Radio România Internațional

Tag: James O’Brien

  • January 14, 2025 UPDATE

    January 14, 2025 UPDATE

    Meeting – The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Tuesday had talks in Bucharest with the US Deputy Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O’Brien, about the progress made in deepening the bilateral strategic partnership in the fields of security, economy and the Visa Waiver. During the meeting with the Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu, the American official showed confidence in the solidity of the Romania – US Strategic Partnership and in its capacity for further development based on ongoing bilateral projects. In turn, the Romanian minister appreciated the US contribution to the security and defense of NATO’s Eastern Flank, as well as to the development of the strategic approach regarding the Black Sea region. The Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, also highlighted, during the meeting with the US official, the crucial role of the Black Sea region in ensuring European and transatlantic security, in the context of the continuation of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Angel Tîlvăr emphasized Romania’s firm commitment to NATO’s collective security and appreciated the substantial contribution of the US in ensuring the security of the Alliance’s Eastern Flank. On Monday, James O’Brien was in Chisinau, where he declared that the development of the transport infrastructure in Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine will create a new opportunity for the economic development of the three states.

     

    Energy – Romania has no problems in terms of energy supply for the entire cold season, the energy minister Sebastian Burduja gave assurances again, on Tuesday, after the Winter Energy Command meeting. He specified that the measures established to increase domestic production, including coal-based production, were applied. According to him, energy production from gas is still the main source of electricity production during the cold season, except for days when the wind blows and wind power plants are the first source of production in Romania.  The Energy Minister also emphasized that the domestic demand for natural gas is not affected by daily exports to the Republic of Moldova.

     

    Gas – Half of the electricity consumed in the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), on the right bank of the Dniester River, comes from internal sources, including renewable energy, and the other half comes from imports from Romania, the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu said on Tuesday, in a press conference. She convened a meeting of the Supreme Security Council which tackled the situation in the energy sector and assistance measures for the population. On the other hand, Maia Sandu says, the energy and humanitarian crisis in the separatist region of Transdniester is caused by the Russian Federation with the aim of destabilizing the political situation in the Republic of Moldova. We remind you that since January 1, the Transdniester region has no longer received natural gas from Russia.

     

    Inflation – The annual inflation rate went up to 5.14% in December 2024 from 5.11% the previous month, amidst a 5.09% increase in the price of foodstuffs, 4.38% in the price for non-foods and 7.10% in the cost of services, according to National Statistics Institute data made public on Tuesday. Compared to 2023, the annual inflation rate in December last year stood at 5.5%. The National Bank of Romania upgraded its inflation forecast for the end of 2024, from 4% previously to 4.9%, and estimates the inflation rate will go down to 3.5% at the end of 2025.

     

    Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse, coming from the qualifications, defeated another Romanian player, Irina Begu, 6-4, 6-0 in the opening round at the Australian Open tennis tournament on Tuesday. In the next round, Ruse will take on Madison Keys of the United States, who knocked out Ann Li of the USA in the first round. This is the second time Gabriela Ruse reaches the main draw in Melbourne after in 2022 she reached the second round. Another Romanian player, Jaqueline Cristian, is playing Lucia Bronzetti of Italy in the second round. (LS)

     

  • April 17, 2024

    April 17, 2024

    MEETING Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis is participating today and tomorrow in the special proceedings of the European Council in Brussels. According to the presidential administration in Bucharest, high on the meeting agenda there are topics such as prospects for a new European pact for competitiveness and the EU’s relation with Turkey. European leaders are also expected to tackle the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the EU’s future strategic agenda. The Romanian president will also attend the reception offered by the Belgian king Philippe in honour of the EU heads of state and government.

     

    VISIT The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and six of his cabinet ministers are today continuing their visit in Qatar, a major trade partner of Romania’s in the Gulf region. On Wednesday in Doha, the Romanian Prime Minister was received by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. High on the Romanian Prime Minister’s agenda are talks with the local officials on major investment projects in Romania as well as the consolidation of cooperation in key fields such as new technologies or energy. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, several bilateral documents are expected to be signed during the visit. From Qatar, the Romanian delegation will travel to the United Arab Emirates.

     

    TALKS The United States is working with Romania regarding the security risks that appeared in the context of the war in Ukraine, said James O’Brien, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. The US official held talks in Bucharest with the Romanian Minister of Defence, Angel Tilvar, during which he appreciated the cooperation between Romania and Ukraine, which it described as ‘essential for the Ukrainian people’. According to him, the cooperation between Washington and Bucharest is focusing on the cyber and hybrid threats and also air, maritime and land surveillance in an attempt to detect and stop the Russian drones that may enter Romania’s territory. In turns, Angel Tilvar has highlighted the need of consolidating NATO’s presence on the entire Eastern Flank. James O’Brien is presently on a European tour, which will also take him to Bulgaria, Switzerland and Slovenia.

     

    RATE March was the third month in a row in which Romania had the highest inflation rate in the European Union, 6.7%. According to Eurostat, this rate dropped to 2.6% in the bloc. The member countries with the lowest inflation rates were Lithuania, 0.4%, Finland 0.6% and Denmark, 0.8%. In another development, the IMF has revised down from 3.8% to 2.8% its forecast on Romania’s economic growth this year. As for inflation, the IMF has forecast an average inflation rate of 6% and 4% next year. At the same time, the aforementioned financial institution is expecting to keep Romania’s current account deficit at 7.1% of the GDP in 2024, similar to last year.

     

    WEATHER The weather is generally unstable in Romania and temperatures have dropped almost in the entire territory. Rain showers have been reported in almost all regions. The wind will be stronger in the country’s south and east. Storms and hails are expected on isolated areas. The highs of the day will be between 9 and 26 degrees Celsius.

    (bill)

  • Cooperation in the field of security

    Cooperation in the field of security

    More than two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Romania continues to play a key role in international efforts to support the administration in Kyiv. From logistics and information support, to the efforts made to support Ukrainian grain exports, Bucharest has proven its usefulness and value as a NATO and EU member state. Consequently, as early as 2022, Romania was placed by the Kremlin on the list of “unfriendly” countries, and criticism and even threats from Moscow have multiplied. In this context, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, James O’Brien, traveled to Bucharest as part of a tour that also includes visits to Bulgaria, Switzerland and Slovenia.

     

    During the meeting he had with the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, the American official stated that the US is working with Romania regarding the security risks arising in the context of the war in Ukraine. He emphasized the cooperation in the field of aerial, maritime and land surveillance for the detection and stopping of Russian drones that have reached the Romanian territory. O’Brien has also said that Romania has done a lot to build its own capacity in all these dimensions and appreciated the cooperation between Bucharest and Kyiv, which he said is ‘essential for the Ukrainian people’ and ‘also helps Romania be safer’. ‘The longer Ukraine can fight Russia and keep Russia occupied and Russia withdraws, the safer Romania will be. Our work with Romania is to make sure that the fight cannot expand and that Romania can well defend its territory and people against any risk of this battle coming its way’ O’Brien said. In turn, the representative of the Romanian government highlighted the need to strengthen the allied presence on the NATO’s entire eastern flank and said that this aspect is imperative for the security and stability of the extended Black Sea region and beyond.

     

    Despite the tense security context, Romania has not reduced its diplomatic efforts for full accession to the Schengen Area, a right that has been denied to it for years for political reasons. Starting from March 31, both Romania and Bulgaria were included in the European free travel area only with air and maritime borders, Austria being the country that until now has prevented, by veto, the introduction of Schengen rules at land borders as well. In a discussion held in Bucharest with her Romanian counterpart, the German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, praised the efforts made by Romania for European solidarity in the matter of asylum, as part of its effort to fully join the Schengen area. On the other hand, the Romanian Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu, has expressed his hope that the Schengen rules will be introduced at Romania’s land borders this year. (LS)