Also, the British Ambassador to
    Moscow has been summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry for the second time
    this week. Russia has also decided to stop any activity of the British Council
    on Russian soil. The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international
    organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. The measures were announced just one day
    before the presidential elections in Russia, as a result of which Vladimir
    Putin would get his fourth term. According to France Presse, the Kremlin is
    worried that a low turnout would weaken the legitimacy of the otherwise
    predictable outcome. Putin has been
    heading Russia for 18 years, as president and once as a prime-minister. His
    main opponent, Alexei Navalny, has been deemed non-eligible because of a
    criminal conviction in a case which, he says, was staged by the Russian
    authorities. Navalny has called on the population to boycott Sunday’s
    elections.










    TENNIS – The Romanian
    tennis player Simona Halep, number one in the WTA rankings, has failed to
    qualify for the final of the Indian Wells tournament in California, with 8
    million dollars in prize money, as she was defeated by the Japanese Naomi Osaka
    in two sets: 6-3, 6-0. Halep won the Indian Wells trophy in 2015, but this year
    has already sustained two defeats. However, she remains top of the rankings. In
    the final, Naomi Osaka will play against the Russian Daria Kasatkina, who has
    defeated the American Venus Williams.






    RUGBY – Romania’s
    national rugby team, ranking 17th in the world, on Sunday will play
    against the team of Georgia, away from home, in the last leg of Rugby Europe
    International Championship 2018. Romania is hoping for qualification to the
    World Cup to be hosted by Japan in 2019. So far, ‘the oaks’, as the Romanian
    rugby players are dubbed, have defeated Russia, Germany and Belgium and have
    lost to Spain. In the competition’s classification, Georgia ranks first, and
    Romania second.

  • September 17, 2016 UPDATE

    September 17, 2016 UPDATE


    CRIMEA On Saturday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced it did not recognize the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections held in Crimea for the Russian Federations State Duma. The Romanian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and recalled that Romania did not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and of the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. Parliamentary elections are due in Russia on Sunday, and are to be also held in Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. According to the polls, quoted by the Radio Romania correspondent in Moscow, only 4 of the 14 parties participating in the elections will be able to go over the 5% threshold. The obvious leader, with 41% of the options, is Vladimir Putins United Russia Party. There follow the Liberal Democratic Party, headed by the hard-liner Vladimir Jirinovski, with 12.4%, the communists, with 7.5%, and “A Just Russia” Party with 6.4%.



    CONDOLENCE Romanias President Klaus Iohannis sent a message of condolence to his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, for the death of the former Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. The Romanian Presidents message reads that president Ciampi was a convinced pro-European, a supporter of the single currency and of the EU enlargement, at a time when Romania was aspiring to become a member. Ciampi died on Friday, aged 95. He had a long political career, during which he was the president of Italy, Prime Minister and Governor of the Central Bank, and played a key role in his countrys accepting the Euro.



    CELEBRATION Romanias capital Bucharest is this weekend playing host to dozens of cultural events, marking 557 years since it was first mentioned in documents. Squares and parks will venue concerts, exhibitions, workshops, fairs, theatre and music shows, parades. Also on Bucharests Days, performing will be bands from Spain, Italy and France. Bucharest was first documented on September 21st, 1459, in a document issued by Vlad the Impaler, who back then was ruler of the medieval principality of Wallachia. He would later become a source of inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula.



    SUMMIT On Friday in Bratislava, EU leaders stated they wanted to turn the Union into a more attractive and safer space for its citizens, after one of its major members, Great Britain, decided to leave. They drew up a set of guidelines for strengthening security and economic development, which should result into a strategy to be adopted at the special summit due in Rome in March. The final declaration in Bratislava highlights immigration control measures, as well as measures aimed at fighting terrorism and radicalisation and at boosting economic growth by means of investment and single market consolidation. At the end of the summit, in which Great Britain did not participate, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis said that, despite the existing crises, the Union was not a chronic patient, but a success. The head of state also said that hed held informal talks with some European leaders also about Romanias joining the Schenghen agreement, and developments in that direction were positive.



    GDP GROWTH The Romanian National Forecast Commission has revised up to 4.8% its estimates regarding economic growth this year. In spring, the Commission had announced a GDP growth of 4.2%. For the next three years, the commission has maintained its forecasts regarding the growth of the GDP at 4.3%, 4.5% and 4.7% respectively. The GDP per capita is to grow constantly in the coming years, from 8,581 Euro in 2016 to 10,587 Euro in 2019.



    TIMISOARA The Romanian Foreign Ministry has hailed the designation of Timisoara, in western Romania, as the European Capital of Culture in 2021 and has stated that promoting the city will be one of its priorities. Thus, Romanian diplomatic missions, consular offices and cultural institutes abroad will help prepare and promote the prestigious status acquired by Timisoara, which is a model of multi-culturalism, diversity, contemporary creativity, innovation and European spirit. Timisoara ran for European Capital of Culture alongside other three cities in Romania: the capital Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Baia Mare in the north-west. Timisoara will share the title with one city in Greece and one in Montenegro. In 2007, another Romanian city, Sibiu, was European Capital of Culture, together with Luxembourg.



    CORRUPTION The former head of the Romanian Lottery, Gheorghe Benea, will be investigated for bribe taking and office peddling, with aggravated consequences. He was previously detained by anti-corruption prosecutors, who had called for his temporary arrest, but he will be prosecuted without being detained, and subject to legal restrictions, pending trial. The case is about a fake tender for the renewal of the Lotterys car fleet. The damage estimated by investigators stands at more than 500,000 Euro.



    OKTOBERFEST The German police tightened security measures before Oktoberfest, the biggest beer festival in the world, which started in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, on Saturday. In early summer, the Germans were terrified by a string of violent attacks perpetrated in Bavaria, of which two committed by asylum seekers inspired by the Islamic State terrorist organization. The festival organizers have stated they have no information that Oktoberfest might become a target for terrorist attacks, but have nonetheless enhanced security by up-sizing security forces and by installing surveillance cameras. For the first time, the area hosting the festival will be fully surrounded by security fences.




  • December 8, 2015 UPDATE

    December 8, 2015 UPDATE

    The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis will be receiving the British PM David Cameron on Wednesday. The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference. The British PM is making a visit to Romania, during which he is also to meet the Romanian PM Dacian Cioloş. The talks will tackle, among others, the migrant crisis. Prior to the visit, the Romanian PM said that, in the context of London preparing a referendum with respect to Britains EU membership, Bucharest thinks the UK staying in the EU would be beneficial to both London and Brussels.



    A 17-year old from the southern Romanian city of Craiova, suspected of jihadist propaganda, was taken for questioning by Romanian prosecutors on Tuesday. The high-school student has allegedly posted support messages for the IS group. This is apparently the first Romanian citizen taken into custody under suspicion of jihadist propaganda. So far 9 foreign citizens have been expelled from the country for activities related to terrorist ideologies or movements. Another over 240 Middle East citizens have been denied access to the country, according to the Romanian Intelligence Service.



    The Committees for European Affairs in the two Parliament Chambers Tuesday approved the mandate of the Romanian PM Dacian Cioloş for the European Council meeting of December 17 and 18. The idea of Romania being represented by its prime minister came from the President Klaus Iohannis. In this context, the PM said he suggested a meeting of the two parliamentary committees, focusing on European affairs, given that one of the priorities of his Cabinet is to start preparing Romanias agenda for the presidency of the EU Council in 2019.



    While on an official visit to Montenegro, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in the Romanian Parliament Valeriu Zgonea emphasised Romanias support for the national objectives of that country, namely the EU and NATO integration. According to a news release, Zgonea was received by the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, and had talks with the Parliament Speaker, Ranko Krivokapic. On this occasion, Zgonea said Montenegros NATO accession will be a valuable gain for the Alliance.



    The Romanian Foreign Minister, Lazăr Comănescu, in his capacity as sitting president of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Tuesday received the Secretary General of the International Permanent International Secretariat of the BSEC, Michael Christides. The visit takes place in the context of the conclusion of Romanias presidency of the organisation, in December, and ahead of the meeting of the Council of BSEC Foreign Ministers, due on December 11 in Bucharest. According to a news release, the topics of the talks included key issues on the agenda of the organisation and the contribution of Romanias current BSEC presidency term to fostering regional economic cooperation.



    The USA will never recognise Russias annexation of Crimea and will continue to apply sanctions against Russia and against Vladimir Putin personally, until the last occupant leaves Ukraines Donbas, the US vice-president Joe Biden said in Kyiv on Tuesday. In an address to the Ukrainian Parliament, Biden also said the president of the Russian Federation was afraid Ukraine might become a successful state and the people in the east of the country, temporarily occupied, will no longer want to be a part of the Russian world. During his visit to Kyiv, Biden announced the US will grant Ukraine additional assistance, amounting to roughly 200 million US dollars.

    (translation by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Crimea: preoccupazione a Bucarest e Bruxelles per escalation in Transnistria

    Crimea: preoccupazione a Bucarest e Bruxelles per escalation in Transnistria

    Nè i commentatori nè le cancellerie occidentali si affrettano ormai ad affermare che l’appetito territoriale della Russia di Putin fosse stato soddisfatto dall’annessione della Crimea.



    La penisola secessionista del sud dell’Ucraina è solo un caso-scuola di conflitto congelato che, su segnale del Cremlino, può diventare scottante da un giorno all’altro.



    La provincia azera di Nagorno — Karabakh, abitata da popolazione a maggioranza armena, le regioni georgiane dell’Abcasia e dell’Ossezia del Sud, o la Transnistria (est della Moldova), sono altrettanti epicentri del separatismo filorusso nello spazio ex sovietico.



    Uscite negli anni ‘90 dal controllo delle autorità centrali, in seguito a conflitti che hanno provocato numerose vittime, tutte sono entrate sotto l’ombrella di Mosca, offrendole il pretesto di un interevento militare se l’indipendenza de facto dei suoi protetti fosse messa in pericolo.



    Siccome Putin mantiene un silenzio capace di annunciare qualsiasi cosa, è spettato alla presidente della camera alta del Parlamento russo, Valentina Matvienko, il compito di definire come inopportune in questo momento le discussioni sull’annessione della Transnistria, dell’Abcasia e dell’Ossezia del Sud alla Russia.



    I leader delle tre regioni non hanno sollecitato a Mosca di accoglierle — dice la Matvienko, dopo che i media russi hanno riferito su una lettera in cui il presidente del parlamento separatista di Tiraspoli, Mihai Burla, sollecitava al presidente della Duma russa, Sergei Naryshkin, di esaminare la possibile annessione della Transnistria.



    Dopo la Crimea, il comandande supremo della NATO in Europa, il generale Philip Breedlove, non sembra convinto dalle dichiarazioni delle autorità russe.



    “Siamo molto preoccupati per un possibile attacco della Russia su Odessa o Transnistria. Al confine orientale dell’Ucraina sono dispiegate sufficienti forze militari della Russia, che possono raggiungere la Transnistria, se così è stato deciso. Per noi, è uno scenario raccappricciante”, ha detto il generale.



    A Bucarest, il presidente Traian Basescu ha ribadito l’idea che il Mar Nero è diventato un lago russo, dal momento che è circondato da conflitti congelati, come quello della Transnistria, dove sono dispiegate truppe russe.



    Da parte sua, il capo della diplomazia di Bucarest, Titus Corlatean, ha auspicato che la Russia rispetti il percorso europeo della Moldova, sostenuto costantemente dalla Romania, che, però, lungi dall’essere irreversibile, può essere sventato da una riapertura del conflitto in Transnistria.


  • Crimea: Romania non riconoscerà annessione alla Russia

    Crimea: Romania non riconoscerà annessione alla Russia

    Sdegno all’unisono dall’intera classe politica romena per l’annessione della Crimea alla Russia. Le istituzioni, i partiti e i leader politici di Bucarest hanno espresso costernazione e preoccupazione.



    Un atteggiamento alimentato da una parte, dalla perplessità che nel XXI secolo riappaiono pratiche dell’epoca stalinista e, dall’altra, dai traumi storici subiti dalla Romania stessa, costretta, in seguito a un ultimatum del 1940, a cedere all’Unione sovietica i suoi territori orientali.



    L’annessione della regione secessionista russofona della Crimea alla Russia è definita dal Ministero degli Esteri romeno come un atto illegittimo, contrario ai principi fondamentali del diritto internazionale, che viola l’indipendenza, la sovranità e l’integrità territoriale dell’Ucraina.



    In questo modo, vengono cancellati gli esiti di decine di anni di dialogo e cooperazione, volti a costruire un’Europa unita, senza linee di divisione, precisa il Ministero degli Esteri romeno.



    La diplomazia di Bucarest esprime “il totale disaccordo” per l’azione della Federazione Russa, di cui ammonisce che può generare effetti destabilizzanti nell’intera regione e l’isolamento internazionale di Mosca, dal punto di vista politico, economico e militare.



    La Romania — conclude il comunicato del Ministero degli Esteri — non riconoscerà l’annessione della repubblica autonoma della Crimea, parte integrante dello stato ucraino.



    Per il presidente romeno Traian Basescu, l’annessione della penisola collocata al sud dell’Ucraina è una prova che la Russia di Putin tenta di rifare l’ex Unione sovietica.



    Preoccupazione condivisa dal premier socialdemocratico Victor Ponta, il quale valuta che le istituzioni internazionali devono reagire fermamente, poichè altrimenti la Russia potrebbe continuare la politica annessionistica.



    Dall’opposizione, il leader liberale Crin Antonescu afferma che l’annessione di una parte del territorio ucraino contraviene al diritto internazionale, definendo illegale il cosiddetto referendum che l’ha preceduta.



    Da parte sua, il primo-vicepresidente democratico-liberale, Catalin Predoiu, sostiene che la Romania deve esprimere fermamente il sostegno al rispetto delle norme di diritto internazionale e coordinare le azioni con i suoi alleati dell’UE e della NATO, che hanno condannato all’unisono l’annessione della Crimea.



    A questo punto, quasi tutti i politici di Bucarest si pronunciano per l’acceleramento delle procedure di integrazione nell’UE della Moldova (a maggioranza romenofona), collocata tra la Romania e l’Ucraina, minata, da parte sua, dai focolai del separatismo filorusso della Transnistria (est) e della Gagauzia (sud).

  • Crimea: Romania, referendum illegittimo e illegale

    Crimea: Romania, referendum illegittimo e illegale

    Accanto a Polonia, Slovacchia e Ungheria, la Romania è uno dei Paesi membri dell’UE e della NATO confinanti con l’Ucraina. Nell’ovest di questo Paese, lungo la frontiera comune, che complessivamente supera i 600 km, vivono oltre 400.000 etnici romeni.



    Sono altrettanti motivi per cui Bucarest è legittimamente preoccupata per la situazione nello stato confinante, per la cui sovranità e integrità territoriale si è pronunciata costantemente. Il presidente Traian Basescu ha dichiarato che la Romania considera illegale il referendum in Crimea e non riconoscerà il suo esito.



    Il capo dello stato romeno ritiene che uno scrutinio organizzato sotto la minaccia dell’occupazione militare non può riunire le norme di un processo democratico, in grado di essere riconosciuto e legittimato dalla comunità internazionale.



    Inoltre, Traian Basescu sollecita alla Russia di agire nella relazione con l’Ucraina ai sensi della Carta dell’ONU e dei principi di diritto internazionale, sottolineando che la Romania appoggia la soluzione diplomatica della crisi.



    Da parte sua, il capo della diplomazia romena, Titus Corlatean, ha salutato quello che ha definito come atteggiamento positivo della NATO nell’approccio della crisi in Ucraina, con l’invio di aerei di ricognizione nello spazio di Romania e Polonia, per monitorare la crisi.



    “La misura adottata dal Consiglio Nord-Atlantico è volta a prevenire le tensioni a livello regionale e a garantire la sicurezza degli stati membri”, ha dichiarato Corlatean. In un’intervista ai media internazionali, il capo della diplomazia romena ha espresso la preoccupazione per l’escalation dell’intervento russo al Mar Nero.



    Anche il segretario di stato agli affari strategici al Ministero degli Esteri romeno, Bogdan Aurescu, afferma che le evoluzioni in Ucraina rappresentano un segnale serio e allarmante per l’Europa e che il referendum in Crimea è illegittimo e illegale.



    “La penisola può rappresentare un altro passo in una nuova spirale espansionistica russa, e la Romania, al confine con l’Ucraina, diventa l’ultimo scudo del blocco occidentale”, spiegano i commentatori citati dai media.



    La preoccupazione della Romania è amplificata dall’esistenza di un altro focolaio di separatismo filorusso a soli 100 km dal suo confine orientale: la regione della Transnistria (est della Moldova, a maggioranza romenofona), da oltre due decenni uscita dal controllo delle autorità di Chisinau, in seguito a un conflitto armato che ha provocato centinaia di morti e chiuso con l’intervento delle truppe russe al fianco dei separatisti.



    Per i commentatori, sono evidenti le analogie tra la Crimea e la Transnistria, e tra esse e le regioni separatiste georgiane dell’Abcasia e dell’Ossezia del Sud.



    A questo punto, il premier romeno Victor Ponta ha sottolineato che servono maggiori impegni dell’UE e dei suoi membri per quanto riguarda la Georgia e la Moldova, per convalidare l’opzione filo-occidentale dei governi e dei popoli di questi due stati ex sovietici.

  • Actualitatea conflictelor îngheţate

    Actualitatea conflictelor îngheţate

    Cursul dramatic pe care l-au luat evenimentele din Crimeea, unde Rusia impune legea armelor pe un teritoriu străin, în răspărul normelor internaţionale, nu putea rămâne fără reacţie în Republica Moldova. Mai ales într-un moment în care micul stat majoritar românofon comemorează 22 de ani de la izbucnirea unui conflict armat provocat de separatismul transnistrean in estul Republicii. Duminică, Ambasada Rusiei a fost pichetată de manifestanţi. Ei au cerut retragerea trupelor Moscovei din Transnistria, unde intervenţia lor în favoarea separatiştilor a dus la ieşirea de facto a acestei regiuni pro-ruse de sub autoritatea Chişinăului, şi au denunţat acţiunea militară din Crimeea.



    Cei prezenţi au remarcat similaritatea tragică a celor petrecute în 1992 cu evenimentele care au loc, acum, în sudul Ucrainei. Preşedintele Partidului Liberal din republica Moldova, Mihai Ghimpu: Agresiunea militară în Ucraina împotriva propriului frate, pentru că şi unii şi alţii sunt slavi, demonstrează încă o dată că Rusia a rămas cea imperială”.



    Preşedintele Republicii Moldova, Nicolae Timofti, şi premierul Iurie Leancă şi-au exprimat îngrijorarea şi dezacordul faţă de evenimentele din Crimeea. Îngrijorarea domneşte şi la Bucureşti, unde autorităţile evaluează posibilele riscuri pe care instabilitatea regională creată de acţiunile Rusiei le poate produce la adresa României. Pe termen scurt, aceste acţiuni nu reprezintă o ameninţare directă pentru securitatea ţării, pentru independenţa şi suveranitatea ei, spune preşedintele Traian Băsescu.



    Totuşi — avertizează liderul de la Bucureşti – apariţia unui nou conflict îngheţat în spaţiul ex-sovietic poate avea repercusiuni pe termen mediu şi lung, inclusiv asupra României: “România atenţionează că apariţia unui nou conflict îngheţat, localizat în Crimeea, după cele din Nagorno-Karabah, Abhazia, Osetia şi Trasnistria, este de natură a accentua instabilitatea regională şi implicit, de a conduce la apariţia unor tensiuni care pot degenera în conflicte armate. Din acest punct de vedere, România consideră că propria ei securitate este supusă riscului, pe termen mediu şi lung.”



    Bucureştiul, prin vocea preşedintelui, şi-a reiterat poziţia potrivit căreia orice prezenţă a trupelor Federaţiei Ruse pe teritoriul Ucrainei fără acceptul acesteia şi în afara acordurilor internaţionale este o agresiune la adresa Ucrainei. O agresiune căreia Moscova trebuie să-i pună capăt, a declarat, ferm, şeful statului, în ton cu luările de poziţie tranşante exprimate de partenerii occidentali ai României.