Radio România Internațional

Tag: New Year’s address

  • December 31, 2018 UPDATE

    December 31, 2018 UPDATE

    EU COUNCIL – For the first time since its
    EU accession in 2007, on January 1 Romania is taking over the rotating
    presidency of the EU Council. The priorities of the Romanian presidency fall
    into 4 categories: Europe of convergence, a safer Europe, Europe – a stronger
    global actor and Europe of common values. During its term, Romania will have to
    manage several complex issues like Brexit, the 2021-2027 budget, a coherent
    strategy on migration and increasing the Union’s global role. The official web
    page of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council has been launched. The page,
    available at romania2019.eu, in Romanian, English and French, provides useful
    information for journalists, the general public and European affairs experts.




    EUROPEAN
    COMMISSION – The European
    Commission says the latest attacks on the chief of the EU Representation in Bucharest,
    Angela Cristea, are unacceptable, the European Commission spokesperson Mina
    Andreeva said on Monday. The EU official said the EU ambassador to Bucharest
    should be treated with the same respect the Commission is treating the Romanian
    ambassador in Brussels. The reaction follows the statement of the President of
    the National Council of the Social Democratic Party, Mihai Fifor, who said
    Angela Cristea is responsible for the misinformed opinion European Commission
    President Jean-Claude Juncker has regarding the developments in Romania.




    NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE – The President of Romania,
    Klaus Iohannis, Monday released a New Year’s address, in which he urges
    Romanians to capitalize on the presidency of the EU Council in order to prove
    that Romania is fully committed to consolidating the European project. PM
    Viorica Dancila also said in her New Year’s address on Monday that Romania is
    prepared for the presidency of the EU Council. She emphasized that this is a
    national project that must bring together public institutions, political actors
    and civil society. Viorica Dancila also said that in 2019 her Cabinet will
    continue to take the right decisions for Romania, and added that the
    Government has a clear role: sustainable economic growth and major investments
    able to ensure better living standards for as many citizens as possible.




    RUSSIA – The Romanian Foreign Ministry
    requested the Russian Embassy in Bucharest to update the historical information
    it uses, and stressed that past bilateral relations must not allow for
    speculations and unfounded opinions. The message follows a Russian Embassy
    Facebook post deploring the fact that Romanian and western media regularly
    publish articles that slander the Red Army troops who freed Central and Eastern
    Europe from fascism. Anti-Soviet and anti-Russian critics insist on telling
    people that the Red Army was a gang of ruthless thieves and rapists, says the
    Embassy in the post that, the Romanian Foreign Ministry argues, lacks the
    accuracy required for an academic debate. Bucharest also mentions that a
    commission of Romanian-Russian historians has been set up, and is best suited
    to analyze the history of bilateral relations. The Soviet troops that marched
    into Romania at the end of World War 2 only left this country in 1958, and the
    communist dictatorship they ushered in lasted until 1989.




    JOURNALISTS – The number of journalists and
    mass media workers killed on the job this year went up to 94, as compared to 82
    in 2017, the International Federation of Journalists announced. The victims
    include 84 journalists, cameramen and technicians, as well as 10 media staff
    such as drivers and protection officers. They died in targeted killings, bomb attacks
    and cross fire incidents. The most dangerous place for journalists this year
    was Afghanistan.




    UKRAINE – The presidential election
    campaign in Ukraine started on Monday and will last until March 31. Candidates
    have until February 3 to enroll and until February 8 to register their
    candidacy with the Central Electoral Commission. According to the latest polls,
    the former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko, is the frontrunner with 16-18% of the
    vote intentions. The incumbent president, Petro Poroshenko, is gaining ground
    and ranks second in current polls with 14%, followed by actor and comedian
    Vladimir Zelenskiy, with 8-12%.


    (Translated
    by A.M. Popescu & V. Palcu)

  • President Klaus Iohannis gives New Year’s address

    President Klaus Iohannis gives New Year’s address

    On January 1, 2017 Romania will celebrate ten years since it joined the European Union. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the individual effort of all Romanians, President Klaus Iohannis said in his New Year’s traditional address.



    Ten years since Romania joined the European Union



    “Dear Romanians, ten years ago our country became an official member state of the European Union, an objective that wouldn’t have been possible without the effort of each and every one of us”, the president said in a Facebook video. Klaus Iohannis recalled that a decade ago, parents started building a better world for their children. For this reason, the President argues, the successors of those who have built a European Romania have a duty to preserve and strengthen its legacy for the generations to come.



    Romanians around the world not to lose confidence in Romania



    The President went on to say that Romania’s European accession enjoyed a strong public support, because the people first of all opted for a set of values and principles: a consolidated democracy, the rule of law, a dignifying life in peace and prosperity. The President urged Romanians around the world not to lose confidence in Romania. “Whether you are living at home or abroad, don’t lose confidence in Romania! There is still a lot to be done, but I hope we will succeed, together”, President Iohannis also said.



    Klaus Iohannis highlighted the fact that the progress reported so far must not be slowed down, but followed up with determination and responsibility. At the end of his address, the President wished all Romanians “Happy New Year!” (Translated by V. Palcu)