Radio România Internațional

Tag: Iohannis

  • November 15, 2023 UPDATE

    November 15, 2023 UPDATE

    ECONOMY Romania will
    see its economic growth slowing down because of the high inflation, according
    to the European Commission’s autumn economic forecast. Romania’s GDP growth has
    been adjusted to 2.2%, as against 4.6% last year, because of an inflation rate
    above the EU average, of the low foreign demand and limited financing options. The
    inflation rate is expected to drop in the next 2 years, restoring the overall economic
    balance. In spite of the moderate economic growth at year end, the labour
    market remains stable. However, significant increases in salaries and pensions
    and the slight increase in governmental spending support a general rise in
    private consumption, although retail and services are on a downward trend and
    the industrial output is decreasing. On the other hand, tighter monetary policy
    and financing conditions have led to a significant slow-down in private sector
    loans, with a negative impact on investments. Romania’s real GDP growth rate is
    expected to reach 3.1% in 2024 and 3.4% in 2025, while the public deficit is
    predicted to stand at 6.3% of GDP this year, 5.3% in 2024 and 5.1% in 2025, as
    a result of the fiscal consolidation measures to be implemented as of January.


    PENSIONS The new pensions law drafted by the government will next
    Monday be discussed in the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making
    body for this piece of legislation, having already been passed by the Senate on
    Tuesday. The parliamentary majority formed by the Social Democrats and the
    Liberals says the law eliminates the inequalities in the system, while the
    opposition condemns the lack of funding sources to sustain the considerable
    pensions increases planned for next year. The new pensions law favours current
    pensioners and penalises those who are still working, the head of the National
    Trade Union Bloc Dumitru Costin said on Wednesday, after analysing the document.
    Costin also warns that the financial impact will be huge, and the extent to
    which it can be covered is unknown.


    PRESIDENT The
    president of Romania Klaus Iohannis Tuesday began his African tour with an
    official visit to Kenya. The tour, which also includes Tanzania, the Republic
    of Cabo Verde and Senegal, is the first political and diplomatic initiative at
    this level in the past 30 years, and aims to re-launch Romania’s relations with
    the countries on the African continent. At a joint press conference on Tuesday,
    president Iohannis emphasised the need for Romania to have its own medium and
    long term strategy for Africa based on concrete collaboration at government
    level, while Kenya’s president William Ruto spoke about the effects of the war
    in Ukraine for the African continent. Four agreements were signed in the fields
    of environmental protection and climate change, scientific cooperation, food
    safety and diplomatic training. On Wednesday, president Iohannis had a meeting
    with Kenya’s secretary for tourism and wildlife, Alfred Nganga Mutua, as part
    of a visit to the Nairobi National Park.


    REPATRIATION The
    foreign ministry in Bucharest said another 17 Romanian nationals and family
    members left the Gaza Strip via the Rafah checkpoint and are on Egyptian territory, waiting to be
    repatriated. The foreign ministry noted the evacuation was the result of
    complex efforts from an inter-institutional crisis cell, the Romanian embassy
    in Cairo and Romania’s Representation in Ramallah. 220 Romanian citizens and
    family members who have been evacuated from Gaza have arrived in Romania.


    AGEING Romania is one of the top 10 countries in the world in terms
    of population ageing rate, which is likely to put tremendous pressure on the
    country’s entire economic system, particularly on its healthcare and pension systems.
    The statement was made on Wednesday at the opening of a specialised congress in
    Bucharest. Sociological research indicates that 55% of the elderly people in
    Romania feel lonely, more than 30% of them only interact with 3-4 people every
    month, and 3 in 10 elderly people have no one to rely on in if necessary.



    MILITARY
    The Romanian Army Wednesday tested the operation of the Patriot surface-to-air missile
    system acquired by the Romanian Air Forces in 2020. The test was part of the PATRIOT
    SPARK 23 tactical exercise held these days at the Capu Midia shooting range in
    the south-east of the country. The Patriot system purchased by Romania is a
    state-of-the-art one, able to identify, track and neutralise any type of air
    threat. Attending the event were the PM Marcel Ciolacu, the Senate Speaker and
    former PM Nicolae Ciucă, and the defence minister Angel Tîlvăr. The Romanian
    Air Forces have so far acquired 3 other Patriot systems, which will be
    operational by the end of next year. Another 3 systems will be delivered to
    Romania under a USD 4 bln agreement. (AMP)

  • 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)


  • October 31, 2023

    October 31, 2023

    VOTE The Chamber of
    Deputies in Bucharest is today voting on the simple motion tabled by the
    opposition against Finance Minister Marcel Bolos. The opposition USR has been criticizing
    the fiscal measures endorsed by the government of late and has accused Minister
    Bolos of having promoted legislative initiatives at the expenses of the Romanian
    employees. In response Minister Bolos says the decisions made by the PSD-PNL
    coalition government are needed against an accentuated budget imbalance with a
    deficit of over 11 billion euros and a public debt reaching 160 billion euros.






    COMMISSIONER
    Romanian president Klaus Iohannis on Monday held talks with the European
    Commission Vice-president for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourova. According
    to a Facebook post of the presidential administration, high on the agenda were Romania’s
    accession to Schengen, the rule of law and reforms in the country’s legal system,
    as well as the support for Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
    Commissioner Jourova has also met Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and other
    ministers for talks over the digitization programmes part of the National Plan
    of Recovery and Resilience, AI and fighting misinformation.






    SALARIES In a special session today, the government in Bucharest has
    endorsed the minimum salaries in the fields of construction, agriculture and
    food industry. As of November 1, the minimum gross salary in the field of
    construction will see a rise of 14.6%, reaching the equivalent of 9 hundred
    euros. The rise will be of 14.53% up to 7 hundred Euros, in the country’s food
    and farm industries. According to official data, 590 thousand employees from
    agriculture and the food industry have been paid the minimum salary. And the
    latest government move is meant to allow the aforementioned categories of employees
    to remain unaffected by the elimination of the exemption from paying the health
    insurance, which is to come into effect as of November 1. We recall that, a new
    series of fiscal-budgetary amendments are to come into effect in Romania, on
    November 1.


    PLANES A first batch of the
    F-16 fighters the Netherlands donates to Ukraine will arrive at the training
    center set up in Romania in a fortnight – the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
    has announced. In a videoconference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr
    Zelensky, the Dutch official said the present situation in the Middle East must
    not and cannot distract the Netherlands from Ukraine’s fight against the
    Russian aggression. Reuters recalls that Denmark, Norway and Belgium have pledged
    F-16 jet fighters to Ukraine. Romania, the Netherlands and the US giant
    Lockheed Martin on August 29 signed a letter of intention for setting up a center
    for the training of the F-16 personnel. The aforementioned facility has been
    designed as a regional center for NATO countries at the air base in Fetesti,
    southern Romania, which will also benefit the Ukrainian pilots.

    ISRAEL
    Clashes continued in the Gaza Strip last night where explosions and machine gun
    fire was heard. Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes in the past days
    and its tanks have entered deep into the Palestinian territory, where for a
    short period of time they interrupted an evacuation route to the south.
    According to international publications, 600 thousand people could still be in
    the northern part of the Strip, and the UNO believes that most of them have
    taken refuge in the 10 hospitals in the area, which have received evacuation
    orders. According to Phillipe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee
    Agency, the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip were being subjected to
    forced displacement and collective punishment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
    Netanyahu has rejected the humanitarian agencies’ appeals for a ceasefire,
    arguing this would be tantamount to capitulation to Hamas and terrorism. During
    a military operation in Gaza, a young IDF woman held captive by Hamas has been
    liberated in what Prime Minister Netanyahu has described an emotional success adding
    that all efforts must be made to free all the hostages taken by Hamas.

    (bill)

  • October 17, 2023 UPDATE

    October 17, 2023 UPDATE

    ISRAEL — Romania remains a consistent state within its relations in the Middle East and maintains its position as a promoter of peace, but it will unconditionally stand by its allies in difficult moments, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Tuesday, at the end a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, in Israel. He pointed out that Romania strongly condemned what happened in Israel in the last few days, and that alongside with the international community it calls for the immediate release of all hostages and persons kidnapped and for refraining from any other act of aggression, especially against civilian targets. At the same time, Ciolacu called for the opening of humanitarian corridors in Gaza. In turn, Benjamin Netanyahu thanked for the solidarity Romania showed to Israel in the face of the Hamas attacks. In this context, Netanyahu assured his counterpart that the Israeli authorities would do everything in their power to help evacuate Romanians from the Gaza Strip. During his visit to Israel, Marcel Ciolacu also met with members of the Romanian community, which he assured of the full support of the government in Bucharest. The Romanian authorities have so far provided support for the safe repatriation of over 2,200 Romanian citizens from Israel and are further making efforts to offer consular assistance to Romanian citizens who ask for support to return to the country.




    COMMEMORATION — The prime ministers of Belgium and Sweden will pay tribute together on Wednesday to victims of Monday’s attack in Brussels, France Presse reports. The Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, wrote a message on a social network saying the two countries “weep together” for the victims – two Swedes, supporters of their national football team, who travelled to Brussels for the qualifying match to the European Championship, against the national team of Belgium. The Swedish PM, Ulf Kristofferson, announced his presence in Brussels for the commemoration. The perpetrator of the attack, a 45-year-old Tunisian, who lived in Belgium illegally, was shot dead by the Belgian police on Tuesday morning. After the “brutal terrorist attack”, as PM Alexander De Croo called it, Belgium raised the state of security alert to the highest level in the countrys capital, Brussels.



    GAS — Romania’s gas deposits are full, so if winter is mild, the country may get through the next period without having to resort to imports, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said. Moreover, Romania can support in this respect, if needed, the neighboring Republic of Moldova. On the other hand, Minister Burduja says the capped prices for energy and gas for consumers should be maintained, given that international markets have felt the effects of the security crisis in the Middle East.




    GRAIN — Ukraine exported 10.5 million tons of grain through the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta in the first nine months of the year, the port authority told Reuters on Tuesday. Overall, the port shipped over 25 million tons of grain between January and September 2023, the authority said, matching its previous annual record high. During his visit to Bucharest last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a ‘corridor’ would be soon be established to take Ukrainian grain to Romania via Moldova. The Romanian government has said that, with investment in infrastructure ongoing, it aims to double the monthly transit capacity for Ukrainian grain to 4 million tons, while port operators are also investing in equipment to increase loading speeds. Ukraine’s grain production in 2023 is likely to exceed 56 million tons, but Russia’s blocking its main Black Sea ports has affected deliveries.




    SUPPORT – Convened in a plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament voted on Tuesday in favor of further support for Ukraine worth 50 billion euros, for the 2024-2027 period. The funds are aimed for the “reconstruction and modernization” of the country. The Ukraine Facility is part of the Unions long-term budget review, which needs to be adjusted after multiple crises that have taken place since 2021. The EU has so far allocated 30 billion euros from its budget to support Ukraine after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Starting June 2022, Ukraine has the status of candidate country to EU accession.




    TEL AVIV — The U.S. President, Joe Biden, will travel to Israel on Wednesday to hold talks with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and to make it clear that Israel has the right to defend itself, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced. President Biden will reaffirm his solidarity with Israel, in the context of a ground offensive prepared by Israel against the Hamas militants in Gaza, Blinken has also said. According to the US Secretary of State, Biden will be informed about how Israel will conduct its operations in such a way as to minimize the loss of civilian lives and allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza without Hamas benefiting from it. (EE)

  • October 14, 2023

    October 14, 2023

    Conversation — Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, had a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, on Friday. According to the Presidential Administration, Klaus Iohannis condemned, once again, the unacceptable terrorist attacks against Israel and expressed regret that these violent acts resulted in numerous victims among innocent civilians. During the conversation, the two heads of state expressed their deep regret for the fact that two Romanian citizens are among the victims. Klaus Iohannis has given assurances to his Israeli counterpart that Bucharest is ready to provide emergency assistance at any time, if necessary, and thanked President Isaac Herzog for the support provided by the Israeli authorities to Romanian citizens, especially in terms of the repatriation, until present, of over 2,160 Romanian citizens in safe conditions. The Romanian Foreign Ministry states that the mobile consular team from the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Romanian Representative Office in Ramallah and the team of the rapid reaction unit of the Foreign Ministry crisis cell will continue to remain at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, to provide consular assistance to Romanian citizens at the airport.



    Israel — The Israeli Defense Forces announced today a new six-hour window, between 10:00 hours (07:00 GMT) and 16:00 hours (13:00 GMT) local time, during which Palestinians can safely leave the northern part of Gaza Strip. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. Israels order for residents to evacuate Gaza has been met with widespread criticism, and the UN has called for its cancellation, stressing that a “catastrophic situation” might occur. The Israeli militarys order for more than a million Palestinians to leave the northern enclave is seen as a sign that it is planning an imminent ground offensive.



    Kosovo — The Romanian mission in Kosovo has been supplemented with 130 soldiers, the National Defense Ministry announced. At this moment, approximately 210 Romanian soldiers are performing missions within the NATO KFOR operation. The decision to boost the Romanian forces was made following the authorization by the North-Atlantic Council to supplement the forces to manage the current situation in the Western Balkans. On the ground, in northern Kosovo, where tensions have been increasing for several months, the main Serbian party wants to organize elections as soon as possible. For almost a year, no Serb has worked in institutions such as the police or justice. All the Serbs resigned last November when the Pristina government announced it was banning the use of Serbian license plates. When the new Albanian mayors, elected with a turnout of less than 4%, went to their office, the demonstrations quickly degenerated into riots. Around 30 KFOR soldiers were injured in these clashes.



    Tourism — Romania will be promoted as a tourist destination for one month, between October 15 and November 15, on the British BBC television station. TV producer Charlie Ottley, known for his documentaries about Romania, such as “Wild Carpathia” and “Flavors of Romania” also collaborated in designing the campaign. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism points out that the purpose of the action is to increase the visibility of Romania as a tourist destination in Europe, with special focus on Great Britain. The ministry also mentions that the BBC is available in almost all countries of the world, the content being accessible in millions of hotel rooms, on planes, cruise ships and mobile devices.



    Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea (world number 26) will be the main favorite of the Transylvania Open (WTA 250) tournament, which starts on Monday, in Cluj-Napoca (north-west), after Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekic announced they were no longer participating in the competition, the organizers announced. The French player Garcia (10 WTA) and the Croatian Vekic (21 WTA) announced that they are withdrawing for medical reasons. There are five players from Romania in the main singles draw: Sorana Cîrstea, Patricia Ţig, Ana Bogdan, Jaqueline Cristian and two players who received wild cards: Gabriela Ruse and Miriam Bulgaru. The Transylvania Open, with total prize money worth nearly 260,000 dollars this year, has been designated the best tournament in the world in 2022 in the WTA 250 category.



    Pilgrimage – More than 200,000 people have so far passed before the relics of Saint Parascheva and Saint Hierarch Andrew of Crete, placed in a special canopy in the courtyard of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iasi (northeast). The largest number of pilgrims is expected, however, today, when the Holy Liturgy also takes place. Considered the protector of the suffering people, and also of the eastern region of the country, Saint Parascheva is celebrated, on October 14, throughout the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate. (LS)

  • Drugs, in the attention of the Supreme Defense Council

    Drugs, in the attention of the Supreme Defense Council

    For decades, Romania was said to be immune to the scourge of drugs, which were already wreaking havoc in Western Europe and North America for a long time. Until 1989, the police state created by the communist dictatorship was invulnerable to drug trafficking. Later, socio-economic theories emerged, according to which Romanians were too poor, when they escaped communism, to afford spending money on drugs. This illusion was gradually shattered and today, in the poorest neighborhoods of Bucharest, which residents themselves call ghettos, drugs are sold on the street, in broad daylight. The large festivals of techno music and related genres, such as Untodl (in Cluj, in the northwest) or Neversea (in Constanța, southeast), give the police, every time, the opportunity to announce how many consumers they catch and how many dealers they detain.



    A dismantled drug network in a prestigious high school in Bucharest had among its members the offspring of an employee with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of one with the Prosecutors Office. This week, a judge with the Criminal Section of the Court in Suceava has been arrested for 30 days, on charges of bribery, drug possession and disclosure of information not intended for the public, which she apparently gave traffickers. However, the strongest shock felt in society took place in August, when a young drug-driver, from a very rich family, killed two people in a car accident, in a Black Sea resort.



    Following these terrible events, Romania’s Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis, decided, on Thursday, to set up an inter-institutional working group to effectively prevent and combat the risks generated by drug trafficking and consumption. It will be made up of state secretaries, representatives of the Romanian Intelligence Service, prosecutors and anti-drug specialists, all coordinated by the Government. This is, according to the media, the first time that drug trafficking and consumption are approached as major risks to individual and national security.



    The group will draw up a joint action plan, with clear objectives, measures and responsibilities, for the effective prevention and combating of the risks generated by drug traffic and consumption. Operational working groups will also be established at county level, given that this problem is present everywhere in Romania. The Government will analyze the legal framework related to drug trafficking and consumption and will formulate proposals regarding the revision of normative acts, in order to eliminate loopholes. Also on Thursday, the Government announced that the number of prosecutors with the Directorate for the Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) will be increased by another 25, tasked with combating drug trafficking in Bucharest, Ilfov county and other sensitive locations across the country. (EE)

  • October 11, 2023

    October 11, 2023

    Visit — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis is visiting Hungary today at the invitation of his Hungarian counterpart, Katalin Novák. It is the first official visit to Budapest by a Romanian president in the last 14 years. Romania’s Presidential Administration explained that the visit takes place in the context of increased dynamics of high-level contacts, after the official visit made by Katalin Novák to Bucharest, in September 2022, and the participation in the 8th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, hosted by the President of Romania in September 2023. The Strategic Partnership and its development prospects, as well as the concrete ways to deepen the bilateral dialogue, are on the agenda of talks. At the same time, the two presidents will analyze the current situation at the regional, European and global levels, through the lens of the war launched by Russia against Ukraine, with an emphasis on the consequences for security, energy, food and distribution chain. As regards the European agenda, they will discuss the priorities of the Presidency of the EU Council, which Hungary will hold in the second part of 2024.



    Israel – The US has promised Israel all the support it needs to respond to Hamas actions. A first plane loaded with American ammunition has already landed in Israel, and the Secretary of State Antony Blinken is going today to meet with Israeli leaders to find out how they can be better supported, including in the perspective of a ground offensive in Gaza. Last night, the US President Joe Biden strongly condemned the attacks and reiterated that Israel has every right to defend itself against what he called “the absolute evil unleashed by Palestinian terrorists”. The death toll after Saturdays massive attack launched by the Palestinian group Hamas is increasing, the number of Israeli dead reaching 1,200. The Israeli army revealed to the international media the horrors perpetrated by the terrorists in a small Jewish settlement near the border, where entire families, including dozens of children, were killed, and their homes were looted and set on fire.



    Parliament – The two chambers of Romania’s Parliament, gathered in a joint session, adopted today a Declaration regarding the terrorist attacks against Israel and the civilian population. According to the document, the parliamentarians express their full solidarity with the State of Israel, strongly condemn the attacks of the terrorist organization Hamas, the crimes and violence unleashed on the civilian population and express their deep regret for the victims of these attacks. On the other hand, the Romanian ambassador to Israel, Radu Ioanid, stated that the situation of the Romanians in Israel is under control. He pointed out that there are hundreds of repatriation requests per day, and the flights that transport them are operated by the national company TAROM, as well as by other private companies. Radu Ioanid also recalled that Romanian Foreign Ministry teams went to the airport in Tel Aviv to provide assistance to those who have problems.



    Pilgrimage — As of Sunday more than 72,000 people have already passed in front of the shrine with the relics of Saint Parascheva, which was taken out in the yard of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iaşi, the saint being considered the protector of the eastern region of Romania and of the needy. The Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates Saint Parascheva on October 14, which is why, every year, around this day, Iasi becomes the largest pilgrimage center in the country and equally in Central and Eastern Europe. Many people from the country and abroad come to pray at the relics of Saint Parascheva and of other relics of saints specially brought for the pilgrimage. This year, it was decided to bring to Iasi the relics of Saint Andrew of Crete.



    Declaration – The presidents of Romania and Ukraine, Klaus Iohannis and Volodimir Zelenski, signed, on Tuesday, in Bucharest, a political declaration according to which they want to raise bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership. The Ukrainian leader, who paid his first visit to Romania since the beginning of the war, thanked for the help given to his country. Klaus Iohannis has assured him that Romania will continue to support Ukraine at all levels, including military.



    IMF – In the latest report published on Tuesday the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates for Romania an economic growth rate of 2.2% this year, compared to 2.4% as previously estimated. Regarding the next year, the IMF anticipates a growth rate of 3.8%. The average annual inflation rate expected by the international financial institution for Romania is 10.7% in 2023 and 5.8% in 2024. An IMF mission in Bucharest recently announced that the deficit is to be 6% this year and 5% next year.



    Pensions – On Wednesday, the Romanian Senate gave a favorable vote for the modification of the law on special pensions, by putting it in agreement with the decision of the Constitutional Court of Romania. The bill will also be re-examined by the Chamber of Deputies, as a decision-making body. The Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has recently stated that the amendments made to this law end the anomalies regarding the payment of pensions higher than the earnings during the period of activity, enjoyed by some professional categories. At the same time, the Speaker of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, stated that the law on special pensions had to be finalized in Parliament within two weeks, pointing that it will be a solution that must be assumed politically so that Romania can benefit from the money from payment request number 3 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In August, the Constitutional Court decided to send back to Parliament the law amending the special pensions, after declaring some articles unconstitutional. (LS)

  • Volodimir Zelenski, primit la Palatul Cotroceni

    Volodimir Zelenski, primit la Palatul Cotroceni


    Președintele Ucrainei, Volodimir Zelenski, a sosit astăzi la București, pentru prima oară de la invazia trupelor rusești. Șeful de stat ucrainean s-a întâlnit cu președintele Iohannis cu care a abordat teme legate de securitatea zonală.



    La finalul discuțiilor de la Palatul Cotroceni, președintele ucrainean a declarat: “Mulțumesc României pentru ajutorul acordat Ucrainei în această perioadă dură. România ne-a acordat sprijin și militar, si umanitar și a ales Ucraina în cel mai dificil moment din istoria noastră.”


    Zelenski a menționat și dialogul purtat pe tema securității în zona Mării Negre:


    “Am discutat despre situația de pe front, despre solicitările noastre militare. Vor fi noutăți despre artilerie și apărare antiaeriană. Dronele rusești sunt un pericol nu doar pentru statul nostru, ci pentru toți. Trebuie să facem tot posibilul ca Rusia să nu poată transforma într-o Dunărea sau Mărea Neagră într-o zonă moartă.”



    La rândul său, președintele Iohannis a reiterat sprijinul României pentru Ucraina până la înfrângerea trupelor rusești:


    “Încă din primele clipe ale acestei agresiuni, care demonstrează că Rusia rămâne principala amenințare de securitate pentru continentul european și în regiunea Mării Negre. Susținerea Ucrainei reprezintă un interes strategic al României. Consolidarea securității Ucrainei înseamnă consolidarea securității României. Susținem astfel lupta pentru valorile fundamentale ale lumii în care trăim”, a spus Klaus Iohannis.



    Președintele român a mai precizat că Ucraina va beneficia în continuare de ajutor pentru exporturile de cereale: “Am reafirmat angajamentul României de a lucra alături de partenerii noștri internaționali pentru a facilita exporturile de cereale ucrainene către piețele globale. Astfel, susținem economia ucraineană și nevoile urgente ale statelor vulnerabile. S-a agreat deja dublarea capacității lunare de tranzit prin porturile românești la 4 milioane de tone de produse agricole.”



    Cei doi șefi de stat au semnat o declarație politică, potrivit căreia relația bilaterală este ridicată la nivel de parteneriat strategic.


  • October 9, 2023 UPDATE

    October 9, 2023 UPDATE

    Visit — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will receive, on Tuesday, at the Cotroceni Palace, his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, who is paying an official visit to Romania. According to the Romanian Presidential Administration, the visit reconfirms the continuation of Romanias unconditional support for Ukraine, in the context of Russias illegal war against this country, as well as the special nature of the relationship between the two states, its potential and the need to discuss, at the highest level, the projects and themes of common interest. “The in-depth political consultations will allow the analysis of the extensive measures decided and implemented by Romania in support of Ukraine, in order to strengthen them, as well as the discussion of the security situation in the region and at the Black Sea and the steps necessary for its management”, the quoted source also stated. Klaus Iohannis will also focus on “constructive and pragmatic approaches in the priority areas of bilateral cooperation and common interest, especially on the expansion of cross-border connections, the development of economic relations, the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, as well as the full respect of the rights of persons belonging to minorities national”.



    Meeting — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis ended his four-day state visit to Portugal on Monday, with a meeting with Prime Minister Antonio Costa. Two memoranda of understanding in the fields of energy and investments and trade were signed in the presence of the two dignitaries. Also on Monday, Iohannis received the key to the city of Lisbon, in a ceremony that took place at the Municipal Palace. He stated that the successful development of the Portuguese capital remains a source of real inspiration and that the exchange of good practices is fundamental for development at the national level as well as at the level of regions and cities. Klaus Iohannis said that the exemplary relations between Romania and Portugal are strengthened by dynamic exchanges at the local level and by intense cooperation with the Lisbon City Hall. The Romanian president recalled that emblematic figures of Romanian spirituality and culture lived in this city, in the interwar period, such as ‘Mircea Eliade, a well-known historian of religions, and Lucian Blaga, a great poet and philosopher’.



    Trilateral – PM Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday in Varna, Bulgaria, that during the Romania – Bulgaria – Greece trilateral meeting the 3 countries agreed to implement a joint action plan aimed at significant development in trilateral cooperation in sectors such as transports, energy, trade and security. “In the presence of EC officials, of the Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Bulgarian PM Nikolay Denkov, we have reiterated Romanias ambition of quickly becoming a Schengen member state and an influential economic player in the region,” Marcel Ciolacu said. The Romanian official also added that Romania, in a partnership with Bulgaria and Greece, may have a greater influence in the EU, promoting its central role in the reconstruction of Ukraine and its willingness to see the Republic of Moldova and Western Balkans countries joining the European bloc as soon as possible.



    Tel Aviv — The Israeli army has announced that it has taken control of all the cities near the border with the Gaza Strip and is preparing new actions, after the terrorist attacks of Hamas. The authorities in Tel Aviv promise a total siege in the Gaza Strip, from where thousands of rockets have left for Israel. In addition, says the defense minister, a siege is imposed on this territory: no electricity, no water, no gas – everything is closed. On the other hand, Reuters announces that Hamas is negotiating the release of Israeli women and children taken hostage in exchange for 36 Palestinian women and children who are in Israeli prisons. So far, it is not clear how many Israelis were abducted and taken to Gaza. According to the latest data, as a result of the escalation of the conflict, approximately 500 Palestinians were killed and 2,700 were injured. In Israel, over 700 people were killed and over 2,200 injured. Israels security cabinet declared a state of war.



    Repatriation — A 22-year-old Romanian died on Monday in Israel. He had dual citizenship and was part of the Israeli Defense Forces, announced the Romanian Foreign Ministry, firmly condemning the attacks against the Israeli population. On the other hand, another 780 Romanian citizens have announced that they want to leave Israel, said the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. They will be brought by the TAROM airline, and the number of repatriated Romanians will thus rise to 1,600. The Foreign Ministry reiterates the recommendation addressed to Romanian citizens who intend to travel to Israel to reschedule their trip and follow the “Travel Alerts” section on the institutions website. A team of the ministrys Crisis Cell Rapid Response Unit was sent to Israel to support repatriation efforts.



    Commemoration – In Romania, the National Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Holocaust was marked on Monday. On October 9, 1941, the deportation of Jews from Bessarabia and Bukovina to Transnistria began. The Holocaust was recognized by the Romanian authorities in 2004, based on the conclusions drawn up by the committee led by the Nobel prize winner, Elie Wiesel. The Jews and Roma who died during the Holocaust were commemorated in Bucharest, at the memorial built in their memory. (LS)

  • October 9, 2023

    October 9, 2023

    WAR Clashes were still reported on Monday between the
    Israeli army and Palestinian fighters infiltrated in the south of the country
    from Gaza, after Israel reportedly hit over 500 targets of Hamas and the
    Islamic Jihad organisations during the night. The Israeli defence forces have
    full control over the southern part of the country, attacked by the Palestinian
    Hamas forces, an Israeli military spokesman said on Monday, quoted by AFP and
    Reuters. This is the 3rd day of violent clashes that have so far
    killed around 1,200 people, over 700 of whom Israelis and at least 493
    Palestinians, EFE reported on Monday. Israel’s security cabinet declared war following the attacks of the Palestinian
    organisation Hamas, allowing the government to undertake significant military
    activities, the PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday.


    ISRAEL On Monday 96 Romanian nationals were repatriated from Israel, via
    Jordan, on a Tarom flight, the foreign ministry announced. Another 245 Romanian citizens were repatriated on Sunday, including 2 pilgrim
    groups. The foreign ministry reiterates its recommendation that Romanian
    nationals should reschedule their planned trips to Israel and monitor the Travel
    Alerts section on its home page. Meanwhile, a mobile consular team from the
    Romanian embassy in Israel and from Romania’s representation office in Ramallah is at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv
    to provide assistance to the Romanians there. A unit from the ministry’s emergency
    response team has also been deployed to Israel, to help in the repatriation
    efforts.


    VISIT The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis is on a visit to Portugal,
    where he is scheduled to have talks today with PM António Costa, with the president
    of the Assembly of the Republic Augusto Santos Silva, and with Portuguese MPs.
    On Saturday, Iohannis had a meeting with his Portuguese counterpat, Marcelo
    Rebelo de Sousa, discussing the war in neighbouring Ukraine, in which context
    he reiterated thanks for Portugal’s substantial contribution to the defence and
    deterrence posture on NATO’s eastern flank. The presence on Portuguese troops
    in Romania is a strong signal of Portugal’s solidarity and support to
    strengthening Romania’s security, president Iohannis said. On the other hand,
    the president of Portugal said his country was supporting Romania’s Schengen
    and OECD accession.


    MEETING PM Marcel Ciolacu said today in Varna, Bulgaria, that during the
    Romania – Bulgaria – Greece trilateral meeting the 3 countries agreed to
    implement a joint action plan aimed at significant development in trilateral
    cooperation in sectors such as transports, energy, trade and security. In the
    presence of EC officials, of the Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Bulgarian
    PM Nikolay Denkov, we have reiterated Romania’s ambition of quickly becoming a
    Schengen member state and an influential economic player in the region, Marcel
    Ciolacu said. The Romanian official also added that Romania, in a partnership
    with Bulgaria and Greece, may have a greater influence in the EU, promoting its
    central role in the reconstruction of Ukraine and its willingness to see the
    Republic of Moldova and Western Balkans countries joining the European bloc as
    soon as possible.


    HOLOCAUST Romania marks today the National Holocaust Remembrance Day. On
    October 9, 1941, the deportation of Jews from Bessarabia and Bukovina to
    Transdniester started. The Holocaust was recognised by the Romanian authorities
    in 2004, based on the conclusions reached by a commission headed by Nobel prize
    winner Elie Wiesel. The Jews and Roma who died during the Holocaust were
    commemorated in Bucharest, while Timişoara is hosting a concert organised by
    the local Jewish community.


    SWIMMING The Romanian athlete David Popovici, the defending European
    champion in the 100 and 200m freestyle races, won all the 4 short course competitions
    in which he took part this weekend in Nyon (Switzerland). On Sunday he finished
    the 100m and 50m freestyle events in the first position, with 47.22s and 21.83s
    respectively, after on Saturday he had won the 400 and 200m freestyle races. The
    competition in Switzerland is training opportunity ahead of the European short
    course championships scheduled in December in Otopeni, near Bucharest. (AMP)

  • October 7, 2023 UPDATE

    October 7, 2023 UPDATE

    PILGRIMAGE – The annual pilgrimage
    to the relics of Saint Parascheva, the largest religious pilgrimage in Romania,
    started Saturday morning in Iasi, eastern Romania. The feast of St. Parascheva
    is celebrated every year on October 14. People go to pray at the Metropolitan
    Cathedral in Iaşi, where the relics are kept. The coffin carrying the Saint’s
    relics was taken out of the Metropolitan Cathedral early Saturday and placed on
    a large table decorated with flowers in the cathedral’s courtyard. Tens of
    thousands of believers from Romania and abroad take part in this annual
    pilgrimage.






    ATTACK – Israel and the Gaza Strip are
    at war again, after the Hamas group on Saturday launched a surprise military
    offensive, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating fighters into the
    Israeli territory. Previously, the leader of the armed wing of the Palestinian
    movement had announced the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The attack, that
    made numerous victims, attracted many international reactions, including from
    Romania, which firmly condemned it. Our thoughts go to the families of
    the victims and to those who are attacked, President Klaus Iohannis wrote
    on Twitter. The State of Israel will win every time in the face of terror
    and those who try to destroy it, the president of the Federation of
    Jewish Communities in Romania, MP Silviu Vexler, said. The Romanian Foreign
    Affairs Ministry emphasized the sovereign right of the state of Israel to
    self-defense. At the same time, the ministry raised the travel alert level for
    Israel, Romanians being advised to reschedule their trips to the area or, if
    they are already there, to follow the instructions of the local authorities,
    take shelter in buildings and leave the country when the situation allows it.
    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that the Romanian authorities are looking
    for solutions to bring home as quickly as possible approximately 790 Romanians
    who are on pilgrimage to Israel.






    WAR – The armed branch of the
    Palestinian group Hamas stated, on Saturday evening, that its fighters are
    still engaged gun battles in 25 locations in Israel. According to the Israeli
    authorities, at least a hundred people were killed by the Palestinian fighters
    who entered the country. In the Gaza Strip, the response of the Israeli army
    has allegedly caused about 200 deaths and over 1,600 wounded, according to the
    Ministry of Health of the so-called Hamas administration. Under the cover of
    thousands of rockets, Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel using
    motorcycles, paragliders and boats. The Israeli radio reported that 35
    Israeli soldiers were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. According to Radio Romania’s
    correspondent in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video
    message that his country is at war.






    VISIT – Romania’s President, Klaus
    Iohannis, discussed, on Saturday, in Lisbon, with his Portuguese counterpart,
    Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, about the war in neighboring Ukraine, in which context
    he thanked the Portuguese authorities for their country’s substantial
    contribution, with troops, to the consolidation of NATO’s deterrence and
    defense posture on the eastern flank. The presence of the Portuguese
    military in Romania is a strong signal of Portugal’s solidarity with and
    support for the consolidation of Romania’s security, President Iohannis
    said. Talks also focused on the increased security risks in the Black Sea
    region, as a result of the numerous Russian attacks on the Ukrainian ports on
    the Danube, aimed to impact Ukraine’s ability to export its agricultural
    products Iohannis said, adding that additional defense measures were taken
    through NATO and that the protection of the Romanian territory and citizens is
    ensured.






    BUDGET
    – This autumn’s budget revision will take place after the Constitutional Court
    rules on the fiscal-budgetary measures for which the Government has recently
    assumed responsibility, PM Marceal Ciolacu said. He specified that the budget
    revision is urgent, because the Ministry of Transport in particular needs
    substantial sums for the co-financing of large infrastructure projects, given
    that the Executive’s priority is to absorb more than 95% of the European funds.
    The Romanian PSD-PNL ruling coalition assumed responsibility, in Parliament,
    for a thorough fiscal-budgetary reform, with the purpose of reducing budget
    spending and ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s finances. A
    part of the opposition is against the new measures and notified the Constitutional
    Court.




    PARIS – Romania’s national rugby team
    will play, on Sunday, October 8, against Tonga, in Lille (north), their last
    match in Group B of the World Cup in France. In the first three games, Romania
    lost to Ireland, South Africa, and Scotland.
    (EE)











  • רומניה הביעה סולידריות מלאה עם ישראל

    רומניה הביעה סולידריות מלאה עם ישראל

    רומניה מגנה בחריפות את התקפות הרקטות שהתרחשו בשבת בבוקר נגד ישראל, אמר הנשיא קלאוס יוהניס. בזמנים הנוראים האלה, אנחנו סולידריים באופן מלא עם ישראל. מחשבותינו מגיעות למשפחות הקורבנות ולמותקפים, כתב נשיא רומניה.


    ראש הממשלה מרסל צולאקו גינה ביום שבת את מתקפות הרקטות נגד ישראל, ואמר כי רומניה ממתייצבת לצד ישראל. אנו שולחים את תנחומינו למשפחות ומבקשים שהפיגועים הללו ייפסקו לאלתר, כתב ראש הממשלה.


    משרד החוץ הרומני (MAE) גינה בחריפות את התקפות הרקטות של חמאס על שטח מדינת ישראל, נגד אוכלוסייה אזרחית, חדירות טרור ולקיחת בני ערובה. משרד החוץ הרומני הביע חרטה עמוקה על איבוד חיי הנפגעים מטרור ושיגר תנחומים למשפחות השכולות ואיחולים להחלמה מהירה לפצועים. המשרד הדגיש את זכותה הריבונית של ישראל להגנה עצמית וגינה את הטרור על כל צורותיו.


    סנטור PSD טיטוס קורלצאן, נשיא ועדת מדיניות החוץ של הסנאט הרומני, הביע סולידריות מלאה עם העם הישראלי ועם מדינת ישראל, וגינה את פעולות ארגון הטרור חמאס. אני מגנה בתוקף את הפיגוע הטרור והרצחני הזה, אמר קורלצאן. הוא הוסיף כי אסור שיהיו פשרות במאבק בטרור הבינלאומי, ועל הקהילה הדמוקרטית הבינלאומית להתבטא ולפעול, בגבולות המשפט הבינלאומי, בתיאום הדוק עם הרשויות הישראליות, כמה שיותר מהר.


    סילביו וקסלר, נשיא הפדרציה של הקהילות היהודיות ברומניה, הכריז שישראל תנצח בכל פעם במלחמה נגד הטרור ונגד אלה שמנסים לפגוע בה.קואליציה של ארגוני פשיעה וטרור מנסה שוב לפגוע בקיום מדינת ישראל. הם ייכשלו וישלמו את העלות עבור הפעולות הללו. שנאה מתועבת ומחרידה מכוונת כלפי חפים מפשע, ביום שבת זה שהוא חג שמחת תורה, כתב וקסלר. הפדרציה של הקהילות היהודיות ברומניה ניצבת לצד עם ישראל ולצד כל קורבן הפעולות הפליליות הללו, אבל מעל הכל אנחנו סולידריים עם כל אלה שנלחמים ברגעים אלו להגנת היהודים והדמוקרטיה בעולם.


    ההתאחדות הציונית ברומניה ASR, הביעה סולידריות ותמיכתה במדינת ישראל ובכל הפעולות שתבצע ממשלת ישראל, פעולות שמטרתן השבת השקט בישראל, הגנה על שלמותה הטריטוריאלית והחזרת והביטחון לאזרחי ישראל, בטחון שנפגע קשה מפיגועי הטרור, שבוצעו מהיבשה ומהאוויר, היום, ביום שבת ויום חג שמחת תורה. אנו ניצבים לצד כל הנפגעים, לצד כל הישראלים שנמצאים תחת אש ובמיוחד לצד צהל וכוחות הבטחון שפועלים כדי למגר את ארגוני הרוצחים. בהזדמנות שו קורים לקהילה הבינלאומית לפסיק לתמוך ולממן, ישירות או בעקיפין, את ארגוני הטרור בפלסטינים. לסיום אנו מודים לשלטונות רומניה על המהירות שבה הם הגיבו ועל תמיכתן במדינת ישראל, כתב מקסימיליאן מרקו כץ, סגן ראש ההתאחדות הציונית ברומניה, בהודעתו.

  • October 5, 2023

    October 5, 2023

    PRIZE The winner of the
    Nobel Prize in literature is to be announced today. Last year, the recipient
    was French writer Annie Ernaux for the courage and clinical acuity with which
    she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal
    memory. The 2023 Nobel season will continue with the peace prize on October 6.
    The Riksbank Sveriges prize in economic sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel will
    be announced on October 9.








    IMF The priorities of the Romanian government should
    be to improve tax collection at the state budget and the elimination of the
    fiscal exemptions, the IMF experts said in Bucharest at the end of their
    periodical assessment mission. The IMF delegation has in the past two weeks assessed
    Romania’s fiscal and economic policies, forecasting a 2.3% economic growth, a
    budget deficit of 6% and an inflation rate, expected to go down from 7% to 4%,
    but at the end of the next year.






    SUMMIT Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis went to Granada to
    participate in the 3rd European Political Community Summit.
    According to the presidential administration, high on the talks agenda are
    digital transition, artificial intelligence and security. Iohannis will
    co-preside together with the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, a series
    of round table talks on environment-related issues, and climate change.
    Tomorrow Iohannis will be attending the informal meeting of the European
    Council, hosted in Granada by the Spanish presidency of the European Union. The
    meeting’s main objective is the launch of the reflection process over the EU’s
    future strategic agenda and some issues related to defence, resilience and
    competitiveness, the EU’s global commitment, migration and enlargement.








    ACCIDENT A family of two Romanians with two children residing in
    Germany is among the victims of the road accident involving a bus near Venice, which
    left 21 dead and 15 wounded. The vehicle fell off a bridge and caught fire. All
    the dead have been identified and the municipality decreed three days of
    mourning on Wednesday. Among those killed there are a baby and two Romanian girls,
    13 and 8 years old. The two and their parents were spending their holiday in
    Mestre. The real cause of the accident remains unknown; it’s either the driver was
    ill or he was talking on the phone. The prosecutor’s office in Venice has
    opened an investigation into the accident.




    (bill)

  • October 3, 2023

    October 3, 2023


    SUPPORT Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu has today spoken in Kyiv about the importance of carrying on the EU multidimensional support for Ukraine invaded by the Russian troops, including through the creation of a military fund within the European Peace Facility. The Romanian official has accused the ongoing Russian attacks against the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, close to Romania’s borders and underlined the need for a long-term strategic regional approach to also include the Republic of Moldova. On Monday, Luminita Odobescu attended the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers in Kyiv.



    WALL The peaceful reunification of Germany took place 33 years ago today, in 1990, almost a year after the fall of the Berlin wall. The day of the German Unity was celebrated on Tuesday night during a reception where president Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu highlighted among other things Germany’s consistent support for Romania’s accession to Schengen. Germany is Romania’s most important trade partner and the second biggest investor in the Romanian economy. Bilateral trade exchanges last year exceeded 40 billion euros and over 25 thousand companies with German capital have been registered in Romania.



    SPORT Romania’s artistic gymnastics team has qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, after coming in the 8th position during the qualifiers of the 52nd edition of the World Championship in Antwerp, Belgium. This performance has put the Romanian women team back into the game after a break of 12 years, the last time they competed in an Olympic Games edition was in London, in 2012. 12 teams can qualify for the Paris Olympics and the United States, Britain and Canada have already booked plane tickets.



    DRILL The nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, south-eastern Romania, is today hosting a nuclear emergency exercise called Wallachia 2023. The exercise, which simulates a severe nuclear accident, has been staged by the National Committee for the Control of the Nuclear Activities and is benefitting from support from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. The exercise will test the response capabilities of all the institutions involved as well as the assistance received from international partners. Wallachia 2023 is aimed at improving nuclear security and safety in Romania, increasing resilience to disasters and preparing an appropriate response to nuclear accidents and has been funded through the Norwegian financial mechanism.


    (bill)

  • Russia has got the opposite effect

    Russia has got the opposite effect

    Romania is the EU and NATO member with the
    longest border with Ukraine and also a Black Sea riparian country, a region
    affected by the present war, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis told the
    students of the prestigious Columbia University where he was attending the
    World Leaders Forum.


    For this reason, Iohannis went on to say,
    Romania’s prospect over the impact of the war in its strategic vicinity and at
    global level is relevant. According to Iohannis, Russia expected a weak international
    community and a Ukraine, which was supposed to comply with Kremlin’s demands. However,
    through their threats and the subsequent use of force, the Russians have got
    the opposite effect. According to Radio Romania special correspondent, president
    Iohannis says that by invading Ukraine, Russia tries to bring back revisionism to
    international relations as well as the spheres of influence in the global and
    regional politics.


    Moscow, he says, is using outdated concepts
    such as the so-called right of the great powers in order to impose the foreign
    policy directives on smaller states and is at the same time attacking
    democratic values and the rule-based world order.


    The Romanian president has also told the
    students that Romania, as a strategic partner of the US and a NATO ally is now
    at the highest security level in its recent history. We are now having a more
    coherent approach focused on several domains concerning defence in the Eastern
    Flank. We have resorted to concrete measures to step up cooperation with other
    Black Sea allies, mainly with the United States of America – Iohannis went on to say.


    However, Ukraine must win the war commenced
    by Russian Federation and no peace can exist without the restoration of the
    independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of this country. All those
    who committed atrocious crimes in Ukraine and against Ukraine must be brought before
    court. And all the countries with the same outlook have agreed that we must carry
    on our support for Ukraine – the Romanian president pointed out. Both Ukraine,
    and the neighboring Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet Romanian speaking
    country, must receive complete support for their integration into the European
    Union, Iohannis added. Earlier during the General Assembly of the UN the head
    of the Romanian state said this war proved that the Black Sea needs more
    attention at the global level, being of strategic importance for the
    Transatlantic security. He pledged that Romania would continue to ease the shipments
    of the Ukrainian grain to the world’s markets as they are essential for the
    world food security.


    (bill)