Radio România Internațional

Tag: F-16

  • MApN dismantles Russia’s misinformation campaign

    MApN dismantles Russia’s misinformation campaign

    Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has denounced a new misinformation campaign concerning Romania. Russian journalists have this time tackled the drone attack on the night between January 16th and 17th the Russian forces launched against the civil infrastructure of Ukraine’s ports, close to its border with Romania.

    According to them, the attack was launched a day later, in the night between January 17th and 18th, allegedly against a convoy of Romanian troops or mercenaries trying to cross the Danube from Romania to Ukraine in their dinghies.

    According to the aforementioned Russian sources, ground military installations belonging to Romania’s armed forces would have opened fire against the flying drones. The same propaganda material says that the drone attack, which has been ordered by high-ranking Russian army officers, would have caused significant casualties among the Romanian troops.

    The Kremlin scenario also includes helicopter gunships belonging to the Romanian Air Force, involved in medevac operations and also supporting with fire the operation of the Ukrainian forces on the other bank of the river.

    The aforementioned propaganda material has triggered a prompt response from Bucharest.

    The Defence Ministry in Bucharest, also known as MApN, has described those presented by the Russian press as ‘absurdities without any real support’. The Ministry says that in the night between January 16th and 17th, the Romanian army’s monitoring and surveillance installations signaled a series of violations of Romania’s airspace, which imposed alerts issued for the residents of the Tulcea county and the activation of two F-16 jet fighters of the country’s air force.

    Later, experts with the MApN, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Interior Ministry, have identified two areas in which parts of the Russian drones fell to the ground.

    The Romanian Defence Ministry says that although absurd and false, the information invented by Kremlin’s propaganda laboratories is in line with the pattern of the Russian operations aimed at influencing and manipulating the Romanian and allied public space.

    According to MApN, their objective is to create a false perception that NATO would try to join the war against Russia and that Romania is being pushed into this conflict.  The Romanian side says that this propaganda narrative is also targeting the Russians who are being manipulated into believing the myth of the besieged city, that Russia is in danger of being attacked by NATO, and that in Ukraine, the Russian invading troops are actually fighting NATO in the so-called ‘special military operation’

    According to Bucharest, the reality, which the Kremlin propaganda is trying to cover up, is that Russia, which completely disdains international norms, has militarized the Black Sea, invaded Ukraine and illegally annexed Crimea in 2024, and since 2022 has been engaged in an illegal aggression war against a neighbouring sovereign country. Last, but not least, the Ministry says that it expects the false information presented in the aforementioned material to be taken over by the vectors of the Russian propaganda operating inside the Romanian public space and get hyped up mainly on digital platforms.

    (bill)

     

  • December 13, 2024 UPDATE

    December 13, 2024 UPDATE

    PLANES Three F-16 Fighting Falcons, Romania bought from Norway, touched down at Air Base 71 in Campia Turzii, north-western Romania on Friday. According to sources with the Romanian Defence Ministry, the three multi-role warplanes are going to join the 48th Fighting Squadron, which boasts a total of 15 similar aircraft. Romania will buy from Norway 32 F-16 jet fighters, which are expected to improve the country’s security capabilities and contribute to the defence of its airspace and even NATO’s airspace, the communiqué also says. Romania has recently signed the contract for buying the first 32 fifth-generation fighters F-35. The first F-35 fighters are to arrive in Romania in 2030.

     

    FOOTBALL Lots drawn in Zurich on Friday for the preliminaries of World Cup 2026  have placed Romania’s national football side in Group H, which also includes Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus and San Marino. Romania’s champions, FCSB, drew 0-0 against Hoffenheim of Germany on Thursday in the 6th round of Europa League. The team from Bucharest ranks 10th in the group standings and holds good chances of advancing to the next phase. Two more rounds follow in Germany, with the final match scheduled at home against Manchester United of England.

     

    UKRAINE The Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom met in Berlin on Thursday to reiterate support for Ukraine and its irreversible NATO track. The Ministers also promised Kyiv additional military support in the war against Russia as well as post-conflict security guarantees. At the end of the meeting, the Foreign Ministers joined the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in signing the Berlin Declaration, given that the scenario of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia has become a possibility with Donald Trump’s return at the White House. Several member states, including the USA and Germany, have expressed reluctance towards the prospect of a swift accession to NATO for Ukraine. In the case of an agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Kyiv’s allies could deploy a peace-keeping corps to Ukraine, as a security guarantee.

     

    GOVERNMENT President Klaus Iohannis is expected to convene the new Parliament on December 20. Having won nearly two thirds of seats after the December 1 parliamentary election, pro-European parties and the group of national minorities have engaged in talks with a view to forming a coalition cabinet. Leaders of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians (UDMR) have agreed that each party would control a number of ministries equal to their share in Parliament. The new cabinet will comprise 16 ministries. Three self-proclaimed sovereignist parties – the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), SOS Romania and the Young People’s Party (POT) – will also be represented in the new Parliament. The new government will very likely be sworn in ahead of the Christmas holidays. For the time being, the pro-European coalition has agreed to designate a common candidate for the 2025 presidential election.

    (bill)

  • October 24, 2024 UPDATE

    October 24, 2024 UPDATE

    AID The European Commission on Thursday approved a state-aid scheme of 400 million Euros in compensations for the Romanian farmers affected by the severe drought between September 2023 – August 2024, says a communique released by the commission. The aid scheme has been made available for the agricultural producers whose crops of wheat, barley, oat, rape, sunflower and corn were directly affected by the drought. In order to benefit the compensations, farmers must prove that at least 30% of their crops were affected between the autumn of 2023 and the summer of 2024. Under the aforementioned aid scheme, farmers will benefit from direct grants amounting to 200 euros per hectares in the case of losses of 100% and will not exceed 30% of the eligible costs. Compensations will be granted until December 2024.

     

    F-16 According to the Ministry of National Defence, three F-16 Fighting Falcons, Romania bought from Norway landed in Campia Turzii, central Romania, to join the 48 Fighting Squadron. We recall that another 9 F-16s had been received earlier. Romania has signed a contract of buying 32 F-16 fighters with the Kingdom of Norway and the entire batch is expected to be completed at the end of the next year. According to a communiqué from Romania’s Defence Ministry, the aforementioned jet-fighters are to ensure the transition to the fifth generation of aircraft, F-35, whose purchase actually represents a transfer of capabilities between two NATO allies.

     

    ENERGY The energy minister Sebastian Burduja promised that national gas storage is enough for Romania not to need natural gas imports this winter. He added that Romania is not importing Russian gas at all, and when imports are needed it resorts to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Romanian official also added that the people who have difficulties paying their bills will still be protected, even after April 1, 2025, when natural gas and electricity prices will no longer be capped.

     

    ELECTIONS The campaign for the first round of the presidential election begins on Friday at midnight and ends at 7 am on November 23. The presidential elections are scheduled this year on November 24 (the first round) and on December 8 (the second round). In between, on December 1, the parliamentary election will be held. Competing in the presidential race are 14 candidates, 10 of them backed by political parties and 4 running independently. Local and EU parliamentary elections were also held in Romania this year, on June 9.

    (bill)

  • Consequences of the War in Ukraine

    Consequences of the War in Ukraine

    The head of the Romanian state, Klaus Iohannis, has summoned the country’s Higher Defence Council, a.k.a CSAT, for next week, on September 19 to be precise. High on the agenda are issues related to the stage and the prospects of the conflict in Ukraine following the illegal and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation but also related to the opportunities offered by the new geo-political context for strengthening the Strategic Partnership with the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet, Romanian-speaking country.

    In this sense, “the irreversibility of Moldova’s European progress is assured”. The CSAT’s meeting comes after on Saturday night several Russian attack drones violated Romania’s airspace on their way to various targets in Ukraine.

    Two F-16 fighters immediately took off to monitor the drones. According to Romanian defence officials, the drones were not shot down because they were not hostile.  Defence Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, told Radio Romania that if the Romanian territory had been attacked, the threat would have been eliminated right away.

    Angel Tilvar: “I can say – and don’t believe I’m telling you something of a high level of confidentiality – we and our allies are seeing in real time what is happening on the national territory. We were actually monitoring the drone since its very entrance into the Romanian airspace, we dispatched two F-16s which followed it. And if the conclusion had been the drone’s intention was to strike we would have taken the measures required in these situations. So, there was no element of a threat that we couldn’t handle. And I am sending this clear message to eliminate all speculations that we weren’t ready for a response.”  

    On Thursday Defence Minister Tîlvăr talked on the phone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, and again lashed out at the Russian attacks against Ukraine’s civil port infrastructure on the Danube, close to Romania’s border, and against the civilians in that country. The two also talked about Romania’s efforts to support Ukraine’s armed forces and the effective coordination of the multinational assistance projects Romania is part of, such as the European Training Center for F-16 personnel in Fetesti, south-eastern Romania, where the Ukrainian pilots will be  training to use this type of jet fighter. In turn, Minister Umerov thanked Romania for the support it had given to his country since the first day of the conflict, support consisting of humanitarian and diplomatic actions, in supporting its grain exports and other major fields. He also conveyed a message of gratitude regarding Romania’s decision to donate a Patriot missile system to Ukraine.

    (bill)

     

  • Drone alerts on the Eastern Flank

    Drone alerts on the Eastern Flank

    The terror campaign the Russian army is carrying out in Ukraine continued last weekend unabated. According to the Ukrainian Air Forces, Russia launched 67 long-range drones in a large-scale night attack against 11 Ukrainian regions. On their way to targets, these drones are also violating the air space of the countries neighboring Ukraine, as it happened again last nights. One of these Russian drones has crashed close to the town of Rezekne in eastern Latvia, 50 kilometers close to the borders of this NATO country with Belarus and Russia.

    Land troops and air surveillance devices belonging to Romania’s Ministry of National Defence have been deployed to conduct search operations in the regions close to Periprava, in Tulcea County, south-eastern Romania, where parts of the drones the Russians used to bomb Ukraine’s ports on the Danube have allegedly crashed.

    The Bucharest administration has announced that a Russian drone on Saturday night entered Romania’s airspace on its way to Ukrainian targets. In response two F-16 fighters had been ordered to take off to monitor the situation and the General Inspectorate for Emergency situations had issued heads-up in the counties of Tulcea and Constanta, in Romania’s south-east, against the risk of falling debris.

    On Sunday morning the Romanian Ministry of Defence briefed the allied structures over the situation created and conveyed a firm message of condemning these attacks mounted by the Russian Federation against elements of Ukrainian civil infrastructure, which the Romanian side considers ‘unjustified and in severe contradiction with international law’.

    A protest message has also been issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry. The diplomacy in Bucharest said the radars of Romania’s armed forces had identified a drone, which violated the country’s airspace on its way to an Ukrainian target, and called for the cessation of Russia’s irresponsible escalation of the security situation.

    Romania’s Foreign Ministry has also called for the observance of the rule of law including in the case involving the inviolability of Romania’s airspace and has reiterated its vehement condemnation of these illegal attacks. Since the onset of the Russian invasion of that country in February 2022, Russian troops have launched thousands of missiles and long-range drones against various military and civil objectives causing numerous victims against the population. Following these attacks, a series of Russian drones fell on the Romanian territory mostly in unpopulated areas. In order to fight off such attacks, Romania has joined the countries that are donating to Ukraine some of their surface-to-air Patriot missiles.

    (bill)

  • August 22, 2024 UPDATE

    August 22, 2024 UPDATE

    TALKS Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, held talks in Brussels on Thursday with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, about the future European Commissioner from Romania and their portfolio as well as the completion of the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience. The talks agenda also included an accord on Romania’s deficit. Romania’s proposal was a seven year agreement because, according to the Prime Minister, the biggest investments are expected in 2025 and 2026. Ciolacu proposed Victor Negrescu, the incumbent vice-president of the European Parliament, for the position of EU Commissioner. The two officials tackled Romania’s Schengen accession also with its ground borders and Prime Minister Ciolacu underlined that Ursula von der Leyen is the ‘biggest supporter’ of this idea.

     

    SALE The United States have approved the sale to Romania of missiles compatible with the F-16 jet fighters in order to increase the Romanian Air Forces’ defence capabilities. The purchase, which is estimated at 180 million dollars, is part of Romania’s efforts to streamline its air forces as the aforementioned missiles are also compatible with other NATO and US war planes, including the F-35 fighters. The US ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, has congratulated Romania on this major purchase, which proves Bucharest’s firm commitment to security, defence and stability both at national and regional levels.

     

    FLOW The Danube’s level at its entry into Romania continues to go down, a report of the Romanian Waters Administration says. The river’s level now is way below its annual average. Although hydrologists have forecast a slight increase in this level after August 25th, this will not be enough to solve the navigation issues created by the waters’ low level. Representatives of the Port Authorities have issued a series of alerts and are recommending that ships be loaded under their maximum capacity in order to avoid any collision with the sand dunes, which appeared from under the water. The low water level has also caused disruption in the ferryboat lines operating between Romania and Bulgaria.

     

    ELECTIONS In its Wednesday meeting the government of Romania set the calendar for the parliamentary election scheduled for December 1. The Election campaign will begin on November 1 and end at 7 AM on November 30. The Romanians in the country will be able to vote between 7 AM and 9 PM. For the Romanian nationals in the Diaspora, the voting will begin on November 30 at 7 AM and end on December 1 at 9 PM. The legislative elections will take place between the 2 rounds of the presidential election. Romania organised local and European elections on June 9.

     

    TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan has qualified for the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 tournament in Cleveland (Ohio), after defeating Greet Minnen of Belgium 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. In the quarter-finals she is to play against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova. Another Romanian player, Gabriela Ruse, managed to reach the last qualifying round of the US Open main draw in New York. In the second qualifying round, Ruse defeated China’s Ye-Xin Ma 6-3, 6-3. And in the WTA 500 tournament in Monterrey (Mexico), the Romanian-Chinese pair, Monica Niculescu / Hanyu Guo on Thursday qualified into the semi-finals of the doubles competition, after winning against Ulrikkec Eikeri of Norway) and Aldila Sutjiadi (Indonesia) 6-4, 5-7, 10-3.

     

    (bill)

     

  • June 28, 2024 UPDATE

    June 28, 2024 UPDATE

     

    LAW Penalties for slavery and human trafficking can no longer be suspended prison sentences in Romania, under a new law promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. The document, which takes effect this week, also provides for harsher penalties for such crimes, with sentences going as high as 15 years in prison. In addition, the production, storage, exposure, promotion and distribution of child pornography is punished by 3 to 10 years imprisonment.

     

    ELECTIONS The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu announced he would invite the leaders of all political parties for consultations next week on the calendar of the presidential election. The announcement comes after the Social Democrats and the Liberals in the ruling coalition failed to reach an agreement on a date for this election. The prime minister pointed out that the talks were necessary as the Liberal interior minister Cătălin Predoiu was not allowed by his own party to present in this Friday’s Cabinet meeting the resolution setting September 15 as the presidential election date, as previously decided by the coalition. Ciolacu mentioned that as head of government he cannot favour any party or coalition, and a consultation with all political parties in Romania was “the right approach.” He also indicated that he would not dismiss the interior minister, so as not to create a governmental crisis and instability in the country.

     

    POVERTY As many as 4 million Romanians were affected by poverty last year, nearly 60,000 people fewer than in 2022, according to the National Statistics Institute. The institution also says that if pensions and other social transfers had not been made last year, nearly half of the country’s population would have been below the relative poverty threshold, especially the elderly. The highest poverty risks were reported in households with 3 or more children, followed by single-parent families. In terms of regions, the highest poverty rates were reported in the south-east, followed by the south-west (Oltenia), and the lowest in Bucharest and Ilfov County.

     

    EU – Attending the European Council meeting in Brussels, the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis emphasised, during the talks on the EU’s Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029, that the document must reflect the joint commitment to continue efforts towards a stronger, more resilient and more influential EU. The Romanian head of state said the new Agenda must highlight the advancement of the enlargement policy, the unity of the Union in terms of support for Ukraine and the importance of cooperation between the EU and NATO. Also in Brussels, the EU leaders decided on the top positions in the bloc’s institutions. Ursula von der Leyen was nominated for the presidency of the Commission, the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, while former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa will take over the presidency of the European Council.

     

    OSCE Bucharest hosts, as of Saturday, the 31st annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The theme of the summit is the parliamentary perspective on the role of the OSCE in the current security climate. The participants, MPs from the over 50 OSCE member states, will adopt the Bucharest Declaration, a document that will include the resolutions of the general committees and additional ones initiated by members of the Assembly. Among them will be a resolution regarding the worsening of the human rights situation in the Russian-speaking breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, in the Republic of Moldova. Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the meeting in Bucharest.

     

    WILDFIRES Eighty Romanian fire-fighters are going to France to help the local authorities there put out the wild fires that may occur this summer. The measure is designed to reduce response times in the case of wild fires, to make training more efficient and to improve cooperation among the participating forces. A first group of 40 fire-fighters and 8 engines has already left for France, the General Emergency Inspectorate announced. This assistance programme is financed by the European Union as a support measure for the French communities, following the wild fires reported in the past few years in that country.

     

    AIRCRAFT Another 3 F-16 aircraft purchased by Romania from Norway reached the Câmpia Turzii air base in the centre of Romania, the defence ministry announced. The Romanian Air Forces have so far received 9 of the total 32 planes it has purchased, with the rest of them scheduled to reach the country by the end of next year.

     

    POLL The first round of the snap elections for the appointment of representatives in the National Assembly, the lower chamber of the French Parliament, takes place on Sunday. The almost 49 million eligible voters will choose between a nationalist-populist right, at the top of the electorate’s preferences, a left wing which is struggling to remain united, and a pro-Macron majority unprepared to give up the government. The second round is scheduled for July 7. President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly on June 9, after his party’s failure in the European elections. (EE, AMP)

  • April 22, 2024 UPDATE

    April 22, 2024 UPDATE

    VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday started a three-day official visit to South Korea, the first country in the Asia-Pacific region which Romania has a strategic partnership with. Iohannis laid a wreath at the National Cemetery in Seoul. Political consultations will focus on issues related to the consolidation of the Strategic Partnership, political-diplomatic and defense cooperation, the main regional and global challenges and boosting trade and investments in various sectors. Among them are green and nuclear energy, new technologies, IT&C, environment and climate change management, infrastructure, health and education. The meeting will also emphasize the special inter-cultural exchanges, which have been consolidated in recent years. The Romanian president’s visit to South Korea is the first in 16 years.

     

    MISSIONS – Parliament on Monday greenlit the participation of Romanian military in demining naval missions in the Black Sea following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, in response to the Romanian president’s request. Romania will deploy general staff and a military vessel with an 85-strong crew. Parliament also approved the participation of the Romanian Army in the EU maritime security mission in the Red Sea. 3 Romanian servicemen will join the Prosperity Guardian mission led by US in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the territory of Bahrain.

     

    AIRCRAFT – Three F-16 aircraft purchased by Romania from Norway, landed on Friday at the “General Emanoil Ionescu” 71st Air Base in Câmpia Turzii (center). It is the second series of three such aircraft bought by Romania from the Norway, the first being received last November. According to the Defense Ministry, through the 32 multirole F-16 aircraft that will endow two more squadrons of the Air Forces by the end of next year, Romania is strengthening its air defense at a level adapted to the security challenges in the region.

     

    SERVICEMEN – The Romanian army faces a shortage of professional servicemen. The first conscription campaign held over February-April, over 6,400 people applied for the 5,100 vacancies, 24% failed the fitness test, 18% the psychological test and 12% the medical test. The total number of candidates who passed was 2,626. The Romanian Defense Ministry says the level of difficulty for the fitness test is average, allowing people aged 18-45 with normal fitness development to pass it without major difficulties.

     

    EP – The European Parliament convenes in a new plenary sitting in Strasbourg, as of today until Thursday. The meeting’s agenda includes topics such as violence against women, the revision of the EU’s Agricultural Policy and combating money laundering. Iran’s attack on Israel, the ban on the EU market for products manufactured through forced labor, the effects of the so-called Russian interference in the European Parliament, the assessment of the results of the Russian elections and the situation of the state of law in Hungary will also be discussed. The plenary sitting this week is the last one of the current European Parliament makeup, before the European elections on June 9. (EE & VP)

  • New F-16 planes for the Romanian Army

    New F-16 planes for the Romanian Army

    Three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft purchased by Romania from the Kingdom of Norway landed, on Friday, at the 71st Air Base ‘General Emanoil Ionescu’ at Câmpia Turzii (center), to equip the 48th Fighter Squadron. The purchase of these F-16 aircraft and the related package of goods and services will ensure an increase in Romania’s security, by defending the national and NATO airspace in peacetime and in crisis situations, through the Permanent Combat Service – Air Policing under NATO command – writes a communique by the Romanian Defense Ministry. The F-16 aircraft that have just arrived at Câmpia Turzii are the second series of three such planes bought by Romania from Norway, the first being received at the end of November 2023, in the 86th Air Base ‘Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniţă’ from Borcea (south- east).

     

    According to the Defense Ministry, through the gradual arrival, during this year and the next, of 32 multi-role F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft that will equip two more squadrons of the Air Force, Romania is strengthening its air defense at a level adapted to the security challenges in the region. These planes will have an important role in maintaining a credible allied defense and deterrence posture against any aggression on the Eastern Flank and, just as importantly, they will ensure the transition for the Romanian Air Force to the fifth-generation era of F-35 aircraft, the defense minister Angel Tîlvăr stated. The ministry he leads recalls that, according to the Concept of the gradual fulfillment of the air defense capability, within the program “Multirole aircraft of the Air Force”, the Romanian Government awarded the Government of Norway the contract for the purchase of 32 F-16 aircraft, with logistic support initially, and a package of complementary goods and services from the US Government.

     

    The aircraft will be delivered in operational condition, their available resource ensuring their operation for a transition period of at least 10 years to the 5th generation aircraft, which makes the acquisition of the Norwegian fighter jets a transfer of capability between two allied NATO countries, the defense ministry explains. The three aircraft that have just arrived will ensure the fulfillment of the new existing requirements within NATO, and later they will be included in the modernization program in the same configuration (M6.X) as the F-16 aircraft from the first squadron that entered the equipment of the Romanian Air Force. This solution ensures the involvement of the Romanian defense industry in the maintenance and modernization of F-16 aircraft, through the company Aerostar Bacău (est). At present, the Romanian Air Force has 20 F-16 aircraft. (LS)

  • April 20, 2024

    April 20, 2024

    PLANES Three F-16 jet fighters Romania bought from Norway landed at the Air Base 71 in Campia Turzii, central Romania on Friday. This has been the second batch of these multi-role fighters Romania bought from Norway; the first batch arrived in November, last year. According to the National Defence Ministry, the 32 F-16s Romania is going to receive by the end of next year are meant to consolidate the country’s air defence adjusted to the regional security challenges. They are going to play a major role in keeping an allied posture of defence and deterrence on the eastern flank and will ensure transition towards the fifth generation, the F-35 planes Romania is going to get, as minister Angel Tilvar says. The Romanian air forces now boast 20 F-16 jet fighters.

     

    RATING In the past year agencies have reconfirmed Romania’s sovereign rating and stable prospect, but there is room for improvement, such as the lower-cost access to funding on international capital markets and for attracting foreign investment – the country’s Finance Minister Marcel Bolos says in a Facebook post. During a working visit he paid to Washington, the Romanian official held talks with representatives of famous rating agencies, such as Standard&Poor’s and Moody’s on Romania’s economic particularities and the strategies aimed at ensuring macro-economic stability. Bolos also attended the spring proceedings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. According to Bolos, in order to raise economic competitiveness and create an appropriate environment for durable investment, Bucharest is focusing on fiscal consolidation, on raising investment in infrastructure and education, on boosting private investment and the promotion of an effective and transparent economic governance.

     

    HOLIDAY The Romanian Black Sea resorts are stepping up preparations for the upcoming mini-holiday on May 1st and the Orthodox Easter, to be celebrated on May 5th and which actually opens the summer holiday season in Romania. Owners of hotels, restaurants and guest houses in the region are expecting a large number of tourists as many rooms have already been booked. According to Corina Martin, secretary general of the Federation of Employers’ Associations, over 80 thousand people are expected to spend the mini-holiday in the aforementioned seaside resorts. The largest number of tourists is expected in the resort of Mamaia. Between May 1st and 7th the resort will be hosting the International Electronic Music Festival, Sunwaves, which is expected to bring together roughly 6 thousand of tourists from abroad, a gastronomic festival and outdoor concerts given by Romania’s top artists.

     

    WEATHER The weather is getting warmer in Romania with highs between 13 and 19 degrees Celsius and a noon reading in Bucharest of 13 degrees. The sky is overcast and rainshowers are expected in the south-east, in the south, center and to a lower extent in the rest of the territory. Heavy downpours have been forecast for certain regions in the country’s south-east whereas mixed precipitations are going to fall in the mountains. Snowfalls are expected at altitudes over 15 hundred meters. The wind is moderate but expected to intensify in the country’s south-eastern regions including the Black Sea coast.

     

    VISIT Over April 22 and 24, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis will be paying a formal visit to the Republic of Korea, upon the invitation of his counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol. The Republic of Korea is the first country in the Asia-Pacific area with which Romania raised its relations at the level of strategic partnership in 2008. On the occasion of Iohannis’ upcoming visit to Seoul, this partnership will be consolidated through a document, which sets the cooperation directions for the next 10 years. Relevant documents are expected to be signed in the field of defence, nuclear energy, investment and foreign trade, cooperation in emergency situations and disaster management, cooperation in the field of culture, mass-media, youth and sports. In the Republic of Korea, the Romanian president will be meeting representatives of the Romanian community and business environment and will be visiting an exhibition of Romanian traditional art.

    (bill)

  • Nachrichten 30.11.2023

    Nachrichten 30.11.2023

    Die Christen feiern am Donnerstag den heiligen Apostel Andreas, den geistigen Schutzpatron Rumäniens. Es ist historisch belegt, dass er das Christentum bei den Skythen, einem Volk am nördlichen und westlichen Schwarzen Meer, verbreitet hat. Daraus lässt sich schließen, dass der heilige Andreas auch das Gebiet der heutigen Dobrudscha erreichte, wo er Priester und Bischöfe weihte. Sie überbrachten die christliche Botschaft auch der dakischen Bevölkerung zwischen der Donau und den Karpaten. Aus diesem Grund gilt der Heilige Andreas als geistiger Schutzpatron Rumäniens. Er starb als Märtyrer in der griechischen Stadt Patras, gekreuzigt an einem X-förmigen Kreuz.



    Der neue Chef des Verteidigungsstabs ist Generalleutnant Gheorghiță Vlad. Am Donnerstag sagte Präsident Klaus Iohannis bei der Vereidigung, dass er für die Fortsetzung des Prozesses der Anpassung der Armee an neue Herausforderungen und die Aufrechterhaltung eines hohen Niveaus der Kampfbereitschaft der Streitkräfte verantwortlich sei. Es sei ein entschlosseneres Vorgehen erforderlich, um die nationale Verteidigungsindustrie wiederzubeleben, auch durch industrielle Zusammenarbeit, damit mehr der benötigten Munition und Technologie im Lande hergestellt werden könne. Zusammen mit einem hohen Niveau der militärischen Ausbildung wird dies eine starke und glaubwürdige Verteidigungsfähigkeit gewährleisten, die den neuen sicherheitspolitischen Herausforderungen gerecht wird, betonte der Staatspräsident.



    Die rumänische Außenministerin Luminița Odobescu nahm am Mittwoch am informellen Abendessen der Staaten der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) in Skopje teil, das am Rande des vom Amtierenden Vorsitz Nordmazedonien organisierten Ministerrats stattfand. Das Thema der Diskussion lautete Russlands Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine und die Notwendigkeit einer funktionierenden Organisation in Zeiten des Konflikts. In ihrer Rede hob die Leiterin der Diplomatie in Bukarest die schwierigen Umstände hervor, unter denen die OSZE angesichts der ungerechtfertigten und unprovozierten militärischen Aggression Russlands gegen die Ukraine tätig ist. Sie bekräftigte auch die Solidarität Rumäniens mit dem ukrainischen Volk und unterstrich die multidimensionale Unterstützung für den ukrainischen Staat. Luminița Odobescu wies auf die negativen Auswirkungen der russischen Militäraggression gegen die Ukraine auf die Republik Moldau hin. Sie wies auf die schwierige sozioökonomische Lage hin, in der sich die Republik Moldau infolge der verschiedenen Druckmittel Russlands befindet, sowie auf die Bedeutung dieses Staates für die Sicherheitsdynamik in der Region.



    Vier F-16 der türkischen Luftwaffe sind in Rumänien gelandet, um unter dem Kommando der NATO verstärkte luftpolizeiliche Einsätze durchzuführen, so das Verteidigungsministerium am Donnerstag. Die gemeinsamen Luftpolizeieinsätze tragen zur Entwicklung von Reaktions- und Abschreckungsfähigkeiten und zur Stärkung der Interoperabilität zwischen den rumänischen und den türkischen Luftstreitkräften bei, so die Quelle.



    In Rumänien wird das Pfand-Rückgabe-System ab Donnerstag in Betrieb gesetzt. Rumänien wird nach Deutschland das zweitgrößte System dieser Art in Europa haben, was die Zahl der bearbeiteten Verpackungen angeht. Rumänen, die beim Kauf eines in Flaschen abgefüllten Getränks im Einzelhandel eine Garantie in Höhe von 50 Bani (10 Eurocent) zahlen, können die Verpackung an einer der von den Einzelhändlern eingerichteten Rückgabestellen zurückgeben, wo sie an Ort und Stelle den ursprünglich gezahlten Garantiebetrag erhalten, ohne dass sie den Kassenbon vorlegen müssen. Die Garantieverpackungen werden schrittweise auf den Markt gebracht, und zwar als Übergangszeit, bis die Bestände der bereits im Regal befindlichen Produkte erschöpft sind.



    Bei einem Schusswechsel zwischen zwei Palästinensern im Westen Jerusalems zur Hauptverkehrszeit wurden drei Menschen getötet und sieben weitere verletzt, vier von ihnen befinden sich in ernstem Zustand. Der Anschlag ereignete sich zu einem Zeitpunkt, als die Waffenruhe zwischen Israel und den Hamas-Terroristen für einen siebten Tag verlängert wurde, um den Austausch von israelischen Geiseln gegen palästinensische Gefangene fortzusetzen. Nach Angaben des Korrespondenten von Radio Rumänien Actualitati wurden die Angreifer als Hamas-Anhänger und ehemalige Insassen israelischer Gefängnisse identifiziert. Was die neue Waffenruhe zwischen Israel und der Hamas betrifft, so stehen nur acht Kinder auf der überarbeiteten Liste der freizulassenden Geiseln. Die Hamas begründete die geringere Zahl damit, dass die beiden israelischen Bürger, ein Russe und ein Italiener, die gestern als Geste des guten Willens gegenüber dem russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin freigelassen wurden, ebenfalls auf der postfaktischen Liste stehen.

  • Piloţi instruiţi la Feteşti

    Piloţi instruiţi la Feteşti

    Membră, aproape jumătate de secol, a așa-numitului Tratat de la
    Varșovia, în care Uniunea Sovietică își adunase sateliții comunizați cu forța
    din Europa Centrală și de Est, România redevenită liberă a aderat, acum două
    decenii la NATO, iar tranziția de ordin logistic nu s-a încheiat. Dotările de
    secol XX ale Armatei Române sunt, gradual, înlocuite cu tehnică de luptă
    modernă, produse în țări aliate din topul inovației tehnologice.


    La centrul de
    la Baza militară 86 din Feteşti, din sud-estul țării, au început cursurile de
    pregătire teoretică pentru piloţii români care urmează să facă trecerea de la
    vetustele aparate MiG-21, de concepție sovietică, la mult mai performantele
    F-16 americane. Centrul de antrenament are, deja, în dotare cinci avioane F-16,
    iar alte 18, trimise din Țările de Jos, vor ajunge în România până la sfârșitul
    anului. Flota aeriană a Armatei Române deține în momentul de faţă 17 F-16,
    achiziționate din Portugalia, şi a încheiat cu Norvegia un contract privind
    livrarea altor 32.


    Centrul European de Instruire din Feteşti a fost realizat în
    baza unui acord de colaborare între aliați NATO, potrivit căruia ministerul
    român al Apărării pune la dispoziţie baza aeriană și facilităţile de instruire,
    forţele aeriene olandeze – aeronavele F-16, iar celebra companie americană
    Lockheed Martin, producătoare a aparatelor de zbor, asigură instructorii şi
    mentenanța.


    La ceremonia de inaugurare, unde a fost însoțit de omologul său din
    Olanda, Kajsa Ollongren, și de diplomați occidentali, ministrul român al
    Apărării, Angel Tîlvăr, a declarat:

    În condiţiile în care urmează să primim 32 de aparate, pentru noi era
    extrem important ca cerinţa de pregătire a piloţilor români să fie satisfăcută.
    Aparatele de tip F-16 vor mai fi prezente în Europa cel puţin 20 de ani. Sunt
    importante. Ne dorim să avem piloţi cât mai bine pregătiţi.


    La centrul de
    la Fetești vor veni instructori din toate statele NATO, iar cursanți nu vor fi
    doar piloți din statele membre ale Alianței, ci și din cele partenere, inclusiv
    din Ucraina invadată de trupele ruse.


    Într-o postare pe reţeaua X, fostă
    Twitter, președintele ucrainean, Volodimir Zelenski, le-a mulţumit omologului
    din România vecină, Klaus Iohannis, şi premierului olandez, Mark Rutte, pentru
    că au pus în practică înţelegerile ce privesc dotarea forţelor aeriene ale
    țării sale cu avioane occidentale performante, precum şi instruirea piloţilor
    ucraineni pentru a putea pilota aceste aparate. În prezent, aviatorii din
    Ucraina se antrenează în Statele Unite şi în Danemarca.


    Potrivit experților
    militari, pregătirea piloţilor ucraineni la Fetești va dura circa jumătate de
    an.


  • 13.11.2023 (mise à jour)

    13.11.2023 (mise à jour)

    Avions – Le Centre de formation européen pour les F-16 a été inauguré lundi sur la base aérienne 86 de Fetesti, dans le sud de la Roumanie, en présence des ministres roumain et néerlandais de la Défense. Le centre servira à la formation sur des avions de combat F-16 des pilotes aussi bien de Roumanie, que des pays alliés et partenaires de Otan, y compris d’Ukraine. Ce centre contribuera à l’accélération de la formation des pilotes roumains dans le contexte où la Roumanie a acheté 32 avions F-16 à la Norvège. Au dire du ministre de la Défense de Bucarest, Angel Tilvar, l’ouverture à Fetesti d’un tel centre international prouve la confiance que l’OTAN fait à la Roumanie. Son homologue néerlandaise, Kajsa Ollongren, a déclaré que même si les pilotes roumains sont formés avec priorité, les Ukrainiens bénéficieront aussi d’une formation, puisque les Pays Bas, le Danemark et la Norvège s’apprêtent à livrer des F-16 à l’Ukraine. La formation des pilotes ukrainiens a déjà commencé au Danemark et aux Etats-Unis. Le centre européen est le fruit d’un accord de collaboration entre le ministère roumain de la Défense qui met à la disposition de l’OTAN de la base aérienne, le soutien de la nation hôte et les facilités d’instruction, les forces aériennes néerlandaises qui contribuent avec les avions et l’entreprise américaine Lockheed Martin qui assure les pilotes et les opérations d’entretien.






















    Gouvernement – Les leaders de la coalition au pouvoir en Roumanie se sont réunis lundi pour discuter de la construction budgétaire 2024. Le futur budget reposera notamment sur les investissements, mais l’Education et la Santé seront-elles aussi prioritaires. Tous les aspects concernant la loi des pensions de retraite, y compris ceux visant les sources de financement ont été tirés au clair, a précisé le premier ministre Marcel Ciolacu, dans un message sur Internet. Par conséquent, la loi, soutenue par la coalition, attend désormais le vote du Parlement. Le chef du gouvernement a précisé qu’avec le leader libéral, Nicolae Ciuca, il a décidé d’avancer le plus vite possible un projet censé combattre l’évasion fiscale et accroître les recettes budgétaires. Pour sa part, Nicolae Ciuca a réitéré le fait que l’Education et la Santé restent prioritaires et les discussions des prochains jours commenceront avec ces deux domaines. D’ici la fin de la semaine, la coalition examinera aussi une réorganisation des Ministères de l’Environnement et de l’Agriculture. Le gouvernement souhaite que le Parlement adopte la loi de la retraite avant le 20 novembre. De son côté, l’opposition parlementaire critique le projet de loi et affirme que la réforme des pensions de retraite ne suffira pas pour couvrir le taux d’inflation.
















    Rapatriement -
    Un nouveau groupe de 86 Roumains et des membres de leurs familles a quitté
    dimanche la bande de Gaza par le poste-frontière de Rafah et se trouve
    actuellement sur le territoire égyptien en attendant rentrer en Roumanie, a
    fait savoir le ministère roumain des Affaires étrangères. Jusqu’ici, 134
    ressortissants roumains et leurs familles, évacués de Gaza, ont été rapatriés.
    Le ministère des Affaires étrangères de la Roumanie continue le dialogue avec
    les autorités israéliennes et égyptiennes afin de faciliter l’évacuation de
    tous les Roumains de Gaza qui souhaitent quitter la zone de conflit. Les opérations
    en ce sens se déroulent en fonction des évolutions sur le terrain et avec
    l’accord des parties impliquées.









    Inflation – En Roumanie, le taux annuel de l’inflation a baissé de 8,8% en septembre à 8,1%, en octobre, selon l’Institut national de la Statistique. Parmi les produits alimentaires de base, ce sont les pommes de terre qui ont connu la majoration de prix la plus significative, de 6%, suivies par le lait, le pain, les œufs et la viande. Au pôle opposé, on retrouve les transports aériens qui ont connu une baisse de prix de 18%. Par rapport à 2022, la bière a connu une hausse de prix de 17%, suivie par le poisson frais et en boîte, de 16% plus cher cette année. Sur l’ensemble des produits non alimentaires, ce sont les détergents qui ont enregistré la majoration de tarif la plus spectaculaire, de presque 24%. Cette année, ce fut l’huile qui a connu la baisse de prix la plus importante, de 25%. Le salaire mensuel net en septembre a été de presque 924 euros, de 12,5 euros de plus qu’en août.

    Météo
    – En Roumanie, mardi, il fera plutôt doux pour cette période de l’année, avec
    des températures allant de 10 à 20 degrés. Il pleuvra sur le nord, le
    centre et l’ouest du territoire. Nous aurons 19 degrés à midi, à Bucarest.

  • La semaine du 6 au 12 novembre 2023

    La semaine du 6 au 12 novembre 2023


    Le rapatriement des Roumains de la Bande
    de Gaza se poursuit


    La Roumanie
    poursuit son dialogue avec les autorités israéliennes et égyptiennes afin d’évacuer
    les citoyens roumains et leurs familles de la Bande de Gaza. C’est ce qu’a fait
    savoir le Ministère roumain des Affaires Etrangères. Par ailleurs, une équipe
    consulaire reste en place au point de passage de Rafah, à la frontière avec l’Egypte,
    pour continuer à offrir de l’assistance aux réfugiés roumains. A l’heure où l’on
    parle, un premier groupe d’une centaine de Roumains et des membres de leurs
    familles a quitté la Bande Gaza pour s’embarquer au Caire à bord d’un avion de
    la compagnie roumaine TAROM en direction de la Roumanie. D’autres groupes se
    préparent à rentrer au pays, après avoir sollicité la permission des autorités israéliennes et égyptiennes de transiter
    le point de passage de Rafah. Le premier ministre roumain, Marcel Ciolacu et la
    cheffe de la diplomatie roumaine, Luminita Odobescu se sont trouvés à bord de l’avion
    ayant transporté le premier groupe de réfugiés d’origine roumaine. Mme Odobescu
    a déclaré que la situation de sécurité reste particulièrement difficile et
    complexe et que les plans d’évacuation sont mis à jour en permanence. Le chef
    du gouvernement de Bucarest a réitéré le soutien de son cabinet à l’évacuation
    des citoyens roumains afin de les aider à arriver sains et saufs en Roumanie.




    Le gouvernement roumain adopte des
    décisions importantes


    Réuni en séance
    jeudi, le Gouvernement de Bucarest a adopté la nouvelle loi des pensions de
    retraite qui prévoit deux majorations dans le courant de l’année prochaine. Le
    nouveau document met en place de nouveaux critères de revalorisation des
    pensions afin que les iniquités soient supprimées. A l’issue de la réunion
    gouvernementale, la ministre du Travail, Simona Bucura-Oprescu, a affirmé que
    la nouvelle loi de la retraite est stable et soutenable et qu’elle privilégie le
    respect du travail et la contributivité. La responsable s’est dite confiante
    quant à la capacité de l’Exécutif de trouver les ressources nécessaires pour
    les deux majorations prévues dans le courant de 2024. Le gouvernement souhaite que
    la loi des pensions de retraite soit adoptée par le Parlement d’ici le 20
    novembre.




    Klaus Iohannis visite Bruxelles


    Le mieux serait
    que la Roumanie et la Bulgarie adhèrent en même temps à l’Espace Schengen, a
    déclaré mercredi, à Bruxelles, le président roumain, Klaus Iohannis, en
    affirmant que toutes les négociations et les tentatives de persuader les pays
    réticents tendent vers cette direction. Le chef de l’Etat roumain a parlé
    mercredi avec le premier ministre belge, Alexander De Croo et a participé à la
    signature d’un mémorandum de collaboration dans le domaine du nucléaire. La
    visite du président roumain à Bruxelles a eu plusieurs enjeux dont le soutien
    accordé au parcours européen de la République de Moldova. Un geste d’autant
    plus important que le même jour, la Commission a annoncé donner son feu vert à
    l’ouverture des négociations pour l’adhésion de Kiev et de Chisinau à l’Union
    européenne. A partir de janvier prochain, la Belgique assumera la présidence
    européenne et dirigera aussi bien l’agenda que le cadre des négociations d’adhésion.
    Les discussions de Bruxelles ont visé aussi les domaines de l’économie et de la
    défense, dans le contexte où un contingent de militaires belges se trouve en
    Roumanie pour renforcer le flanc Est. La visite en Belgique de Klaus Iohannis s’est
    clôturée par une entrevue avec sa Majesté, le roi Philippe, au domaine royal de
    Laeken.




    La Roumanie
    s’est dotée d’avions F-16


    Les premiers avions F-16 offerts par les Pays Bas à la Roumanie sont
    arrivés mardi, au centre européen d’entrainement de Fetesti, dans le sud du
    pays. Créé au terme d’un accord entre les Ministères roumain et néerlandais de
    la Défense, le centre devient essentiel pour la collaboration transfrontalière,
    le renforcement de la sécurité et de la solidarité alliées. Le Ministère
    roumain de la Défense rappelle que la base de Fetesti sera un véritable centre
    international où des pilotes seront formés au pilotage des avions de combat
    F-16 et où l’interopérabilité alliée sera consolidée. De cette manière, la
    Roumanie rejoint les autres nations qui soutiennent la formation des pilotes
    ukrainiens. Le centre de Fetesti contribuera à la mise en place d’une série de
    standards internationaux communs et au renforcement des capacités de l’OTAN de
    relever les défis complexes auxquels se confrontent la région de la mer Noire
    et l’Europe de l’Est.




    Le
    premier juge roumain à la Cour internationale de Justice


    L’ancien chef de
    la diplomatie roumaine et l’actuel conseiller présidentiel, Bogdan Aurescu, a été
    élu juge à la Cour Internationale de Justice. Il devient le premier roumain à recevoir
    une telle fonction. C’est une victoire de la diplomatie roumaine, affirme le
    Ministère des Affaires Etrangères selon qui, la Roumanie respecte le droit
    international et encourage une politique étrangère fondée sur le respect des
    droits et des libertés fondamentales. Dans un message de félicitations, le chef
    de l’Etat, Klaus Iohannis, écrit que ce succès reflète « l’engagement
    ferme de la Roumanie au service d’un ordre international fondé sur des normes ».
    Les juges de la Cour Internationale de Justice sont choisis parmi d’autres
    candidats par l’Assemblée générale et le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies,
    pour un mandat de neuf ans.



  • The Week in Review

    The Week in Review

    Repatriations of Romanians from Gaza continue



    Romania will continue the dialogue with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities for the evacuation of the Romanian citizens and their family members in the Gaza Strip, depending on the developments on the ground and the agreement of the parties involved, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. Moreover, a consular team will remain available in the area of ​​the Rafah border-crossing to Egypt to provide further assistance. The first group of almost one hundred Romanian citizens and their family members were evacuated from the Gaza Strip and transported to Romania from Cairo with a TAROM aircraft. There are also other groups of Romanians who requested permission from the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to transit the border crossing point to Egypt. On board the first aircraft were the PM Marcel Ciolacu and the FM Luminiţa Odobescu, who met in Cairo with the evacuated persons. The head of the Romanian diplomacy declared that the security situation is extremely difficult and complex, which requires a permanent updating of the evacuation plans. And Marcel Ciolacu gave assurances that Romanian citizens and family members will continue to be supported by the Romanian Government to reach extended families and integrate into Romanian society.



    Important decisions made by the Romanian Government



    The Romanian government adopted, during Thursday’s meeting, the new pension law, which provides for two increases for 2024. The document also establishes the recalculation of all pensions according to new criteria, so that the inequities in the system should be eliminated. At the end of the government session, the labor minister Simona Bucura-Oprescu said that the pension law is a stable and sustainable law, which will eliminate inequities, and which is based on respect for contributions and work. She expressed confidence that budgetary resources will be found for the implementation of the two expected increases in 2024 and evoked a better collection of revenues and the reduction of tax evasion. The executive wants the pension law to be adopted by Parliament by November 20.



    Klaus Iohannis in Brussels



    The best option is for Romania and Bulgaria to enter the Schengen Area together, and all negotiations and all attempts to convince those who are still reluctant on this issue are converging towards this, President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday in Brussels. The Romanian president talked with the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, and participated in the signing of a memorandum of collaboration in the nuclear field, but the official visit had more stakes. One of them concerned the support for the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, all the more so since, on the same day, in Brussels, the European Commission gave the green light to the European Council to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Moreover, Belgium will take over the presidency of the EU Council in January and will manage both the agenda and the framework of these negotiations. Thus, the discussion extended from economic aspects to defense aspects, especially since a contingent of the Belgian army is in Romania to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. At the end of his visit to Brussels, Klaus Iohannis was received by His Majesty Philippe, King of Belgium, at the castle in Laeken.



    F-16 aircraft in Romania



    On Tuesday, the Netherlands sent the first five F-16 fighter planes to Romania, to the air base in Feteşti (south), which will be used to train the Ukrainian pilots. The European F-16 Training Center was established there as a result of the collaboration between the Romanian and Dutch defense ministries. Given the current geopolitical context and Romania’s strategic position in the Black Sea region, this center becomes essential for cross-border collaboration, strengthening security and consolidating solidarity within NATO. The Romanian defense ministry reminds that this center will be an international hub for the training of F-16 aircraft pilots and will facilitate the increase of interoperability between allies. Romania thus joins other allied nations in supporting the training of Ukrainian pilots for the future use of F-16 aircraft. The center will contribute to the creation of common operational standards and to strengthening the capacity of the North Atlantic Alliance to face the complex challenges in the Black Sea region and in Eastern Europe.



    The first Romanian judge at the International Court of Justice



    Romanias former foreign minister, the current presidential adviser Bogdan Aurescu was voted, on Thursday, a judge at the International Court of Justice, thus becoming the first Romanian to occupy this position. This represents a victory of the Romanian diplomacy, says the Romanian Foreign Ministry, pointing out that Romania promotes a foreign policy based on respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as for international law. In a congratulatory message, President Klaus Iohannis writes that this is a success of Romanian diplomacy, which reflects our firm commitment to the international order based on rules. The judges of the International Court of Justice are elected for nine years by the General Assembly and the UN Security Council, from a wider list of candidates. (LS)