Radio România Internațional

Tag: National Day

  • December 2, 2024 UPDATE

    December 2, 2024 UPDATE

    CCR – The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) validated the first round of the presidential election held on November 24. After counting the votes from all polling stations in the country and from 161 stations abroad out of the 950 organized in the Diaspora, the CCR judges concluded that, although there were some differences compared to the first count, they were not the result of fraud. At the same time, they decided not to wait for the recount of all the votes cast in the Diaspora, as they were not contested. Thus, with unanimity of votes, the CCR judges rejected as ungrounded the notification of the MEP Cristian Terheş, according to which votes obtained by a candidate who withdrew from the race at the last moment would have been transferred to the account of another and decided that the independent Călin Georgescu, perceived as a pro-Russian extremist, and the president of the Save Romania Union – USR, Elena Lasconi, will run in the second round of the presidential election. Also, the CCR confirmed that the presidential final will take place on the previously established date, December 8.

     

    Elections – Romania’s new Parliament will include 7 political parties. In Sunday’s general elections, the Social Democratic Party – PSD, in power, won the largest number of votes, around 22%, followed by the sovereigntist Alliance for the Union of Romanians – AUR with roughly 18%, double their figure in the last election 4 years ago. Third comes the National Liberal Party – PNL, another member of the ruling coalition for the past 4 years, which won some 14% of the votes, and 4th is the right-of-centre Save Romania Union – USR, with around 12%. The 5% parliamentary threshold was crossed by the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, the extremist party S.O.S. Romania led by the controversial MEP Diana Șoșoacă, and the newly founded sovereigntist Young People’s Party (POT). The voter turnout was over 52%, the highest in the last 20 years. Outside Romania, some 800,000 Romanian nationals voted, 3 times more than in the previous parliamentary election.

     

    December 1 – Romania’s National Day, marked on December 1, was celebrated on Sunday throughout the country with parades, military and religious ceremonies, shows, artistic events, and fireworks. The traditional parade took place in Bucharest, being attended by over 2,500 Romanian and foreign military personnel. President Klaus Iohannis, who hosted his last National Day reception as head of state, sent a message of unity and solidarity to overcome crises and move forward with dignity.

     

    Duckadam – The former great Romanian goalkeeper Helmut Duckadam, known as the “Hero of Seville”, passed away at the age of 65. The Romanian Football Federation confirmed the sad news and sent their condolences to the family and loved ones. Born on April 1, 1959, in Semlac, Arad county in western Romania, Helmut Duckadam started playing football in 1975, at Gloria in Arad. Until 1983, when he transferred to Steaua Bucharest, he played at UTA (1977 and 1978-1983) and Constructorul Arad (1977-1978). He became the “Hero of Seville” in the final of the European Champions Cup of 1986, when he managed to save four shots in a row in the penalty shootout which secured Steaua’s win against Barcelona (2-0). His performance in Barcelona made him enter the Book of Records. Duckadam also defended the goal of the Romanian national team twice.

     

    Internship pay – The executive vice-president of the European Commission, Roxana Mînzatu, participated on Monday in her first council meeting together with the European labor ministers. The agenda included the directive for interns, through which the member states try to find a solution by which young people can be paid for the internship period, within a campaign or institution. Mânzatu stated that there are many situations in which employers exploit the concept of apprenticeship and internship and use young people in the jobs they need, but without paying them. We remind you that Roxana Mînzatu received the European Parliament’s vote of confidence last week, together with Ursula von der Leyen’s entire team, and will deal with social issues and crisis preparation in the new European Commission. (LS)

  • December 1, 2024 UPDATE

    December 1, 2024 UPDATE

    Parliamentary elections update – More than 8.2 million Romanians, i.e. almost 46% of the 18 million with the right to vote, had gone to the polls, until 6 p.m. local time, in the parliamentary elections taking place on Sunday. The turnout is significantly higher than the one recorded, at the same hour, at the parliamentary elections 4 years ago. In the diaspora, where Romanians started voting on Saturday,  the number of voters exceeded 603 thousand. The number of urban voters exceeds that of rural voters by more than 1 million. 31 parties and alliances, as well as 19 organizations of national minorities, are registered in today’s elections. Voting is proportional, on lists. We remind you that on June 9, local and European Parliament elections took place in Romania simultaneously.

     

    National Day – Romania’s National Day was celebrated on Sunday, December 1, throughout the country, with parades, military and religious ceremonies and shows. Thousands of people attended the parade in the center of Bucharest, which enjoyed the participation of over 2,500 Romanian soldiers from the army and other law enforcement agencies. Along with the Romanian soldiers, 240 foreign soldiers participated in the parade, as part of detachments from allied countries: Albania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Turkey. President Klaus Iohannis hosted, on Saturday, the last reception dedicated to the National Day in his capacity as head of state. At the end of his 10-year mandate, Iohannis sent a message of unity and solidarity, in order to overcome crises and move forward with dignity. The Romanian Cultural Institute organized abroad events dedicated to the National Day. December 1, 1918 marks the establishment of the Romanian unitary nation state. At the end of the First World War, all the provinces inhabited mostly by Romanians that were, until then, under the authority of the Austro-Hungarian and Tsarist empires: Transylvania, Banat, Bucovina and Bessarabia became part of the Kingdom of Romania.

     

    Message – Representatives of foreign embassies in Bucharest wished Romania, which they consider a friend and reliable partner, ‘Happy National Day’, on December 1. The German ambassador, Peer Gebauer, wrote on the diplomatic mission’s Facebook page that his country and Romania are united by a wonderful friendship. Giles Portman, the British ambassador in Bucharest, described Romania as a close ally. And the ambassador of Israel, Lior Ben Dor, remembered that his parents and grandparents come from Romania. Romania has a rich history, beautiful landscapes and hospitable people. For Israel, Romania will always be a close friend with whom we have a special relationship. I am grateful that I have the chance to contribute to strengthening the relations between our countries’, said Lior Ben Dor. The US Embassy in Bucharest also sent a congratulatory message through the Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who showed that Romania’s commitment to security and democracy in Europe is a model for all nations to follow. The head of American diplomacy stated that his country is proud to collaborate with Romania, to address global challenges and secure the prosperity and wellbeing of our peoples.

     

    Handball – The Romanian women’s national handball team take on the team of Montenegro on Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary, in the second match of group B of the European Championship to be hosted by Austria, Hungary and Switzerland. In the first match, the Romanian players defeated the Czech Republic, and the Montenegrin team defeated Serbia. The teams ranked on the first two places will qualify for the main groups. This is the first continental final tournament with 24 teams at the start.

     

    Ballot recount – The Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) has informed that all the ballots registered in the polling stations abroad in the first round of the presidential election on November 24 have been sent to the country. The diplomatic missions and consular offices of Romania used, for this purpose, the fastest and safest transport solutions identified, depending on the geographical areas and the time zone, MAE stated. They also said that, on Monday, more than 97% of the ballots cast in the Diaspora will be in Bucharest. On Thursday, the Constitutional Court of Romania asked the Central Electoral Bureau to recount all the validly cast votes and the invalid ones from the first round of the presidential election, following the notification by one of the candidates regarding possible fraud. On Monday, the constitutional judges will decide whether to validate or cancel the election. If they validate it, the second round will take place on Sunday, December 8. (LS)

  • December 1, 2024

    December 1, 2024

    National Day – Romania’s National Day is celebrated today, December 1, throughout the country, with parades, military and religious ceremonies and shows. Thousands of people attended the parade in the center of Bucharest, which enjoyed the participation of over 2,500 Romanian soldiers from the army and other law enforcement agencies. Along with the Romanian soldiers, 240 foreign soldiers participated in the parade, as part of detachments from allied countries: Albania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Turkey. President Klaus Iohannis hosted, on Saturday, the last reception dedicated to the National Day in his capacity as head of state. At the end of his 10-year mandate, Iohannis sent a message of unity and solidarity, in order to overcome crises and move forward with dignity. The Romanian Cultural Institute organized abroad events dedicated to the National Day. December 1, 1918 marks the establishment of the Romanian unitary nation state. At the end of the First World War, all the provinces inhabited mostly by Romanians that were, until then, under the authority of the Austro-Hungarian and Tsarist empires: Transylvania, Banat, Bucovina and Bessarabia became part of the Kingdom of Romania.

     

    Message – Romania’s commitment to security and democracy in Europe is a model for all nations to follow, said the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in a message sent on December 1 and published on the website of the US diplomatic mission in Bucharest. He congratulated the Romanians and conveyed that the United States is proud to collaborate with Romania in the process of modernizing the army and in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. “Romania’s support for Ukraine, including welcoming refugees and providing security assistance, has bolstered the cause of freedom in the face of Russia’s aggression. Your leadership in helping Ukrainian grain reach global markets has helped feed the world” Blinken recalled. He showed that his country is proud to collaborate with Romania, to address global challenges and secure the prosperity and wellbeing of our peoples.

     

    Elections – In Romania, more than 18 million Romanian citizens with the right to vote are expected, today, to the polls, to vote for the future Parliament for the next four years. The representatives of 31 parties and alliances, as well as 19 organizations of national minorities, registered in today’s elections, are competing for the 331 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and the 134 senatorial seats. By 1 p.m. local time, more than 4.2 million people had gone to the polls, that is, approximately 24% of the citizens with the right to vote. More than 300 thousand Romanians abroad voted until 1 p.m., in the 950 polling stations opened by the authorities for those outside the borders. In the diaspora, Romanians can vote during two days, Saturday and Sunday. We remind you that on June 9, local and European Parliament elections took place in Romania simultaneously.

     

    CCR – The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) will decide, on Monday, December 2, whether to validate or cancel the first round of the presidential election, held on November 24. The Central Electoral Bureau could complete, today, the recount of the votes, requested by the CCR following the notification of one of the candidates regarding possible fraud. The sending of ballots from abroad, which started on Friday, will continue until December 3, the Foreign Ministry announced. According to the results of the first round, the pro-Russian extremist Calin Georgescu, an independent, and the center-right pro-European candidate Elena Lasconi ranked on the first two places. The CCR’s decision to recount the votes was criticized by the majority of political forces, on the grounds that it would decrease the confidence of the population in the correctness of the electoral process and in the state institutions. The second round of presidential election is scheduled for December 8.

     

    Handball – The Romanian women’s national handball team will meet the team of Montenegro today in Debrecen, Hungary, in the second match of group B of the European Championship to be hosted by Austria, Hungary and Switzerland. In the first match, the Romanian players defeated the Czech Republic, and the Montenegrin team defeated Serbia. The teams ranked on the first two places will qualify for the main groups. This is the first continental final tournament with 24 teams at the start.

     

    Tbilisi – The new High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on Sunday labeled as “unacceptable” the forceful dispersal by the Georgian police of the pro-EU demonstrations, which took place for the third night in a row, AFP informs. The American diplomacy also denounced the excessive use of force by the police against pro-European demonstrations. The Caucasus country has been prey to tensions since the ruling Georgian Dream party proclaimed its victory in the elections at the end of October, which the opposition and President Salome Zurabishvili consider rigged, press agencies write. The demonstrations were caused by the decision of the government, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift, to postpone until 2028 the discussions regarding the integration of this country from the Caucasus into the EU. These demonstrations were dispersed with water cannons and tear gas by the police, who made over 150 arrests. (LS)

     

  • November 26, 2024

    November 26, 2024

     

    ELECTIONS The leaders of the Social Democratic Party (in the ruling coalition in Romania) have decided that Victor Negrescu should be in charge with the party’s political communication until the December 1 general elections, PM Marcel Ciolacu announced. The latter stepped down as party leader after failing to move into the second round of the presidential ballot. The leaders of the other party in the ruling coalition, the National Liberal Party, also resigned, beginning with its president Nicolae Ciuca, who only came out fifth in the first round. Party heavyweight Ilie Bolojan will serve as interim president for the Liberals. He announced his party would support the pro-European, right-of-centre Elena Lasconi in the second round due on December 8, against the pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu, the surprise winner of the first round.

     

    NATIONAL DAY Nearly 2,500 troops and specialists from the defence ministry, the interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service, the National Penitentiary Administration and the Romanian Customs Authority, with about 190 vehicles and 45 aircraft, will take part in the military parade organised on Sunday, December 1, in Bucharest, on the occasion of Romania’s National Day. Along with Romanian soldiers, around 240 foreign troops will also march in the parade, deployed to Romania from Albania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Spain, the USA, Turkey and other countries. The foreign units include about 21 vehicles, including combat aircraft.

     

    EUROPEAN UNION A European Parliament plenary session has begun in Strasbourg, where the final vote on the new European Commission will be held tomorrow. The EU’s support for Ukraine, amid North Korea’s growing involvement on Russia’s side, and another hot topic, the Gaza Strip situation, are being discussed. Talks are also taking place ahead of the adoption of the Union’s 2025 budget. According to the Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu, one of the negotiators, Parliament managed to secure a EUR 10 billion higher budget for next year compared to 2024, namely almost EUR 199.5 billion in commitments and EUR 155 billion in total payments, including amounts for special instruments outside the multiannual financial framework. The issue of Romania and Bulgaria’s full Schengen accession will also be discussed in the evening, following a recent agreement in Budapest, according to which Austria will withdraw its veto in the Council to allow this last step. Discussions could also include references to the fact that the Dutch Parliament might block this full accession in early December, as the “Financial Times” wrote a few days ago.

     

    MIDDLE EAST Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah are about to conclude a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. According to Lebanese sources, the US and French presidents are expected to announce the ceasefire soon, after intense diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict that began last October, concurrently with Israel’s war against the Palestinian Hamas group in Gaza. The deal between Israel and Lebanon is not backed, however, by all the political forces in the state or by the presidents of local councils in the towns on the border between the two states, Radio Romania’s correspondent reports. According to him, PM Netanyahu has talks today with all the heads of the political factions in the ruling coalition in an attempt to convince them to support the agreement, and in the afternoon he will convene a meeting of the political and security cabinet to the same effect. What seems to have convinced the Israeli PM to accept the deal, the correspondent also says, was the United States’ guarantee that it would support Israel’s right to attack Lebanon if the terms of the agreement were violated. (AMP)

  • Happening in Romania

    Happening in Romania

    In the lineup today: the significance of Saint Andrew Day, a national holiday, marked every year in Romania on November 30, Romanian wines are presented and promoted in Ireland on Romanias National Day, Christmas markets open across Romania.



  • Romanians celebrated the National Day

    Romanians celebrated the National Day

    For Romanians, both for those in the country and abroad, December 1 was a day of celebration. Romania’s National Day was marked by military parades, floral tributes at the heroes’ monuments, traditional music performances and exhibitions which evoked the Great Union of 104 years ago. In Bucharest, the parade under the Arch of Triumph was attended by 35 thousand people, and in the capital of the Great Union, Alba-Iulia, the story of the events from that time was told throughout the whole day by means of special moments of historical reconstruction, in the presence of thousands of Romanians from all corners of the country. No matter how difficult the tribulations of history were, the Romanian people resisted and developed through unity – said the Liberal Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, who celebrated the National Day in Alba-Iulia.


    Nicolae Ciucă: It is a very important day for us and, as we have always shown respect and honor for the memory of those who sacrificed themselves in the most difficult moments, for Romania to be as it is today, I believe that from now on as well, in moments perhaps not as difficult as then, we still need unity, solidarity, empathy and I am convinced that, as we have done it every time, we will do it from now on as well, being able to demonstrate that Romania is a truly European country. Many Happy Returns of the Day, Romania! Many Happy Returns of the Day, Romanians!



    In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis said that Romania had made remarkable progress in recent years, continued the efforts to modernize the state and to make reforms. At the same time, the head of state urged the authorities to use all instruments to increase the standard of living of Romanians: Citizens naturally have high expectations from the political class, especially in this difficult period. We are already on a path full of changes, reforms, efforts to modernize the state, institutions, public services and infrastructure. It is a lasting process, which I see as irreversible, but Romanians need as tangible and immediate progress as possible to increase their well-being and standard of living. Our country has sufficient funds at its disposal through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR and other European programs to produce the necessary changes and I urge the authorities to use all available instruments.



    For me, December 1st is about the certainty that this people will always find the strength to overcome all crisis situations, said the social-democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, who added that: The National Day is the moment when we celebrate the pride, unity, solidarity, strength of character and heroic courage of our forefathers. For me, however, this year, December 1 also represents something else, extremely important in the current turbulent context in which we are living. It is a brilliant example of the way in which the Romanian people have always found, in the most difficult moments of their history, that terrible inner force that made them overcome borderline situations.



    Regardless of doctrines and values, Marcel Ciolacu went on to say, we must believe in the people and always offer direct support to Romania, because that means being a genuine patriot. (LS)

  • November 24, 2021 UPDATE

    November 24, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID Ro — The Romanian authorities on Wednesday announced that nearly 2,800 people had tested positive for SARS-COV-2 in the last 24 hours across Romania. Also, 231 deaths were reported, of which 36 registered prior to the reference interval. In Bucharest, the incidence rate calculated for a period of 14 days decreased to 2.87 cases per thousand inhabitants, after, on October 22, it had reached the highest value since the beginning of the pandemic – 16.54. The interim health minister, Attila Cseke, asked the public health directorates from all over the country to remain on alert, even if the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections is decreasing. At the same time, he called for plans to be drafted within a week to deal with a predictable 5th wave of the epidemic, says the coordinator of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Colonel Valeriu Gheorghiţă, given the increase the number of new cases in many European countries. On Wednesday, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, confirmed that he was vaccinated against COVID-19. “The official stand of the Church remains the same: each believer should consult with the family doctor,” he told reporters. So far, in Romania, the number of fully vaccinated people has exceeded 7.2 million.



    COVID world — Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 is an idea that enjoys widespread support among the German population, according to a poll released by YouGov on Wednesday, informs DPA. The prestigious market research and analysis company announced that 69% of the interviewees were in favor of compulsory vaccination and 23% against. Germany, which is experiencing a recrudescence of the number of infections, is introducing a number of new anti-epidemic measures. Thus, the green certificate becomes mandatory at work and for the use of means of transport. Besides the measures established at federal level, the German states also impose other anti-epidemic restrictions. For example, bars and clubs are closed in Bavaria, and the famous Christmas fairs will no longer take place this year. In Germany, the vaccination rate is 68%, one of the lowest in Western Europe. There are also problems in northern Italy, where traffic restrictions have been imposed at nighttime due to the alarming increase in new cases of coronavirus. To date, 84% of Italys population has received at least two doses of vaccine. The number of COVID cases is also rising in France, where the PM Jean Castex has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. In France, 88% of the eligible population over 12 years is fully vaccinated. The health situation is also complicated in Greece, where the pressure on hospitals treating COVID patients is high. The Greek government says, however, that it does not envisage a general lockdown, as the measure will not be supported by the countrys economy. The vaccination rate in Greece has exceeded 63%.



    National Day – In Bucharest, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies met in a solemn joint session, dedicated to Romania’s National Day to be marked on December 1. The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, underlined that the entire political class had the duty to stabilize the country in the next period and that pride and political interests should be abandoned. “This holiday reminds us that we have a duty to work together. It is our duty towards the Romanian people and Romania”, Ciolacu said. The Vice President of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, pointed out that December 1st means national unity, and equally devotion, responsibility, duty, and political courage. Among the guests of the meeting were members of the Government, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bucharest, the Archbishop of the Greek Catholic Church, the First Rabbi of Romania, the presidents of the Constitutional Court, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Court of Accounts, the central bank governor as well as the heads of the diplomatic missions and of the international representations accredited to Bucharest. Romanias National Day has been marked on December 1 since 1990, after the anti-communist revolution. On December 1, 1918, the National Assembly of Alba Iulia (center) adopted the resolution of the union with Romania of the historical provinces inhabited by the Romanians.

  • November 30, 2020 UPDATE

    November 30, 2020 UPDATE

    National Day — Due to the new coronavirus pandemic, on December 1, Romania’s National Day, a small ceremony will be organized, which will be attended by physicians, other medical staff and foreign ambassadors. Small ceremonies attended only by the local authorities will also be held in other big cities of Romania. The Romanian Foreign Ministry celebrates Romania’s National Day this year through a digital diplomacy project, and also through its diplomatic missions and consular offices. The project is a virtual dialogue and meeting space devoted to Romania’s friends and partners, to the Romanian communities and citizens from abroad and it has a novel form, adapted to the global health situation. The National Day of Romania will be celebrated by the Romanian Cultural Institute through a series of online events aimed at promoting the Romanian culture and civilization. On Romania’s National Day Niagara Falls will be lit up in the colors of the Romanian flag between 9:45 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. local time thanks to an initiative of the Romanian Embassy in Ottawa and to the show “Us Romanians” produced by Raul Dudnicşi from Arad and broadcast all over Canada through the OMNI channel. According to the Romanian Television Corporation, the moment can be watched online at www.cliftonhill.com.



    Covid-19 Romania — Another 3,826 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the past 24 hours in Romania out of 10 thousand tests, which points to a contamination rate of over 33%. Since the onset of the pandemic, the number of contaminations countrywide has exceeded 475 thousand, according to data published on Monday by the Strategic Communication Group. 138 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 have died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 11,331. Romania reports a record number of Covid-19 patients in ICUs, 1,251. The slight drop in the spread rate of the new coronavirus reported in the past week in Romania is one of the first effects of recent measures taken by the authorities, says President Klaus Iohannis. He urged the population to continue to strictly observe the health protection rules while waiting for the anti-Covid-19 vaccine to arrive. President Iohannis announced that the first immunization phase will include the medical staff and the vulnerable people while mass immunization will most probably take place in spring.



    Meeting – The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu participates on December 1 and 2 in a video conference of the foreign ministers of the NATO member states. The agenda of the meeting includes such topics as the consolidation of NATO’s political dimension, the relations with Russia and China, the situation in Afghanistan and security in the Black Sea region. Minister Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate, among others, the Black Sea’s strategic importance for Euro-Atlantic security and will highlight the need to carry on with the efforts of consolidating the allied presence in the region as well as of strengthening coherence on the NATO eastern flank. The foreign ministers will participate in 3 working sessions, one in allied format on December 1, and the other two, on December 2, also involving the participation of some of the NATO partner states.



    Saint Andrew — Christians from around the world, including from Romania, celebrated on November 30 the Saint Apostle Andrew. Considered the patron saint of Romania, the apostle of Jesus Christ preached the Christian faith to and baptized the inhabitants of Dobrogea (southeast). Saint Andrew died a martyr in the town of Patras, Greece, crucified on an X-shaped cross. As many as 700 thousand Romanians are named Andrei — the Romanian for Andrew.



    Ceremonies — The Romanian Defense Ministry organized on Monday, on Saint Andrews’ Day, a military and religious ceremony for the re-consecration of the Heroes’ Cross on Caraiman Peak, in the Bucegi Mountains, also known as The Commemorative Cross to the Romanian Heroes of the First World War. The Cross was renovated with Europeans funds. The monument is located at an altitude of almost 2,300 meters and was included in The Guinness Book of Records as the highest cross located on a mountain peak. It is more than 39 meters high, with the length of the horizontal arm of about 15 meters. The cross was erected between 1926 — 1928 upon order of one of the 4 monarchs of Romania — King Ferdinand and his wife, Marie.



    Film — Conrad Mericoffer, the Romanian actor playing the main character in the film Poppy Field directed by Eugen Jebeleanu won the Best Actor Award in the Retueyos official section of the Gijón International Film Festival hosted by Spain. He also won the Best Actor Award granted by the jury of the 38th edition of the Turin Film Festival, from Italy. The drama Poppy Field, the cinematographic debut of director Eugen Jebeleanu, was first presented at the 24th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights International Festival (PÖFF). Made after a script by Ioana Moraru, the film presents a day in the life of Cristi (Conrad Mericoffer), a young gendarme from Bucharest. (tr. L. Simion)

  • November 30, 2020

    November 30, 2020

    Covid- 19 Ro – The slight drop in the spread rate of the new coronavirus reported in the past week in Romania is one of the first effects of recent measures taken by the authorities, says President Klaus Iohannis. He urged the population to continue to strictly observe the health protection rules while waiting for the anti-Covid-19 vaccine to arrive. President Iohannis announced that the first immunization phase will include the medical staff and the vulnerable people while the mass immunization will most probably take place in spring. 5,554 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the past 24 hours in Romania the Strategic Communication Group announced on Sunday. The total number of cases has exceeded 470 thousand since the onset of the pandemic and about 70% of the patients have recovered. 148 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 have died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 11,193. Romania reports a record number of Covid-19 patients in ICUs, 1,250. Bucharest has the highest number of new Covid-19 cases reported daily.



    Saint Andrew — Christians from around the world, including from Romania, celebrate on November 30 the Saint Apostle Andrew. Considered the patron saint of Romania, the apostle of Jesus Christ preached the Christian faith to and baptized the inhabitants of Dobrogea (southeast). Saint Andrew died a martyr in the town of Patras, Greece, crucified on an X-shaped cross. The Romanian PM Ludovic Orban congratulated all those bearing the name of Saint Andrew adding that, in the context of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Saint Andrew can be celebrated with the same faith also at home. As many as 700 thousand Romanians are named Andrei — the Romanian for Andrew.



    Weather – Bucharest and another 7 counties in south and southeastern Romania are under a code yellow alert for snowfalls until tonight. In the rest of the territory, rainfalls will be reported in isolated areas and snowfalls in the mountains. Glazed frost may occur locally. The noon reading in Bucharest was 2 degrees C, with the highs ranging from 0 to 5 degrees C. The weather in Romania will be very cold early next week, especially during the night and in the morning.



    National Day — Due to the new coronavirus pandemic, on December 1, Romania’s National Day a small ceremony will be organized, which will be attended by physicians, medical staff and foreign ambassadors. Small ceremonies attended only by the local authorities will also be held in other big cities of Romania. The Romanian Foreign Ministry celebrates Romania’s National day this year through a digital diplomacy project, and also through its diplomatic missions and consular offices. The project is a virtual dialogue and meeting space devoted to Romania’s friends and partners, to the Romanian communities and citizens from abroad and it has a novel form adapted to the global health situation. The National Day of Romania will be celebrated by the Romanian Cultural Institute through a series of online events aimed at promoting the Romanian culture and civilization. On Romania’s National Day Niagara Falls will be lit up in the colors of the Romanian flag between 9:45 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. local time thanks to an initiative of the Romania Embassy in Ottawa and to the show “Us Romanians” produced by Raul Dudnicşi from Arad and broadcast all over Canada through the OMNI channel. According to the Romanian Television Corporation, the moment can be watched online at www.cliftonhill.com.



    Basketball – Romania’s men’s basketball team takes on today, away from home, in Valecnia, the world champions Spain in Group A of the preliminaries of the European Championship- FIFA EuroBasket 2022. On Saturday the Romanian team was defeated by the Polish team 91-61. Group A also includes Israel. After 3 stages, Romania is on the last position in the group. The last matches in the group will be played next year, in February. The first three teams in each group will qualify to the final tournament. (tr. L. Simion)

  • May 10, 2020 UPDATE

    May 10, 2020 UPDATE

    Relaxation of measures — Another 9 people have died of COVID-19 in Romania taking the total death toll to 961 – the Strategic Communication Group announced on Sunday evening, the total tally of coronavirus infections exceeding 15,300. Of the people testing positive for COVID-19, over 7 thousand have recovered. More than 2,750 Romanians from abroad have been infected with the new coronavirus, mostly in Italy, Spain and Great Britain. Since the start of the pandemic, 100 Romanians from abroad have died. In Romania, restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic will be relaxed as of May 15, however, certain rules will have to be strictly observed. People have to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces, in shops, public transportation means and at the work place. Companies and institutions will have to re-schedule employees’ working hours to avoid overcrowding of transportation means and to allow employees to work from home, if possible. Still forbidden are the open-air events and meetings as well as indoor cultural, artistic, sport and religious events.



    COVID – 19 world — Over 4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported at global level, show data collected by the American University Johns Hopkins. The number of deaths the world over has exceeded 277,000. The US is the hardest hit country by the pandemic, accounting for more than a quarter of the confirmed cases of infection and for one third of the deaths. Experts warn that the real number of infections is probably much higher, given that the testing rate in many countries is quite low. The number of deaths reported daily continues to drop in some states, but there is fear that relaxing restrictions might bring about ‘a second wave’ of contaminations. Moreover, governments are preparing for an economic downturn since the pandemic has affected the global markets and the supply chains.



    Parliament — The Romanian health minister Nelu Tataru, the labor minister Violeta Alexandru and the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu are called on Monday in Parliament to brief MPs on the way in which they managed the situation during the state of emergency. A sensitive issue on the agenda of discussions is the situation of the Romanian seasonal workers who left to work abroad in full COVID-19 crisis. Minister Bogdan Aurescu needs to explain how the Romanian workers went abroad and why they worked in insecure conditions. The labor minister also has to answer the MPs questions related to the Romanian employees’ furlough and to the promised pension increase and the measures the government is going to take in this respect. The health minister is expected to provide answers related to how many individuals have been tested for COVID-19 so far and how many tests were made across Romania and also to what is going to happen after the easing of restrictions following May 15.



    PSD — The speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and the interim leader of the Social Democratic Party PSD felt sick during a press briefing held at his party’s headquarters. He was presenting the journalists with some of the provisions of an economic recovery plan called “Restarting Romania.” The press conference was suspended and the official was taken to hospital, the doctors concluding that it was just a fainting spell.



    May 10 — University professors from Cluj (northwest) are asking that May 10, which marks Royalty Day at present, should be declared the National Day of Romania alongside December 1. They suggested the model of Poland, which has two national days, or that of Hungary which has 3 such holidays. May 10 has a triple significance for Romanians: in 1866 the Hohenzollern dynasty was instated in Romania, with the coming to power of the German Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; in 1877 Romania proclaimed its independence after, one day before, Parliament had called on Carol I to sever all ties with the Ottoman Empire; and in 1881 Romania was proclaimed a kingdom. May 10 was the National Day of Romania until 1947 when Romania’s last king Mihai I was ousted by the then puppet Communist regime instated by the Soviet troops. In the past years, May 10 has been marked through various public events in Bucharest and other cities of Romania as well as in the neighboring Republic of Moldova. Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania on Sunday conveyed a message saying that the royal family joins all those who are celebrating the Crown of Romania, the country’s modern history and its aspirations of freedom, progress and democracy. (translation by L. Simion)

  • The National Day of Romania

    The National Day of Romania

    December 1 became Romania’s National Day after the December 1989 anti-Communist revolution. It marks the finalization, at the end of WWI, in 1918, of the process of creating the Romanian unitary nation state, when all the provinces with a majority Romanian-speaking population from the neighboring multinational empires united under the authority of Bucharest. According to President Klaus Iohannis, this is the most emotional celebration of the Romanian nation, a symbol of freedom. It is a celebration of democracy, of the fundamental rights and liberties.



    On December 1 the Romanian head of state participated in the traditional military parade at the Arch of Triumph in Bucharest and later in the day he hosted a reception at the Cotroceni Palace to mark the National Day, when Romanians also celebrated 101 years since the great union of 1918. President Iohannis reminded that this year Romania also marks 3 decades since the December 1989 revolution. He went on to say that Romanians defended democracy in the street and also at the polling stations, adding that he wanted all the Romanians who are now living abroad to come back home.



    Klaus Iohannis: “The Union is our celebration, a celebration of all of us, no matter where we are. I wish all the Romanians who are now living in various parts of the world returned home; when they come back I want them to find here a functional Romania, a normal country that should give them the chance of a better future and ensure decent living standards. I believe this can come true one day, and it is up to us to make this possible.”



    The military parade in Bucharest was attended by thousands of people among whom important political leaders and various personalities of the Romanian society. Participating in the parade were around 4 thousand Romanian military and experts and also military from over 20 allied or partner states, alongside 50 aircraft and over 200 military vehicles. The celebrations continued in Alba Iulia, in central Romania, the symbol of the Great Union, under the motto ‘The first year in a new century’.



    Attending the celebration in Alba Iulia, the Liberal PM Ludovic Orban, addressed the participants: “My dear fellow Romanians, good afternoon! I have a simple message for you, the message chanted after each item in the Union declaration: Hooray, hooray, hooray! Long live the Greater Romania!”



    A religious service was held at the Union Cathedral by high officials of the Romanian Orthodox Church that was followed by a military parade involving 1,400 military and employees of the Interior Ministry. The National Day was marked in all of Romania’s cities and also abroad. The Romanian soldiers on mission in the theaters of operations in Afghanistan, the western Balkans, Mali, Iraq and Poland also participated in military ceremonies.



    In Bucharest, in a message on the national day, the Senate speaker, Teodor Melescanu, underlined that this day brings to the forefront the ideals of union, prosperity and freedom, which we have to cherish and support, to make Romania powerful. In turn, the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, urged the Romanians to remain united in the face of obstacles, to give Romania the place that it deserves and to make it brighter. (translation by L. Simion)

  • The Centenary of the Great Union

    The Centenary of the Great Union

    On 1st December, Romania celebrated 100 years since the creation of the nation state. Around 450 different public events were held around the country to mark this anniversary and the National Day.



    Despite the biting cold, with the lowest temperatures recorded on this day in the last 60 years, hundreds of thousands of people attended the outdoor festivities. In the morning, Bucharest hosted the biggest military parade in recent decades. 4,000 military took part, including more than 500 soldiers from 20 partner and allied countries. More than 200 pieces of military equipment were involved and the capital city’s sky was crossed by almost 50 aircraft.



    The equipment included, for the first time, the Patriot missile defence system and the Piranha 5 armoured vehicles made in Romania starting this year. In the afternoon, all eyes were on Alba Iulia, the city in central Romania where Transylvania’s union with Romania was proclaimed on 1st December 1918. Another military parade was held there, the biggest in the city’s history. Patriarch Daniel, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem held a service in front of the Union Cathedral, and President Klaus Iohannis inaugurated the Union Bridge and the Great Union Memorial. The people who came to Alba Iulia from all corners of the country and abroad also celebrated the Centenary through music, as singers from all historical regions of Romania brought their traditions and costumes to the City of the Union.



    Tens of thousands of portions of food were distributed free of charge among those present in Alba Iulia, which, for one day, became a pedestrian-only city. The day ended with a spectacular firework display. Alba Iulia also played host to the 12th edition of the Congress of Romanian Spirituality whose aim is to consolidate dialogue with the Romanians living abroad.



    1st December was in fact celebrated around the world, with the Romanian Cultural Institute and Romania’s diplomatic missions holding numerous events. President Klaus Iohannis urged all Romanians, whether in Romania or abroad, to build together the Romania of the following century united around values such as democracy, freedom and equality before the law. Prime minister Viorica Dancila expressed her wish that Romanians enter the second century of the existence of Greater Romania by emulating the example of the founding fathers, in order to carry through the strategic projects they wished to accomplish for the country. (Translated by C. Mateescu)

  • November 30, 2018 UPDATE

    November 30, 2018 UPDATE

    NATIONAL DAY – On December 1st, when Romania’s National Day is celebrated, the country marks 100 years since the creation of the Romanian nation state. On this occasion, around 450 public events are held at home and abroad, to be attended by over 550 thousand people. Around 4000 military and specialists with the Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Protection and Guard Service will march in Bucharest, together with 200 military vehicles while 50 aircraft will fly over the Triumphal Arch. As many as 500 foreign soldiers will also take part in the December 1st parade. “The moment of December 1st, 1918 would not have been possible without the sacrifice of soldiers on the battlefields, without the wise political elites that strove to turn into reality the national ideal of Romanians in the historical provinces, without the contribution of the royal family and of the national minorities,” Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, said on Friday. The centenary is not only about Romania of the past but also about Romania of the future, President Iohannis went on to say. Alba Iulia, the central Romanian city where on December 1st 1918 the Romanian nation state was proclaimed, is hosting as of Friday a new edition of the Congress of Romanian Spirituality, attended by representatives of Romanian communities from all over the world. A series of cultural events are also being held on the occasion of the National Day at the Romanian Cultural Institute offices abroad, in collaboration with Romania’s diplomatic missions.




    CHRISTMAS FAIR — The Bucharest Christmas Fair opened on Friday marked the start of the winter season through a series of events and shows. The fair will be open for one month. Also as of Friday nine million Christmas light adorn the capital city, three times more than in previous years. Over 40 kilometers of boulevards and streets have been decorated.




    G20 – G20 member nations are struggling to reach agreement on major issues including trade, migration and climate change as world leaders gathered in the Buenos Aires for a summit that started on Friday. This is the first G20 summit ever held in South America. The summit takes place amid new tension with Russia over Ukraine and a US trade row with China. US President Donald Trump has cancelled a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in protest at Russias seizure of Ukrainian naval boats. Trump’s move may also be connected to the internal investigation regarding suspicions of Russian interference in the elections for the White House, commentators believe. The two-day summit in Buenos Aires will be a major test for the Group of 20 industrialized nations, whose leaders first met in 2008 to help rescue the global economy from the worst financial crisis in seven decades, but which now faces questions over its relevance to deal with the latest round of crises, Reuters reports. Before the start of the summit, the US, Canada and Mexico signed a new trade agreement. Saying that all three countries will benefit from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, President Trump said “it is probably the largest trade deal ever made.”




    RELIGIOUS SERVICE — On December 1st Patriarch Theophilos II of Jerusalem and All Palestine will attend alongside Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church the ceremonies in Alba Iulia marking Romania’s National Day and the 1918 Great Union Centennial. The two patriarchs officiated a religious service on Friday, dedicated to St. Apostle Andrew, celebrated on Nov 30 and considered the protector of Romania. The religious service was held at the new national cathedral in Bucharest, inaugurated a week ago. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos announced that the delegation of the Jerusalem Patriarchate brought with them a fragment of the holy relics of Saint John Jacob for the new cathedral. Patriarch Daniel said that the relics will be placed in one of the chapels at the basement of the National Cathedral which will be dedicated to Saint John Jacob. The Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in Romania Thursday morning to lead the celebrations of the first patronal feast held in the National Cathedral.




    INFLATION – The annual inflation rate in the eurozone dropped in November to 2% from 2.2% the previous month, according to preliminary data made public by Eurostat on Friday. Previously, Eurostat announced that the annual inflation rate went up in October to 2.2% in the eurozone and the EU while Estonia and Romania reported the highest inflation rates in the EU, of 4.5% and 4.2% respectively. Also in October, the unemployment rate stood at 4%,which is below the European average of 6.7%. On the other hand, in Bucharest the Finance Ministry announced that Romania’s general consolidated budget accounted for almost 21 billion lei, that is 4.5 billion euros, in the first 10 months of the year, which is 2.2% of the GDP. From January to October 2018, revenues to the state budget were by almost 12% higher than in the same period last year. Expenditure also grew, by 18% more than in the same period of 2017. The Government says that the budget deficit in 2019 will stay at maximum 3% of the GDP.




    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball team is in France where it will play the Czech Republic in the European Championships Group D on Saturday. Romania will next play Germany on December 3 and Norway on December 5. The first three teams in each group will advance to the next phase. Coached by Ambros Martin of Spain, Romania is taking part in the Championship for the 13th time. Two years ago it ranked 5th, while its best performance was in 2010, when it scooped bronze. (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • November 23, 2018

    November 23, 2018

    BREXIT– Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will attend on Sunday a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. EU leaders are meeting to endorse the Brexit withdrawal agreement . The summit was called by President Donald Tusk on 15 November 2018, after his meeting with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, who presented to him the draft text as agreed with the UK at the level of the negotiators. Leaders are also expected to approve a political declaration on future EU-UK relations that will accompany and be referred to in the withdrawal agreement. The Commission intends to agree with the UK a final draft for this declaration, building on the outline agreed by the negotiators on both sides.




    BUDGET REVISION — The second budget adjustment for 2018 is being discussed in today’s government meeting, Romanian PM Viorica Dancila has announced. She has also said that the budget adjustment is a positive one, and is aimed at maintaining the budget deficit target of 2.97% of the GDP, ensuring the necessary funds for the implementation of the government policies and programmes and for the well-functioning of the public institutions. The finance ministry, the labour ministry and the healthcare ministry will receive the biggest amount of additional funds. The justice, internal affairs and development ministries will also receive more money, as will the health insurance fund, the state social securities fund and the unemployment fund. The ministries of transport, research and innovation, culture, education, communication and information society, European funds, waters and forests, the environment and agriculture will receive less money.




    HEALTH REPORT – The European Commission’s Health at a Glance: Europe report has been made public this month. Developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in cooperation with the European Commission, this publication provides analysis of the state of health of EU citizens and the performance of EU health systems. In addition to chapters containing statistical indicators for 35 European countries, the 2018 report includes two cross-cutting chapters on EU political priorities: promoting mental health and reducing inefficient spending. According to the report, Romanians’ life expectancy rate is among the lowest in the EU, with cardiovascular diseases and cancer as the main cause, while infectious diseases, TB in particular, are major health risks. The report also says that Romania has the lowest expenditure among all EU’s health systems, while the amounts that patients spend are very high as compared with the average spending in the community area. The insufficient staff, especially in the underproviledged areas, the underdevelopment of infrastructure are also problems of the Romanian health system. The report also says that the authorities have taken a series of measures to improve the situation.




    VISIT — Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu travelled to Seoul on Friday for a three-day official visit that marks 10 years since the signing of the strategic partnership between Romania and South Korea. On this occasion, the South Korean Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung-wha, has called on Romania to play a key role in supporting the peace process in the Korean peninsula, especially next year, when Bucharest takes over the EU Council presidency. In turn, Teodor Melescanu said that Romania hopes to find ways of supporting the continuation of the peace process in the area, at a time when South Korea’s efforts focus on the full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.




    RadiRo – The 4th edition of the International Radio Orchestras Festival — RadiRo, organized by Radio Romania, continues on Friday with another concert by the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Ben Gernon. Also on Friday, Marilyn Mazur & The Danish Radio Big Band are giving a concert under the baton of Miho Hazama. RadiRo is the only event devoted to European and world radio orchestras. All concerts are broadcast live by Radio Romania’s channels, recorded and subsequently rebroadcast by the public television. The concerts are also rebroadcast by the radiobroadcasters that are members of the European Broadcasting Union.




    NATIONAL DAY – Around 4,000 military and experts from the defence ministry, the interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the National Prisons Administration, and over 200 pieces of equipment and 50 planes, as well as military from a number of allied and partner countries will take part in a military parade on the 1st of December in Bucharest on Romanias national day. The approximately 500 foreign troops taking part will come from Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, the UK, the Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, the US, Turkey and Ukraine. The Romanian military in foreign missions and theatres of operation will also be holding special military ceremonies and activities to celebrate the national day.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)







  • 22 November 2018, UPDATE

    22 November 2018, UPDATE

    Reshuffle. President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that the cabinet changes at
    the beginning of the week will not be followed by others in the coming period. He
    voiced his dissatisfaction with the fact that around 70 ministers have been replaced
    by the ruling coalition since it came to power two years ago, which, in his
    opinion, is too much. He said he will discuss the next reshuffle after the
    celebration of Romania’s national day on the 1st of December. We
    recall that earlier this week, the president approved six proposals for
    defence, labour, economy, culture, communications and youth and sport and
    rejected two, for transport and regional development, Lia Olguta Vasilescu and
    Ilan Laufer, respectively. The executive committee of the Social Democratic
    Party made a new proposal for the transport ministry, namely Mircea Draghici, and
    nominated Lia Olguta Vasilescu for the ministry of regional development. Lucian
    Sova on Thursday resigned as transport minister to vacate the post.

    Romania-Rep. Moldova. A declaration of intent regarding the elimination of
    roaming fees and a number of bilateral agreements in areas such as tourism,
    defence, healthcare, communications and culture were signed on Thursday in
    Bucharest by Romanian and Moldovan ministers and officials at the end of a
    joint meeting of the Romanian and Moldovan governments in the presence of the
    two countries’ prime ministers, Viorica Dancila and Pavel Filip, respectively.
    The two also met ahead of the joint government meeting to discuss, among
    others, the stage and future of bilateral relations. The meeting was held in
    the run up to Romania’s taking over the EU Council presidency in the first half
    of next year. The Romanian government considers this to be a good opportunity
    to encourage Moldova to continue to make efforts to implement the reforms it
    has committed to under its Association Agreement with the EU. This is the
    second joint meeting of the Romanian and Moldovan governments this year after
    that in February held in the Moldovan capital Chisinau. The Moldovan prime
    minister also had talks with president Klaus Iohannis and the speakers of the
    Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest.






    Visit. The European Commissioner for Migration, Home
    Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos paid a visit to Bucharest on
    Thursday where he met prime minister Viorica Dancila. The two officials
    exchanged useful views related to the dialogue between the Romanian government
    and the European Commission ahead of Romania’s EU presidency on the subjects
    dominating the European agenda during Romania’s term. They reviewed the main
    European issues pertaining to Mr. Avramopoulos’s portfolio, with emphasis on
    the management of migration at EU level and consolidating the
    EU’s internal security and borders. Dimitris Avramopoulos also had talks with the interior minister Carmen Dan. He said
    he supports Romania’s accession to the free-movement Schengen area. The agenda
    of the European Commissioner also included meetings with the Senate speaker Calin
    Popescu Tariceanu and the minister delegate for European affairs George Ciamba.




    Budget. The
    Bucharest government may discuss on Friday its second budget adjustment this year.
    The finance ministry has published the project on its website, mentioning a
    target deficit of 2.97% of the GDP. The finance ministry, the labour ministry
    and the healthcare ministry will receive the biggest amount of additional
    funds. The justice, internal affairs and development ministries will also
    receive more money, as will the health insurance fund, the state social
    securities fund and the unemployment fund. The ministries of transport,
    research and innovation, culture, education, communication and information
    society, European funds, waters and forests, the environment and agriculture
    will receive less money.




    National day. Around 4,000 military and experts from the defence
    ministry, the interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the
    National Prisons Administration, and over 200 pieces of equipment and 50
    planes, as well as military from a number of allied and partner countries will
    take part in a military parade on the 1st of December in Bucharest
    on Romania’s national day. The approximately 500 foreign troops taking part
    will come from Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany,
    Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, the UK, the Republic of
    Moldova, Slovakia, the US, Turkey and Ukraine. The Romanian military in foreign
    missions and theatres of operation will also be holding special military
    ceremonies and activities to celebrate the national day.