Radio România Internațional

Tag: Israel

  • Romanian reactions to the attack against Israel

    Romanian reactions to the attack against Israel

    Iran’s attack against Israel on Saturday night, when it fired hundreds of drones, 99% of which were intercepted and which caused no significant damages, crossed however a line – Iran had never before, in the decades of antagonism between the two states, launched an attack inside Israel.

     

    The response had been expected for a number of days, after seven Iranian elite military were killed in Syria on 1st April in a strike against the Iranian consulate in Damascus attributed to Israel. It is not clear why Israel might have carried out the strike in Syria, commentators say, but Iran was forced to respond to save face internationally and demonstrate its power in the region. The tactic chosen by Tehran, and which is similar to that used by Russia in Ukraine, was to try to overwhelm the Israeli defence system by firing a large number of projectiles. Except the Israeli defence system is much more effective and was also aided by allied American and British fighter jets.

     

    Tehran says the matter is now concluded. What will happen next depends on whether Israel itself chooses to retaliate or not. In a first reaction, the country’s war cabinet, which met during the night at an underground bunker at the headquarters in Tel Aviv, empowered prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defence minister Yoav Galant and minister Benny Gantz to prepare the reaction to Iran’s attack.

     

    “Neither the region, nor the world can afford more war”, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday, calling for “maximum restraint” at a Security Council meeting that assembled after the attack. Leaders from around the world condemned Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel. US president Joe Biden reiterated his country’s unflinching support for Israel and Russia called on both sides to show restraint. With the stated aim to contribute to defusing the situation and consolidate security in the region, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers, to take place on Tuesday and discuss the attack.

     

    In Bucharest, president Klaus Iohannis posted that Romania condemned Iran’s attack against Israel in the strongest terms. “We stand in full solidarity with the Israeli people in these difficult moments. We call for avoiding further regional escalation”, he said, a sentiment shared by prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who also emphasised Romania’s solidarity with Israel: “We firmly condemn this attack and support Israel’s right to ensure the security of its citizens”. Last but not least, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, on Sunday conveyed a message to the Patriarch of Jerusalem voicing his concern about the escalation of the military conflict.

     

  • February 7, 2024

    February 7, 2024

    EU STRASBOURG The unity of the UE is being
    tested, said the president of Romania in his address before the European
    Parliament on Wednesday, as
    part of a debate in the This is Europe series. According to the Romanian
    official, instability has reached alarming levels in the EU. The European
    Union must improve the efficiency of its decision-making processes, and Romania
    is fully engaged in this effort, he added. As for the war in neighbouring
    Ukraine, Klaus Iohannis said Europeans must stand by Ukraine and its people. Prior to the address, the Romanian official had
    a meeting with the president of the EP, Roberta Metsola, and discussed Romania’s
    Schengen accession, the war in Ukraine and the neighbouring R. of Moldova. Romania’s
    full Schengen accession as soon as possible, with its land borders as well,
    will considerably strengthen the Union and its security and will facilitate
    cohesion and cooperation among member states, the Romanian official argued. In
    turn, Metsola said Europe would be stronger with Romania in the Eurozone and the
    Schengen area, and told Romanians it was important for them to take part in
    June’s elections for the EP and not to take Europe for granted.


    MOLDOVA For the Republic of Moldova, carrying on and
    consolidating strategic relations with neighbouring Romania in all sectors is a
    priority, was the message brought to Bucharest by Chişinău’s new foreign
    minister, Mihai Popşoi. He had talks with his Romanian counterpart, Luminiţa
    Odobescu, and was also received by PM Marcel Ciolacu, who emphasised the interest
    in developing joint projects benefitting the citizens of both states. Romania will
    continue to support Moldova in its EU accession negotiations, the Romanian
    official promised.


    FARMERS
    The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced
    the EC was dropping a proposal to halve the use of pesticides across the EU,
    and explained this had become a symbol of polarisation. The move seems to be a
    concession to the farmers protesting in many EU member states. Meanwhile, the
    EC proposed last week a partial derogation from rules obliging farmers to keep
    certain areas non-productive, and a limitation of Ukrainian imports, while also
    promising to streamline the Common Agricultural Policy.


    NAVAL The Damen Shipyard in Galaţi (south-eastern
    Romania) will build a state-of-the-art multifunctional vessel for the
    Portuguese Navy. The ship will be able to conduct ocean research missions,
    search and rescue as well as emergency aid missions, and will be equipped with a
    UAV launching system. Damen Group was awarded the construction works following
    an EU call for tenders. Funding will be provided under the EU Recovery and Resilience
    Mechanism.


    MIDDLE EAST The US secretary of state
    Antony Blinken is in Israel today, at a time when Tel Aviv is analysing
    the response given by Hamas to a proposed truce, including hostage releases,
    after 4 months of war that have seen countless victims. Blinken, whose country
    is a close ally of Israel, said he would discuss the Hamas answer with the
    Israeli authorities today, as part of his 5th tour in the Middle
    East since October 7. The US secretary of
    state, who has visited Saudi Arabia, Egypt and
    Qatar, is to travel next to the West Bank, an autonomous Palestinian territory
    occupied by Israel since 1967.


    TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea plays today in the
    eighth-finals of the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE), against third-seed
    Maria Sakkari of Greece (9 WTA). Cîrstea (26 WTA), leads 2-1 head-to-head, the
    Greek player having won the last match 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the second round at
    Cincinnati. (AMP)

  • Turismul, tu crișteari andicra di anlu 2022

    Turismul, tu crișteari andicra di anlu 2022

    Cama di 13 miliuni di oamiñi s-anregistrarâ tu anlu ți tricu tu spaţiili te-a durñiari/cazari ditu Româníi, livelu tu crişteari cu 10,5% andicra di 2022.



    Uidisit cu datili scoasi tu padi di Institutlu Naţionalu di Statisticâ, aproapea 85% furâ turişțâ româñi, iara chirolu di mesi câtu șidzurâ fu di unâ ică dauâ dzâli, emu ti româñi, emu ti xeñi. Pi protlu locu la numirlu di turişțâ fu capitala Bucureşti, dapoaia giudeţili Custanța – di pi litoralul ali Amari Lai ş-Braşov – naia montanâ ditu țentrul ali vâsilíi.



    Nai ma mulțâlli turişțâ xeñi cazaţ tu structurli di aprucheari turisticâ yinea ditu Ghirmâníi, Italíi ş-Israel. Vgărli a turişțâlor româñi tu xeani, ânregistrati la punctili di trițeari a sinurlui, furâ cama di 19 miliuni, tut tu crişteari cu 12,6% andicra di anlu 2022.



    Armânipseara: Mirela Biolan

  • Turismul, în creștere față de anul 2022

    Turismul, în creștere față de anul 2022

    Peste 13 milioane de persoane s-au înregistrat
    în cursul anului trecut în spaţiile de cazare din România, nivel în creştere cu
    10,5% faţă de 2022.

    Conform datelor publicate de Institutul Naţional de
    Statistică, aproape 85% au fost turişti români, iar durata medie a şederii a
    fost de una sau două zile, atât în cazul românilor, cât şi în cazul străinilor.
    Pe primul loc la numărul de turişti a fost capitala Bucureşti, urmata de
    judeţele Constanţa – de pe litoralul Marii Negre şi Braşov – zona
    montană din centrul tarii.

    Cele mai multe sosiri ale turiştilor străini cazaţi
    în structurile de primire turistică au provenit din Germania, Italia şi Israel.
    Plecările turiştilor români în străinătate, înregistrate la punctele de trecere
    a frontierei, au fost peste 19 milioane, de asemenea, în creştere cu 12,6% faţă
    de anul 2022.

  • January 29, 2024 UPDATE

    January 29, 2024 UPDATE

    PUTIN The incumbent president
    of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is running for another term in office in the
    presidential election due over March 15 and 17, the Central Election Committee
    has been quoted by the Russian and international press agencies as saying.
    According to these sources, both the supporters and opponents of the Kremlin
    leader are expecting him to win a new 6-year mandate. If Putin completed this
    mandate he could become the longest-lived Russian leader since the 18th
    century. A former agent of the Soviet political police, the KGB, and former
    Prime Minister, Putin got his first mandate as a president in 2000, a
    designated successor of Russia’s post-soviet president Boris Yeltsin. In 2008,
    when the Constitution didn’t allow him a third consecutive mandate, he formally
    ceded his seat to Dmitri Medvedev, but he remained the strongman of the Russian
    politics. Since the amended Constitution of 2012 Vladimir Putin has
    uninterruptedly held the presidential seat of the Russian Federation. His
    regime has been marked by the bloody reprisals against the breakaway
    insurrection in Chechnya, the elimination of his domestic opposition, the
    invasion of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2022.




    ORDINANCE Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Monday announced
    that he decided to extend for another 60 days the ordinance on capping trade
    mark-ups in basic staple. Ciolacu says that according to data released by the
    National Institute for Statistics, prices in December 2023 were 5.8% higher
    than a year before, whereas before the introduction of the aforementioned
    measure, the difference in prices between June 2023 and June 2022 was nearly
    18%.




    FUNDS The
    Romanian Foreign Ministry on Monday voiced maximum concern about the latest
    severe accusations regarding the alleged involvement of some of the personnel
    of the UN Agency for Relief and Works for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the
    Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7th. The Romanian
    Ministry says that until the completion of the investigation into the
    aforementioned allegations it will not release new procedures for volunteer
    contributions to the UNRWA. The Ministry recalls that Romania has firmly
    condemned the terrorist attacks on October 7th and voiced regret for
    the victims, the hostages taken, and made an appeal for their release. We
    recall that several countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy and Germany
    have suspended their funding to the UNRWA until the completion of the
    investigation into the aforementioned allegations.




    IMF An
    International Monetary Fund mission headed by Jan Kees Martijn arrived in
    Bucharest on Monday to review the latest economic and financial developments.
    This is a regular consultation based on Romania’s relation with the IMF, and it
    comes 4 months after the previous visit. The IMF expects a budget deficit of 6%
    of GDP and an economic growth rate of 2.3% this year. IMF experts also
    recommend a number of additional reforms, and in the previous assessment visit
    they mentioned the scrapping of the remaining exemptions, privileges and
    loopholes, a more efficient VAT implementation, a reformed property tax system,
    and the use of fiscal policies in order to promote efficient energy and the
    clean energy transition. Romania has no ongoing agreements with the IMF at
    present.


    (bill)

  • January 23, 2024

    January 23, 2024

    CELEBRATION On January 24 Romanians
    will celebrate 165 years since the Union of the Romanian Principalities,
    Moldavia and Wallachia, under the rule of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Military and
    religious ceremonies will be held in major cities across the country, as well as performances,
    exhibitions, events in museums and other cultural institutions. In Focşani, in
    the south-east, a large-scale celebration will be held, including a military
    parade and the traditional Union Round Dance in the town’s central square. The
    city of Iaşi, in the north-east, will host a ceremony at the statue of ruler Alexandru
    Ioan Cuza and a military parade. In Bucharest, the George Enescu Philharmonic
    Orchestra will give a special concert. In January 1859, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was
    elected ruler both in Moldavia, and in Wallachia, and under the 1866
    Constitution, the United Principalities started using the official name of
    Romania.


    VISIT Moldova’s deputy PM and minister of foreign affairs and European integration, Nicu Popescu, is on a working visit in
    Bucharest today, where he is to have talks with his Romanian counterpart,
    Luminiţa Odobescu, and other officials, MOLDPRES
    news agency reports. The 2 foreign ministers will discuss means to develop and
    consolidate the bilateral partnership, and the next steps in Moldova’s EU
    accession negotiations. The European Council recommended the start of EU
    accession negotiations with Ukraine and the R. of Moldova in December.


    DIPLOMACY The president
    of Romania Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday, at the annual meeting with the
    ambassadors accredited to Bucharest, that Romania will continue to
    stand by Ukraine. Iohannis emphasised that due to Bucharest’s efforts over 33
    million tonnes of Ukrainian grains, accounting for more than 60% of the
    products carried through the EU’s Solidarity Corridors, transited Romania. Klaus
    Iohannis added that Romania will stand by Moldova and Ukraine in their
    negotiations for EU accession, and emphasised that it is crucial for the 2
    countries to continue to receive financial support and know-how for the
    consolidation of their public institutions and economy. As for the situation in
    the Middle East, he voiced support for a two-state solution, in line both with
    the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and with Israel’s right
    to security. In this context, president Iohannis mentioned that Romania conducted
    a very difficult operation providing assistance and support to the Romanian
    citizens in that region. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the
    Romanian authorities involved in the evacuation of the Romanian nationals
    there, as well as to thank our partners in Israel, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan for
    their support, Klaus Iohannis added.


    UKRAINE
    The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu stated in Brussels on Monday
    that EU member countries must use all means to help Ukraine in its war
    against Russia. Attending a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, she
    emphasised that Ukraine must remain a priority on the EU agenda. It is
    important for us to maintain pressure over Russia, and Romania supports a new
    set of sanctions against Russia, the Romanian official added. Meanwhile, the
    conflict carries on, with Russia attacking Kyiv and Kharkov with missiles this
    morning. Stay tuned for more after the news.


    VIETNAM Over 2,000 Vietnamese nationals are legally
    employed in Romania, said the president of Romania’s Chamber of Commerce and
    Industry Mihai Daraban at the Romania-Vietnam Economic Forum held in Bucharest
    in the presence of Vietnam’s PM, Pham Minh Chính. Daraban called on
    decision-makers in both countries to create a predictable environment for
    employment, because the Romanian economy needs more workforce.


    NATO Turkey’s
    Parliament is today discussing the ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO, said
    the private tv station CNN Turk, quoted by France Presse. The foreign policy
    committee in the Turkish Parliament last month endorsed the ratification, but a
    vote in a plenary session is also necessary before the protocol may be signed
    by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO
    countries yet to ratify Sweden’s NATO accession. Ankara cited Stockholm’s lack
    of cooperation in extraditing to Turkey a number of individuals suspected of
    ties with terrorist organisations, especially in the Kurdish region, while
    Budapest says Swedish politicians have made a habit of criticising Viktor
    Orban’s conservative regime, AFP reports.


    ISRAEL The
    Israeli Army announced today that 24 Israeli troops were killed in the Gaza
    Strip clashes in the last 24 hours, making it the worst daily toll for the
    Israeli Army since the start of the war against Hamas, Reuters reports. Last
    week, Israel launched an offensive to capture the town of Khan Yunis, which
    Israel says is now the main stronghold of the Hamas terrorists responsible for
    the October 7 attack in the south of Israel in which 1,200 people were killed.
    Some 26,000 people died in Gaza since the start of Israel’s military
    operations, the healthcare authorities in Gaza announced. (AMP)

  • 03.01.2024 (mise à jour)

    03.01.2024 (mise à jour)

    Drones – Les
    autorités roumaines ont adopté des mesures pour prévenir les incidents tels
    ceux signalés l’année dernière lorsque des drones utilisés par la Russie dans
    la guerre en Ukraine sont tombés sur le territoire de la Roumanie ou ont
    pénétré l’espace aérien de la Roumanie, a affirmé mardi soir dans une interview
    télévisée, le ministre roumain de la défense, Angel Tîlvar. Il a évoqué
    l’aménagement d’abris, la génération d’alarmes et l’instruction des
    représentants des autorités locales. Le ministre roumain de la défense a ajouté
    que si la Roumanie détenait des équipements performants pour dépister de tels
    appareils, il y a toute une série de limitations pour ce qui est de la capacité
    de détection, des limitations découlant de facteurs objectifs, tels la distance
    réduite entre les localités roumaines où des tels incidents ont eu lieu et le
    port ukrainien le plus proche. Par
    ailleurs, l’OTAN a annoncé mercredi qu’il achètera jusqu’à un millier de
    missiles sol-air Patriot, qui seront destinées aux Etats membres :
    Allemagne, Pays-Bas, Roumanie et Espagne. Le soutien pour le renforcement de la
    capacité de production de nouveaux missiles dans le cadre de l’initiative du
    bouclier aérien européen devrait augmenter, selon un communiqué cité par
    Reuters.

    Banque
    centrale roumaine –     Les réserves en devises de la Banque nationale de Roumanie
    ont atteint à la fin de l’année dernière les 60 milliards d’euros, en hausse
    par rapport à 2022 lorsqu’elles se chiffraient à plus de 46 milliards. Selon
    les chiffres de la Banque centrale, le niveau de la réserve d’or s’est maintenu
    à 103,6 tonnes, sa valeur étant de plus de 6 milliards d’euros. Les payements
    échéants en ce mois dans le compte de la dette publique en devises garantis par
    le ministère des Finances s’élèvent à quelque 900 millions d’euros.

    Tourisme
    –     L’intérêt des touristes pour les villes d’eaux de Roumanie a enregistré une
    croissance significative l’année dernière par rapport à 2022. Le président de
    l’organisation patronale du tourisme balnéaire, Nicu Rădulescu, a déclaré que
    la Roumanie compte parmi les premiers Etats européens aux côtés de l’Allemagne,
    de la France et de l’Italie. Il a également dit que le pays dispose
    actuellement d’une série de ressources naturelles immenses, mais qu’il fallait implémenter
    une stratégie qui puisse mieux mettre en valeur le potentiel de ces stations.


























    Teheran
    –     Au moins 103 personnes ont été tuées et plus de 180 blessées dans un attentat
    perpétré mercredi près de la tombe de Qassem Soleimani, architecte des
    opérations militaires iraniennes au Moyen-Orient dont l’Iran commémore le
    quatrième anniversaire de la mort, ont rapporté des médias d’Etat, cités par
    AFP. Une double explosion a eu lieu près de la mosquée Saheb al-Zaman, ou se
    trouve la tombe du général Soleimani, a Kerman, dans le sud de l’Iran. Une
    foule compacte composée de représentants du régime et d’anonymes y était
    rassemblée pour une cérémonie. L’attaque, qualifiée d’attentat par des
    responsables israéliens et les médias d’Etat, mais qui n’a pas été revendiquée
    dans l’immédiat, survient dans un contexte régional tres tendu depuis le début
    du conflit il y a près de trois mois entre Israël et le Hamas a Gaza, et au
    lendemain de l’élimination d’un haut responsable du mouvement islamiste
    palestinien dans une frappe de drone près de Beyrouth.

    Israël – Israël
    a élevé le niveau de sécurité au maximum dans le nord du pays et l’armée a
    transmit qu’elle était prête à tout scénario au lendemain de l’assassinat du
    numéro deux du mouvement Hamas à Beyrouth, la capitale libanaise. Saleh
    al-Arouri, 57 ans, est le plus haut dirigeant du Hamas tué depuis qu’Israël est
    entré en guerre contre le groupe terroriste après son attaque du 7 octobre
    contre Israël. Suite à l’élimination du numéro deux de l’organisation, le Hamas
    a fait savoir aux pays qui intervenaient comme médiateurs dans les négociations
    pour la libération des otages israéliens qu’il se retirait des pourparlers.
    Selon le correspondant de RRA, le secrétaire d’Etat américain Antony Blinken,
    qui devait arriver jeudi en Israël, a annulé sa visite, pour le remettre probablement
    à la semaine prochaine. Israël a pris des mesures de sécurité maximales dans le
    nord du pays face à l’éventualité d’une réaction virulente de l’organisation
    Hezbollah. Le président français Emmanuel Macron a exhorté Israël d’éviter toute
    attitude d’escalade, notamment au Liban.

  • January 2, 2024

    January 2, 2024

    PRICE HIKES The new year has brought a
    series of fiscal amendments to the Romanians, ranging from new VAT rises to other
    majored excises and taxes. Fines have also been raised, and companies reporting
    over 50 million euros in turnover will pay taxes of at least one percent of
    their turnover. Tobacco excises have been raised and there are VAT raises
    between 9 and 19 % for certain products and services. A special tax has been
    introduced for expensive goods, such as houses and cars as well as raised
    excises for sweet products. Fuel excises have also been raised and experts
    believe the new fiscal measures will translate into a higher inflation and a depreciated
    local currency against the Euro. Romania’s budget deficit this year has been
    estimated at 5% of the GDP with an economic growth of 3.4%. 7% of the country’s
    GDP has been earmarked for investment.






    QUAKE Authorities in Japan are in
    a battle against time in their attempt to find survivors after the 7.6
    magnitude earthquake on Monday, which was followed by many aftershocks.
    According to provisional tolls, scores have been killed and hundreds of
    buildings destroyed. Numerous fires caused by broken pipelines have been
    reported in the north of the Noto peninsula, close to the quake’s epicenter. As
    temperatures went below zero at night, rescuers are making great efforts to
    find survivors.






    GAZA Israel has pulled out its
    tanks from some parts of the Gaza city announcing a new stage in its war
    against the terrorist group Hamas. The new change in Israel’s tactics involves
    the partial pull out of its troops from the Gaza Strip and an increased focus
    on smaller-scale targeted operations. Israel says one of the key objectives is
    the complete elimination of the Hamas threat and the release of the hostages
    still kept by the famous terrorist group. According to Radio Romania
    correspondent in Israel, the attempts to release the Israeli hostages, which seemed
    to be compromised at a certain point, have these days been given a fresh
    impetus thanks to the mediation efforts of Qatar and Egypt. The war in Gaza,
    which broke out after the attack on Israel masterminded and conducted by the
    terrorist group Hamas on October 7, when 12 hundred people were killed and 240
    kidnapped, has so far caused the death of roughly 22 thousand Palestinians in
    the Gaza Strip. At the same time, most of the region’s 2.3 million people
    residents has been displaced.






    WEATHER The
    weather remains warm in Romania with temperatures higher than those usually
    registered at this time of the year. Showers have been reported in small areas
    in the country’s south-east. Wind has intensified at higher altitudes in the
    mountainous area of the Eastern and Western Carpathians. The highs of the day
    are ranging between 4 and 12 degrees Celsius while the capital city Bucharest
    reports higher temperatures than usual for the winter season, of at least 10-11
    degrees Celsius.




    (bill)

  • TAROM reia zborurile pe relația Tel Aviv

    TAROM reia zborurile pe relația Tel Aviv

    Compania aviatică românească TAROM reia, începând de azi, 1 ianuarie 2024, zborurile pe relația Tel Aviv.

    Prima cursă va pleca din București în seara primei zile a anului 2024, urmând ca aeronava să se întoarcă de la Tel Aviv în zorii zilei următoare, pe 2 ianuarie.

    TAROM va opera, din a doua săptămână a lui ianuarie, două frecvențe săptămânale, joi și duminică, astfel, având în analiză dezvoltarea progresivă a operării în funcție de situația din Israel.

    Zborurile regulate ale companiei TAROM spre și dinspre Tel Aviv au fost suspendate după ce gruparea teroristă palestiniană Hamas a atacat Israelul sâmbătă, 7 octombrie, ceea ce a dus la declanșarea unui război în Fâșia Gaza.

    În contextul schimbării situaţiei actuale din Israel, programul de zbor va fi ajustat corespunzător şi va fi reflectat în sistemele de rezervări – menţionează sursa citată.

  • Un an de foc şi sânge

    Un an de foc şi sânge

    2023 a fost un an al războiului. A continuat cel din Ucraina, de agresiune a Rusiei împotriva acestui stat european, independent, membru al ONU. La 7 octombrie, agresiunea Hamas împotriva Israelului a generat o criză mortală, cu zeci de mii de victime deja. Cu trei săptămâni mai devreme, o rapidă ofensivă militară a Azerbaidjanului ştergea problema Nagorno-Karabahului din relaţiile internaţionale, de pe hartă şi din istorie. În aceste trei războaie a fost dezlănţuită arma bombardamentului iar chinurile pentru civilii aflaţi sub bombe au devenit nesfârşite.



    Atacul Rusiei împotriva Ucrainei a început, în 2022, cu bombardamente ce i-au luat prin surprindere pe optimiştii care credeau că Putin nu va trece graniţa războiului. În al doilea an de război în Ucraina, bombardamentele au devenit noua formă de duel. Nimic nobil aici, doar masacru, moarte şi sânge. Ruşii trimit fără ezitare rachete în blocurile de locuinţe din Ucraina, care au fost gândite pentru vremurile de pace, înalte şi frumoase, ca pentru o viaţă de secol XXI.



    Nimeni nu şi-a închipuit că, sub steagul comunist al unui pretext de acum 80 de ani, ruşii vor arunca bombe în oraşele ucrainienilor, în casele, şcolile, spitalele, bisericile şi teatrele lor. Faza actuală se bazează pe drone, mici aparate zburătoare sinucigaşe, care transportă exploziv şi îl aruncă peste oameni. Uneori, dronele cu exploziv sau părţi din ele, mai ales cele care distrug portul dunărean Izmail, cad pe teritoriul României. Dronele nu sunt rodul tehnologiei ruse, fostă sovietică, ci al importului din Iranul teocratic, anti-occidental.



    La alt capăt la Rusiei, Azerbadjanul a declanşat o ofensivă masivă, cu bombardamente în deschidere, împotriva enclavei Nagorno-Karabah, statul autoproclamat Arţak al armenilor ce locuiau acolo. Bombardamentele au deschis ofensiva azeră care a durat mai puţin de o zi, 19 septembrie 2023. Şi a fost urmată de plecare grăbită a peste 100 de mii de armeni din această regiune. Timpul scurt a permis ONU doar să îşi exprime îngrijorarea. A doua zi, începea cea mai eficientă curăţare etnică, golirea regiunii de toţi armenii care trăiau acolo, totul sub ameninţarea armelor.



    Conflictul de acolo dura din vremurile sovietice, de aceea, girantul încetării focului şi a menţinării status-quo-ului era chiar Rusia, statul implicat de un an şi jumătate în războiul de agresiune împotriva Ucrainei. În schimb, Azerbaidjanul este susţinut de Turcia, stat condus cu mână de fier de un preşedinte care vrea să reactiveze ideologia şi mentalitatea otomană. Asta deşi respectivul imperiu de sorginte medievală nu este deloc popular pe acolo pe unde a domnit, din inima Ungariei, până în Egipt şi Palestina.



    Lipsa de reacţie a opiniei publice internaţionale în problema armenilor refugiaţi din Nagorno-Karabah poate fi comparată doar cu problema cetăţenilor israelieni răpiţi în timpul atacului Hamas din 7 octombrie. Se schimbă anul şi ei rămân în neagra detenţie, după aproape trei luni de la cumplitul atac. În ziua atacului, mii de rachete au zburat din Gaza spre Israel, în timp ce militanţii Hamas, altfel tot civili, au declanşat un masacru faţă în faţă cu civilii israelieni. Peste o mie de morţi, peste 200 de ostateci este bilanţul cumplitei zile în care celebrele sisteme israeliene de apărare au avut eficienţa unui frigider scos din priză.



    Inevitabila reacţie oficială a fost şi ea lipsită de eficienţa necesară într-o astfel de situaţie. In loc ca forţe militare speciale, cum vedem prin filme, să recupereze măcar ostatecii şi să lovească doar teroriştii, s-a trecut la aceleaşi vechi bombardamente. Fapt care nu a împiedicat Hamasul să-şi continue lansarea de rachete împotriva civililor israelieni. Şi de o parte, şi de alta, oamenii nevinovaţi, neimplicaţi în conflict, femeile şi copiii, pier primii. Anul se încheie cu desfăşurarea din plin a celor două războaie, cel din Ucraina şi cel din Gaza. De Nagorno-Karabah oricum nu îşi mai aminteşte nimeni, nimic. Inevitabil ne gândim cum de a fost posibilă declanşarea lor şi cum de este imposibilă încheierea acestora.



    Nicăieri nu vezi o umbră de empatie, o scamă de îngrijorare sinceră pentru soarta oamenilor nevinovaţi, prinşi în aceste demente vărsări de sânge. Psihiatrii ştiu mai bine că imaginile pandemiei, cu neputinţa societăţii umane şi miile, milioanele de morţi, au avut efecte dezastruoase asupra mentalului public. Pandemia ne-a obişnuit cu o realitate indiferentă la viaţa oamenilor, cu o violenţă mortală ce devine posibilă prin război, cu o incredibilă vulnerabilitate la mistificări, în urma cărora rămân moartea, distrugerea şi suferinţa.

  • December 16, 2023

    December 16, 2023

    BUDGET The 2024 state budget and social security budget bills will be reviewed by Parliament’s specialist committees as of Monday. On Tuesday the draft laws will be discussed in a joint plenary
    meeting, with a final vote expected on Wednesday. On Thursday night the
    government passed the two bills, which rely on better spending of EU funds and
    on improving tax collection by means of a more efficient operation of the
    national tax agency and on curbing tax evasion. PM Marcel Ciolacu, the leader
    of the Social Democratic Party, spoke about an increase of budget revenues from
    27% to 30% of GDP. According to him, the 2024 budget earmarks the largest
    funding in Romania’s history for education and investments. The Opposition, on
    the other hand, says the budget is based on unrealistic figures and that
    payment of public pensions will be a major problem next year.


    EU President Klaus Iohannis says the EU winter summit, which came to an
    end in Brussels on Friday, will be remembered for the historic decision to initiate
    accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian
    official encouraged the government of Moldova to step up the reforms required
    for EU integration. As for Ukraine, the president of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen, says the
    decision was a promise kept and an investment in stability and security. EU
    leaders also discussed the Israel-Hamas war, and condemned the continuing
    hostilities with growing numbers of victims among Palestinian civilians in Gaza
    and the West Bank. They argued that peace will only be achieved through a
    two-state solution. A revision of the 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Financial
    Framework, support for Ukraine, securitaty and defence, migration and the
    future EU Strategic Agenda were also discussed at the European Council meeting
    on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.


    COMMEMORATION Romania marks today 34 years since the start of the 1989 Revolution
    in Timişoara (west) which eventually led to the fall of dictator Nicolae
    Ceauşescu’s communist regime. In this context, the Revolution Memorial was
    opened to the public in Timişoara on Saturday. The organisers prepared a
    complex programme, providing information on the events of 1989, with a special
    section for the visually impaired.


    ISRAEL Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Friday night,
    following an announcement that 3 Gaza hostages had been accidentally killed by
    Israeli troops. The protesters demanded that the government immediately signed
    a deal to free the remaining hostages. Over 100 people are still captive in
    Gaza, after being kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7th attacks on Israel.
    Meanwhile, humanitarian aid will reach Gaza via an Israeli checkpoint, for the
    first time since the start of the war, after Israel authorised access through
    the Kerem Shalom checkpoint. So far humanitarian aid could only go through the Rafah
    checkpoint from Egypt. After more than 2 months of armed conflict and the siege
    imposed by Israel since October 9th, living standards in Gaza Strip
    are described by the UN and NGOs for Palestinian civilians as a nightmare. According
    to the UN, some 1.9 million people, accounting for 85% of the region’s
    population, have been relocated. (AMP)

  • Call for freeing the hostages in Gaza

    Call for freeing the hostages in Gaza


    The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a major concern for the international community, which is seeking solutions to restore peace.



    The UN General Assembly has recently called for immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, under a resolution endorsed with 153 votes. The resolution also pleads for the immediate and unconditional release of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas following the brutal attack of October 7, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, died, according to Tel-Aviv.



    Israels permanent representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, made it quite clear that the Israeli military operations in Gaza would only stop after hostages have been freed and Hamas has been dismantled.



    On the day of the attack, around 240 people were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Of these, some 135 are still in the hands of Hamas and affiliated groups, the Israeli army says, after 105 people were released during a 7-day ceasefire that ended on December 1.



    Romania joins the international community in supporting Israels efforts to get the Hamas hostages freed, PM Marcel Ciolacu said after a meeting in Bucharest on Thursday with the Israeli interior minister Moshe Arbel and the families of Romanian-born Israeli citizens held captive in Gaza.



    In the same context, the Romanian head of government reiterated that “de-escalation is a viable solution to restore security in the region.” Ciolacu once again highlighted that the Romanian government was firmly condemning the practice of hostage taking and terrorism in all its forms.



    Marcel Ciolacu also spoke about the death of Tal Haimi, a Romanian and Israeli citizen kidnapped by Hamas, and mentioned that he was just one of the victims of the “terrible attack launched by the terror group against the State of Israel.”



    In turn, the interior minister Cătălin Predoiu had a meeting with the Israeli delegation headed by his counterpart, Moshe Arbel. During the talks, the participants highlighted the need to carry on jointly the efforts to get all the remaining hostages freed and safe, regardless of the difficulty and the complexity of the process. Minister Predoiu also conveyed a message of solidarity to the families attending the meeting, and reiterated Romanias support for all the efforts that can be made to help release all the hostages.



    On the same occasion, the interior ministry said once again that Romania supported stepped-up efforts for a permanent ceasefire and for identifying diplomatic solutions for the Peace Process to be resumed. Bucharest also pleads for strict compliance with international law and international humanitarian law. (AMP)


  • December 14, 2023 UPDATE

    December 14, 2023 UPDATE

    Budget — After approval by the Romanian Government, Romania’s draft budget for 2024 will be sent to Parliament for debate. The calculations are based on an economic growth of 3.4%, a deficit target of 5% and an average annual inflation rate estimated at 6% of the GDP. The budget law includes the pension and salary increases already announced, and also most of the measures from the fiscal package assumed by the government. Among the ministries that will receive more money compared to the 2023 allocations are the education, development, environment and family ministries, while smaller budgets will go, among others, to the ministries of energy, of investments and European projects.



    Brussels – The leaders of the EU states, gathered in Brussels, decided on Thursday to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, after the European Commission had made a recommendation in this regard in November, AFP and Reuters report. The announcement was made by the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, who is presiding over the EU summit in Brussels. Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis congratulated Moldova and Ukraine for the start of EU accession negotiations and considers the decision of the European Council as ‘historic’. At the European Council, besides the issue of EU enlargement, they also address the review of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and security and defense. Regarding the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis will plead for an approach that promotes the financing balance between the commitments already assumed and the new priorities on the European agenda and that does not involve reductions of funds for the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. As regards the situation in the Middle East, Iohannis will insist on the need for increased involvement of the EU in the region, in order to protect civilians, de-escalate the conflict and resume the peace process based on the solution of two states, Israeli and Palestinian. On Thursday, on the sidelines of the European Council, Klaus Iohannis met with the recently appointed Prime Minister of Poland, the liberal Donald Tusk, with whom he analyzed the priorities on the NATO agenda and the bilateral relationship.



    Recovery and Resilience – Romania will send the third payment request from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to Brussels on Friday, December 15 — the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said at the meeting of the Interministerial Committee for the Coordination of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR. This has a total value of 2.7 billion euros, from which the pre-financing already received was deducted, and covers 74 targets and milestones corresponding to the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2022.



    Summit — The reconstruction of Ukraine and Romania’s strategic role in this process was the topic of an international conference, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday in Romania’s mountain resort of Sinaia. Attending the conferencce were officials from the country and abroad, independent experts, representatives of the business environment, academia and the diplomatic corps. The Romanian PM, Marcel Ciolacu, and the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denîs Şmîhal, sent video messages to the participants, in which they talked about the Romanian-Ukrainian partnership and Romanias support for Ukraine.



    Drones — The Romanian diplomacy strongly protests against the incident caused by the uncontrolled crash of a drone used in the attack on the Ukrainian port infrastructure, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, in an uninhabited area about four kilometers upstream from the town of Grindu, on the Danube. “This represents a new violation of Romanias airspace, contrary to international law,” the Romanian Foreign Ministry MAE states in a communiqué. MAE firmly requests Russia to stop the repeated attacks against the Ukrainian population and civil infrastructure, as well as the irresponsible escalation of the security situation, including at the border between Romania and Ukraine. Following the incident, MAE has summed the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bucharest. The Romanians living in the area were warned by RO-ALERT messages about the possibility of objects falling from the airspace, they were advised not to panic and to take shelter, if the situation requires it. This year, the Romanian Defense Ministry identified remains from several drones used by Russia in attacks against the Danube ports in Ukraine, essential for the export of Ukrainian cereals.



    UN – The Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) welcomed the 68th anniversary of Romanias admission to the United Nations on December 14. All these years, Romania asserted itself as a supporter and defender of multilateral diplomacy, including through active involvement in the organizations three fundamental areas of activity: international peace and security, development and human rights. MAE emphasizes that Romania will continue to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change. At the same time, it will aim to strengthen the support dedicated to the most vulnerable partners, in order to respond to current challenges, as well as to develop sustainable economies and resilient, fair and inclusive societies.



    Hamas – Romania joins the international community to support Israels efforts to release the hostages kidnapped by Hamas, the PM Marcel Ciolacu said after meeting, on Thursday, in Bucharest, with Israels Interior Minister, Moshe Arbel, and with family members of Israeli citizens of Romanian origin who were held hostage in the Gaza Strip. In this context, the Romanian PM reiterated that “de-escalation is a viable solution for restoring security in the region”. Also on Thursday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry — MAE announced the death of a person with dual citizenship, Israeli and Romanian, held hostage in the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas since October 7. The announcement comes after on December 2, MAE announced the death of another person with dual citizenship, Israeli and Romanian, captive in the Gaza Strip. Currently, two people with dual citizenship, Israeli and Romanian, are still held hostage by Hamas, and the Romanian diplomacy reiterates the need to release all the hostages. The Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv maintains contact with the Israeli authorities – the MAE also states. (LS)

  • December 14, 2023

    December 14, 2023

    BUDGET Romania’s draft 2024 budget is to be endorsed by the
    Cabinet in a meeting today. The document will subsequently be submitted for
    review in Parliament. The budget is based on a 3.4% economic growth rate, a
    budget deficit target of 5% of GDP and an estimated annual inflation rate of 6% of GDP. The
    draft law also includes the already announced salary and pension increases, as
    well as most of the measures in the Government’s new legislative package. The
    ministries that will receive more money than in 2023 are the education,
    development, environment and family ministries, while lower appropriations
    would be received by the energy ministry and the ministry for investments and
    EU projects.


    SUMMIT The president of
    Romania, Klaus Iohannis, takes part on Thursday and Friday in the European
    Council meeting in Brussels, where important and complex topics will be
    approached, according to the Romanian Presidency. These include the EU
    enlargement, a revision of the 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Financial Framework,
    support for Russia-invaded Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, security and
    defence, migration and the Union’s future Strategic Agenda. As far as the
    Multi-Annual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 is concerned, president Iohannis will plead
    for an approach that promotes financial balance between the already existing
    commitments and the new priorities on the EU agenda, and does not involve a cut
    in the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Cohesion Policy, the
    Presidency says. As for the situation in the Middle East, Mr. Iohannis will
    insist on the need for increased involvement of the EU in the region, in view of protecting
    civilians, de-escalating the conflict and resuming the two-state peace process.


    UKRAINE The reconstruction of Ukraine and Romania’s strategic role
    in this process is the topic of an international conference held in the
    Romanian mountain resort of Sinaia. Taking part are Romanian and foreign
    officials, independent experts, business people, academia and diplomats. The
    head of the Romanian government, Marcel Ciolacu, and the Ukrainian prime
    minister Denys Shmyhal, sent a video message to the participants, highlighting
    the Romanian-Ukrainian partnership and Romania’s support for Ukraine.


    FUNDING On Friday, December 15, Romania will submit its 3rd
    payment request under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the PM Marcel
    Ciolacu said at a meeting of the inter-ministry coordination committee for this
    programme. The funding under the Plan amounts to EUR 2.7 bln and covers 74
    targets and benchmarks for the second half of the year 2022.


    ISRAEL The
    Romanian foreign ministry this morning announced the death of another person
    with Romanian and Israeli citizenship taken hostage in Gaza by the Islamist
    group Hamas. Tal Haimi was kidnapped on October 7, and his death had
    already been announced by the Israeli Embassy in Romania. According to a
    Facebook post by the Israeli diplomatic office, Tal Haimi’s wife had come to
    Bucharest in late October to request Romania’s assistance in the efforts to get
    the Hamas hostages freed. On December 2, the foreign ministry said the Israeli
    authorities announced the death of a person with dual, Romanian and Israeli
    citizenship, captive in Gaza. Two other people with Romanian and Israeli
    citizenship are currently held hostage by Hamas, and Romania’s foreign ministry
    reiterates the need for all hostages to be released. The Romanian Embassy in
    Tel Aviv stays in touch with the Israeli authorities, the foreign ministry also
    said.


    ALERT Alert
    messages were sent to the citizens in the counties of Galaţi and Tulcea, near Romania’s Ukrainian border, on Wednesday night. People
    were warned against objects falling from the airspace, were urged not to panic
    and take shelter if necessary. These were the first RO-ALERT messages sent to
    the population in nearly 3 months, in the context of the war in Ukraine. This
    year the defence ministry identified parts of 3 drones used by Russia in
    strikes on Ukrainian Danube ports, which had fallen in Tulcea County. (AMP)

  • Opt români și familiile acestora, evacuați din Gaza

    Opt români și familiile acestora, evacuați din Gaza

    Un grup de opt persoane, cetăţeni români şi familiile acestora, evacuate din Fâşia Gaza, a ajuns, duminică, în România, informează Ministerul Afacerilor Externe.



    Pe 7 decembrie, nouă persoane, cetăţeni români şi membri de familie, au ajuns în Egipt prin punctul de frontieră Rafah, fiind preluate ulterior de către reprezentanţii Ambasadei României în Egipt. Persoanele au fost însoţite până la Cairo, de unde opt dintre acestea au fost îmbarcate spre România, iar una a rămas în Egipt, precizează MAE.



    Potrivit MAE, acţiunea s-a realizat în urma eforturilor complexe ale Celulei de Criză Interinstituţionale, prin intermediul Ambasadei României la Cairo şi al Oficiului de Reprezentare al României la Ramallah.



    Până în prezent, 288 de persoane, cetăţeni români şi membri de familie ai acestora, au fost evacuate din Fâşia Gaza.