Radio România Internațional

Tag: peace

  • Romania – Moldova summit meeting

    Romania – Moldova summit meeting

     

    Romania and the Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet republic, mostly Romanian-speaking) insist that no decision regarding peace in Ukraine and the future of the Ukrainian people can be made without Ukraine and without adequate security guarantees, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said on Saturday, in a joint conference with his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu.

     

    At the end of a meeting in Chișinău, he pointed out that ‘the way to achieving peace for Ukraine will decisively influence’ the common security of Romania and the neighbouring Republic of Moldova.

     

    Ilie Bolojan believes that extensive dialogue between Europe and the United States of America is ‘a very good condition’ for reaching a consensus on the war in Ukraine.

     

    As regards the talks between the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the US president Donald Trump, Ilie Bolojan voiced moderate optimism with respect to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but said he hoped that ‘wisdom will prevail’. He explained that neighbouring Ukraine needs a lasting peace and warned about the danger posed by Russia’s aggression:

     

    Ilie Bolojan: “If Russia’s expansionist views remain a constant in the years to come, it means that we can imagine a new conflict starting over, and Ukraine may be only the first victim”.

     

    On the other hand, Ilie Bolojan promised that Romania will ask for more financial support, know-how and projects for Moldova at European level. Also, Bucharest will continue to cap prices for a large part of the electricity the neighbouring country buys from Romanian producers. According to him, the Romanian authorities ‘continue to work on strengthening the interconnection with the Republic of Moldova in the electricity sector’.

     

    In turn, president Maia Sandu said Romania is the “best friend” and “most important partner” of the Republic of Moldova, on which Chişinău has relied in all circumstances. Over the years, Bucharest has stood by Chişinău, “with concrete support, with projects that improve people’s lives, with a clear and firm voice in supporting our European path,” Maia Sandu added.

     

    “Romania is a reliable partner in our efforts to become a modern, European state. Beyond common projects, we are linked by a vision for the future, we are linked by the desire to live in peace, freedom, and democracy,” Maia Sandu also said. She also explained that the people of the Republic of Moldova will not forget the times when Moscow tried to erase their identity and kill their language and culture.

     

    Maia Sandu: “We will continue to protect free elections, fight electoral corruption in any form it may take, and defend the right of our citizens; people, the nation should decide what kind of life they want, not Moscow.”

     

    As for the war on the border, Chișinău supports Kyiv in its efforts to achieve a lasting and just peace. (AMP)

  • Three years of war in Ukraine

    Three years of war in Ukraine

     

    Three years after Russia’s invasion, EU leaders went to Kyiv to express their support for Ukraine, in a summit dedicated to a common defence and security strategy. “We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. She was accompanied in Kyiv by the College of Commissioners, and emphasised the need to strengthen military aid.

     

    According to European Commission data, the EU and its 27 member states have provided almost EUR 134 billion to Ukraine in the past 3 years, of which EUR 48 billion in military assistance. Kyiv has also received substantial support from Washington.

     

    However, Donald Trump’s new administration is approaching the situation differently. The White House said on Saturday that the US is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing the profits from Ukrainian minerals as part of efforts to end the war. Washington wants to recover the billions of US dollars given to Ukraine in military aid, which is why it is demanding rare minerals, oil or “anything we can get,” says Donald Trump.

     

    Thrown off balance by the unexpected US-Russian dialogue on Ukraine, as Washington started talks with Moscow to end the war without having the EU or Kyiv involved, Europeans fear that Donald Trump could end the war on terms favourable to Russia, without offering security guarantees to Ukraine.

     

    The successive meetings of European leaders in Paris organised last week by Emmanuel Macron have shown, on the other hand, that they are rather divided and have failed to come up with a joint response to the start of US-Russian negotiations on peace in Ukraine.

     

    As such, news agencies say, “the French president is going to Washington on Monday on behalf of his country alone, without having an EU mandate for Europe to be able to speak with one voice.” He will be followed on Thursday by British PM Keir Starmer, who travels to the White House for similar talks with the US president, the same president who recently accused the two European leaders of having done nothing to end the war in Ukraine.

     

    Attending one of the meetings in Paris last week, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, pleaded for cooperation between EU countries and the United States in resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

     

    “A just and lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved with the help of the United States, Romania’s strategic partner,” PM Marcel Ciolacu said in turn in Bucharest, in a first official reaction to the most important topic on the agenda of world leaders. The Romanian official voiced confidence that, despite the harsh political rhetoric of recent days, the steps to end the war will be successful. At the same time, Marcel Ciolacu emphasised that “Romanians have paid dearly, in economic terms, for the effects of this conflict,” and that Romanian companies should play an important role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. (AMP)

  • February 21, 2025 UPDATE

    February 21, 2025 UPDATE

    UKRAINE The interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan takes part on Monday in an online summit on ‘Defence and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan’, organised in the neighbouring Russia-invaded Ukraine, the Romanian presidency announced. On Wednesday, Bolojan took part in a meeting on Ukraine and the security challenges in Europe in Paris. The interim president stated that participants in the meeting in Paris concluded that the best way to solve the crisis is collaboration between European countries and the United States of America, so that there is a ceasefire and a just peace, which cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations.

     

    VISIT The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that the talks held on Friday in Brussels with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, focused on Romania’s key priorities. Marcel Ciolacu mentioned stepping up the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, cutting down the budget deficit without increasing the VAT, and electoral security. “We also discussed a tax reform. The VAT is not being increased, nor will the flat tax rate be touched,” Mr. Ciolacu added. He mentioned that the talks also covered Europe’s role in the peace negotiations, emphasising that “Romania must be at the table. A strong European Union means a stronger Romania! Stronger together, the EU and Romania,” Marcel Ciolacu concluded.

     

    ELECTIONS The Romanian government has approved a budget of roughly EUR 240 million for the organisation of the presidential elections on May 4 and 18. The money comes from the budget reserve funds made available to the government and included in the 2025 state budget, reads a news release issued by the government. The presidential election will take place in May after a first round held in December was cancelled under a Constitutional Court ruling which mentioned interference in the election process.

     

    TALKS The president of France Emmanuel Macron will be in Washington on Monday to discuss with his US counterpart Donald Trump the Ukraine peace negotiations that the Americans have begun with the Russians in the absence of the Europeans and Ukrainians. Since the beginning of the week, the French president has been holding a marathon of consultations with leaders of European Union and NATO member countries. He launched these consultations in an attempt to make Europe’s voice heard, as Europe cannot be left aside after all its political and material involvement in supporting Ukraine over the past three years, since Russia launched a war of aggression against its neighbour.

     

    THEFT The Dutch police have announced they apprehended a 26 year-old man, who has become the fourth suspect in the theft of the Romanian ancient artefacts from the Drents Museum in Assen. According to police sources, the artefacts have not been recovered yet. On January 25, 4 extremely valuable golden items, part of Romania’s treasure on display at the Drents Museum, were stolen. The museum was hosting an exhibition entitled “Dacia, the Kingdom of gold and silver”, which was supposed to close a day before the robbery. (AMP)

  • US, Russia hold talks in Riyadh

    US, Russia hold talks in Riyadh

    RIYADH The first high-level US-Russia meeting in recent years took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Moscow’s officials said the talks were “serious” and “positive,” while the American side announced that two teams would be set up to initiate negotiations to stop the war in Ukraine, Reuters and AFP report.

     

    While the delegations led by Marco Rubio and Sergei Lavrov were discussing in Riyadh, the Russian foreign ministry announced it wanted NATO to revoke the decision taken at the 2008 summit in Bucharest regarding Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance.

     

    The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would not recognise the outcome of Russian-American negotiations held in the absence of Kyiv, and European leaders convening in an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday promised to carry on their military support for Ukraine, while stepping up the strengthening of their own defence.

     

    Only a few European leaders were invited to the informal EU summit organised by president Emmanuel Macron, namely the German Chancellor, the Polish, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish and British prime ministers, as well as the president of the European Council, the head of the European Commission and the NATO Secretary General. (AMP)

  • August 17, 2024 UPDATE

    August 17, 2024 UPDATE

    WEATHER Meteorologists have issued code red alerts for extremely hot weather for seven counties in south-western Romania, whose residents are bracing up for temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius these days. Another eight counties and the capital city Bucharest are under a code orange alert for hot weather and a higher temperature-humidity index. The highs of the day here are to stay around 38 degrees Celsius, while in the rest of the territory they will range between 34 and 37 degrees.

     

    STATISTICS Greenhouse gas emissions caused by economic activities in the EU dropped in 20 member countries last year, remained stable in Cyprus and rose in Romania, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece and Slovenia. The most significant reductions of these gases have been reported by Bulgaria, over 15% and Germany 7%. The process of curbing the greenhouse gas emissions has affected Europe’s GDP, which grew only 0.3%, according to Eurostat. Out of the 20 countries, which managed to curb their gas emissions, eight have also reported a drop in GDP, whereas 12 have announced minor GDP growths.

     

    FAIR The Gaudeamus Book Fair staged by Radio Romania remains open in the historical center of the city of Sibiu in central Romania over the weekend. The 15 pavilion book fair has brought together over 40 exhibitors, which include some of Romania’s best-known publishing houses as well as a series of suppliers of books, games, music and other educational materials. Gaudeamus book fair also includes editorial events, book launches and autograph shows, which can be watched online at gaudeamus.ro.

     

    FIRES The Romanian firefighters who are helping in the efforts of putting out fires in Greece were given a new assignment on Saturday, namely to monitor two regions in Attica. According to a press release by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), 16 firefighters with four fire engines have been deployed to Agia Kiriaki, while another 15-strong rescue team is ready to intervene in Rafina. Both teams are accompanied by Greek liaison officers, and according to IGSU, are in stand-by, ready to intervene under the coordination of their Greek counterparts. The regions where the two Romanian teams have been deployed are known for being at higher risk of wildfires at this time of the year.

     

    MIDDLE EAST Talks regarding a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages held by the Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip are to be resumed in Cairo next week around a fresh US proposal. The information is included in a joint statement issued in Doha by the USA, Qatar and Egypt, the main mediators between Israel and Hamas. Washington presented a roadmap, which includes several stages for the cessation of hostilities and the release of the hostages kidnapped during the Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7th. Now the way is open to save lives, to help the population in Gaza and reduce regional tensions – the mediator countries say. In response Hamas rejected the new Israeli conditions – two Hamas representatives told France Press. According to them, the new conditions include the presence of the Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip along its border with Egypt. The war that followed the Hamas attack in October led to a disastrous situation for almost all the 2.4 million famished Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the Israeli bombardments and onslaught have caused the death of roughly 40 thousand Palestinians, mostly civilians.

    (bill)

  • Summit for Ukraine

    Summit for Ukraine

     

     

    Romania has supported the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace plan from the very beginning, and Russia’s “so-called peace proposal” lacks credibility, says the Romanian diplomacy chief Luminiţa Odobescu, who took part in the international Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held this past weekend in Switzerland.

     

    Luminița Odobescu pointed out that Romania’s view is that peace in the neghbouring country should be based on the UN Charter and on the principles of international law. The Romanian foreign minister stated that the peace summit hosted by Switzerland was a success, both in terms of the large number of participants, and in that the participants agreed that peace in Ukraine should rely on the UN Charter and international law.

     

    The event was organized at the request of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy concerning the start of a process aimed at fair, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Ukraine. Extensive international participation was reported, with over 100 countries and international organisations from around the globe taking part.

     

    In a national statement, the Romanian foreign minister highlighted the exclusive responsibility of the Russian Federation for its aggression against Ukraine, which is a serious violation of fundamental principles of international law. She also dismissed the Russian propaganda’s narratives concerning Moscow’s alleged willingness to negotiate.

     

    “Three top-priority themes on Ukraine’s agenda have been discussed, as part of the peace plan presented by president Zelenskyy, namely nuclear security, food security and humanitarian aspects. Basically, the participants discussed in detail the core principles on which future peace should rely,” Luminița Odobescu explained.

     

    She also added that while the process is lengthy, the large number of participants from all parts of the world is an indicator of the international community’s interest in finding solutions, and of the fact that a rule-based international order remains a critical foundation of international relations.

     

    At the panel on food security, the Romanian diplomacy chief presented Romania’s dynamic role in facilitating Ukrainian exports, and the efforts made by Romania, either alone or together with foreign partners, to further improve the transit capacity for Ukrainian food products. The Romanian official also discussed the efforts made by Romania jointly with Bulgaria and Turkey to secure traffic in the Black Sea, under the mine clearance agreement signed by the three countries.

     

    At the end of the summit, a joint communiqué was signed, emphasizing the need for all future talks or peace efforts to be based on the UN Charter and to comply with the principles of international law. (AMP)

     

  • October 29, 2023 UPDATE

    October 29, 2023 UPDATE

    PARLIAMENT The Chamber of Deputies will discuss on
    Monday the simple motion tabled by Save Romania Union and the Force of the
    Right, in opposition in Romania, against the finance minister Marcel Boloş. The
    Opposition argues that the enforcement of the new fiscal measures for which the
    Government has taken responsibility before Parliament, will lead to tax
    increases. The USR MP Claudiu Năsui says the Liberal finance minister chose to
    triple taxes instead of cutting special pensions and to levy taxes on turnover,
    which he believes will have countless negative effects on companies and
    ultimately on consumers. The Chamber will vote on the motion on Tuesday. Also
    early this week, the Senate will vote on a government emergency order
    regulating the gambling sector. The document, which introduces an additional
    tax for companies in the sector, has been passed by specialist committees. The
    Senate is also to discuss a bill tabled by the Social Democratic MP Alfred
    Simonis and banning the sale of electronic cigarettes and similar tobacco
    products to minors.


    SCHENGEN The Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac, the leader of the People’s
    Movement Party, announced plans to appeal the EU Tribunal ruling dismissing his
    claims regarding Austria’s alleged abuse of power with respect to Romania’s
    Schengen accession. He said he would take the matter to the Court of Justice of
    the European Union, and voiced hopes that the judges would approach the issue in
    a more complex and more detailed manner, in line with the EU treaties and the
    Schengen agreements. Moreover, Tomac said, Bucharest can only overcome the situation
    by means of this appeal, in which the Romanian government would be a privileged
    applicant. Austria opposes the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria,
    arguing that the 2 countries are on the EU illegal migration route, an
    allegation disputed by the Romanian authorities and European institutions.
    Vienna also believes the Schengen area as it is at present is ineffective and
    said it would oppose any enlargement project.


    VISIT
    The European Commission vice-president for Values and Transparency, Věra
    Jourová, will be on an official visit to Romania on Monday, when she will have
    meetings with president Klaus Iohannis, PM Marcel Ciolacu and other Cabinet
    members. According to the European Commission, the EU official will discuss the
    rule of law and reforms in the judiciary, Romania’s goals in the digital
    decade, the digitisation projects included in the National Recovery and
    Resilience Plan, as well as AI and fighting disinformation.


    ISRAEL
    The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the British
    PM Rishi Sunak emphasised, in a phone discussion on Sunday, the need for urgent
    humanitarian support in Gaza Strip, after Israel announced stepping up its
    military response to the Hamas attack of October 7. In turn, the US security
    adviser called on the troops entering Gaza to make a distinction between
    civilians and the Hamas terrorists, who are legitimate targets. Israel
    announced that in the coming days it would allow a significant increase in aid
    for the civilians in Gaza. The Israeli defence ministry asked Palestinian
    civilians to move towards the south, to an area designated as humanitarian, where
    aid will be delivered under a joint mechanism created by the US, Egypt and the
    UN. Two aid convoys with foodstuffs, water and medicines entered the Rafah
    terminal on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The UN secretary general,
    Antonio Guterres, voiced his surprise at the escalation of Israel’s military
    attack on the Gaza Strip after the UN General Assembly issued a resolution
    calling for immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian
    rallies were organised on Sunday as well in many cities in the world.


    PEACE
    The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attending a meeting in Malta,
    called for a global model based on his 10-point plan for peace with Russia, Reuters
    reports. An official list of the participants in the meeting is not yet
    available, but attending were officials for European, South-American, Arab,
    African and Asian countries. The plan includes clauses concerning the
    restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the pull-out of Russian troops,
    protection of food and energy supplies, nuclear security and the release of all
    prisoners. The co-chairs of the meeting, Ukraine and Malta, issued a joint
    declaration that mentions the participants’ commitment to just and sustainable
    peace, based on the UN Charter. The parties will take steps to arrange for a
    possible peace summit at a later date.


    GOVERNMENT PM Marcel Ciolacu announced that preparations have
    started for drafting the 2024 public budget. The government will analyse the projects
    and programmes that went well, as well as the investment applications for next
    year. On the other hand, the PM dismissed the idea of other fiscal changes in
    addition to the ones for which his Cabinet has taken responsibility before
    Parliament. The law on measures to ensure Romania’s long-term financial
    sustainability, promulgated by presidentKlaus Iohannis on Thursday, introduces new taxes and tax raises and cuts off tax facilities. Some
    of the measures take effect on November 1, while the others will be enforced as
    of January 1. Marcel Ciolacu also estimated that the new pensions law will be
    endorsed in Parliament by the end of next month and will take effect on January
    1, 2024. (AMP)

  • October 29, 2023

    October 29, 2023

    GOVERNMENT PM Marcel Ciolacu announced that
    preparations have started for drafting the 2024 public budget. The government
    will analyse the projects and programmes that went well, as well as the
    investment applications for next year. On the other hand, the PM dismissed the
    idea of other fiscal changes in addition to the ones for which his Cabinet has
    taken responsibility before Parliament. The law on measures to ensure Romania’s
    long-term financial sustainability, promulgated by president Klaus
    Iohannis on Thursday, introduces
    new taxes and tax raises and cuts off tax facilities.Some of the measures take effect
    on November 1, while the others will be enforced as of January 1. Marcel
    Ciolacu also estimated that the new pensions law will be endorsed in Parliament
    by the end of next month and will take effect on January 1, 2024.


    VISIT
    The European Commission vice-president for Values and Transparency, Věra
    Jourová, will be on an official visit to Romania on Monday, when she will have
    meetings with president Klaus Iohannis, PM Marcel Ciolacu and other Cabinet
    members. According to the European Commission, the EU official will discuss the
    rule of law and reforms in the judiciary, Romania’s goals in the digital
    decade, the digitisation projects included in the National Recovery and
    Resilience Plan, as well as AI and fighting disinformation.


    ISRAEL
    Israel has moved to the second stage of the war against Hamas, namely the land
    operation in Gaza Strip, the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced. In a
    televised address, he warned that this was going to be a long and difficult
    war, aimed at freeing the hostages taken by the Palestinian terrorist group and
    at destroying the military and leadership capabilities of Hamas. An Israeli
    tactics expert described Israel’s current operation as modular, with
    alternating attacks from 4 directions (water, air, land, and virtual). So far
    the Israeli Army resorted to air strikes to hit Palestinian territory, after
    the Hamas attacks of October 7 killed over 1,400 people in Israel. In turn, Hamas
    says the Israeli retaliatory strikes killed over 8,000 people. According to an
    Israeli army spokesman, the number of hostages held by Hamas was updated at 130.
    The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, voiced his surprise at the escalation
    of Israel’s military attack on the Gaza Strip after the UN General Assembly issued
    a resolution calling for immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Guterres said that
    in spite of this international consensus, the bombing has reached unprecedented
    levels. Pro-Palestinian rallies were organised on Saturday in many cities in
    the world.


    PEACE
    The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attending a meeting in Malta,
    called for a global model based on his 10-point plan for peace with Russia, Reuters
    reports. An official list of the participants in the meeting is not yet
    available, but attending were officials for European, South-American, Arab,
    African and Asian countries. The plan includes clauses concerning the
    restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the pull-out of Russian troops,
    protection of food and energy supplies, nuclear security and the release of all
    prisoners. The co-chairs of the meeting, Ukraine and Malta, issued a joint
    declaration that mentions the participants’ commitment to just and sustainable
    peace, based on the UN Charter. The parties will take steps to arrange for a
    possible peace summit at a later date.


    DST On Saturday night, Romania switched to winter time, setting
    clocks back one hour from 4 AM to 3 AM. Sunday is thus 25-hour long. Daylight
    saving time, first suggested by the scientist Benjamin Franklin in 1784, is
    currently used in 70 countries. The concept has come under debate in recent
    years, with the EU asking member states to end seasonal clock changes and
    choose either winter time or summer time, but a decision in this respect is yet
    to be made. (AMP)

  • October 28, 2023

    October 28, 2023

    ISRAEL
    The Israeli Army has today announced it entered the
    north of Gaza Strip and expanded military operations in the Palestinian
    enclave, while stepping up attacks against Hamas. For the 3rd
    consecutive night, tanks entered the area, supported by 100 aircraft. According
    to the latest information available, clashes are on-going and Israeli troops
    are still on site. The Army has avoided official announcements regarding the
    land attacks, so as not to jeopardise the lives of the over 220 hostages taken
    by Hamas, Israeli media report. Israel
    had only made brief raids in Gaza during the 3 weeks of strikes designed to
    eliminate the Hamas fighters, who killed over 1,400 Israelis on October 7. Telephone
    and internet connections with Gaza have been cut in what the media describe as
    the largest strikes so far. An Israeli military spokesman said that today
    Israel will allow access to Gaza for trucks carrying food, water and medicines.
    In fresh talks with the Israeli defence minister, the Pentagon chief called for
    the protection of civilians during the operation. On Friday night, the UN
    General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. The
    resolution is not compulsory, but it has political weight. Israel and the US
    voted against, while Romania abstained.


    DIPLOMACY
    The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu Friday had a telephone
    conversation with the British foreign secretary James Cleverly, to discuss the
    security situation in Israel and Gaza Strip, focusing on the need to ensure
    close coordination in order to avoid regional spill-over. According to the
    Romanian foreign ministry, the 2 officials emphasised the importance of
    continued humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza and of the immediate and
    unconditional release of all hostages.


    POPULATION The population of Romania on July 1 was
    approx. 21.9 million, down 0.3% since the corresponding month of last year. Almost
    3 million of them are currently living abroad. Romania is also facing
    population ageing, with 125 elderly citizens for each 100 youth. The average
    age is 42.4 years, 0.3 years more than on July 1, 2022. The number of citizens
    in urban communities is nearly 3 million higher than the number of rural
    inhabitants, however urban population dropped by 0.8% over the past year while
    the rural population grew by 0.3%.


    UKRAINE Ukraine is seeking international support for its peace plan,
    in a 2-day meeting held as of today in Malta. As many as 50 countries are
    taking part, but Russia is not among them. According to AFP, this is the 3rd
    meeting of this kind, and organisers hope it would result in a joint
    declaration. The 10-point plan proposed by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr
    Zelenskyy includes, among other things, the pull out of Russian troops from the
    occupied Ukrainian territories, including Donbas, part of which is under
    separatist control since 2014, and Crimea, occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014.
    Last year, Moscow annexed 4 Ukrainian regions, partly occupied by its troops
    after the large-scale invasion of February 24.


    DST
    On Saturday night, Romania switches to winter time, setting clocks back one
    hour from 4 AM to 3 AM. Sunday will thus be 25-hour long. Daylight saving time,
    first suggested by the scientist Benjamin Franklin in 1784, is currently used
    in 70 countries. The concept has come under debate in recent years, with the EU
    asking member states to end seasonal clock changes and choose either winter
    time or summer time, but a decision in this respect is yet to be made. (AMP)

  • October 12, 2023 UPDATE

    October 12, 2023 UPDATE

    INITIATIVE Romania has signed the letter
    of intent on joining the Initiative regarding the identification of
    multinational solutions for the use of Cross-Border Airspace by NATO planes.
    Its implementation will ensure the coherence of the measures taken by NATO in
    the Black Sea region and the entire Eastern Flank to deter any hostile actions
    against the security of the allies, a communiqué of the Ministry of Defence
    says. In another development Romania Bulgaria and Greece have established a
    partnership for the creation of a fuel supply corridor to cover NATO needs in times
    of war or peace. According to the Romanian Ministry of Defence, the three
    parties signed a letter of intent in Brussels on Wednesday. The project will be
    funded with support from the Organization of the North Atlantic Treaty and it
    is different from the fuel corridors funded by the European Union. Early this
    week, the city of Varna in Bulgaria hosted a meeting between the Prime
    Ministers of the three states involved and talks focused on both transport
    infrastructure and energy projects unfolding under the umbrella of the European
    Commission.




    CSAT On
    Thursday in Bucharest, Romania’s Higher Defence Council, CSAT, decided the
    setting up of an inter-institutional working group with a view to drawing up a
    joint action plan for the prevention and effective fighting of the risks caused
    by drug trafficking and consumption against individual and collective safety.
    Working groups are also to be set up at county level while the Executive will be
    focusing on amending and completing the legislation in the field of banned
    substances for the elimination of the legislative gaps and limitation of the
    possibilities of the speculative interpretation of the legal provisions. An
    appropriate institutional medical framework is also being considered with a
    view to ensuring the access to treatment and recovery services, certain
    investigations and integrated protection measures against the risks associated
    with the consumption of illegal substances among students and young people.
    Another topical issue was the security situation in the Black Sea region
    against the latest developments in Ukraine. In this context the Defence
    Ministry has presented a series of concrete measures for increasing the air
    surveillance capabilities in the Romanian regions close to the Ukrainian
    objectives targeted by the Russian troops.




    VISIT American Secretary of State
    Antony Blinken on Thursday, while visiting Tel Aviv, said that the United
    States would always support Israel, and emphasized that what he called the
    legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people are not represented by the Hamas
    Islamist movement. In a press conference after his meeting with Israeli PM
    Benjamin Netanyahu, Bliken underlined the fact that 25 Americans had been
    killed in Hamas attacks in Israel, and that Washington is working closely with
    Tel Aviv to secure the release of hostages in Gaza. In turn, Netanyahu said his
    country would crush Hamas, urging the international community to treat the
    members of the movement as they would members of ISIS. On Friday, Secretary
    Blinken is set to meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.




    (bill)

  • July 31, 2023

    July 31, 2023

    TAXES Fresh talks are scheduled today in
    the Cabinet on tax-related measures designed to rebalance the state budget.
    The Social Democratic PM Marcel Ciolacu is to have meetings with the finance
    minister Marcel Boloș, and a report is expected from the national tax agency
    with respect to revenue collection. The ruling coalition 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. According to the PM, the proposed
    measures will be implemented in 3 stages, beginning on September 1, October 1 and
    January 1, 2024.


    VEHICLES The local segment of the car
    scrapping programme Rablaˮ started today, in an effort by the Romanian
    authorities to get heavily polluting vehicles out of circulation. Apart from
    the funds provided by the Environment Ministry, local authorities contribute
    20% of the vouchers granted to citizens who de-register cars older than 15
    years. In a first stage in April, town halls enrolled in this programme, and as
    of today citizens may apply for the funds available in the programme, no later
    than the end of August. The Environment Ministry earmarked some EUR 50 mln for
    this programme, and estimates around 100,000 polluting cars will be scrapped.


    CONCERT The Bucharest National Opera
    orchestra Sunday night performed for the first time at the Musikverein hall in
    Vienna, which hosts the traditional New Year’s concert in the Austrian capital
    city. The concert was a tribute to the Romanian composer Ciprian
    Porumbescu, as the year 2023 was declared the year of Ciprian Porumbescu, to
    mark 170 years since the birth and 140 years since the death of the famous
    composer. The programme consisted exclusively of works by Ciprian Porumbescu:
    New Moon, the first Romanian operetta, the Ballad, the
    Romanian Rhapsody. The soloists, choir and orchestra of the
    National Opera House in Bucharest were conducted by Daniel Jinga, with special
    guests including maestro Gheorghe Zamfir and the soloist Maria Coman.


    TRAINING The training ship Mircea has today
    returned to the military port of Constanţa, after a 28-day training session in
    the Mediterranean. On board were 64 sophomore students with the Mircea cel
    Bătrân Naval Academy, as well as 10 exchange students from partner
    academies in Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, Latvia, Italy and Spain. The training
    ship had stopovers in the ports of Piraeus in Greece, Taranto in Italy and Izmir
    in Turkey, and completed an over 2,200 mile journey.


    UKRAINE Ukraine has today confirmed that
    Saudi Arabia will host a peace summit aimed, according to Kyiv, at restoring
    peace in line with the Ukrainian formula, EFE reports. According to the head
    of Ukraine’s presidential office Andriy Yermak, apart from guaranteeing peace
    for Ukraine, the 10-point formula will create mechanisms to counter future conflicts. For
    Kyiv, the formula includes the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.
    According to Western diplomats, the choice of Saudi Arabia to host the talks is
    designed to facilitate the participation of China, which has good relations
    with Moscow and with Riyadh.


    SPORTS PM Marcel Ciolacu congratulated the
    Romanian athletes and coaches who took part in the European Youth Olympic
    Festival hosted this year by Maribor (Slovenia). He said Romania once again
    confirmed its rebirth as a sports powerhouse after it finished the competition
    with 20 medals, shoulder to shoulder with France, which came 3rd in
    the final ranking. Their result reconfirms their hard work, talent and the
    pride of proving to the world that we are a country which, in spite of
    difficulties, remains able to cultivate the spirit required of great champions,ˮ
    Ciolacu said. Romania’s performance at this year’s European Youth Olympic
    Festival was the best after the ones in a Bath (1995) and Paris (2003). (AMP)

  • World leaders condemn the invasion of Ukraine

    World leaders condemn the invasion of Ukraine

    Russian
    President Vladimir Putin should admit he cannot win the war in Ukraine, German
    Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said. In his first intervention at the UN General
    Assembly, Scholz denounced what he termed Putin’s imperial ambitions and warned
    that such ambitions risk destroying Ukraine and Russia. Scholz went on to
    say Germany and the international community would not consent to a peace
    dictated by Russia.




    The German Chancellor also
    announced that on October 25 Berlin would play host to a conference
    focusing on the reconstruction of Ukraine. As for the intention of the
    so-called authorities instated by Moscow in the occupied Ukrainian territories
    to stage referendums on the annexation of those territories by Russia, Scholz
    called the alleged grassroots consultations fictitious and
    unacceptable. In turn, French president Emmanuel Macron labeled the
    referendum a parody. Macron accused Russia that, through its
    invasion of Ukraine in late February this year, it made possible a lapse back
    in time, to the age of imperialism and colonialism. France rejects this
    and will steadfastly search for peace, President Macron pledged.




    Romania continues to
    support the neighboring Ukraine, President Klaus Iohannis said in his
    address to the UN General Assembly. Iohannis recalled Romania offered direct
    humanitarian assistance to the more than 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees who
    have crossed Romania’s borders since the outbreak of the war. The Romanian
    president also clearly stated there was no justification for the military
    aggression against a sovereign state.




    Klaus Iohannis: We know
    that our response, especially to this war, will shape our common future.
    Our support for peace should be voiced now, louder than ever. In defending our
    universal values, it is essential to stay united and bring everyone on board, including
    those who are still hesitating. Engagement and dialogue are crucial to
    overcoming divisions and, at the same time, to counter the spread of falsehoods
    and propaganda.




    Russia is rushing to hold sham
    referendums in Ukraine, the White House National Security Advisor, Jake
    Sullivan, said. The US high-ranking official also reiterated that the
    United States will never recognize Russia’s claims to any purportedly annexed parts
    of Ukraine. According to Sullivan, such referendums, as well as Moscow’s
    intention to amass more military forces in Ukraine, stand proof of the deadlock
    Russian troops find themselves in, having no choice other than withdrawing from
    several regions they had occupied as early as February this year. In
    conclusion, the White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, said these are not actions of
    the competent country. These are not acts of strength, quite the opposite. (EN)


  • Messages on Europe Day

    Messages on Europe Day

    Europe must grow stronger, more vocal, more capable
    and better prepared, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said in a message
    on Europe Day, celebrated every year on the 9th of May. According to
    the Romanian head of state, after the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, these
    days we are experiencing the tragedy of the war on the borders of the EU, which
    triggered the most severe humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. In his
    message, Klaus Iohannis points out that this ongoing war goes against all the
    principles and values on which the European Union was built and which keep it
    united-democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights.


    These are unprecedented times in the history of the
    Union, which test our very capacity to safeguard our fundamental values, based
    on the concept on which the European project was built: peace, Mr. Iohannis
    says in his message. According to him, preserving peace has been a constant
    endeavour for Europe for the past decades, a guarantee of stability which has
    enabled us to reach unprecedented levels of prosperity. Klaus Iohannis also
    mentions that this year Romania celebrates 15 years since joining the European
    Union, a choice made and supported by the entire Romanian society.


    The head of state also believes that the benefits of
    this choice are evident today for the long-term progress of our nation, with the
    EU membership providing the framework for an irreversible democratic progress,
    for economic and social development, for solidarity and active engagement in
    the European project.


    The Romanian president also emphasizes that, one and a
    half decades since its accession, Romania is a member state able to contribute
    solutions and to put its strengths at the service of Europe.


    In turn, the PM Nicoale Ciucă, in his message on
    Europe Day, voiced his hope that reason and peace return to the European
    continent as soon as possible. The lessons of World War II must keep us from
    tolerating a war of conquest against another independent state, as Russia does
    today in Ukraine, the PM argues. According to him, WWII, whose end in Europe we
    celebrate on the 9th of May, must remind all of us about the fate of
    tyrants and of those who dream about occupying other countries and controlling
    the world.


    The president of the European Commission, Ursula von
    der Leyen, describes the 9th of May as the day when our peaceful,
    prosperous and united Europe was born. Seventy-two years later, Europe is
    stronger and more united than ever.We stand united in supporting our Ukrainian friends. A
    people desperately struggling to determine its own future, the European Commission
    president pointed out. (A.M.P.)

  • Centenary of the Treaty of Trianon

    Centenary of the Treaty of Trianon

    On June 4th, 1920, the Grand Trianon Palace of Versailles hosted the signing of the peace treaty between the Entente Powers, winners of World War I, and Hungary. As a result of the treaty, new countries emerged on the map of Europe, such as Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, alongside countries that had doubled their territory and population, such as Romania. Thus, the new Kingdom of Greater Romania would also comprise the regions of Banat, Bukovina, Crisana, Maramures and Transylvania, all provinces in Austria-Hungary with predominantly Romanian speaking populations.



    In March 1918, Bessarabia, a Romanian province in Russia, joined the new pan-Romanian construct based on the principle of national self-determination. The Treaty of Trianon was signed to establish the borders between the new Hungary and its neighbors: Austria, Czechoslovakia, the future Yugoslavia and Romania.



    The end of WWI had occurred in the month of November of the year 1918, when Germany had capitulated to the French, English and American forces. However, the Hungarian population and its elite in particular had not peacefully accepted the outcome, and resorted to a method of toppling the existing order after the model of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, headed by Lenin in Russia. So, the Hungarian Soviet Republic, set up in 1919, started a war against Czechoslovakia and Romania, in order to get back its territories. The victories of the Romanian and Czechoslovakian armies led to the occupation of Budapest and the dismantling of Soviet Hungary. In early 1920, the long-awaited peace with Hungary was therefore finally signed.



    Historian Ioan Scurtu described the atmosphere in the eastern half of the former Austria-Hungary, in the early 1920, before the signing of the peace treaty:


    “The Treaty of Trianon was signed after fierce debates with the Hungarian delegation, starting in January 1920, as they tried to maintain the integrity of Hungary by contesting the claims and decisions made by Romanians, Slovaks, Croats and Slovenians, which had created new states. It was a belated signing, also because the Hungarian delegation, headed by Albert Apponyi, realized it had no chance of success at the peace conference, because the decisions made there were based on the principle of national self-determination, that is the will of the people. The chairman of the conference, the French Prime Minister Alexandre Millerand, stated that the peoples had spoken in the autumn of 1918, when they freely decided their fate. Therefore, the arguments presented by the Hungarian delegation, which said the dismantling of millennial Hungary would be a catastrophe, did not stand.”




    Romania won at Trianon not only because it was part of the winners group, but also because it had some solid arguments. Ioan Scurtu explains:


    “The main argument was the decision of the National Assembly in Alba Iulia, which was a representative gathering. The 1228 delegates from all of Transylvanias districts had imperative mandates to vote for the union of Transylvania with Romania. Secondly, it was the convention of August 1916, on the basis of which Romania had entered the war at the request of the Entente, and there Romanias borders were clearly established, including those with Hungary. The third argument was the contribution of the Romanian Army to the victory of the Entente Powers, because when Romania joined the war in the summer of 1916, the western front in France was relieved, which in turn meant the transfer of Austrian and German troops to the Romanian front. Some big battles where held in Romania, such as those of Marasti, Marasesti and Oituz, in the summer of 1917, where the military forces of the Central Powers suffered significant losses, and that facilitated the victory of the Entente Powers in 1918.”



    Talking about the Union of 1918, consolidated by the Treaty of Trianon, signed in 1920, the Romanian historian Nicolage Iorga wrote: “our homage must go to all Romanians, from the highest-ranking military to the last peasant dressed in military clothes.” All Romanians had indeed contributed to the triumph, but Romania did have an exceptional generation of exceptional personalities that made the victory possible. The two sovereigns, Ferdinand and Mary, must definitely be top of the list when we speak of the 1918 generation. There follow Ion I.C. Bratianu, Iuliu Maniu, Vasile Goldis, Stefan Cicio-Pop, George Pop de Basesti, Ion Inculet, Pantelimon Halipa, Ion Nistor, military such as sub-lieutenant Ecaterina Teodoroiu, captain Grigore Ignat, generals Constantin Prezan, Alexandru Averescu, Eremia Grigorescu and many more. However, Romania paid dearly for that triumph.



    Here is Ioan Scurtu once more:


    “Little Romania paid dearly, because it paid in lots of blood. It is estimated that some 800,000 Romanians died in battle because of diseases, famish and other hardships they had to endure in two years of war. The country also lost major material and spiritual assets, as a result of the fact that the German, Austrian-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Turkish occupiers plundered the occupied territories and sent those assets to their territories. Also, we should not forget that the Romanian Government in Iasi sent to Russia Romanias Treasure, part in December 1916 and the rest in July 1917, which has not been returned ever since. The official document signed on the occasion clearly stipulated that the Russian side took responsibility for carrying the treasure and bringing it back to Romania.”



    100 years ago, the Treaty of Trianon confirmed peoples will. It was the start of an era that they had dreamed of for a long time. (M.Ignatescu)




  • February 29, 2020 UPDATE

    February 29, 2020 UPDATE

    COVID19 Romania has 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, with the patients current state reported as good. Another 52 people are quarantined across the country, and 8,796 are under home monitoring. The healthcare authorities in the counties Timiş in the west and Maramureş in the north-west are running investigations to establish the people who were in contact with the 2 persons who tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. Both of them had travelled to Italy recently. The first patient in Romania, a 25 year old man from Gorj County, in the south, is feeling well, and Fridays tests came out negative, doctors say. If the next test is also negative, the patient will be discharged. In Europe, Italy remains the most affected country. As the epidemic spread, stock exchanges across the world reported total losses of over 5 trillion US dollars. The BBC says the US financial markets have not been hit so hard since the 2008 financial crisis. Investors fear that the growing number of coronavirus cases outside China may turn the disease into a pandemic.



    AFGHANISTAN Romania welcomes Saturdays agreement signed by the USA and the Taliban for the normalisation of the situation in Afghanistan, as well as the joint declaration between Washington and Kabul for bringing peace to Afghanistan, the Romanian foreign ministry announced. Romania voices confidence that full implementation of these agreements will lead to stability in Afghanistan. According to the foreign ministry, Bucharest will continue to support the efforts to ensure peace and security in Afghanistan, coordinating with its NATO allies. The US and the Taliban Saturday signed in Doha, Qatar, a historic agreement that paves the way for the withdrawal of all American troops from Afghanistan in the next 14 months and for inter-Afghan peace negotiations after 18 years of war.



    EUROVISION Buzau, in the south-east of the country, is hosting on Sunday the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. The public and a specialised jury will choose the song to be performed in the 2020 Rotterdam international competition by Romanias representative, Roxen. Several pieces have been written for her, and the best 5 of them are in the national final. Roxen gained popularity last summer with her song You Dont Love Me, aired in France, Mexico, the USA, Russia, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Estonia. Roxen will compete in the Eurovision first semi-final on May 12, with the final scheduled for May 16.



    MIGRANTS Greece prevented 4,000 migrants to enter its territory “illegally from Turkey, a spokesman for the Greek government announced on Saturday after an emergency meeting chaired by PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, AFP and Reuters report. On Friday, the country faced a mass, organised and illegal border crossing attempt, but it managed to overcome it, the government spokesperson explained. He added that Greece protected its borders and the borders of the EU. Also on Saturday, in an address in Istanbul, Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will open its borders to enable migrants to leave, and criticised the EU for not helping Ankara enough. Turkey says it was forced to ease border controls for the refugees trying to reach the EU from Turkey, because of the pressure of the refugees coming from Syria amid clashes in the rebel stronghold of Idlib.



    RUSSIA Thousands of Russian opposition supporters gathered in Moscow on Saturday to protest the constitutional reforms initiated by president Vladimir Putin and to pay tribute to opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, murdered 5 years ago near Kremlin, AFP reports. In Sankt-Petersburg, nearly 2,000 people rallied in the centre of the city. The authorised march is the first important public gathering since Putin announced a Constitution review set to strengthen the role of the president and of the State Council. The killing of Boris Nemtsov in February 2015 had huge echoes in Russia and abroad. Nemtsov was in the middle of an investigation into the involvement of the Russian Army in the east Ukraine war.



    HANDBALL Romanias womens handball champions, CSM Ramnicu Valcea, Saturday defeated the Swedish side Savehof, 28-20 at home, in the Champions League Main Group 2. In Main Group 1 in the same competition, vice-champions CSM Bucharest play away from home on Sunday against the French team Metz. The Romanian teams are ranking 4th in their respective groups and CSM is the only one having secured a place in the quarter-finals. In mens handball, champions Dinamo Bucharest take on Sporting Lisbon, on Sunday night, after a 26-25 win away from home. If they go past the Portuguese team, Dinamo move into the Champions League round of 16.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)