Radio România Internațional

Tag: Moldova

  • August 18, 2023

    August 18, 2023


    OLYMPIAD – Romania took 1st place at the Central European Olympiad in Informatics 2023 (CEOI 2023), held in Magdeburg, Germany. Student Luca Perju-Verzotti with the Tudor Vianu National College of Informatics in Bucharest took the first place and gold medals. Gold, silver and bronze medals were also won by three students with the Aurel Vlaicu Theoretical High School in Orăștie (central Romania) and the International Theoretical High School of Informatics in Bucharest.



    GDP — Romania is among the countries with the best results in terms of GDP growth and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the first quarter of this year, according to the Eurostat. Romanias GDP is 2.4% and has increased more than the European average of 1.2%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Romania has reduced them by almost 5%, while the European average is 2.9%. The EU economy as a whole has become more efficient and less polluting. In the first quarter of 2023, EU economy’s greenhouse gas emissions totalled 941 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent, a 2.9% decrease compared with the same quarter of 2022. This decrease took place simultaneously with a 1.2% increase in the EU’s GDP in the first quarter of 2023, compared with the same quarter of 2022, Eurostat reports. Most emissions were released by the housing sector – 24%, followed by industrial production – 20%, electricity and gas sector – 19%, agriculture – 13% and transport and storage – 10%. The largest decrease in emissions occurred in the electricity and gas sector – 12.3% while the transport and storage sector had the largest increase – by 7.2%


    FOREIG AFFAIRS – The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, spoke on the phone with her Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, and also with the Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly. According to a press release of the Romanian Foreign Ministry, during the discussion with the Armenian counterpart, Minister Luminiţa Odobescu reconfirmed Romanias support for the development of the relationship between the Armenia and the EU. Regarding the situation in the South Caucasus, the Romanian official welcomed the mediation efforts of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and voiced support for the peaceful resolution, through dialogue, of all pending issues, respecting the principles and norms of international law, including the provisions of international humanitarian law. On the other hand, during the telephone conversation with the Canadian counterpart, the very good cooperation on various files of bilateral interest was emphasized, such as cooperation in the energy sector, in the security and defense sectors and in the promotion of human rights. Also, the two ministers highlighted the joint commitment of Romania and Canada to provide sustained support to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, both in the context of efforts to combat the effects of Russias war in Ukraine, and in support of the European path of the two states.



    GOVERNMENT – The text of an emergency order that modifies the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, but also the proposals of the Ministry of Transport in terms of cutting red tape are on the agenda of todays meeting of the Romanian government. The government also wants to adopt and submit to parliament a draft law to revise the article of the Criminal Code, which refers to the punishment of discrimination and incitement to hatred.



    VISIT — The Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denîs Şmîhal, is in Bucharest today for talks with Romanian officials on aspects related to regional security, in the context of Russias military aggression against Ukraine. We will also discuss Romanias efforts regarding the transit of Ukrainian grain to ensure access to food worldwide, as well as issues related to the bilateral agenda for the protection of Romanian farmers and the rights of Romanian minorities in Ukraine, Romanian PM, Marcel Ciolacu said.


    FOOTBALL –Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe football squad, holder of the Romanian Cup, qualified to the Europa Conference League play-off after the 1-0 victory against FC Aktobe on Thursday evening, in Kazakhstan, in the second leg of the third preliminary round of the competition. In Sfantu Gheorghe, Sepsi had finished the match with Aktobe in a draw. On Thursday evening, the Romanian vice-champion FCSB was eliminated from the Europa Conference League by the vice-champion of Denmark, FC Nordsjaelland, who, after a goalless draw in Bucharest, won at home 2-0, in the second leg of the third preliminary round. Romanias champion, Farul Constanţa, has also qualified to the Europa Conference League play-off, which won the away match with Flora Tallinn of Estonia. Two Nordic teams will be the opponents of the Romanians in the play-off: HJK Helsinki (Finland), for Farul and FK Bodoe/Glimt (Norway) for Sepsi. (EE)


  • August 15, 2023 UPDATE

    August 15, 2023 UPDATE

    GOVERNMENT — The Bucharest Government’s agenda this week includes two emergency orders on cutting public spending and reforming the fiscal system. According to a draft order, the government is considering tax increases and the elimination of certain tax facilities, as well as the cancelling of 200,000 public sector positions that are currently vacant and a reduction of expenditure in ministries. Also, public servants whose net salaries exceed 2000 euros a month will no longer receive holiday vouchers.



    CELEBRATION – Orthodox Christians and Catholic believers on Tuesday marked the Dormition of Virgin Mary, also known as the Assumption of Virgin Mary, the oldest religious holiday dedicated to the Mother of Jesus. The term “Dormition“ or “falling asleep” is a reminder that Mary’s death was a gentle and holy passage from earthly life into heaven. It is a day of celebration for the reunion of Mother and her Son rather than one of mourning and loss. The Dormition or the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, marked every year on the 15th of August, is a public holiday in Romania.



    NAVY DAY – The Romanian Naval Forces contribute significantly to the improvement of the regional, European and Euro-Atlantic security, and the missions carried out with our allies and partners from NATO and the European Union in order to make the territorial waters and those of the world safer, fully prove this fact, Romania President Klaus Iohannis said Tuesday in Constanta (south-east), where the Navy Day celebrations where held. The Romanian Naval Forces have had and will continue to have a significant contribution to the security of Romania and our partners in the North-Atlantic area, said in turn Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who also attended the ceremonies alongside other high-ranking officials.



    EXERCISE – About 250 servicemen from France and Luxembourg and 65 pieces of military equipment from the NATO Battle Group stationed in Romania are involved as of Monday until August 18th in a military drill entitled DEPLOYEX, which is taking place in the shooting range at Babadag, south-eastern Romania, the Romanian Defense Ministry has announced. The exercise is meant to test the rapid deployment of troops and military gear and contributes to improving the level of interoperability of the forces making up the NATO Battle Group, being a sequel of the training programs earlier staged in Cincu, central Romania. The NATO battle group contributes to increasing Romanias military cooperation with the rotating participant countries, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and implicitly to strengthening the security of the Euro-Atlantic space on the Eastern Flank, a Defense Ministry communiqué writes. Cooperation with the strategic partners and the existence on the national territory of relevant war structures contribute to raising the of defense and deterrence capabilities in the context of the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Black Sea region, the ministry also shows.



    MISSION – Two aircraft of the Romanian Air Force transported 20 Romanian firefighters and three special vehicles to the island of Corsica, France, on a mission to put out wildfires, the Romanian Ministry of Defense has announced. The Romanian firefighters thus answered the request for support by the French authorities through the CECIS (Common Emergency Communication and Information System) a dedicated information portal of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, as a result of the situation created by the extension of wildfires in recent days. The Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union coordinates the response to natural and man-made disasters at the EU level, allowing the provision of coordinated, effective and rapid assistance in support of the affected populations.



    CHISINAU – Dozens of Russian diplomats and employees in administrative positions with the Russian embassy and ​​consulate and the Russian culture center in Chisinau, as well as members of their families, left the Republic of Moldova on Monday. Last month, the small state neighboring Romania and Ukraine ordered the reduction of the number of Russian diplomats and technical personnel on its territory, to 25 from 80, to establish parity with Moldovas embassy in Moscow. The decision was taken amid concerns about alleged Russian attempts to destabilize Moldova. (EE)



  • August 15, 2023

    August 15, 2023

    CELEBRATION – Orthodox Christians and Catholic believers are today marking the Dormition of Virgin Mary, also known as the Assumption of Virgin Mary, the oldest religious holiday dedicated to the Mother of Jesus. The term “Dormition“ or “falling asleep” is a reminder that Mary’s death was a gentle and holy passage from earthly life into the arms of her Son. It is a day of celebration for the reunion of Mother and her Son rather than one of mourning and loss. The feast is preceded by 14 days of strict fasting. The Dormition or the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, marked every year on the 15th of August, is a public holiday in Romania.



    NAVY DAY – The Romanian Naval Forces contribute significantly to the improvement of the regional, European and Euro-Atlantic security, and the missions carried out with our allies and partners from NATO and the European Union in order to make the territorial waters and those of the world safer, fully prove this fact, Romania President Klaus Iohannis said in Constanta (south-east), where the Navy Day celebrations are under way. Romania, the head of state emphasized, is important for NATOs reinforced deterrence and defense posture, and the presence and activity of the 5,000 allied soldiers in the country clearly proves our unity, solidarity and unwavering commitment, as Allies, to the provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty, including in terms of collective defense. The Romanian Naval Forces have had and will continue to have a significant contribution to the security of Romania and our partners in the North-Atlantic area, said in turn Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who also attends the ceremonies alongside other high-ranking officials.



    EXERCISE – About 250 servicemen from France and Luxembourg and 65 pieces of military equipment from the NATO Battle Group stationed in Romania are involved as of Monday until August 18th in a military drill entitled DEPLOYEX, which is taking place in the shooting range at Babadag, south-eastern Romania, the Romanian Defense Ministry has announced. The exercise is meant to test the rapid deployment of troops and military gear and contributes to improving the level of interoperability of the forces making up the NATO Battle Group, being a sequel of the training programs earlier staged in Cincu, central Romania. The NATO battle group contributes to increasing Romanias military cooperation with the rotating participant countries, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and implicitly to strengthening the security of the Euro-Atlantic space on the Eastern Flank, a Defense Ministry communiqué writes. Cooperation with the strategic partners and the existence on the national territory of relevant war structures contribute to raising the of defense and deterrence capabilities in the context of the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Black Sea region, the ministry also shows.



    FIREFIGHTERS – Two aircraft of the Romanian Air Force transported 20 Romanian firefighters and three special vehicles to the island of Corsica, France, on a mission to put out wildfires, the Romanian Ministry of Defense has announced. The Romanian firefighters thus answered the request for support by the French authorities through the CECIS (Common Emergency Communication and Information System) a dedicated information portal of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, as a result of the situation created by the extension of wildfires in recent days. The Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union coordinates the response to natural and man-made disasters at the EU level, allowing the provision of coordinated, effective and rapid assistance in support of the affected populations.



    CHISINAU – Dozens of Russian diplomats and employees in administrative positions with the Russian embassy and ​​consulate and the Russian culture center in Chisinau, as well as members of their families, left the Republic of Moldova on Monday. Last month, the small state neighboring Romania and Ukraine ordered the reduction of the number of Russian diplomats and technical personnel on its territory, to 25 from 80, to establish parity with Moldovas embassy in Moscow. The decision was taken amid concerns about alleged Russian attempts to destabilize Moldova.



    WASHINGTON –Romanian tennis player Irina Begu is today up against the Czech Marie Bouzkova, in the first round of the WTA tournament in Cincinnati (Ohio, USA). This is the first time that Begu and Bouzkova meet on court. The other Romanian in the competition, Sorana Cirstea, will face the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova on Wednesday, also for the first time, in the first round of the American tournament. (EE)


  • SUA, Moldova, UE şi România discută, vineri, rutele pentru transportul cerealelor din Ucraina

    SUA, Moldova, UE şi România discută, vineri, rutele pentru transportul cerealelor din Ucraina

    Înalţi reprezentanţi ai Statelor Unite ale Americii (SUA), ai Uniunii Europene (UE), Republicii Moldova şi României vor discuta, vineri, la Galaţi, despre rutele alternative pentru transportul cerealelor din Ucraina, anunţă ambasada SUA la Bucureşti transmiţând susţinerea pentru asigurarea continuităţii neîntrerupte a exporturilor de cereale ucrainene.

    La conferinţa de presă pe tema exporturilor agricole ale Ucrainei în cadrul culoarelor de solidaritate UE – Ucraina vor participa ministrul Transporturilor, Sorin Mihai Grindeanu, Jim O’Brien, care conduce biroul SUA ce gestionează regimurile de sancţiuni (U.S. Sanctions Coordinator), vicepremierul ucrainean Oleksandr Kubrakov, Magda Kopczynska – director pentru Transportul pe Apă de la Directoratul-General pentru Mobilitate şi Transport, reprezentanţi ai Comisiei Europeane şi ministrul Agriculturii din Republica Moldova, Vladimir Bolea.

    Cu acest prilej, va fi transmisă inclusiv recunoştinţa faţă de România, pentru eforturile sale neclintite în sprijinirea exporturilor de cereale ucrainene.

    Rămânem angajaţi în asigurarea continuităţii neîntrerupte a exporturilor de cereale ucrainene, pentru a satisface cererea globală, adăugă ambasada SUA. Colaborând, suntem hotărâţi să consolidăm şi să diversificăm rutele alternative pentru exporturile de cereale pe cale ferată, rutieră şi maritimă, asigurând rolul esenţial al Ucrainei pe piaţa alimentară globală. Sursa citată denunţă Kremlinul pentru că a transformat hrana în armă şi a pus în pericol securitatea alimentară globală.

    Statele Unite rămân pe poziţie fermă alături de Ucraina, promiţând sprijin şi asistenţă continuă, pentru a ajuta Ucraina să depăşească provocările şi să promoveze prosperitatea în regiune, precizează Ambasada SUA.

  • 07.08.2023 (mise à jour)

    07.08.2023 (mise à jour)

    Dépenses – L’exécutif de Bucarest devrait adopter, cette semaine, une ordonnance d’urgence concernant la réduction des dépenses de l’Etat. Parmi les 50 mesures prévues dans le document, figurent la réduction du nombre de postes d’encadrement, de secrétaires d’Etat, la fusion de certaines institutions ou la suppression des chèques vacances pour certains fonctionnaires. Selon les calculs du ministère des Finances, ces mesures entraîneraient une économie budgétaire d’environ 6 milliards de lei (plus de 1,2 milliard d’euros) d’ici la fin de l’année. Une autre ordonnance d’urgence est en cours de préparation et concerne plusieurs changements fiscaux qui devraient permettre des économies à l’Etat. Sur ce sujet, les discussions et négociations se poursuivent au sein de la coalition PSD-PNL, sur fond de mécontentement et de critiques du milieu des affaires.

    Arabie Saoudite – La Roumanie continuera d’être aux côtés de l’Ukraine aussi longtemps que nécessaire pour qu’elle gagne cette guerre. C’est ce que Bogdan Aurescu, ex Ministre des affaires étrangères et actuel conseiller présidentiel, a transmit lors de la réunion en Arabie Saoudite, visant à trouver des solutions pour mettre un terme à la guerre entre l’Ukraine et la Russie. Toute paix prochaine doit garantir la sécurité de l’Ukraine à l’intérieur de ses frontières reconnues au niveau international ainsi que sa liberté de suivre des élections souveraines, sans aucune ingérence extérieure – a déclaré aussi le représentant de la Roumanie. Selon la BBC, la déclaration finale de la réunion fait référence uniquement à la décision d’organiser de nouvelles négociations de paix. Des représentants officiels de dizaines de pays, y compris du Brésil, d’Inde, de Chine, d’Afrique du Sud, ont participé à cette réunion, alors que la Russie n’ a pas été invitée.

    Banque centrale de Roumanie – La Banque centrale de la Roumanie a décidé de maintenir le taux directeur à 7% par an, niveau établi dès le mois de janvier. A la fin de sa réunion de ce lundi, le Conseil d’administration de l’institution a précisé que le taux annuel d’inflation avait continué à reculer au mois de juin à 10,25% sur le fond de la baisse du prix des carburants et de la stabilisation du prix de certains aliments. La Banque centrale roumaine met en garde sur le fait que les nouvelles statistiques reconfirment le ralentissement de la croissance économique durant les trois premiers mois de cette année et une progression modeste de celle-ci d’avril à la fin septembre. Selon la même Banque centrale, durant les mois d’avril et de mai, le commerce en détail et celui de véhicules ont enregistré un ralentissement de leur croissance par rapport à la même période de l’année dernière alors que les services ont connu une décroissance accélérée.

    Moldavie – La Roumanie est prête à accorder du soutien spécialisé à l’Armée nationale de la République de Moldova, a affirmé ce lundi à Chisinau, le ministre roumain de la défense, Angel Tîlvar. Il a évoqué le récent don d’équipements individuels de protection balistique et de véhicules tout-terrain, qui fait partie d’un effort constant de soutenir la République de Moldova dans le domaine de la dotation de l’armée avec des équipements modernes. M Tâlvar s’est rendu à Chisinau à l’invitation de son homologue, Anatolie Nosatîi, avec lequel il a évoqué la coopération bilatérale dans le domaine de la défense dans un contexte régional, au sein de l’OTAN et de l’UE. Les deux hommes ont également analysé l’évolution du milieu sécuritaire de la région, suite à la guerre d’agression mené par la Fédération de Russie contre l’Ukraine, avec un accent sur les bombardements russes contre les ports danubiens de l’Ukraine, près des frontières avec la Roumanie et la République de Moldova. Les ministres roumain et moldave de la défense ont réitéré le soutien complet de la Roumanie au parcours pro-européen de la République de Moldova.

    Météo – L’instabilité sera de retour à compter de ce mardi en Roumanie. Les maximas ne dépasseront plus les 28 degrés. Des pluies et des orages sont attendus en montagne et sur le sud-est, tout comme à Bucarest, où les maximas de la journée ne dépasseront plus les 26 degrés.

  • August 7, 2023 UPDATE

    August 7, 2023 UPDATE

    Spending – The Romanian government is this week planning to adopt an emergency ordinance to cut public spending. The fifty measures envisaged include reducing the number of management and under-secretary positions, merging various institutions and eliminating holiday vouchers for some state employees. According to estimates from the Finance Ministry, this would save more than 1.2 billion Euros to the state budget by the end of the year. The government is also planning an emergency decree introducing a number of tax changes aimed at increasing budget revenues. Talks on the subject are still ongoing between the parties in the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party, amid criticism from the business community.



    Moldova — Romania is ready to provide specialist support to the National Army of the Republic of Moldova, the Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr said on Monday in Chisinau. In this sense, he highlighted the recent donation of individual ballistic protection equipment and off-road vehicles, which is part of a continuous effort to support the Republic of Moldova in the field of equipping the army with modern equipment. Tîlvăr went to Chişinău at the invitation of his counterpart, Anatolie Nosatîi, with whom he discussed bilateral cooperation in the field of defense in the regional, NATO and EU contexts. Aspects were addressed regarding the evolution of the security environment in the region, as a result of the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, with an emphasis on the situations caused by the Russian bombings on Ukraine’s ports on the Danube, in the vicinity of the borders with Romania and the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, the Romanian official reiterated Romanias full support for the advancement of the Republic of Moldova on the pro-European path.



    Summit – Romania will continue to stand by Ukraine as long as it takes to win this war, said the presidential advisor and former foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu at the Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Any future solution for peace must guarantee Ukraines security within its internationally recognized borders and the freedom to hold sovereign elections, free of any interference, the Romanian official also said. According to the BBC, the summits final declaration only refers to the decision to hold further peace talks. The summit was attended by senior officials from dozens of countries, including Brazil, India, China and South Africa, with Russia not being invited.



    Pensions – Romanian senators and deputies are to return to Parliament this week to again amend a bill adopted at the end of June on the special pensions enjoyed by a number of professional categories in Romania, such as magistrates, the military and the police. The PM Marcel Ciolacu said that he had summoned a special session of Parliament as a number of articles of the bill were declared unconstitutional last week. According to official figures, the number of special pensions’ beneficiaries is growing, with over 10,000 beneficiaries recorded in July, up from the previous month. The highest special pension amounted to around 4,300 Euros. Romania has committed to reforming the special pensions system in order to receive funds allocated by the European Union under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.



    BNR – The National Bank of Romania – BNR decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate at 7% per year, a level established since January. At the end of Mondays meeting of the Board of Directors, it was stated that the annual inflation rate continued to decrease in June to 10.25%, against the background of cheaper fuels and the stabilization of prices for some foodstuffs. The Central Bank points out that the new statistical data reconfirms the slowdown in the economic growth rate in the first three months of the year and a modest increase from April to the end of September. BNR also states that, in the months of April and May, retail and automotive sales slowed their growth in comparison with the same period of last year, and the services provided to the population strongly accelerated their decline. (LS, CM)

  • 27.07.2023

    27.07.2023

    Gaz –
    Les Roumains auront sans aucune doute accès au gaz, y compris en cas de saison
    froide avec des températures plus basses que l’année dernière, étant donné que
    l’Azerbaïdjan a garanti à la Roumanie une quantité de gaz allant jusqu’à un
    milliard de mètres cubes utilisable en cas de besoin. C’est ce qu’a
    déclaré le ministre de l’énergie, Sebastian Burduja, qui a rencontré à Bucarest
    son homologue azéri, E.S. Parviz Shahbazov. « Le taux de remplissage des
    dépôts roumains a dépassé les 75,5%, de beaucoup supérieur à l’engagement de la
    Roumanie envers l’Union Européenne et
    par rapport à la même période de 2022, la quantité stockée est supérieure de
    700 millions de mètres cubes. », a écrit le ministre jeudi sur un réseau
    de partage. Il a souligné avoir parlé au ministre azéri du développement du
    partenariat stratégique, des investissements bilatéraux et des projets communs
    dans le domaine de l’énergie, y compris le corridor vert qui reliera la mer
    Caspienne à la mer Noire. « La collaboration entre la Roumanie et l’Azerbaïdjan
    dans le domaine est bénéfique non seulement aux deux pays, mais aussi à la
    sécurité de toute l’Europe, a précisé Sebastian Burduja.

    Iohannis – A Bucarest, le président roumain Klaus Iohannis affirme que les systèmes d’alerte sur les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes devraient être développés constamment, soulignant qu’il est particulièrement important de tenir compte des alertes météorologiques afin d’éviter que des tragédies se produisent. Sur les réseaux sociaux, le président roumain explique que durant cette période, la Roumanie et l’Europe ressentent intensément les effets des changements climatiques, par de violentes tempêtes, des vagues de chaleur et des incendies de végétation amplifiées par des températures inhabituellement élevées. « Nous sommes les témoins des phénomènes météo à impact majeur sur le bien-être, la santé et même ma vie des citoyens », a écrit Klaus Iohannis.

    Pompiers – En Grèce, 40 sapeurs-pompiers roumains sont redéployés aujourd’hui de la région d’Attique sur l’île de Rhodes, fortement touchée par les feux de végétation, selon l’inspection générales des situations d’urgence de Roumanie. Ils se déplacent par ferry et sont dotés de plusieurs véhicules spécialisées. Le ministère des AE de Bucarest fait savoir que le risque d’incendie demeure élevé et l’alerte est toujours de 4 à 5 sur une échelle de 0 à 5 sur plusieurs régions et îles de la Grèce, alors que la météo change d’une manière significative, les températures devraient chuter et des tempêtes puissantes toucheront les région de Thrace, Macédoine, Chalcidique et le nord-est de la mer Egée. Les ressortissants roumains qui souhaitent voyager durant cette période en Grèce sont exhortés de s’informer rigoureusement avant de partir sur la situation sur le terrain, et ceux qui se trouvent déjà dans les zones touchées, sont tenus de respecter strictement les instructions des autorités locales et de suivre des sources officielles d’information.

    Moldova – La Fédération de Russie sera obligée de réduire le nombre du personnel diplomatique et des fonctionnaires qui travaillent dans l’ambassade de Chisinau conformément à une décision des autorités de la République de Moldova et déjà communiquée à l’ambassadeur de Russie. Il s’agit d’une réduction de 84 à 25 postes, dont 10 diplomates et 15 membres du personnel technique, soit un nombre égal à celui des diplomates et du personnel qui travaille à l’ambassade de République de Moldova à Moscou. Le ministre des Affaires Etrangères, Nicu Popescu a rappelé que pendant des décennies la République de Moldova a été la cible d’activités et de politiques hostiles de la part de la Fédération de Russie et nombre des démarches de l’ambassade ont visé à déstabiliser l’Etat. A Moscou, la porte-parole du ministère des Affaires Etrangères russe, Maria Zakharova a affirmé que la décision n’était pas justifiée et qu’il ne s’agissait que d’un nouveau pas du pouvoir de Chisinau vers la destruction des relations bilatérales.

    Belgique – Le ministère des Affaires Etrangères de Bucarest annonce les ressortissants roumains qui se trouvent, transitent ou envisagent de voyager en Belgique qu’une grève des pilotes de la filiale Ryanair de ce pays aura lieu les 29 et 30 juillet. Les vols de cette compagnie aérienne seront perturbés, y compris plusieurs liaisons avec la Roumanie. Selon le ministère des Affaires Etrangères de Bucarest, les ressortissants roumains peuvent demander l’assistance consulaire aux numéros de l’ambassade de Roumanie à Bruxelles : +32 (0) 2 347 5338, +32 (0) 2 344 1658, +32 (0)2 343 69 35, où une permanence a été mise en place. Les ressortissants roumains confrontés à une situation difficile, à caractère d’urgence disposent du numéro de permanence de l’Ambassade de Roumanie en Belgique : + 32(0)2 346 9814.

    Concert – UN concert inédit de violon et de guitare aura lieu en fin de semaine à une altitude de plus de 2 000 mètres, dans les monts de Bucegi, dans le centre la Roumanie, près du chalet de Caraiman que le connu violoniste roumain, Alexandru Tomescu a transformé pour la dédier à la musique classique. Aujourd’hui c’est la première édition du master class appelé « Enescu experience ». Huit jeunes musiciens se sont qualifiés suite à une sélection et seront guidés en cette période par Alexandru Tomescu, soliste de l’orchestre de la Radiodiffusion roumaine et par le guitariste Dragoş Ilie. Les deux musiciens consacrés aux côtés des jeunes artistes donneront un concert à la fin du master classe, ce samedi le 29 juillet sur la plate-forme devant le chalet de Caraiman. L’accès du public est gratuit.

    Police – Le ministre roumain de l’intérieur, Cătălin Predoiu, a rencontré des représentants de la direction de la police roumaine et de la police aux frontières, pour leur demander de consolider les actions de lutte contre la criminalité organisée, soulignant le besoin d’une riposte efficace aux groupes criminels – fait savoir ce jeudi le Ministère de l’Intérieur, dans un communiqué. Le ministre a loué l’activité des deux institutions et a insisté sur le renforcement des efforts visant à faire augmenter le degré de sécurité des citoyens.

    Météo – Après une vague de chaleur caniculaire en Roumanie, les températures ont chuté dans la nuit de mercredi à jeudi. Hier les maxima frôlaient les 40 degrés, aujourd’hui elles vont de 19 à 28 degrés. 25 degrés en ce moment à Bucarest. Il pleut à Bucarest et des pluies sont présentes sur l’est, le sud-est et le sud. Les tempêtes ont malheureusement fait des victimes.

    Sports – Les sportifs roumains, Constantin Popovici et Cătălin Petru Preda ont remporté les premières médailles d’or et d’argent pour la délégation de Roumanie aux Championnats du monde 2023 de natation de Fukuoka au Japon, après avoir remporté aujourd’hui les deux première places au concours de plongeon. Popovici, 34 ans, est désormais le premier champion du monde de Roumanie au plongeon. 23 sportifs ont participé à ce concours.

  • July 27, 2023

    July 27, 2023

    WILDFIRES
    Forty Romanian fire fighters are
    relocated today from Attica region on Greece’s Rhodes Island, heavily affected
    by uncontrolled wildfires, the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergencies
    announced. They travel by sea together with 3 fire engines and a 10-ton fire
    truck, as well as a personnel transport vehicle. According to the Romanian Foreign
    Ministry, high fire risks continue to be reported today in several parts of
    Greece, while the weather is expected to change radically, with strong storms
    forecast especially in Thrace, Macedonia, Khalkidhiki and the north-eastern
    Aegean coast. Romanian citizens who plan on traveling to Greece in this period
    are advised to get fully informed of the situation ahead of leaving, and those
    who are already in the affected areas are urged to comply with the instructions
    issued by local authorities and follow official sources of information.


    NATURAL GAS Romanians will have safe access to natural gas, even in
    the case of lower temperatures than usual in the winter season, as Azerbaijan guaranteed
    Romania access to a capacity of up to 1 billion cubic metres of natural gas if
    necessary. The statement was made by the energy minister, Sebastian Burduja, who
    had a meeting in Bucharest with his counterpart E.S. Parviz Shahbazov. The
    filling level for Romanian storage facilities is over 75.5%, significantly over
    the level promised by Romania to the EU, and nearly 700 million cubic metres
    more than we had at the same time in 2022, the minister said in a social media
    post on Thursday. He added that he discussed with the energy minister of Azerbaijan about ways
    to develop the strategic partnership, bilateral investments and joint projects in the energy sector, including a green corridor to connect the Caspian Sea to
    the Black Sea. The cooperation between Romania and Azerbaijan in the energy
    sector entails major benefits not only for the two countries, but for the
    security of Europe as a whole, Sebastian Burduja pointed out.


    UKRAINE The Russian army hit the port
    infrastructure in the region of Odessa (southern Ukraine) in an overnight
    missile attack that killed a security guard and damaged a cargo terminal, the
    local authorities announced on Thursday morning. The ports in the Odessa region,
    at the Black Sea or the Danube River, have turned into the preferred targets of
    the Russian army, after Moscow recently terminated a deal allowing Ukraine to
    export grains to international markets.


    MOLDOVA The Russian
    Federation will have to downsize its Chişinău Embassy personnel, according to a
    decision made by the Moldovan authorities and already communicated to Russia’s
    ambassador in that country. Russia will keep 10 diplomats and 15 technical and
    support personnel, on a par with the number of staff of the Moldovan embassy in
    Moscow. According to Moldova’s foreign minister Nicu Popescu, Moldova has been
    for decades the target of hostile policies and activities on the part of the
    Russian Federation, and many of the Russian embassy’s activities were aimed to
    destabilize the country. In Moscow, the foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria
    Zaharova, said the decision was ungrounded and a further step taken by Chişinău
    towards deteriorating bilateral relations.


    WEATHER The weather cools
    significantly in Romania, where after a heat wave with temperatures above 40
    degrees Celsius, the highs are expected to range only between 19 and 28
    degrees, with some 25 degrees reported in Bucharest at noon. Thunderstorms
    made victims the previous day, with a 64 year old woman dead as a tree uprooted
    by the wind fell over her car on the Transalpina
    road in Alba County, and two siblings in Botoşani County struck by lightning on
    a field. In Harghita County railroad transport was disrupted after several
    trees fell on the tracks, several localities in Iaşi County were left without
    drinking water and the Black Sea port of Constanţa was closed because of the
    strong wind.



    SPORTS
    The athletes Constantin Popovici and Cătălin Petru Preda won the first medals
    for the Romanian team at the 2023 World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka
    (Japan). Today they ranked first and second in the high diving competition.
    Popovici, 34, is Romania’s first world high diving champion. Twenty-three
    athletes took part in this event. (AMP)

  • La semaine du 26 juin au 2 juillet 2023

    La semaine du 26 juin au 2 juillet 2023

    Des votes au Parlement

    Le Parlement roumain a consacré
    la dernière semaine de la session parlementaire avant les grandes vacances aux
    projets de loi des régimes spéciaux de retraite. Lundi, le Législatif a voté en
    faveur de la suppression de ces régimes de retraite au bénéfice des
    parlementaires. Mercredi, deux autres votes ont eu lieu. L’un par lequel le
    Parlement interdit le cumul de la pension de retraite et du salaire dans la
    fonction publique. Y feront exception les élus du peuple, ce qui rend la loi
    facilement criticable. Parmi les autres catégories professionnelles faisant exception
    on retrouve aussi les professeurs, les médecins, les assistants maternels et
    les salariés de l’Académie roumaine, de la Banque centrale de Roumanie et
    d’autres institutions nationales.


    Par ailleurs, le Législatif a voté en faveur de la
    réforme des régimes spéciaux de retraite dont bénéficient les magistrats, les
    diplomates, les militaires, les fonctionnaires parlementaires et le personnel
    aéronautique et de la Cour des compte. Pourtant, le projet a été approuvé sous
    une forme modifiée au point où la réforme n’entrera en vigueur qu’à partir de
    2028. L’âge du départ à la retraite sera repoussé progressivement de 60 à 65
    ans, et les magistrats seront obligés d’avoir une ancienneté d’au moins 25 ans.


    Un impôt de 15% sera mis en place dans le cas des
    pensions de retraite dont le montant dépasse le salaire moyen net. L’USR, parti
    de l’opposition, a critiqué le vote du Parlement, en affirmant que tant que les
    régimes spéciaux de retraite ne sont pas entièrement supprimés, la Roumanie
    continuera à recenser 210.000 retraités bénéficiaires d’une retraite spéciale.
    La Haute Cour de Justice et de Cassation a contesté le caractère
    constitutionnel des régimes spéciaux de retraite et du cumul de la pension et
    du salaire. La réforme de la retraite s’inscrit parmi les jalons du Plan
    national de relance et de résilience.


    Le PNRR, un retour positif


    Avec 49 objectifs
    et jalons accomplis parmi les 51 intégrés dans le Plan national de relance et
    de résilience, la Roumanie a remporté haut la main l’examen de la Commission
    européenne et attend donc le versement d’une deuxième tranche de 3,22 milliards
    d’euros. Avec deux objectifs manqués dans le domaine des investissements
    énergétiques, le pays sera pénalisé de 53 millions d’euros. Cependant, ce
    retard peut encore être rattrapé, puisque la Roumanie dispose de six mois pour
    prouver avoir réussi à atteindre ces deux derniers jalons. Selon les dires du Premier
    ministre roumain, Marcel Ciolacu, l’évaluation positive de l’Exécutif européen
    est un signal encourageant pour son gouvernement qui fait de son mieux pour
    rattraper son retard et remplir tous les objectifs. La Roumanie bénéficie d’une
    enveloppe de plus de 29 milliards d’euros accordée par Bruxxelles pour mettre
    en place le PNRR. A l’heure actuelle, le pays a déjà reçu deux tranches de
    préfinancement d’un total de 3,3 milliards d’euros.




    Une nouvelle aide financière versée aux agriculteurs
    roumains


    La Roumanie se verra
    accorder 30 millions d’euros de la part de la Commission européenne pour
    soutenir les agriculteurs impactés par les importations de céréales
    ukrainiennes. C’est le deuxième paquet de soutien financier de la réserve
    agricole européenne que Bucarest reçoit de la part de Bruxelles. Parmi les cinq
    pays limitrophes de l’Ukraine censés se partager l’aide européenne, la Pologne
    et la Roumanie touchent la partie la plus consistante : respectivement 40 et 30
    millions d’euros. Ainsi, la Roumanie obtient une aide totale de 40 millions
    d’euros que le gouvernement multipliera par deux, suite à un accord avec la CE.


    Des préparatifs pour le sommet de
    Vilnius


    Des leaders des
    pays alliés se sont retrouvés à la Haye, en présence du secrétaire général de
    l’OTAN, dans le cadre d’une réunion consacrée au sommet de Vilnius, prévu à la
    mi-juillet. Présent aux débats, le président roumain, Klaus Iohannis a
    réaffirmé que la Russie est et continuera d’être une menace imminente pour la sécurité euroatlantique. Par conséquent, il
    a plaidé en faveur d’un renforcement de la posture dissuassive des alliées,
    parallèlement à la poursuite de l’aide accordée à Kiev et aux autres
    partenaires vulnérables de la région, notamment à la République de Moldova. En
    vertue de sa position stratégique, la Roumanie est directement concernée par la
    consolidation supplémentaire du Flanc oriental de l’Alliance, à travers une
    approche cohérente et unitaire de la part des pays alliés. Cela veut dire, a
    précisé Iohannis, qu’il faut se doter des forces armées et des capacités et
    équipements militaires nécessaires. En ce qui concerne l’Ukraine, puisque en
    2008, à Bucarest, les Alliés ont décidé de l’intégrer à un moment donné à
    l’OTAN, cet engagement doit être accompli, a conclu le président roumain.


    De la culture et du sport


    Le
    coup de coeur culturel de cette semaine est, sans nul doute, la 30ème édition
    du Festival international de théâtre de Sibiu. Plusieurs jours durant, la ville
    transylvaine, ancienne capitale de la culture européenne, a accueilli les bras
    grands ouverts des milliers d’artistes et des centaines d’événements à l’agenda
    d’un festival placé sous le signe du Miracle. Passons maintenant au sport où la
    joueuse de tennis, Simona Halep, accusée de dopage, en octobre dernier, a
    comparu devant le tribunal. L’ancienne numéro un mondiale et double championne
    à Roland Garos recevra un premier verdict en juillet. Rappelons qu’elle a
    quitté le classement des 50 meilleures joueuses mondiales après qu’elle s’est
    vu interdire la participation aux tournois.



  • European support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

    European support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova

    European and Euro-Atlantic structures, Romania included, will continue to support Ukraine with everything necessary, President Klaus Iohannis said in Brussels. He added that, in the speech delivered at the ongoing European Council meeting, he also mentioned the need to help the Republic of Moldova, a state which, in turn, is affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to President Iohannis, it is vital for the Ukrainians, and for the European Union and NATO states to preserve the unity and solidarity between the two institutions, and for Kyiv to continue to be supported ‘unconditionally, with everything we have. He also said that it’s clear to everyone that we have to try to do everything to stop Russia, to stop this illegal war. In order to help Ukraine, President Iohannis says, we also need to help them in their European journey, adding that it is extremely important to help those who suffer from this war and need a chance. Romanias president said he explicitly referred to the Republic of Moldova, which needs Romanias support to increase its resilience and to become a member of the European Union.



    Neighboring both ex-Soviet republics, Romania helped them from the first day of the war started by the Russians, on February 24, 2022. More than 4.5 million Ukrainians fled the invaders through Romania. Without Romanias support, the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova could not have been overcome. The most recent polls confirm the massive adherence of the Moldovan citizens to the European path. Almost 60% of the respondents voted for joining the European Union, while only 37% would vote for joining the Eurasian Union, controlled by Russia, show data of a survey quoted by Radio Chisinau.



    Joining NATO is supported by 33.4% of the survey participants. The pro-Western president Maia Sandu remains the most popular political figure in the Republic of Moldova, and her party, Action and Solidarity (PAS), would get the most votes in the event of early parliamentary elections. If presidential elections were held next Sunday, almost 38% of the respondents would vote for Maia Sandu. The former pro-Russian president, the socialist Igor Dodon, would be voted by only 14.2% of the voters, and the current mayor of the capital, Chisinau, the ex-socialist Ion Ceban, would get 6.2% of the votes. The criminal fugitive Ilan Şor, who is in Israel, being considered the main vector of Moscow’s interests in the Republic of Moldova, would get 2.5 % of the votes. About 43.5% of the respondents said that they do not trust any political figure. In the case of the parliamentary elections, PAS would obtain 44.3% of the votes, the pro-Moscow Bloc of Socialists and Communists 21.5%, and the recently dissolved populist party of Ilan Şor – 13.6%. (LS)

  • Un soutien européen accordé à Kiev et Chisinau

    Un soutien européen accordé à Kiev et Chisinau

    Les structures européennes et euroatlantiques
    continueront à soutenir l’Ukraine, a déclaré le chef de l’Etat roumain, Klaus
    Iohannis, présent au Conseil européen de Bruxelles. Et le responsable roumain d’ajouter
    que l’appui européen devrait concerner la République de Moldova aussi, un pays
    sévèrement impacté par l’invasion russe de son voisin. Il est vital aussi bien
    pour l’Ukraine, que pour les pays membres de l’UE et de l’OTAN de préserver
    leur unité et leur solidarité. Pour cela, il faut que nous offrions un appui
    permanent et inconditionnel aux Ukrainiens, a affirmé Klaus Iohannis. Je pense
    qu’il est évident pour tout le monde que nous devons unir nos efforts et faire
    de notre mieux pour arrêter la guerre en Russie. Pour aider Kiev, il faut le soutenir
    dans ses efforts d’adhérer à l’UE a ajouté le président roumain, avant de
    conclure qu’il était extrêmement important d’aider tous ceux que cette guerre
    fait souffrir et qui ont besoin d’une nouvelle chance. Je ne pense pas
    seulement au peuple ukrainien, mais aussi à celui moldave qui a besoin de notre
    soutien pour accroître sa résilience et rejoindre la communauté européenne.


    Voisine des deux Etats ex soviétiques dont
    elle soutien le parcours européen, la Roumanie a donné un coup de main dès les
    premiers moments de l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine, le 24 février 2022. Plus de
    4,5 millions de réfugiés ukrainiens ont transité depuis le territoire roumain
    pour fuir la guerre. Par ailleurs, sans l’appui de Bucarest, la République de
    Moldova n’aurait jamais pu surmonter sa crise énergétique.

    Selon les sondages
    les plus récents, la plupart des Moldaves se disent en faveur de l’adhésion
    européenne de leur pays. Presque 60% des personnes questionnées voudraient
    rejoindre l’UE, tandis que seulement 37% des répondeurs seraient en faveur d’une
    intégration au sein de l’Union économique eurasiatique contrôlée par Moscou,
    selon une enquête citée par Radio Chisinau. La même source précise que 33,4%
    des Moldaves soutiennent l’adhésion de leur pays à l’OTAN. Par ailleurs, la
    cheffe de l’Etat, la pro-occidentale, Maia Sandu, reste la figure la plus
    populaire dans son pays, tandis que son parti reste en première position dans
    les intentions de vote, si des élections législatives anticipées avaient lieu
    ces jours-ci. Si un scrutin présidentiel avait lieu ce vendredi, Maia Sandu le
    remporterait avec 38% des voix, suivi par l’ancien président, le socialiste et
    philorusse, Igor Dodon, 14,2% et le maire de Chisinau, Ion Ceban, 6,2%.
    Considéré comme le principal vecteur des intérêts russes en République de
    Moldova, Ilan Sor, condamné dans un dossier pénal et actuellement en cavale, ne
    serait crédité que de 2,5% des votes. 43,5% des Moldaves ont affirmé ne faire
    confiance à aucune personnalité politique. En cas de scrutin parlementaire, le
    parti de Maia Sandu, Action et Solidarité remporterait 44,3% des mandats, le
    Bloc des Socialistes et des Communistes pro-Moscou, 21,5% et le parti populiste
    de Sor, récemment dissolu, 13,6%.



  • June 28, 2023 UPDATE

    June 28, 2023 UPDATE

    European Council — The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, is participating, on Thursday and Friday, in Brussels, in the summer European Council meeting. According to the Presidential Administration, the meeting will begin with a working lunch with the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, an opportunity to discuss the challenges and common approaches at the level of the two organizations in the context of Russias aggression against Ukraine. Later, during the working sessions, European leaders will debate, among other things, the situation in Ukraine, the need to maintain strong European support for this state at all levels, as well as the implementation of sanctions and the continuation of efforts to hold Moscow accountable for the crimes committed. Previously, President Klaus Iohannis was in The Hague at a small-scale meeting dedicated to the preparation of the NATO summit in Vilnius next month, attended by representatives of seven allied states from the eastern and northern flanks.



    Special pensions – The Romanian Senate adopted, on Wednesday, the draft law on the reform of the special pension system in the form previously approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The document refers to the pensions of magistrates, soldiers, diplomats, parliamentary officials, Court of Accounts or aeronautical personnel. The bill provides, among other things, for a gradual increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 years, a minimum of 25 years of experience in the specialty so that magistrates can benefit from a special pension and the taxation by 15% of the sums that exceed the level of the average net salary. The reform of special pensions is not only an obligation assumed by Romania through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR, but also an outstanding debt to the Romanians – said the representatives of the coalition made up of the PSD-PNL, who argued that the imbalances in society must be eliminated, and the rules must be the same for everyone. From the opposition, Save Romania Union – USR criticized the bill, for the lack of real reform, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians on Romania – UDMR appreciated that the parliamentarians failed to be braver and eliminate special pensions, but that the adopted law represents an important step to create a fair and equitable system. We remind you that, on Monday, the Romanian Parliament also adopted a bill regarding the elimination of the special pensions of senators and deputies. The reform of the special pension system is a milestone in the PNRR.



    Deficit – Romania’s budget deficit went up to 2.32% of the GDP after the first five months of the year, from 1.72% at the end of April, the finance ministry said on Wednesday. Budget revenues stood at over 197 billion lei, up by 10.4%, while expenses amounted to 234 billion lei, up by 17.3%. This years budget is based on a budget deficit level of 4.4% of the GDP.



    Moldova — The pro-Western President Maia Sandu remains the most popular political figure in the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), and her party, Action and Solidarity (PAS), would get the most votes in the event of early parliamentary elections — according to a study quoted by Radio Chisinau. If presidential elections were held next Sunday, almost 38% of the respondents would vote for Maia Sandu. The former pro-Russian president, the socialist Igor Dodon, would be voted by only 14.2% of the voters, and the current mayor of the capital, Chisinau, the ex-socialist Ion Ceban, would get 6.2% of the votes. The criminal fugitive Ilan Şor, who is in Israel and considered the main vector of Moscows interests in the Republic of Moldova, would get 2.5% of the votes. About 43.5% of the respondents said that they do not trust any political figure. In the case of the parliamentary elections, PAS would obtain 44.3% of the votes, the pro-Moscow Bloc of Socialists and Communists 21.5%, and the recently dissolved populist party of Ilan Şor – 13.6%. Almost 60% of the respondents were in favor of joining the European Union, while 37% would vote to join the Russian-controlled Eurasian Union. Joining NATO is supported by 33.4% of the respondents.



    Court — The Constitutional Court of Romania rejected, on Wednesday, the notification of the Save Romania Union – USR (in opposition) and Forța Dreptei — the Force of the Right (Liberal opposition) in relation to the law amending the Criminal Code regarding the sanctioning of protests and established that the law, adopted by the PSD-PNL government majority, is constitutional. According to a press release, the Court says that increasing the special limits of criminal penalties and regulating some aggravated forms of crimes is the exclusive competence of the legislator, a responsibility that it exercises in accordance with the states criminal policy. The MPs of USR and Forţa Dreptei notified the judges of the Court, on the law amending the Criminal Code, after the sanctions regarding the disturbance of public order and became harsher.



    Anti-corruption – In Romania, in the months of April and May 2023, in the corruption files dealt with by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), 57 defendants were convicted, through 39 final court decisions, for crimes of taking and giving bribe, influence peddling, abuse of office or embezzling European funds. According to a press release issued by the DNA, the sentences ordered by the judges against the 57 defendants vary between 7 years and 4 months in prison and one year with the postponement of the punishment. Among those definitively convicted are: a minister, a secretary of state, a prosecutor, a public notary, a police officer, three city mayors, a director from the National Citizenship Authority, a director from the Mures Water Basin Administration (center), a manager of a Bucharest hospital and nine other civil servants. (LS)

  • Moda vestimentară în portretele votive

    Moda vestimentară în portretele votive

    Aflate peste o sută de ani (de la începutul secolului al XVIII-lea până în
    1877) sub suzeranitate otomană, principatele dunărene Țara Românească și
    Moldova aveau să stea mult timp, de asemenea, sub influența culturii și
    civilizației orientale. Aceasta s-a manifestat, mai ales, în timpul domniilor
    fanariote care au debutat în 1714 în Moldova și în 1716 în Țara Românească și
    care s-au încheiat în ambele țări în 1821. În această perioadă, cele două
    principate au fost conduse de domnitori aleși de Înalta Poarta dintre
    funcționarii greci din cartierul Fanar din Instanbul. Orientalizarea adusă de
    domniile fanariote a început, totuși, să slăbească încă din perioada 1806-1812
    când, din cauza războiului ruso-turc, trupele moscovite, occidentalizate de mai
    mult timp, au ocupat principatele românești. Atunci, pentru prima oară,
    șalvarii atât cei feminini, cât și cei masculini au început să fie înlocuiți de
    rochii și, respectiv, pantaloni, anteriul și giubeaua de redingote și frac,
    basmaua de pălărie, ișlicul de joben. Pătrunderea modelor vestimentare din
    Occident n-a fost scutită de contestări și de întreruperi cauzate de situația
    politică și militară care la începutul secolului al XIX-lea arunca țările
    române când înspre Rusia sau Austria, când înspre Imperiul otoman care și-a
    păstrat totuși suzeranitatea mult timp.

    Evenimentul decisiv avea să fie, însă,
    semnarea Tratatului de la Adrianopole în 1829. Începând de atunci schimbarea
    stilului de viață oriental cu cel occidental a devenit ireversibilă. Hainele au
    fost primele înlocuite și portretele boierimii de atunci arată clar acest fapt.
    Dar nu doar portretele laice, ci și cele aflate în biserice, așa-numitele
    fresce votive. Cele din prima parte a secolului al XIX-lea indică faptul că
    mulți boieri de la țară, mai ales, au rămas mai mult timp credincioșii modei
    vechi și tradiției vestimentare orientale.
    Însă și cei care au îmbrățișat moda apuseană apar, de asemenea, pe
    zidurile bisericilor ctitorite de ei. Înfațișați, de obicei, alături de
    familie, acești ctitori demonstrează, peste ani, cum îmbinau noul cu vechiul în
    vestimentația lor dintr-o epocă a schimbărilor și a eccletismului.

    Istoricul
    Tudor Dinu a cercetat portrele votive din epocă și iată ce a constatat:

    Tablourile votive din biserici sunt, pentru respectiva perioadă, în
    număr de 141, în care regăsim mai bine de 1100 de figuri de oameni îmbrăcați în
    vestimentația epocii. Desigur, unii
    boieri tradiționaliști preferă în continuare anteriul, giubeaua și calpacul, în
    vreme ce fiii lor tineri le-au schimbat pentru redingotă, frac sau joben. Prin
    muzeele noastre se păstrează cam 200 de costume de secol XIX și început de
    secol XIX și, de asemenea, tot cam două sute de portrete șevalet. Comparativ,
    există 1100 de figuri de ctitori bisericești îmbrăcați în veșminte, fie ele
    turcești, fie nemțești, cum se spunea odinioară. Ca atare, descoperirea acestei
    surse neexploatate de nimeni contribuie foarte mult la clarificarea imaginii
    despre moda epocii.



    În cartea sa intitulată Moda în Țara Românească.
    Între Fanar, Viena și Paris. 1800 și 1850, Tudor Dinu s-a concentrat mai ales
    pe bisericile de țară, ctitorite de boieri în prima parte a secolului al
    XIX-lea în partea Olteniei reprezentată azi de județele Gorj și Vâlcea, zonă
    care în epocă era relativ prosperă și mai ferită de urgia războaielor. Potretele
    votive de acolo atestă atât continuarea tradițiilor vestimentare într-o
    perioadă de schimbări profunde, cât și trecerea la moda nouă, trecere marcată
    și prin coabitarea elementelor vechi cu cele noi. Explicația acestui ecletism
    ne-o oferă tot istoricul Tudor Dinu.

    Boierii mari, care dețineau și ranguri,
    erau membri în sfatul domnesc, având o funcție oarecare, nu își puteau permite
    să renunțe, cel puțin în cadrul oficial sau semioficial, la această
    vestimentație orientală, care reprezenta o marcă a statutului lor social. De
    pildă, chiar și acoperămintea de cap pe care o purta reflectau funcția pe care
    o avea. De pildă, domnitorul avea dreptul să poarte ișlic cu capac alb. Boierii
    mai de rang mare aveau ișlic cu capac roșu și cei de rang mai mic ișlic cu
    capac verde. Boierii și fiii de boieri, în așteptarea numirii într-o funcție,
    purtau acel acoperământ foarte ciudat, numit calpac, semănând sau cu un balon,
    sau cu o pară. Ca atare, ei nu puteau renunța decât în cadru neoficial la
    aceste veșminte, cel puțin până până în anii 1830. În schimb, doamnele se pare
    că le-au adoptat cu ușurință extraordinar. De îndată ce rușii ne-au ocupat, în
    1806, doamnele au început să imite moda adusă de ruși.


    Iar adepții înnoirii nu se sfiau să se lase pictați pe zidurile bisericii
    în noile haine nemțești sau occidentale. Este cazul ctitorilor bisericii din
    satul Hurezani, județul Gorj, unde toți membrii familiei ar fi putut apărea
    într-una din revistele de modă ale vremii. Totuși, moda cea nouă a avut
    detractorii ei destul de vocali.

    Tudor Dinu: Argumentele
    țineau mai degrabă de un conservatorism legat de religie. În mod straniu, se
    considera că noua modă împinge la păcat pe atât pe doamne, cât și pe bărbați.
    De asemenea, pantalonii au fost obiectul unor dispute furibunde între
    tradiționaliști și progresiști, mai ales că se știe că nu era tocmai comod
    pentru un bărbat să schimbe vechea vestimentație cu una nouă. Trebuia să țină
    un pic de regim de slăbire anterior, așa să îi zicem. Anteriul, care e un fel
    de rochie unisex, permite formele mai
    rotunde decât pantalonii pentru care tânărul care voia să-i poarte trebuia să
    aibă o condiție fizică destul de bună. La fel, jiletca, redingota sau fracul
    presupuneau și niște sacrificii. Aceste sacrificii le făceau și doamnele care
    se strângeau îngrozitor cu corsetul,
    astfel încât să pară mai suple și să-și pună în lumină o talie ce se voia una
    de viespe.



    În ciuda greutăților inerente începuturilor, noua modă vestimentară a avut
    succes de cauză fiind urmată la scurt timp de schimbarea mobilelor, a viziunii
    asupra aranjării interioarelor și de modificarea arhitecturii.


  • June 23, 2023 UPDATE

    June 23, 2023 UPDATE

    SECURITY We are under an obligation to provide
    security to the Republic of Moldova, because Romanians also live there, PM Marcel Ciolacu said on Friday.
    The previous day the Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly condemned the statements
    made by the Russian-installed
    governor in occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo. The Romanian diplomacy says in a
    Twitter post that such statements addressed to the Republic of Moldova, but
    which also refer to a part of the territory of Romania, a member of NATO, are
    unacceptable and that targeting civilian infrastructure is a war crime. The
    reaction comes after Saldo threatened that the Russian army could attack a
    bridge over Prut River, in response to an alleged Ukrainian attack on one of
    the bridges connecting Kherson to the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea annexed by
    Moscow 9 years ago. Chisinau has summoned the Russian ambassador to the
    Republic of Moldova, Oleg Vasnetsov, for explanations. Created on some of
    the eastern Romanian territories annexed by Stalin’s Soviet Union in 1940, the
    Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence from Moscow in 1991.


    STOCK MARKET In Romania, the Association of Fund Administrators
    welcomed the historic decision to list Hidroelectrica, through the sale of the
    stake held by Proprietatea Fund. The Association chief, Horia Gustă, says the
    listing is a huge development opportunity for the Bucharest Stock Exchange, which
    thus consolidates its entry in the big league of European financial markets. Moreover,
    the company’s presence will attract significant sums of money and major
    international investment funds into Romania. In turn, Hidroelectrica’s CEO
    Bogdan Badea says he expects nearly EUR 10 bln in capitalisation.
    Hidroelectrica is the country’s largest electricity producer and it recently
    became one of the most important energy suppliers for households.


    IMMIGRANTS 43 foreign citizens were caught, Friday morning, trying
    to cross Romania’s western border illegally. They were hidden in a truck driven
    by a Romanian national, which was carrying parcels on the Romania-Hungary
    route. The authorities found that the people hidden among the goods are from
    Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. The foreigners are being
    investigated for attempted fraudulent crossing of the state border, and the truck
    driver for migrant trafficking.


    FOOD The large chain stores in Romania have agreed, in the framework
    of the dialogue started with the Government, that they could voluntarily reduce
    the shelf prices of 10 basic food categories. The announcement was made by
    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, but talks will continue. In order for the
    reduction to be implemented, either a voluntary agreement of the sellers or an
    emergency ordinance is being considered, but in both cases, the prime minister promised
    that the government does not want to put pressure on Romanian producers.


    THEATRE The Sibiu International Theatre Festival began on Friday in
    central Romania. The event, which has a 30-year long tradition, brings to
    Romania 5,000 artists from 75 countries, in hundreds of events to be held until
    2 July.




    FOOTBALL On Saturday in Bucharest Romania takes on Ukraine,
    in Group B of the European Under-21 Football Championship, which it hosts
    together with Georgia. In the same group, Spain will play against Croatia. In
    the debut matches, the Under-21 national team was beaten 3-0 by Spain, while
    Ukraine defeated Croatia 2-0. The final tournament takes place between 21 June and
    8 July, and it brings together 16 teams, divided into four groups. Two are
    hosted by Romania, in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca (north-west), and two by
    Georgia. Two quarter-finals and a semi-final will also take place in Romania.
    The top three finishers qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Romania
    is at its 3rd consecutive participation in the competition, with a total
    of 4 final tournament presences, starting with 1998, when it hosted the final
    tournament for the first time. The country’s best performance was in 2019, when
    it reached the semi-finals, which secured the national team’s qualification in
    the Tokyo Olympics. (AMP)

  • Constant support for the Republic of Moldova

    Constant support for the Republic of Moldova

    Top-ranking Romanian officials visited Chișinău this week to reiterate once again that Bucharest fully supports the European accession process of the neighboring Republic of Moldova. Recently installed at the head of the new coalition government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party (PSD-PNL), the Social-Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu, accompanied by the former Liberal prime minister, currently the speaker of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, made their first joint external visit to Chișinău, where they had talks with the president of the Republic, Maia Sandu, with the Prime Minister Dorin Recean and the President of Parliament, Igor Grosu.



    The Government of Romania will remain the guarantor of the security and stability of the Republic of Moldova and will continue to support with all its strength the countrys EU accession process said Marcel Ciolacu. He particularly appreciated the progress that Chișinău has registered in applying the reforms in the field of justice and in fighting corruption. And, equally, he spoke about the continuation of bilateral economic cooperation.



    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu: We are obliged to put a special emphasis on the economic area together. Trade relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, last year, increased by 50%, standing at almost 3.6 billion dollars and I think this is the right way.



    Since everything must be done for the benefit of the citizens on both banks of the River Prut, the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, invited economic companies from Romania to invest in the Republic of Moldova: Today, we discussed the nine projects for the second installment of the aid provided by the Government of Romania, worth 100 million. These nine projects are worth 28 million Euros and they will go to investments, providing opportunities to our companies, and will develop the localities of the Republic of Moldova.



    In parallel with managing the crises caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, from the immediate vicinity, Bucharest and Chișinău must emphasize the development of infrastructure – bridges, roads and energy networks.



    Marcel Ciolacu has more: I guarantee you that in the next Government meeting, money will be earmarked for projects regarding drinking water and sewage, which are necessary to support the villages in the Republic of Moldova, to be European villages.



    Romania is willing to share its legislative experience in Moldovas European integration project, said the Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Nicolae Ciucă. Earlier this week, also in Chișinău, the new Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, pointed out that Bucharest was taking consistent diplomatic steps to advance the EU integration process of Moldova, with particular emphasis on the objective of opening the accession negotiations as soon as possible. (LS)