Radio România Internațional

Tag: diplomatic

  • Romania – Israel, 75

    Romania – Israel, 75

    Romania was one of the first
    countries to recognize Israel and has taken important steps to commemorate the
    Holocaust, which demonstrates its commitment to combating anti-Semitism, Amir Ohana,
    speaker of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, has said in Bucharest. The Israeli
    official has attended the joint meeting of the Senate and the Chamber of
    Deputies in Bucharest on the occasion of celebrating 75 years of uninterrupted diplomatic
    relations between Israel and Romania. It has been for the first time for a
    Knesset speaker to address the Romanian MPs. Amir Ohana has recalled that
    Romania was the first country in the communist bloc, which refused to interrupt
    the diplomatic relations with Israel. The Israeli official has also added that
    the ties between Romania and Israel are better than ever and we are going to
    cooperate to consolidate them even more. Friends help each other out and
    Romania and Israel will always help each other. The interim president of the
    Romanian Senate, Alina Gorghiu, says that Romania is a regional model in terms
    of combating anti-Semitism as well as in the assumption of the Holocaust.
    Gorghiu has pleaded for stepping up cooperation in certain fields of activity.




    Alina Gorghiu:
    The Romanian Parliament and the Knesset
    need to tighten cooperation on issues that are most important to all of us such
    as food safety, transition to green energy, high technologies and cybersecurity
    to develop resilience. And we have a lot to learn from Israel in these areas.




    In turn, Marcel Ciolacu, president of
    the Chamber of Deputies, has recalled the role played by the Jewish community
    in Romania and that of the Romanian-born Israelis in keeping these strong ties.




    Marcel Ciolacu:
    This is equally the result of the tight
    connection the two communities knew how to create and maintain, namely the Romanian-born
    Israelis and the Jewish community in our country. The culture and history of
    the Jewish community is a major landmark and a part in our national history and
    culture. At the same time, the history of my country keeps the memory of the Jews
    who fought alongside the Romanians and made their contribution to winning the
    wars, which helped Romania gain its independence and sovereignty.




    Israel is a country that has been
    reborn thanks to wisdom and creativity, says the president of the Federation of
    the Jewish Communities in Romania, MP Silviu Vexler. In his opinion the Romanian-Israeli
    relations are special.




    Silviu Vexler:
    Romania and the Romanian people are
    truly an integrating part of the Israeli state’s DNA. It is true that today we
    are celebrating the diplomatic relations but in reality the ties between Romania
    and Israel are of a much different nature, they are linked by a true
    friendship, tested and validated again and again not only in celebrating
    moments, not only when everything is nice and fine but especially in difficult
    moments. The aforementioned solemn meeting has been attended by members of
    the government, the diplomatic corps and of the Jewish community in Romania.


    (bill)

  • Romania – Israel, 75

    Romania – Israel, 75

    Romania was one of the first
    countries to recognize Israel and has taken important steps to commemorate the
    Holocaust, which demonstrates its commitment to combating anti-Semitism, Amir Ohana,
    speaker of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, has said in Bucharest. The Israeli
    official has attended the joint meeting of the Senate and the Chamber of
    Deputies in Bucharest on the occasion of celebrating 75 years of uninterrupted diplomatic
    relations between Israel and Romania. It has been for the first time for a
    Knesset speaker to address the Romanian MPs. Amir Ohana has recalled that
    Romania was the first country in the communist bloc, which refused to interrupt
    the diplomatic relations with Israel. The Israeli official has also added that
    the ties between Romania and Israel are better than ever and we are going to
    cooperate to consolidate them even more. Friends help each other out and
    Romania and Israel will always help each other. The interim president of the
    Romanian Senate, Alina Gorghiu, says that Romania is a regional model in terms
    of combating anti-Semitism as well as in the assumption of the Holocaust.
    Gorghiu has pleaded for stepping up cooperation in certain fields of activity.




    Alina Gorghiu:
    The Romanian Parliament and the Knesset
    need to tighten cooperation on issues that are most important to all of us such
    as food safety, transition to green energy, high technologies and cybersecurity
    to develop resilience. And we have a lot to learn from Israel in these areas.




    In turn, Marcel Ciolacu, president of
    the Chamber of Deputies, has recalled the role played by the Jewish community
    in Romania and that of the Romanian-born Israelis in keeping these strong ties.




    Marcel Ciolacu:
    This is equally the result of the tight
    connection the two communities knew how to create and maintain, namely the Romanian-born
    Israelis and the Jewish community in our country. The culture and history of
    the Jewish community is a major landmark and a part in our national history and
    culture. At the same time, the history of my country keeps the memory of the Jews
    who fought alongside the Romanians and made their contribution to winning the
    wars, which helped Romania gain its independence and sovereignty.




    Israel is a country that has been
    reborn thanks to wisdom and creativity, says the president of the Federation of
    the Jewish Communities in Romania, MP Silviu Vexler. In his opinion the Romanian-Israeli
    relations are special.




    Silviu Vexler:
    Romania and the Romanian people are
    truly an integrating part of the Israeli state’s DNA. It is true that today we
    are celebrating the diplomatic relations but in reality the ties between Romania
    and Israel are of a much different nature, they are linked by a true
    friendship, tested and validated again and again not only in celebrating
    moments, not only when everything is nice and fine but especially in difficult
    moments. The aforementioned solemn meeting has been attended by members of
    the government, the diplomatic corps and of the Jewish community in Romania.


    (bill)

  • A successful South-American tour

    A successful South-American tour

    The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has recently ended his one-week South-American tour with a visit to Argentina. The Romanian official kicked off his tour with a formal visit to Brazil, where he met his counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and representatives of the local authorities in Rio de Janeiro. Iohannis next went to Chile, where he held talks with President Gabriel Boric. At the end of his recent tour, in Argentina, the Romanian president took stock of his visits.



    Klaus Iohannis: “I had this occasion, after many years since it hadnt happened at the presidency level, to talk to Romanias traditional friends. These contacts are extremely important. Romania is well seen, but my ambition is that my friends understand that we want to really deepen the relationships that we have with these countries. I believe that through this visit I have contributed to an important awareness. Romania exists, it is present and wants to deepen these relations. We were welcomed everywhere and also here in Buenos Aires and on this occasion I want to thank everybody for the way they welcomed and treated us here.”


    The visit of the Romanian president in Argentina has been the first at this high level in the past 30 years. In Buenos Aires, the talks Iohannis had with his Argentine counterpart Alberto Fernandez focused on energizing the bilateral political-diplomatic dialogue on themes of mutual interest, such as environmental protection, climate change, education, research and innovation, digitization, agriculture, green and nuclear energy, culture and tourism.



    Two memorandums of understanding have been signed on this occasion: one for emergency situations and the other in the field of agricultural research and environmental protection. In Brazil, Klaus Iohannis and his counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, endorsed a joint statement on boosting bilateral relations in several areas. Iohannis assured his Brazilian counterpart of Romanias support for the advance of the EU-Brazil agenda. In turn, the Brazilian official said that besides the political and trade relations his country has with Romania, human relations are also important as more than 40 thousand citizens of Romanian descent are presently living in Brazil.



    Klaus Iohannis and his Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric, agreed upon developing cooperation in trade, investment and other major areas. On this occasion, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the institutions of the two countries, in charge of managing emergency situations. The document focuses on cooperation in the event of earthquakes and wildfires. Klaus Iohannis also announced the first lectureship in Romanian language in Latin America would be set up at the University of Chile by the end of the year.


    (bill)

  • 30 years of diplomatic relations with Ukraine

    30 years of diplomatic relations with Ukraine

    February 1 marks the
    celebration of 30 years since Romania and Ukraine established diplomatic
    relations. The ex-Soviet republic proclaimed its independence in 1991, with
    formal diplomatic relations between the two countries initiated the next year. Romania
    was also the first EU member state to ratify the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in
    2014.


    In this context, but also amid
    disquieting security developments in the Black Sea region, the president of
    Romania Klaus Iohannis had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian
    counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.


    During
    the talks, the Romanian official dwelled extensively on possible solutions to
    issues related to the rights of the Romanian minority in Ukraine, and
    especially on protecting their linguistic identity. He reiterated Bucharest’s firm
    support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to its EU and
    NATO accession efforts.


    The
    Romanian president also emphasised his support for the non-recognition of the
    illegal annexation of Crimea, and commended Ukraine’s responsible conduct to
    avoid the escalation of tensions.


    In turn,
    the Ukrainian official thanked Romania for its vocal and active support
    both at EU and at NATO level.


    The Romanian and Ukrainian
    foreign ministries also exchanged messages of congratulations. Romania’s
    foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu stressed the importance of the relation with
    Ukraine and reiterated Romania’s commitment to developing bilateral relations,
    in the spirit of European values and in line with the European and
    Euro-Atlantic agenda of the ex-Soviet republic. He also voiced hopes that the
    open and solid dialogue between the two countries, which he has constantly
    promoted and supported, will lead to quick and sustainable solutions to the
    identity issues faced by the ethnic Romanian community in Ukraine. He also highlighted
    the commitment to stepping up cross-border cooperation in areas of mutual
    interest.


    The Romanian foreign
    ministry also reiterated Romania’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and
    territorial integrity and for its right to decide freely on its foreign and
    security policy. At the same time, the Romanian authorities voiced confidence
    that the Ukrainian people’s democratic aspirations will be a driving force for
    the reform process in Kyiv.


    The
    situation remains tense at Ukraine’s border with Russia, where Moscow massed
    over 100,000 troops and military equipment and,
    according to analysts, is preparing an invasion. Russia denies this, but it did
    ask NATO to pull out its troops from Romania and Bulgaria, as part of its
    security plans. Moreover, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin warned
    that Ukraine’s NATO accession may trigger a war between Moscow and the
    North-Atlantic Alliance. (A.M.P.)

  • July 2, 2021

    July 2, 2021

    COVID Over 340,000 Covid digital certificates were generated in the first 12 hours since the launch of the certificat-covid.gov.ro platform. As of 1 July, the Covid digital certificate is available for travellers in the EU. The document proves the owner has been vaccinated, has recovered or recently tested negative for the disease. Also as of 1 July, further relaxation measures are in place in Romania. The vaccine rollout continues, and a new batch of Johnson & Johnson vaccine is due to arrive in the country today. On Thursday some 19,000 people received their doses. Authorities urge citizens to get immunised and warn against a new wave of infections. Yesterday 31 new coronavirus infection cases were announced, out of some 26,000 tests, and 5 people died in the past 24 hours. A total of 430 Covid patients are currently in hospitals, 67 of them in intensive care.



    RESTRICTIONS In Romania, the National Committee for Emergency Situations Thursday updated the list of countries and regions with high epidemiological risks. Travellers coming into the country from regions with a combined rate of COVID-19 cases above 3 per thousand in the past 14 days must isolate for 14 days. The UK stays in the red zone, alongside 22 other territories, including exotic destinations like the Seychelles and Maldives. The 18 regions in the yellow zone include, among others, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, Russia and Portugal. Countries with an infection rate below 1.5 per thousand are on the green list.



    LAW Criminal liability for human trafficking and exploitation, sexual assault, and torture in children is no longer subject to time limits in Romania, under a law signed on Thursday by president Klaus Iohannis. The act, which amends the Criminal Code, also increases punishments for failure to report a crime, while also criminalising the failure to report human trafficking and exploitation and sexual offences against child victims.



    MILITARY Romania and Germany signed on Thursday, in a ceremony at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base 57 on the Romanian Black Sea coast, a statement of intent concerning the development of bilateral relations in the field of aviation. In the presence of the air force chiefs of the 2 countries and of the UK, a demonstration was held showcasing the joint fulfilment of an enhanced air policing mission. Taking part in the exercise were aircraft in the MiG-21 LanceR unit, alongside Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the British Royal Air Forces and the German Air Forces, deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base 57.



    COIN The National Bank of Romania will issue on 7 July a new silver coin to mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Japan, the institution announced in a news release. The obverse of the coin features Caraiman Peak in the Bucegi Mountains, while the reverse features a traditional Japanese gate, tori, overlapping the image of Mount Fuji reflected in the Kawaguchi lake.



    TENNIS The Romanian player Sorana Cîrstea Thursday qualified into the 3rd round of the Wimbledon tournament, the 3rd grand slam of the year, after defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, in 3 sets. Cîrstea (45 WTA) is to play Saturday against Emma Răducanu (338 WTA), who managed to beat the Czech Marketa Vondrousova in one of the tournaments major surprises. Today, Irina Begu (74 WTA) attempts qualification in the round of 16, in a match against Iga Swiatek of Poland, (9 WTA and seed no. 7). In the doubles, Romanians Horia Tecău and Raluca Olaru, with their respective partners, have qualified in the second round of the mens and womens competitions. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • 140 years of Romanian-Spanish diplomatic relations

    140 years of Romanian-Spanish diplomatic relations

    Upon celebrating 140 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Spain, the Romanian foreign ministry appreciated the excellent political dialogue, shaped by shared views and the convergence of opinions on most topics on the European and international agenda.



    The institution says in a news release that the two countries, located at opposite ends of the EU, share the goal of projecting common European values to the Unions eastern and southern neighbourhood. In this respect, protecting universal human rights and promoting peaceful resolution of any differences remain fundamental elements of the two countries international stance.



    According to the Romanian foreign ministry, “beyond the political dialogue, the cultural and linguistic dialogue, underlain by our Latin roots and reinforced by growing cooperation, as well as the convergence of goals at EU, NATO and multilateral level, have fuelled the steady development of our bilateral relations.



    The foreign ministry also notes that the most important role is played by the Romanian community in Spain, which has reached an exceptional integration level and is a bridge connecting the two states.



    Recently, Spains ministry for inclusion, social security and migration announced that at the end of last year the number of Romanian nationals in Spain was over 1 million, making them the largest foreign community in that country. In this context, the Romanian authorities emphasised that the contribution of the Romanian citizens living in Spain is vital to the host countrys economy, and is facilitated by the openness of the Spanish society.



    The bilateral economic cooperation is also important, with over 6,200 companies running on nearly 1.8 billion euro worth of Spanish capital in Romania at the end of last year. Spain is thus the 8th-largest foreign investor in Romania.



    The diplomatic relations between Romania and Spain date back to 23 June 1881. In June 1913, George Cretzianu was appointed Romanias extraordinary envoy and plenipotentiary minister to the Kingdom of Spain, and was the first Romanian ambassador to reside in Madrid. Bilateral diplomatic relations were briefly suspended after World War Two, but subsequently upgraded to embassy level in 1977. Spain was one of the first countries to actively support Romanias EU and NATO accession. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • Israeli-Romanian strategic relations, a fresh turn

    Israeli-Romanian strategic relations, a fresh turn

    The president of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, these days has
    been on a visit to Romania. It was the top-ranking Israeli official’s first
    state visit to our country. According to the Presidential Administration in
    Bucharest, the visit stands proof of the fact that Israel remains Romania’s key
    strategic partner in the Middle East. Romania’s relations with Israel are based
    on strong, historical ties. It was the key point Romanian president Klaus
    Iohannis emphasized during the meeting with his Israeli counterpart. On the
    same occasion, President Klaus Iohannis went on to say Romania was a
    model as regards the initiatives taken in order to preserve the memory of the
    Holocaust and to fight antisemitism. President Iohannis also made mention of
    the recent violent clashes that sadly claimed the lives of both Israelis and
    Palestinians. Iohannis also stated direct talks had to be resumed, so
    that the two states could find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    Klaus Iohannis:


    Romania shares the belief whereby
    both the Israelis and the Palestinians have the right to live in peace and
    security, strongly supporting, together with its main international partners, a
    solution to be put forward by the two states, according to the rules and
    standards set by the international law.


    In turn, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin recalled that Romania was the only state of the former Soviet bloc that has never
    severed its ties with Israel. In the Romanian Parliament’s joint plenary
    session, the Israeli president, among other things, emphasized the importance
    of an awareness-raising stance, taken with respect to the phenomena triggered
    by anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism. According to the Israeli president, a
    joint fight must be put together against such a scourge, and that in one single
    voice. Mr Rivlin also emphasized the fact Romania was a staunch supporter of
    the first strategy against anti-Semitism that was built at the level of the
    European Union, a strategy that will be finalized as soon as possible.


    Israeli president Reuven Rivlin:


    Certainly, we do not forget
    history. In the past, the violent anti-Semitism, pogroms, murders, mainly
    perpetrated during the Holocaust, but much more important than that is
    the fact that Romania’s governing bodies found ways to ensure history was not
    forgotten and that Romania must wage an uncompromising battle against
    anti-Semitism.


    Romania’s economic cooperation with Israel has a great
    potential for the two states’ mutual benefit. This is what Reuven Rivlin
    stated, in another development, as part of the Romania-Israel Business Forum.
    President Rivlin highlighted the fact that the cooperation opportunities
    between the two states were important. Also stating that Romania was one of the
    few countries with which Israel shared its military expertise and experience,
    President Rivlin believed that the eventual aim, to that end, was to integrate
    Israel’s innovations into Romania’s capabilities and industry, so that new
    state-of-the art military technologies could be created, which Romania can then
    export. Part of the Israeli delegation attending the Forum were many Israeli defense and
    smart city companies, as well as cyber and national security firms, but also healthcare
    and healthcare digitization companies. Also present at the forum were companies
    producing software and specialized equipment, farming and water management
    companies, as well as companies
    producing irrigation systems and glasshouses, or companies creating animal
    breeding technologies. Around 8,300 Israeli companies are active on Romanian
    territory at the moment.

    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)