Radio România Internațional

Tag: Crimea Platform

  • The Crimea Platform

    The Crimea Platform

    As most pundits have already noted,
    Ukraine is trying to hold on to Crimea, the peninsula illegally annexed by
    Russia in 2014. The Crimea Platform, whose inaugural summit was held on Monday
    and which Moscow has immediately labeled as an action against Russia, is an
    initiative trying to draw more global awareness regarding Russia’s illegal
    annexation of Crimea, and to ultimately facilitate its return to Ukraine.
    Representatives of over 40 states have adopted a final resolution condemning
    what they have termed the temporary occupation and illegal annexation of
    Crimea, which is a direct challenge to global security. The document warns that
    the ongoing militarization of the region undermines security and stability in
    the Black Sea region, condemns Russia’s efforts to legitimize the temporary
    occupation and the illegal annexation, as well as all violations of human
    rights in the peninsula.

    The joint declaration calls on Moscow to make sure
    that all people belonging to ethnic and religious communities, including
    Ukrainian and Tatar ethnics, have their rights fully observed. Romania was
    represented at the Crimea Platform summit by Prime Minister Florin Cîţu and
    Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. The Romanian Prime Minister announced
    Romania’s accession to the Platform and reiterated our country’s constant
    support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as
    Romania’s firm commitment to denounce the illegal annexation of Crimea.
    Bucharest authorities, Florin Cîţu explained, are aware of the current
    challenges and threats to the values, stability and security of the Black Sea
    region. The Prime Minister also expressed Romania’s support for Ukraine’s
    efforts to join the EU and NATO, recalling that Romania was the first EU member
    state to ratify the Association Agreement with the EU. Achieving these goals
    must rely on a reform process that should bring benefits to all Ukrainian citizens,
    including those of Romanian origin, the Romanian official said.

    Florin Cîţu
    went on to say that external threats and challenges can better be managed if
    states act together towards solving bilateral issues. On the sidelines of the
    event, the Prime Minister met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal,
    reiterating Romania’s readiness to boost bilateral cooperation, including by
    hosting a new sitting of the inter-government Committee on economic, industrial
    and scientific cooperation. The two Prime Ministers said they also want to step
    up cooperation in various sectors such as transports, infrastructure and border
    crossing. Florin Cîţu insisted on the observance of the rights of the Romanian
    minority in Ukraine, which totals some 400 thousand people. (VP)



  • August 23, 2021

    August 23, 2021

    COVID-19 -
    Romania remains in the green scenario in terms of the number of infections,
    which is going up. On Monday, 415 new infections were reported, in addition to
    13 related fatalities. 193 people are currently in intensive care. At national
    level, the vaccination rate remains low. Over 5 million people in Romania have
    completed the full vaccination scheme.




    CRIMEA – The
    Crimea Platform is today being launched in Kiev, a Ukrainian initiative aimed
    at drawing more global attention to Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean
    Peninsula and returning the territory to Ukraine. A total of 44 countries and
    international organizations, including 14 heads of state and government and EU
    leaders have confirmed their presence at the Crimea Platform summit. Kiev officials
    say the militarization of the peninsula and Moscow’s aggressive policy in the
    area are affecting all countries in the Black Sea region. Romania is
    represented by Prime Minister Florin Cîţu and Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.
    The Prime Minister will also give a speech and attend the ceremony marking the
    official launch of the Platform. On the sidelines of the event, Minister Aurescu
    will meet Volodymyr Zelensky and will also hold talks with his Ukrainian
    counterpart, Denis Shmyhal. Florin Cîţu and Bogdan Aurescu will also visit the headquarters
    of the Crimea Platform and attend the launch of the Permanent Executive Agency,
    which will be enacting the summit’s decisions.




    AUGUST 23 -
    President Klaus Iohannis today conveyed a message marking Black Ribbon Day,
    also known as the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all
    totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. The president said the infamous
    Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, signed on August 23, 1939, marked the beginning of
    Europe’s tragedy, a milestone that paved the way for a string of deadly abuses,
    tearing apart territories by dividing Central and Eastern Europe into spheres
    of influence. The so-called non-aggression pact shattered the hopes and ideals
    of European nations, triggering the Second World War, with devastating
    consequences for mankind, the president’s message reads. Klaus Iohannis also
    referred to King Michael I’s act of courage, on August 23, 1944, when he broke
    ties with Nazi Germany, supported by the Romanian Army. Let us keep in mind the
    lesson of that great moment of political prowess as a symbol of vertical
    thinking, unity and morality, the president said. The European Parliament in
    2008 designated August 23 as a Europe-wide day of Remembrance for the victims
    of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. In 2011, the Romanian Parliament
    designated August 23 the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism and
    Communism.

    US-ROMANIA RELATIONS – Defense Minister Nicolae Ciucă and the head of general staff, General Daniel Petrescu, on Sunday met with a delegation of the US Congress, discussing security in the Black Sea region and major investment projects aimed at consolidating military infrastructure in Romania. The US delegation was led by Senator Richard Shelby, the head of the US Senate Committee on Appropriations. According to a Defense Ministry release, talks focused on hot topics on the security and defense agenda and elements pertaining to US-Romanian cooperation, at bilateral level as well as at NATO level. Minister Nicolae Ciucă said the American military presence on Romanian soil is evidence of the USA’s firm commitment to ensuring security and stability, reiterating the importance of consolidating this presence.




    FESTIVAL -
    27 events are scheduled today on the sidelines of the International Theatre
    Festival in Sibiu. The Play Stock Exchange opens its doors today in Sibiu,
    titled Outdoor performing arts: purpose and relevance at local, national and
    international level. Over 100 performances and events have brought together
    thousands of spectators from across the world during the first three days of
    the festival. Performances were held on outdoor stages, as well as online. The
    28th edition of the Festival runs until August 29 under the slogan
    Building hope together. Over 2,000 artists from 38 countries will be
    attending the festival, the biggest such event in Romania and one of the most
    important of its kind in Europe. (VP)