Radio România Internațional

Tag: December 1

  • November 30, 2017 UPDATE

    November 30, 2017 UPDATE

    CELEBRATIONS – As many as 3,500 military and experts with the Defense Ministry, the Home Affairs Ministry and the Romanian Intelligence Service accompanied by 50 aircraft and over 350 fighting vehicles will parade in Bucharest on Friday, December 1st, to mark Romania’s National Day. 300 other troops from allied and partner countries will also join the parade. Also in Bucharest, a military and religious ceremony will be held, and wreaths will be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The national flag will be hoisted at all military institutions. December 1st will also be celebrated abroad, through cultural events staged by the offices of the Romanian Cultural Institute jointly with Romania’s diplomatic missions. A military parade will also take place in the Romanian town of Alba Iulia, where the union of the Romanian territories was proclaimed on December 1, 1918, thus sanctioning the setting up of the Romanian unitary nation state, by bringing under Bucharest’s authority all provinces with a Romanian majority population, which had been part of the neighbouring multi-national empires.




    MEETING — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor met on Thursday with his Moldovan counterpart Eugen Sturza, who pays an official visit to Bucharest to attend the events occasioned by Romania’s National Day. According to a release by the Defense Ministry, talks focused on the stage of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense and perspectives for development. The two officials also discused about collaboration within international organisations with an emphasis on Romania’s further supporting Moldova’s bid for the EU and boosting cooperation with NATO in order to enhance the interoperability of the armed forces.




    EU BUDGET — The European Parliament convened in a plenary sitting in Brussels on Thursday approved the EU budget for 2018. The total budget for next year is 160 billion euros. “This budget delivers on what EU citizens expect from Europe: jobs and growth on the one hand and security on the other. By investing in research, infrastructure, education and SMEs, we will become more competitive and future-oriented. As for security, we have succeeded in strengthening Europol and Eurojust, so that they ensure better cooperation and coordination in fighting terrorism and organised crime across the EU”, said lead rapporteur, the Romanian Siegfried Muresan.




    UNEMPLOYMENT — The unemployment rate in the European Union was 7.4 % in October 2017, the lowest level since the end of 2008, according to data made public by Eurostat on Thursday. Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in October 2017 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.7 %), Malta (3.5 %) and Germany (3.6 %). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (20.6 % in August 2017) and Spain (16.7 %). Romania falls below the EU average, with an unemployment rate of 4.9% in October, just as in the previous month.




    NATIONAL BUDGET – Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said on Thursday that health, education and infrastructure are the centre of the 2018 state budget. He also mentioned that the 2% earmarked for defence would be maintained. Romania’s state budget for next year is built on a 5.5% economic growth rate, and a budget deficit of 2.97% of the GDP, according a Report on the macroeconomic situation and its projection for the 2019-2021 period, made public by the Finance Ministry. The average inflation rate considered when drafting the 2018 budget is 3.1% and the exchange rate is 4.55 lei for one euro. Also, a 4.2% increase in the number of employees is forecast, at the same time with a decrease in the unemployment rate, which is expected to stand at 3.9% at the end of next year.




    ST. ANDREW’S DAY — Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic believers from all over the world, Romania included, celebrated on Thursday St. Apostle Andrew. He is the first of Jesus Christ’s apostles who preached Christianity in the south of Romania. This way Saint Andrew is also considered the patron saint of the country. Saint Andrew preached in Dobruja and in today’s Ukrainian territory, in Great Scythia, and then in Byzantium. He then went to Greece and preached the Gospel, going up to Patras town where he died a martyr’s death. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross. Over 700 thousand Romanians named after St. Andrew celebrated their name day on Thursday.




    VISAS – The Romanian Foreign Ministry recalls that, as of December 1st, Romanian citizens will be able to travel to Canada visa free, for periods of maximum 6 months, for tourist purposes. Those who intend to travel by plane will have to first get an Electronic Travel Authorization — eTA. The others will only have to have a valid passport. The Romanian Foreign Ministry hails the decision made by the Canadian authorities to liberalize the visa regime for the Romanian citizens, the outcome of years of diplomatic cooperation, also with the participation of the European Commission.




    WARNING – The United States has urged all countries to sever economic and diplomatic ties with North Korea. Speaking at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launch, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley warned Pyongyang that the regime will be “utterly destroyed” if a standoff over missile tests leads to war. She also said Pyongyang had brought the world closer to war with its latest test of a ballistic missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has firmly condemned North Korea’s new nuclear test, saying it is a new serious threat to regional and international peace and security and a blatant violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)








  • Preparations for the National Day

    Preparations for the National Day

    After the 1989 anti-communist Revolution, December 1 officially became the National Day of Romania, which is celebrated by both the Romanians living in the country and abroad. Celebrations and events to mark the national holiday are held at the Romanian diplomatic missions abroad and on theatres of operations where Romanian military are participating in international missions.



    Bucharest will host several concerts and shows, some of them free of charge. Performing on stage will be popular singers and bands such as Loredana, Smiley, Andra, Direcţia 5, Bere Gratis, Voltaj, Paula Seling, Marcel Pavel, Iris, Gheorghe Zamfir and Ştefan Hruscă. The highlight of the day will undoubtedly be the traditional military parade, which will be opened by helicopters of the National Defence Ministry. The aircraft will fly the Romanian national flag over Bucharest’s sky. Taking part in the parade will also be structures of the Romanian Intelligence Service and of the Interior Ministry.



    An overall number of 3,500 military will be parading, alongside 50 aircraft and over 300 fighting vehicles. This year, alongside the Romanian military, 300 troops from allied and partner countries will also take part in the parade, namely from the US, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, France and Germany. Furthermore, the Romanian public will have the opportunity to see, for the first time, four armoured vehicles belonging to the Polish forces, dispatched to the Multinational Brigade in Craiova (southern Romania), and the famous F-18 fighters operated by the Canadian forces and stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base in south-eastern Romania.



    Just like every year, the military will pass under the Triumphal Arch in Bucharest, with Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis being expected to attend this grandiose event. Another important military parade will take place in Alba-Iulia. 1,500 troops with military equipment, aircraft, helicopters and armoured vehicles will be parading in that central Romanian town.



    The Romanian PM Mihai Tudose, the Speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate, Liviu Dragnea and Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, respectively, have made public their intention to attend the military parade in Alba Iulia. This is the town where the union of the Romanian territories was proclaimed 99 years ago, on December 1, 1918, thus sanctioning the setting up of the Romanian unitary nation state, by bringing under Bucharest’s authority all provinces with a Romanian majority population, which had been part of the neighbouring multi-national empires. Thus, all Romanian territories united in the wake of WWI, in an extremely favourable geopolitical context.



    Under the peace treaties signed afterwards, the Union was recognised by Europe’s big powers. The symbolic moment completing the process was the crowning of King Ferdinand I and of Queen Marie as monarchs of united Romania, also in Alba Iulia, in 1922.

  • December 1, 2016 UPDATE

    December 1, 2016 UPDATE

    NATIONAL DAY – Romania’s National Day is marked each year on December 1 by all Romanian citizens in the country and abroad as well as in the theaters of operations where Romanian military are participating in international missions. Military parades were organized in several cities of Romania and the authorities prepared concerts, traditional public meals and fireworks shows. The most important parade was held in Bucharest with the participation of more than 3 thousand military and experts with the National Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Intelligence Service. Also parading were military vehicles and tens of aircrafts among which the multirole F-16 Fighiting Falcon, the latest acquisition of the Romanian Air Forces. This year the parade held in Bucharest paid homage to the heroes killed in WWI in the context in which Romania marked in 2016 100 years since it entered the War. Military detachments from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Slovakia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Spain and the US participated, for the first time, in the National Day parade. The National Day was also celebrated abroad through various cultural events organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute Representations in cooperation with Romania’s diplomatic missions.



    MESSAGES ON DECEMBER 1 – President Klaus Iohannis said Thursday on the occasion of the party given on Romania’s National Day that December 1 was a symbol of unity, solidarity and national pride and told Romanians not to doubt themselves and their country. Previously, the PM Dacian Cioloş had conveyed a message in which he referred to the Great Union of 1918, which he considered a miracle of history. On December 1 Romanians also received messages of congratulation from the US authorities on behalf of the American people and of President Barack Obama. The document posted on the website of the US Department of State highlights the importance of the US- Romania Strategic Partnership, the fact that Romania remains a trustworthy ally within NATO, which contributes significantly to international peace and security. On Wednesday Romania’s Ambassador to the US, George Maior, met with Jackie Walorski, a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, who gave assurances that the bilateral Strategic Partnership would be intensified and would focus on issues of common interest during the future American administration. George Maior reiterated Romania’s firm commitment to increasing the budget for defense to 2% of the GDP in 2017 and to maintaining it at this level for the next 10 years.



    HOLIDAY LIGHTS – During the month of December Bucharesters as well as visitors of Romania’s capital will have the opportunity to enjoy more than 3 million holiday lights decorating the capital on the occasion of the winter holidays. Besides the festive lights that cover some 23 kms, Bucharest also boasts a 25-m tall fir tree decorated with thousands of lights, which is located in the center of a traditional Christmas Fair. This year the Fair is organized near the Parliament Palace. Visitors are expected by more than 100 wooden houses and traditional dishes, Santa’s House, a skating rink and many gifts. Also various shows will be held during the month of December.



    RETURN GUIDE – The Department of Policies for the Relation with the Romanians in the Diaspora within the Romanian Foreign Ministry has drafted and published a “Return Guide” for the Romanians living outside Romania. The document was drawn up based on the questions asked by those Romanians who intend to return home and includes basic information and useful contacts that could make their reintegration in Romania easier. According to estimates made by the Foreign Ministry, between 3.5 and 4 million Romanians are now living abroad.



    EUROSTAT – In 2015 households in Romania allotted almost 22% of their total consumption expenses for their homes, water supply, electricity, gas and other fuels as compared to 21% in 2005, show the latest data made public by the European Statistical Office. At the level of the EU, families allotted a quarter of the money for consumption to these expenses, the total sum of 2 thousand billion euros accounting for the largest category of household expenses in the member states.



    ROYAL TRAIN – The Romanian royal train ended its annual trip on Thursday in the central city of Sibiu. This year the trip was dedicated to the anniversary of 150 years since the setting up of the Royal House of Romania and to the promulgation of the 1866 Constitution. During the two-day trip, Crown Princess Margareta of Romania, Prince Radu and Princess Maria were accompanied by representatives of the royal families of Belgium and Bulgaria as well as by eminent students, teachers and personalities of Romania’s civil society. The first Romanian Constitution was drafted in 1866 during the reign of Carol of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, after the model of the Belgian Constitution, which was considered, at the time, the most democratic Constitution in Europe. (translation by L. Simion)

  • December 1, 2016

    December 1, 2016

    NATIONAL DAY – Romania’s National Day is marked each year on December 1 by all Romanian citizens in the country and abroad as well as in the theaters of operations where Romanian military are participating in international missions. Military parades have been organized in several cities of Romania and the authorities have prepared concerts, traditional public meals and fireworks shows. The most important parade was held in Bucharest with the participation of more than 3 thousand military and experts with the National Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Intelligence Service. Also parading were military technology and tens of aircrafts among which the multirole F-16Fighiting Falcon, the latest acquisition of the Romanian Air Forces. This year the parade held in Bucharest paid homage to the heroes killed in WWI in the context in which Romania marked in 2016 100 years since it entered the War. Military detachments from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Slovakia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Spain and the US have participated, for the first time, in the National Day parade. The National Day is also being celebrated abroad through various cultural events organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute Representations in cooperation with Romania’s diplomatic missions.



    MESSAGES ON DECEMBER 1 – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has congratulated all Romanians on the occasion of the National Day. According to him the significance of this day should inspire all Romanians to be united in order to be able to fulfill their ideals. In turn, the PM Dacian Cioloş conveyed a message in which he referred to the Great Union of 1918, which he considered a miracle of history. Romanians also received messages of congratulation on the National Day from the US authorities and the President Barack Obama, through the agency of the American Secretary of State John Kerry. The message highlights the importance of the bilateral Strategic Partnership, the fact that Romania remains a trustworthy ally within NATO, which contributes significantly to international peace and security. Also the US State Department hails Romania’s commitment to the values of democracy and hopes the December 11 parliamentary elections will be free and fair.



    OPEC — The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced Wednesday in Vienna the first cut in production since the financial crises of 2008, with the price of the oil barrel skyrocketing by 8%, to reach 50 dollars, writes the Financial Times. The 13 member states of the cartel will reduce production by almost 4.5% or 1.2 million barrels per day to reach 32.5 million barrels per day. Production targets are to be set for each of the member states. Analysts expect Saudi Arabia to operate the most significant cut in production alongside its allies in the Gulf area. In exchange Iran is to freeze production to almost 3.8 million barrels per day. As of mid 2014 the oil barrel price has been halved due to overproduction.



    RETURN GUIDE – The Department of Policies for the Relation with the Romanians in the Diaspora within the Romanian Foreign Ministry has drafted and published a “Return Guide” for the Romanians living outside Romania. The document was drawn up based on the questions asked by those Romanians who intend to return home and includes basic information and useful contacts that could make their reintegration in Romania easier. According to estimates made by the Foreign Ministry, between 3.5 and 4 million Romanians are now living abroad.



    EUROSTAT – In 2015 households in Romania allotted almost 22% of their total consumption expenses for their homes, water supply, electricity, gas and other fuels as compared to 21% in 2005, show the latest data made public by the European Statistical Office. At the level of the EU, families allotted a quarter of the money for consumption to these expenses, the total sum of 2 thousand billion euros accounting for the largest category of household expenses in the member states. (translation by L. Simion)

  • Preparations for National Day celebrations

    Preparations for National Day celebrations

    The date of 1st of December 1918 remains a symbol for the union of all Romanians. Declared an official holiday after the anti-communist revolution of 1989, 1st of December marks the completion, at the end of World War I, of the creation of the Romanian nation state following the union of all provinces with majority Romanian populations, that had been part of multinational empires, under Bucharest’s authority. The National Day will be celebrated across the country and abroad, including in theatres of operation, with parades, religious ceremonies, exhibitions of combat military technology and weapons and cultural events.



    On Sunday, more than 3,000 military and experts from the defence and interior ministries and the Romanian Intelligence Service made the final rehearsals for the National Day parade in Bucharest. The parade route will again pass underneath the Arch of Triumph after being hosted by the Constitution Square for the last two years as the Arch was undergoing restoration works. The public will be able to see the new uniforms worn by the Romanian military in theatres of war and the military equipment used by the Romanian Army.



    General Adrian Tonea, Chief of Staff Deputy, explains: “This year’s national military parade is very special because it continues the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First World War. The highlight of the parade is the presentation of the F16 multirole aircraft and the new combat uniforms of the Romanian Army.”



    The Romanian military will be joined by their counterparts from other allied and partner states such as the UK, Italy, Germany, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and the US. The list of cultural events dedicated to the National Day celebrations include a host of traditional music concerts and performances organised by the Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi Institute for Romanians Abroad and the Romanian Cultural Institute between the 27th of November and 4th of December for the large Romanian communities in Spain and Italy. Similar events are held in Israel, in Kiryat Haim and Tel Aviv.



    In Vienna, Romania’s National Day was already celebrated on Sunday in an extraordinary concert given by the musician and conductor Nicolae Voiculet together with organist Klaus Dieter and the Romania Orchestra. Forming part of a tour called Romania 100 — D.O.R., this music project is intended to promote Romanian identity and rediscover the national heritage. The tour began this year in Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and will continue until December 2018, when the central city of Alba Iulia will host a special concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Great Union.

  • National Day of Romania

    National Day of Romania

    December 1, the National Day of Romania, was celebrated by all Romanians, regardless of where they live. The 97th anniversary of the union of all Romanians into a nation state was marked, in the country as well as abroad, with religious ceremonies, military parades, concerts and receptions. In Bucharest, thousands of people came to see the traditional military parade, which has been impressive this year as well.



    More than 2,600 troops, armoured and combat vehicles, Hercules and Spartan planes and helicopters paraded in front of the Parliament building. The Romanian soldiers were joined by their counterparts from the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, the US, Poland and Turkey. A novelty this year was the presence of a military unit made up of Romanian troops wounded in the Western Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan theatres of operations.



    Attending were senior public officials, including President Klaus Iohannis and PM Dacian Ciolos. The two pleaded for a new beginning in terms of practices, behaviour and approaches, of honouring the national symbols and of commending those who promote values in Romanian society. In an address given on this occasion, the head of state said the National Day of Romania this year may mark a new beginning in politics as well. This requires, according to the President, new ideas, approaches and attitudes, while at the same time preserving the stability and balance of the Romanian political system.



    December 1st is not only a celebration of the past, but also the best opportunity for Romania to become better connected to the present, to the countrys position in Europe and the world. In a world in which unfortunately war and the threat of terrorism have paved their way, Romania is able to provide confidence and predictability, both with respect to its internal democracy and to its partnerships within the EU and NATO, Iohannis added.



    After attending the parade in Bucharest, the President had a conference call with the Romanian military currently deployed abroad. He told them that the nation is proud of its army and urged them to continue to fulfil their duties with honour and dignity, to prove to the world that they are not only the defenders of Romanias national interests, but also the ambassadors of the Romanian spirit and respect for values.



    The central Romanian city of Alba Iulia, where on December the 1st, 1918, shortly after World War 1, the union of Transylvania with the Romanian Principalities completed the formation of the Romanian nation state, hosted this year the Congress of Romanian Spirituality. At the end of the 19th edition of the Congress, the more than 200 delegates from 35 countries adopted a programme that lays down the preparations for the centennial of the Great Union, to be celebrated in 2018.

  • December 1st, the National Day of Romania

    December 1st, the National Day of Romania

    On December the 1st, 1918, Transylvania joined the Kingdom of Romania into what was to be known as “Greater Romania.” In a National Assembly meeting held in Alba Iulia, thousands of Romanians endorsed the union. The archive of the Oral History Centre of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation preserves a highly valuable document, which gives us an indication of the enthusiasm of that year, seen as a new beginning after the war of 1914-1918. It is a recording of the Greek Catholic Bishop Iuliu Hossu reading out the resolutions of the National Assembly. A martyr and a survivor of communist political persecution, Iuliu Hossu was born in 1885 and died in 1970. The recording is of outstanding importance, not only because it preserves the voice of Iuliu Hossu, but also because it summarises the political, economic, social and civic aspirations of the Romanians in the early 20th century. For Bishop Hossu, the religious aspect was the most important contribution to the union:



    “Brothers! The time set has fully come, when God Almighty makes known through his faithful people the justice for which we have been thirsty for centuries. Today, through our resolve, Greater Romania is built, the one and undivided. The Romanians in Transylvania can now freely join their motherland, Romania! As the bishop of Cluj-Gherla, I also join them in their happiness. I pray to God that his love and grace be with our people and our country, and that he may keep them from all harm. May this country flourish on justice and truth!”



    Iuliu Hossu’s address also had a realistic dimension, related to the aspirations of all those who believed in the founding of Greater Romania:



    “The National Assembly of all Romanians in Transylvania, Banat and the Hungarian Country, whose rightful representatives gathered in Alba Iulia on December the 1st, 1918, pronounce the union of those Romanians and of all the lands they inhabit with Romania. In particular, the National Assembly proclaims the nonnegotiable rights of the Romanian nation on the entire country of Banat, stretching between the rivers Mures, Tisza and the Danube. The National Assembly gives all these territories provisional autonomy until the Constituent Assembly has convened, based on universal vote. In this regard, the National Assembly proclaims the following as the fundamental principles in the establishment of the new Romanian state: complete freedom to all nations living within its borders and education, administration and justice for all different nations, in their own language and by their own people. Each nation will be represented in the country’s lawmaking and governing bodies, proportionately with the number of its members. Equal rights and complete autonomy will be guaranteed for all religious denominations within the state. True democracy will be applied to all aspects of public life. All people starting with the age of 21, of both sexes will have the right to direct, equal and secret vote to elect their representatives in villages, counties and Parliament. Absolute freedom of the press, freedom to assemble and freedom of association and expression will be guaranteed. A radical land reform will be launched, to create a record of all property, in particular large pieces of land. We will help farmers acquire their own property, for their families to be able to work. The core principle of this reform will be rooted on the one hand in the idea of social equality, and on the other hand in the goal of improving productivity. Industrial workers will have the same rights and privileges as are laid down in the laws of the most advanced industrial countries of the West.”



    Iuliu Hossu’s address also illustrates quite clearly the international dimension of the Romanian union project:



    “The National Assembly expresses its wish that the Peace Congress might bring about such concord of the free nations as to ensure justice and freedom for all nations, large or small, and in the future to discard war as a means to settle international relations. The Romanians convened in this National Assembly hail their brothers in Bukovina, who freed themselves from the plight of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy and joined Romania, their motherland. The National Assembly hails, with love and enthusiasm, the liberation of the peoples so far subject to the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy, namely the Czechoslovakians, Austrians, Germans, Yugoslavians, Poles and Ruthenians, and sends its greetings to all these nations. The National Assembly humbly honours the memory of the brave Romanians who shed their blood for our ideals in this war, who died for the freedom and unity of the Romanian nation. The National Assembly expresses its gratitude and admiration for the allied powers, who fought with determination against an enemy that had prepared for war for many decades and who thus saved civilisation from barbarism.”



    Ninety-six years since the union of December the 1st, 1918, the words of Iuliu Hossu not only tell us about a great accomplishment in the past, but also call on the future generations never to give up their fight for freedom.