Radio România Internațional

Tag: Kathleen Kavalec

  • Statements about Romania’s belonging in NATO and the UE

    Statements about Romania’s belonging in NATO and the UE

    At the question ‘in what country they would want to work or study for a longer period of time’, 42% of the respondents to an opinion poll made by INSCOP in Romania in June 2021 opted for a Western country, in the EU or for the United States or Canada. Only 4% chose Russia and China whereas 47% said they would not leave their country. 66.6% said they preferred the Western-style rights and liberties to the traditional values Russia pretends to promote and only 16.2% stood in favour of the so-called Russian values. 56.2% of the Romanians believed that Romania’s accession to the EU brought along advantages whereas 35.1% saw only disadvantages. 65.8% of the respondents said they want Romania to be a NATO member, so that it may be well-defended militarily, 28.6% stood for neutrality as they believed Romania was not going to be attacked by anyone.

    73.8% believed the US bases on Romania’s territory contribute to the country’s defence in the event of a foreign aggression. Even at that time, the respondents overwhelmingly voiced their discontent with the activity of their leaders irrespective of their political creed.

    The sociologists’ conclusion at that time was that the Romanians did not contest their belonging to the free world but only the legitimacy of a political class, which ignored them and looked down on them. Romania is firmly committed to its assumed Euro-Atlantic headway and the decision to bring our own contribution to strengthening security in the area remains a solid one, Romania’s Minister of Defence, Angel Tîlvăr said on Tuesday during the visit he paid together with the US ambassador Kathleen Kavalec to the Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase in southeastern Romania.  There they met a delegation of military attaches from NATO countries accredited to Bucharest, the US troops deployed there as well as their Spanish, French and Romanian counterparts.

    According to ambassador Kavalec ‘Romania is investing quite a bit of funds to improve this important airbase, which is one of the most important in NATO and which helps defend the Eastern Flank and which helps defend the Black Sea area’.

    Also on Tuesday, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Princess Margareta says that never in its modern history has Romania enjoyed a higher security level and better conditions for economic prosperity than now as a fully-fledged member of the EU and NATO.

    In another development she described the latest presidential and Parliamentary election as a cry for help from the voters who against a rapid but unequal economic development are feeling ignored. She gave as example the differences between the country’s capital Bucharest and the poverty in rural Romania or the investment in modern technologies whereas expenditures in the health sector remain the lowest in the European Union.

    (bill)

  • Transition program towards F-35, launched

    Transition program towards F-35, launched

    The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.

     

    Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter jets is a key step in the ongoing modernization of the Romanian Armed Forces and will contribute significantly to the long-term defense of the NATO Alliance and our collective security. This is the message of the United States Ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, at the launch event of the Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft.

     

    The 32 F-35 aircraft for which the acquisition contract was signed by the Romanian and American governments is the top of aviation performance at present, says the Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr: ʺF-35 aircraft have stealth technology, advanced sensor and communications systems, unparalleled speed and maneuverability, which makes them vital for modern military operations. The unique technological capabilities of these aircraft allow them to act as a multiplier for both deterrence and air defense capabilities, including those based on the ground, and for indirect fire force support systems, which can be supported in real time with data from the space in which they operate.ʺ

     

    According to the minister, the allocation of 2% of the GDP for Defense since 2017, a percentage that has now reached 2.5%, has allowed the Romanian Army to begin the most extensive modernization process. And the advance – as stated by the US ambassador Kathleen Kavalec – is a significant one: the Romanian Air Force has switched from MiG aircraft to F-16 fighter jets, so that, from 2030, it will have state-of-the-art F-35 aircraft. The American diplomat recalled that the current security challenges are significant, and Romania, as a NATO ally on the eastern flank, has been directly affected by Russia’s war of aggression in the neighboring Ukraine.

     

    When needed, the Romanian Air Force and the Alliance have mobilized fighter jets, following the detection of airspace violations in southeastern Romania, near the border with Ukraine. Beyond the military impact, says Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the acquisition of the F-35 aircraft also has an economic impact: ʺBy integrating these aircraft into the Romanian Armed Forces, Romania has stimulated the development of the defense sector and will support the creation of jobs in key areas of the defense industry and technology. In addition, the integration of the F-35 into the National Defense System will offer new opportunities for training and professional development for our young specialists in the technological field.ʺ It is, therefore, an element that contributes to the development of a competent and well-trained workforce, the Prime Minister also said.

     

  • September 6, 2024 UPDATE

    September 6, 2024 UPDATE

    EDUCATION – Poverty is severely affecting school performance, internships are discriminatory, some students end up unmotivated and most of them would like to leave the country– a report drawn up by the Save the Children Romania organization states. According to European data, school dropout is affecting an increasing number of Romanian children. A 16% dropout rate was reported among students in Romania’s secondary education cycle in the 2022-2023 school year and 25% among high-school pupils. High dropout discrepancies have been reported in various environments, 3% in the big cities, 14% in the country’s smaller cities and 27% in the rural area. At national level, two in five students in the country’s secondary education system have failed to pass their final exams. Their number is 2.5% higher in the rural area.

     

    EXPO – “As strategic partners and as NATO allies, we stand together in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and illegal aggression, to support Ukraine and strengthen collective deterrence and defense within the Alliance”, the ambassador of the United States in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, said while attending the opening of a photo exhibition in Galați (east) marking 25 years of Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Titled “We, the people” the aforementioned photo exhibition explores the security, diplomatic, cultural and economic relations between the two countries.

     

    ROMANIA-JAPAN RELATIONS – Romania’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIRR), has extensively promoted economic relations with Japan. Romania can represent a business opportunity for Japanese companies given the results obtained by the Romanian entrepreneurs in the fields of IT&C, green energy and innovative technologies, CCIRR president Mihai Daraban said. On Thursday, Mihai Daraban had an official meeting with the Japanese ambassador in Bucharest, Katae Takashi, who underlined the importance and potential of the economic cooperation between the two countries. Japan sees Romania as a strategic partner in Eastern Europe and encourages Japanese investors to explore the business and investment opportunities here, the Japanese ambassador pointed out.

     

    AGRICULTURE – Romanian farmers whose crops were affected by this year’s draught will be compensated by October 15, Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu said. During a visit to Mehedinți (southwest), a county seriously impacted by the shortage of rainfall, the Romanian official said compensations will stand at 200 EUR per hectare. The wheat and corn harvest this year is enough for the upcoming year, the Romanian official gave assurances. The wheat yield this year is by 1.8 mln tons higher compared to 2023, while the corn harvest will cover both internal consumption and exports. The Agriculture Ministry is considering handing out loans with fixed interest rates of 1.95% to help struggling farmers, as well as the suspension of foreclosure procedures for farmers whose crops have been completely compromised.

     

    MOLDOVA – Hungary unequivocally and firmly supports Moldova’s EU accession, Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, said during a visit to Chişinău. On the sidelines of talks with his Moldovan counterpart, Mihai Popşoi, the Hungarian official said his country will do everything in its power during Hungary’s term at the helm of the EU Council to ensure EU enlargement proceeds as smoothly as possible. Each candidate state must be assessed individually, to prevent the stalling of countries that reported quicker progress, Minister Szijjártó explained. EU enlargement can provide new impetus to the community bloc, the Hungarian diplomat went on to say. Péter Szijjártó also met the president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, giving assurances Hungary will fully support Moldova’s EU accession. 50 public officials from Moldova with a key role in negotiations with the EU will travel to Hungary where they will be trained by Hungarian experts. The first 32 will arrive in Budapest next week.

     

    HOUSING – Housing prices continue to go up faster than the EU or the Eurozone average, although the pace is slower compared to other states in the region, Florin Dragu, the head of the Financial Stability Department with the National Bank of Romania has said. Housing went up 5.5% in the first quarter, compared to nearly 18% in Poland or 16% in Bulgaria, the Central Bank official explained. The price hikes are also determined by higher construction costs, which went up 10% in the last year, while the work volume went down 13% across the sector. The demand for new housing continues to rise amidst Romanians’ higher purchasing power. The number of real estate transactions went down 11% at national level, with Bucharest, Iași, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Brașov and Constanța accounting for nearly 60% of total transactions. (DB & VP)

  • September 6, 2024

    September 6, 2024

    EXPO “As strategic partners and as NATO allies we stand together in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and illegal aggression to support Ukraine and strengthen collective deterrence and defence within the Alliance”. The statement belongs to the ambassador of the United States in Bucharest Kathleen Kavalec and was made during the photo exhibition marking 25 years of Strategic Partnership between the two countries inaugurated in Galati, Romania’s biggest port on the Danube. Entitled “We the people” the aforementioned photo exhibit is exploring the security, diplomatic, cultural, economic relations between the two peoples.

     

    RELATIONS Romania’s Chamber of Trade and Industry, also known as CCIRR, has extensively promoted the economic relations with Japan and Romania can represent a business opportunity for Japanese companies given the performances obtained by the Romanian entrepreneurs in the fields of IT&C, green energy and innovative technologies – the CCIRR president Mihai Daraban said. On Thursday he had an official meeting with the Japanese ambassador in Bucharest, Katae Takashi, who underlined the importance and potential of the economic cooperation between the two countries. The diplomat says that Japan sees Romania as a strategic partner in Eastern Europe and encourages the Japanese investors to explore the business and investment opportunities here.

     

    EDUCATION Poverty is severely affecting school performance, training practices are discriminatory, some students end up unmotivated and most of them would like to emigrate – a report drawn up by the Save the Children organization says. According to European data, school dropout is affecting an increasing number of Romanian children. A 16% dropout rate was reported among the students in Romania’s secondary education in the 2022-2023 school year and 25% among high-schoolers. High dropout discrepancies have been reported in various environments, 3% in the big cities, 14% in the country’s smaller cities and 27% in the villages. At national level, two out of five students in the country’s secondary education system have failed to pass their final exams. Their number is 2.5% higher in the rural area.

     

    FOOTBALL Romania’s national football side is today making its debut in the fresh season of the Nations league. The Romanians will be first taking on Kosovo away, while on September 9 they will be playing Lithuania in a home game. Romania’s group C also includes Cyprus. A first place means direct promotion to the B League whereas the runner-up will play a tie match to get promotion. A fourth position means demotion to the D League, whereas a third position will keep our side in the same C League until the next edition. Our side’s qualification for the Nations League’s group will have a direct effect over the European preliminaries for World Cup 2026. The Romanian national side is being coached by a football and coaching legend, Mircea Lucescu, who comes back at its helm after an absence of almost four decades. The former headcoach, Edward Iordanescu, stepped down after Euro 2024, when Romania had made it to the round of 16.

     

    WEATHER The weather remains warm in Romania, but it’s expected to gradually turn unstable. Showers have been reported in the east, south and south-west and are to extend to the other regions in the next couple of hours. The highs of the day are ranging between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius, with 27 degrees in Bucharest at noon. Hydrologists have today issued a code yellow alert for flooding for six counties in the country’s east and south-east.

    (bill)

     

  • July 4, 2024

    July 4, 2024

    ELECTIONS – The PSD-PNL ruling coalition has today reached consensus on the exact dates of the presidential and parliamentary elections following the talks Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu had earlier this week with political parties. Thus, the first round of the presidential election will be held on November 24, with the second round slated for December 8. The parliamentary election has been scheduled for December 1. Originally, the Social-Democrats and the Liberals agreed to organize the presidential election in September, but the latter changed their mind. We recall local and European Parliament elections were held on June 9.

     

     

    FOURTH OF JULY – Romanian-American friendship is stronger than ever, evidence of which is the Strategic Partnership between the two states, the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said in a message marking the national day of the United States. “Happy Independence Day to the United States of America and the American people”, the president wrote on X. On Wednesday, the head of state attended a reception organized by the American Embassy in Bucharest. In her opening remarks, US Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec referred to the long-lasting friendship between the two countries and the nearly 30 years of strategic partnership, built on shared democratic values, trade relations, strong interpersonal relations and security and defense cooperation. “As NATO allies and partners, our commitment to Romania is unwavering and essential to protecting our shared values and way of life”, Ambassador Kavalec added. The theme for this year’s reception was the world of film and cooperation between the two states’ film industries.

     

     

    SURVEY – Europeans continue to stand with Ukraine and its efforts to fight off the Russian invasion, are overall in favor of supplying weapons but oppose the deployment of troops to the former, a European Foreign Affairs Council survey reads. 20,000 Europeans were interviewed as part of the survey, the majority arguing the war in Ukraine will end through a negotiated truce, and Ukraine will not prevail on the battlefield. Ukrainians and Estonians interviewed believe, however, that the Ukrainian army will be victorious. Most Ukrainians oppose the idea of Ukraine conceding Russian-held territories in exchange for NATO accession. Additionally, nearly half of Ukrainians fear the United States could negotiate directly with Russia without Kyiv’s consent should Donald Trump get re-elected at the White House this autumn.

     

     

    WHITE HOUSE – US president Joe Biden has no intention of withdrawing his candidacy for a second term at the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has told journalists. Meanwhile, Americans continue to ponder Joe Biden’s mental health after his disastrous performance in last week’s debate against Republican Donald Trump. The Democrat president stays in the race, Jean-Pierre told a briefing. Aged 81, president Biden on Friday will give an exclusive interview to ABC News, and the White House promised the president will hold a press conference next week to show he’s able to speak freely with no teleprompter. According to a survey published on Tuesday by the CNN, 75% of Americans believe the Democratic Party would have bigger chances of winning the November election were they to replace Biden as their candidate.

     

     

    QUALIFIERS – Romanian football champions and Cup winners FCSB and Corvinul Hunedoara are tonight playing in the Romanian Supercup. Both teams are this month competing in European interclub competitions. In the first preliminary round of Champions League, FCSB will play AC Virtus 1964 of San Marino. In the first preliminary round of Europa League, Corvinul Hunedoara will take on Hungarian vice-champions Paksi FC. In the second preliminary round of UEFA Conference League, CFR Cluj will play FC Neman Grodno of Belarus, while Universitatea Craiova will play the winner of the match pitting PFC Botev Plovdiv of Bulgaria against Maribor of Slovenia. (VP)

  • April 30, 2024 UPDATE

    April 30, 2024 UPDATE

    MIGRATION – Romania is ready to implement the pact on migration and asylum and has already taken steps in that direction, Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu said on Tuesday at the end of a migration conference hosted by Gent, Belgium. Romania launched an initiative to consolidate regional cooperation to combat illegal migration and cross-border crime, jointly with the European Commission and regional states such as Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. Ahead of this reform, Romania implemented a pilot program on the border with Serbia, showing that pre-emptive actions led to a 97% reduction in illegal migration flows.

     

     

    COOPERATION – Romania’s Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, says the significant presence of US troops in Romania is evidence of the United States’ determination to help consolidate security in the region. The Romanian official joined US Ambassador in Romania, Kathleen Kavalec, in attending the change of command ceremony at the Naval Support Facility in Deveselu (south). Minister Tîlvăr highlighted the major role of the US anti-ballistic missile system hosted by Romania for the NATO defense architecture, also marking a joint contribution of the United States and Romania to NATO defense efforts and facilitating protection against threats coming from outside Euro-Atlantic space.

     

     

    MINI-HOLIDAY – The Interior Ministry has taken additional measures to ensure public order and safety for Labor Day, when the summer season starts officially, and Orthodox Easter, celebrated on May 5th. Security forces will be primarily dispatched to the main roads, accompanied by air support, and in the proximity of churches. Measures were also taken together with the Bulgarian police to reduce waiting times on border checkpoints. Over 80,000 people are expected to spend their holidays at the seaside, where concerts and an electronic music festival are scheduled.

     

     

    TAROM – The European Commission on Monday approved Romania’s plans to provide restructuring aid for the Romanian state-owned airline TAROM to the amount of 95 million EUR, in keeping with EU norms on state aid, the Commission said in a statement. The measure is expected to help the company restore its feasibility in the long term. After the announcement, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said TAROM can become in the next two years an airline that can support its development on its own and that as the country’s prime minister, he has the duty to support “a Romanian national company with tradition”.

     

     

    FILM – Freedom by Tudor Giurgiu won the Gopo Trophy for best Romanian feature film at the Gopo Awards ceremony held on Monday in Bucharest. The film is inspired by true events that took place in Sibiu, in the center, during the anti-communist revolution of December 1989. The film also won the award for best director, best actor, which went to Alex Calangiu, best supporting role, which went to Iulian Postelnicu, and best script, which went to Cecilia Ştefănescu and Tudor Giurgiu, the latter to be shared with Radu Jude for Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World, which he also directed. Ilinca Manolache won the best actor award for her role in Jude’s film. Vlad Petri won the best documentary award for Between Revolutions, while the prize for best European production went to Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall. (VP)