Radio România Internațional

Tag: Princess Margareta

November 25, 2021

Government – The Romanian Parliament on Thursday gave the vote of confidence to the Government made up of the PNL – PSD – UDMR proposed by the PM designate, the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă. There were 318 votes for and 126 votes against. In order to be invested, the Executive needed at least 234. Nicoale Ciucă thanked both those who vote for the government and those who didn’t. ‘We assumed a great responsibility, we also understood the recommendations of the opposition’, he said, adding that the executive will do everything possible to focus on the Romanian citizen and to overcome the problems caused by to the COVID crisis. Prior to the vote, Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of PSD, so far in opposition, said that his party decided to enter the government with the partys front line, to stand by Romanians’ side, to stop the collapse of living standards and to stabilize the country. Instead, MP Dan Barna representing USR, a former governing partner of the Liberals, pointed out that President Klaus Iohannis is allegedly the godfather of the collaboration between PSD and PNL, the one who handed over the government to his former Social Democrat opponents. All 20 ministers were heard in parliamentary committees on Wednesday and received a favorable opinion. In the new government, PNL, in power since 2019, keeps the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Education and Energy and has, in addition, four more ministries. Nine portfolios go to the Social Democrats, in opposition after the legislative elections of two years ago, including the ministries of Finance, Defense and Economy. PSD also receives the General Secretariat of the Government. UDMR, former governing partner of PNL, keeps the Ministries of Development, Environment and Sports. The governing program of the new Coalition Government is based on the principles of resilience, stability, transparency, equity and efficiency, according to the prime minister designate, who also gives assurances that pensions, the minimum social allowance, the minimum gross salary and allowances for Romanians will increase. After investiture, the new ministers need to be sworn in before the President.

COVID — 2,104 new cases of Covid-19 — a sharp drop as against the previous day – were reported in Romania on Thursday. At the same time, 212 deaths were announced, of which 35 registered prior to the reference period. The National Public Health Institute announced that over 70% of the cases registered in the last week were in unvaccinated people. Since the onset of the vaccination campaign, nearly 7.7 million people have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.

Visit – Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, and her husband, Prince Radu, are paying a public visit to the UK as of Wednesday. The royal couple was received at Windsor Castle by Queen Elizabeth II. At the same time, they visited the Royal Defense College, where they talked with students on topics related to European and Euro-Atlantic current affairs. The Custodian of the Crown of Romania and Prince Radu also met with the Lord Mayor of London, Vincent Thomas Keaveny, at his residence. The first visit of the Royal Family of Romania to London took place in 1874, when the Sovereign Prince Carol I and Princess Elisabeth met with the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra). The first British royal visit to Romania took place at Peles Castle in Sinaia (central Romania), in 1888, when the future King Edward VII was the guest of King Carol I.

EPP — The Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP) in the European Parliament has nominated Roberta Metsola as a candidate for the presidency of the European Parliament, after she obtained more than 64% of the votes of her party colleagues. Roberta Metsola (42 years old) is an MEP from Malta. She promised that one of her priorities would be to build alliances and bridges with pro-European constructive forces in the EP. The vote for the presidency of the European Parliament, held by the Italian Socialist David Sassoli since the summer of 2019 following an agreement of the three main groups in the European Parliament – EPP, S&D and Renew Europe, will be held in January next year in the middle of the EP legislature.

Gazprom — The Russian consortium Gazprom will continue to deliver gas to the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet country with a majority Romanian-speaking population), after the Moldovan government on Friday committed to paying an outstanding debt. Gazprom had threatened to cut off gas supplies if it did not receive its money. Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kuprianov, quoted by Radio Romanias correspondent in Moscow, said that the deferment of payment was an exception and an expression of the Russian consortium goodwill. He underlined, however, that Gazprom strongly hoped that, in the future, the Republic of Moldova would fully comply with its contractual commitments and make payments in due time. Gazprom recalled that the signing, last month, of a new gas contract with the Republic of Moldova was conditioned by the full and timely payment of current bills. The contract provides for a price of about 450 dollars per one thousand cubic meters of gas, deferred payment, a five-year rescheduling of the 700 million dollar debt and its independent audit. (LS)

25 November 2021
December 25, 2018 UPDATE

CHRISTMAS – On Tuesday, Christians around the world celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. In a message conveyed on the occasion, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, says that this celebration is one of gift-offering, to children, elders, orphans, sick and lonely, and to all the loved ones. “This celebration is our response to the gift of Gods love, shown in Jesus Christ”, Patriarch Daniels message also reads. At the Vatican, Pope Francis firmly criticized what he termed as mankinds consumerist voracity and called on people to reflect on the spiritual meaning of their lives and to share with the poor . “The little body of the Child of Bethlehem is a new model of life: not to devour or to grasp, but to share and to give”, the Pope said, recalling that the name Bethlehem means the house of bread. The Sovereign Pontiff gave the traditional blessing of Urbi et orbi (to the city and the world), before the Christians gathered in St. Peters Square.

MESSAGES – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has conveyed a Christmas message to all Romanians, saying that the birth of Jesus Christ is a celebration of the miracle of life and of kindness, compassion and generosity. “We need to reconnect to those values that bring us closer to each other and unite us. In the spirit of these holy celebrations, we should take care of each other and of our country”, the presidents message also reads. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has wished all Romanians good health and well being. The custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, has too sent a Christmas message, saying she promised to carry on the work started by her father, King Michael, towards ensuring Romanias prosperity and stability an strengthening its international position.

JUSTICE – The former Romanian minister Elena Udrea and the former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, who were in custody in Costa Rica since October 3rd, were released after the Bucharest Tribunal revoked the extradition requests issued on their names. The Public Ministry of Costa Rica decided to release them after receiving from the Romanian Justice Ministry the documentation stating that the two requests had been withdrawn. In Romania, Udrea and Bica have received definitive sentences for corruption. Just like them, other high-ranking officials in Romania have benefited from the suspension of the prison sentences they have received for corruption, after the Constitutional Court of Romania ruled that the setting up of the 5-judge panels at the High Court of Cassation and Justice was illegal.

DEFENSE – A new meeting of Romanias Supreme Council of National Defense will be held on December 28th, focusing on the request made by the Defense Minister Gabriel Les with regard to posts in the armys leadership. On Wednesday, Gabriel Les announced he would not extend the term of the current Chef of Staff Nicolae Ciuca, which expires on December 31st. The previous meeting of the Council was held on December 19th, when the army equipment programme for 2019-2028 was approved, as well as the capabilities to be deployed by Romania next year for missions and operations abroad. 1902 Romanian soldiers will be part of international theaters of operations, 127 more than in 2018. Also, another 759 army and police officers will take part in EU, OSCE, NATO and UN missions. Romania will keep participating in the NATO Resolute Support operation in Afghanistan and will maintain its contribution to the allied operations carried out in the Western Balkans. As a first, a detachment of transport and evacuation helicopters will participate in the UN mission in Mali.

EMPLOYMENT – Romanias National Employment Agency has committed to integrating into the labour market some 110,000 unemployed registered in their data base, by means of a project co-funded by the Social European Fund, through the Operational Programme Human Capital 2014-2020, covering a period of four years. According to the Agency, the allocated budget stands at around 265 million Euros, of which 226 million non-reimbursable. The project will be implemented with support from the local employment agencies.

TSUNAMI – The death toll from the tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra on Saturday has exceeded 400. Also, 1500 people were injured and more than 150 are reported missing, according to a local official quoted by news agencies. The tsunami hit the southern coast of Sumatra and the western side of Java, triggered by an undersea landslide caused by the eruption of Krakatau volcano, some 50 km off the coast.

ATTACK – At least three people, including a Libyan diplomat, died in a terrorist attack on the headquarters of Libyas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. The Interior Minister Fathi Agha has admitted that the chaos that the country is facing in terms of security continues to turn it into a fertile ground for the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. Libya has been plunging into havoc since the fall of Muammal Gaddafis regime back in 2011. The country is divided into several rival entities, with a National Union Government in Tripoli, supported by the international community, and a parallel government formed in the east, supported by the National Libyan Army, self-proclaimed by Marshall Khalifa Haftar.

25 December 2018
December 24, 2018 UPDATE

CHRISTMAS – On December 25th, Orthodox, Greek-Catholic and Catholic Christians from all over the world, including in Romania, which is a predominantly Orthodox country, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A famous tradition in Romania on Christmas Eve is caroling, with carolers symbolizing the angels and shepherds who announced the Birth of Jesus. They make wishes of good health and wealth and receive fruit, bagels, sweets or money. The old rite Christians who form the majority in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia will celebrate Christmas on January 7. These days many pilgrims visit the holy sites from Israel and the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.

MESSAGES – On Monday, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis conveyed a Christmas message to all Romanians, saying that the birth of Jesus Christ is a celebration of the miracle of life and of kindness, compassion and generosity. “In the spirit of these holy celebrations, we should take care of each other and of our country. If we are better each day, we will all be better together”, the presidents message also reads. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has wished all Romanians good health and well being. The custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, has too sent a Christmas message, saying she promised to carry on the work started by her father, King Michael, towards ensuring Romanias prosperity and stability an strengthening its international position.

JUSTICE – The Romanian justice minister Tudorel Toader has announced he will finalize, on Thursday, December 27, the procedure for the dismissal of Romanias Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar, which was started in October. Toader accused Lazar of professional and managerial misconduct and took legal action against him. The issue is to be judged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The opponents of the governing coalition claim that the dismissal of Augustin Lazar, which follows that of the former head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, was a form of political vendetta and an attempt to stop the anti-corruption fight. In another development, minister Toader has announced he has signed the documents for the release from prison of the former Romanian minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, who are in prison in Costa Rica upon the request of the Romanian authorities. The two had received definitive sentences in Romania in cases of high-level corruption. The High Court of Cassation and Justice decided on the suspension of the imprisonment conviction in their case, after the Constitutional Court of Romania ruled as illegal the setting up of the panels of 5 judges at the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The ruling also led to the suspension of the imprisonment convictions in many other cases involving former ministers and incumbent politicians.

BREXIT – Romania supports the Brexit deal as well as the political declaration on the future framework of the post-Brexit relation between the EU and the UK, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu told the BBC on Sunday. He added that, from Romanias point of view, it was important for the UK to stay as close as possible to the EU. Teodor Melescanu also said that Romania envisaged to start bilateral negotiations with the UK as part of the strategic partnership concluded by the two sides. Minister Melescanu also recalled that, at the meeting held with the former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, he received assurances that the more than 400 thousand Romanians living in the UK would not be affected by Brexit and he gave the example of the Romanian physicians and nurses who went to work in the UK. Boris Johnson had stated that if those people were to leave the UK, the countrys healthcare system would be severely affected.

INDONESIA – The toll in the aftermath of the tsunami that hit Indonesia following a volcanic eruption has reach some 400 dead and more than 1,400 injured, the National Agency for Disaster Management announced on Monday. More than one hundred people are still reported missing. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the tsunami that hit the southern coasts of Sumatra and the western side of the Java island on Saturday.

BORDER TRAFFIC – More than 250 thousand people, both Romanian and foreign citizens, have crossed Romanias borders over the past 24 hours in more than 60 thousand cars, according to the border police. Of them, as many as 170 thousand entered Romania while almost 83 thousand left the country. In the same period of time, the border police identified 30 cases of crimes and 37 cases of offences perpetrated by both Romanian and foreign citizens. Also, 29 foreign citizens were denied entry to Romania as they did not comply with the legal provisions, and 16 Romanian citizens were prevented from leaving the country for various legal reasons.

IMMIGRANTS – The border police found in Curtici, near the border with Hungary, eight people from Iran who were trying to exit Romania illegally, using forged documents. The eight were travelling on an international train, along the Bucharest-Vienna route and presented IDs issued in Slovakia, Slovenia and Luxembourg. The adults, six men and two women, said they had got the documents from unknown individuals, because they wanted to get to the West. The border police are now conducting investigations in order to take the necessary legal measures.

24 December 2018
September 22, 2018 UPDATE

POLITICS – A
reshuffling of the ministers members of the Social Democratic Party, the main
partner in the ruling coalition in Romania, will take place after the ‘family’
referendum of October 6-7. The Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea has
announced that the reshuffle will be decided at the next meeting of the
executive committee, and one of the skills that a minister must have is good
communication. One of the offices that is likely to see a new occupant is that
of Secretary General of the Government, currently held by Andreea Lambru. She could
be replaced by the former judge with the Constitutional Court Toni Grebla,
acquitted by the High Court of Cassation and Justice in a case of corruption
investigated by the National Anticorruption Directorate. We recall that on
Friday night, most leaders of the Social Democratic Party decided to keep
supporting Liviu Dragnea, at the end of a very long meeting of the executive
committee of the party. The meeting was held after a few top-level members signed an open
letter requesting the resignation of Liviu Dragnea as president of the party
and as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The authors of the letter claimed,
among other things, that Dragnea’s legal problems had turned into a major
weakness for the party, particularly considering the forthcoming European
Parliament and presidential elections due in 2019 and the local and legislative
elections scheduled for 2020.

INDICTMENT – The chief of the Romanian Gendarme
Forces, col. Ionuţ Cătălin Sindilie, his Senior Deputy Chief col. Gheorghe
Sebastian Cucoş, Major Laurenţiu Cazan, the chief of the Bucharest Gendarme
Directorate, and Chief Commissioner Mihai Dan Chirică, secretary of state with
the Interior Ministry, have been indicted in relation to the anti-Government
protest of August 10th in Bucharest. They are under investigation, among other
things, for complicity in abuse of
office and abusive behavior. We recall that, during the August 10th protests,
violent clashes took place between the participants and the gendarmes, and the
latter used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. As many as 770
people have filed criminal complaints. The interior minister Carmen Dan has
recently stated that the protest was approached as an event posing risks to
public order, and that the gendarme intervention was lawful.

MEDAL – Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, on
Friday awarded the ‘Nihil Sine Deo’ royal decoration to the US Ambassador to
Bucharest Hans Klemm. Just like the ‘King Michael I Loyalty’ Medal and the ‘Cross
of the Royal House of Romania’, ‘Nihil Sine Deo’ is granted by decision of the
chief of the Royal House. It was introduced in 2009 and it may be granted to
leading social, scientific, educational, cultural, spiritual, economic,
political and military personalities. The medal can also be awarded to Romanian
or foreign current and former ambassadors having made a noteworthy contribution
to Romania’s international relations.

BREXIT – Brexit negotiations
have reached a deadlock, the British PM Theresa May said after the summit in
Salzburg, where no progress was recorded. The Union is not willing to
compromise in any way, that was the conclusion of the summit, which had Theresa
May say that the EU does not treat Great Britain with respect. In a more
optimistic tone, the President of the European Council Donald Tusk has voiced
conviction that a compromise benefiting both parties is still possible and has
recommended that the British should reanalyze their proposals. One of the
thorniest issues is that of the type of border between Northern Ireland, which
is part of the UK, and Ireland, which is a member of the EU. Another source of
tension is economic relations, as the British would like to benefit from at
least part of the advantages provided by the single European market even after
Brexit. The European leaders have decided that Brexit negotiations are due to
end next month and, if real progress is made, a new summit of the heads of
state and government will be held in November, to render the understanding with
the UK official.

BUCHAREST – Events celebrating the City of
Bucharest continued on Saturday, marking
559 years since the Romanian capital was first mentioned in official records,
as well as 100 years since the Union of December 1, 1918, when the Romanian
provinces were united into a nation state. On Friday, the famous Romanian panpipe
player Gheorghe Zamfir gave a memorable show and on Saturday Bucharest hosted one
of the biggest 3D video-mapping shows in the world. The Days of the City of
Bucharest will end on Sunday with an extraordinary concert by the famous Rod
Stewart.

OLYMPIAD – Romanian pupils won
nine prizes at the 4th International French Language Olympiad in
Ohrid, Macedonia, held between the 15th and the 19th of
September. They won four first prizes (two in individual and two in team
events), three second prizes and two third prizes. The International French
Language Olympiad gathered pupils from 6 countries members of the International
Organization of La Francophonie: Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, the
Republic of Moldova and Romania. The competition is enlisted in the program of
the activities carried out by the Regional Office of La Francophonie for
Central and Eastern Europe.

22 September 2018
September 21, 2018 UPDATE

POLITICS – Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, the main partner in the ruling coalition in Romania, was confirmed on Friday as president of the party, after winning a vote of confidence held during a special meeting of the leadership. On the occasion, Dragnea announced that a new meeting of the partys leadership will be held in October, when a potential reshuffle might be on the agenda. Fridays meeting was held after a few top-level members signed an open letter requesting the resignation of Liviu Dragnea as president of the party and as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The authors of the letter claimed, among other things, that Dragneas legal problems had turned into a major weakness for the party, particularly considering the forthcoming European Parliament and presidential elections due in 2019 and local and legislative elections scheduled for 2020. The signatories also requested that PM Viorica Dǎncilă, the executive president of the Social Democratic Party, should act as interim president until the next special congress of the party.

INDICTMENT – The chief of the Romanian Gendarme Forces, col. Ionuţ Cătălin Sindile, and senior deputy chief col. Gheorghe Sebastian Cucoş, were indicted on Friday in relation to the anti-governmental protest of August 10th in Bucharest. They are investigated for complicity to abuse of office. Major Laurenţiu Cazan, the chief of the Bucharest Gendarme Directorate, and chief commissioner Mihai Dan Chirică, secretary of state with the Interior Ministry are also indicted in this case. Also on Friday, the main opposition parties called for the resignation of the four and also of the interior minister Carmen Dan. We recall that during the August 10th protests violent clashes took place between the participants and the gendarmes, and the latter used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. Military prosecutors started a criminal investigation into the gendarme intervention. As many as 770 people filed criminal complaints. The interior minister Carmen Dan has recently stated that the protest was approached as an event posing risks to public order, and that the gendarme intervention was lawful.

INITIATIVE – the Save Romania Union opposition party filed in Parliament on Friday some 450,000 signatures in support for the initiative titled “No convicts in public offices”, so the total number of such signatures now stands at 780,000. According to a communiqué issued by the party, the initiative has complied with the two requirements imposed by the law: more than 500,000 valid signatures and at least 20,000 signatures in 21 counties. According to this initiative, art 37 of the Constitution would include an addition, reading that individuals with final sentences cannot hold offices in the local governments, in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate or the office of president of the country, until the consequences of the respective sentence are removed.

PENSIONS – The Government of Romania has discussed a new pension bill with representatives of trade unions and employer associations. This was the first 3-party meeting on the topic, organised in line with a special calendar agreed on for the endorsement of this law. PM Viorica Dăncilă says the new pension law will first and foremost address inequities in the public system. While the deputy president of the Romanian Employers Association Dan Matei Aghaton announced the organisation supports the new bill, the trade union leader Bogdan Hossu pointed out that some aspects, such as special working conditions, unfair employee penalties, and minimum wage increases, will have to be regulated by means of further pieces of legislation.

ADOPTIONS – The Government of Romania has earmarked additional funds for child protection and has taken measures to encourage adoption. The goal is to step up the procedure for and extend the period in which a child is regarded as adoptable, and to reduce red tape in the field. New financial incentives have also been introduced. The adoption process in Romania is rather complex, and the country ranks among the last in Europe with only 800 adoptions per year, although the number of abandoned children is around 55,000.

MEDAL – Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, on Friday awarded the “Nihil Sine Deo” royal decoration to the US Ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm. Just like the King Michael I Loyalty Medal and the Cross of the Royal House of Romania, Nihil Sine Deo is granted by decision of the chief of the Royal House. It was introduced in 2009 and it may be granted to leading social, scientific, educational, cultural, spiritual, economic, political and military personalities. The medal can also be awarded to Romanian or foreign current and former ambassadors having made a noteworthy contribution to Romanias international relations.

MEASLES – 85 new cases of measles have been confirmed in Romania this week, according to the National Center of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control. Most cases were reported in unvaccinated children. In all, the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 15,500, of which 59 have been fatal. Measles is an infectious disease that often causes complications.

BUCHAREST – This weekend, the Days of the City of Bucharest will be marking 559 years since the Romanian capital was first mentioned in official records, as well as 100 years since the Union of December 1, 1918, when Romanian provinces were united into a nation state. Major international musicians were invited to perform in the city, including pan flute player Gheorghe Zamfir on Friday and pop-rock star Rod Stewart on Sunday. On Saturday, the worlds best multimedia artists will display spectacular light and laser shows on the walls of the Parliament Palace. A symphonic concert and multimedia show opened the Bucharest Days series on Thursday night, when the fountains in the Union Square were reopened, after extensive revamping works. Built in the late 80s under the communist regime, the fountain system downtown Bucharest is one of the longest in the world, 1.4 km, with 16,200 m² water surface area.

21 September 2018
Parliament pays homage to King Mihai I

History has seen few figures who have upheld democratic values, much to the aversion of both Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. King Mihai I was one of these few illustrious figures. Born on October 25th, 1921, Mihai ascended to the throne in 1940, after his unpopular father, Carol II, stepped down.

He spent his early years in the shadow of the de facto leader, the pro-German Marshal Ion Antonescu. On August 23rd, 1944, King Mihai had Antonescu arrested and broke Romania’s alliance with Hitler’s Germany and struck a deal with Romania’s traditional allies, the United States, Great Britain and France.

Many historians agree this decision shortened the war by at least six months and helped save hundreds of thousands of lives. Three years later, at a time when Romania was under Soviet military occupation, steered by a puppet communist government, the King was forced to abdicate and live in exile in the West.

He oversaw the activity of the Romanian National Committee, which many saw as a democratic Government in exile. After the anticommunist revolution of 1989 King Mihai I supported Romania’s NATO and EU accession with the other royal houses and governments in Europe. Commentators say it was normal for Parliament to pay one final tribute to his life of excellence in a solemn plenary session attended by high-ranking officials in Bucharest.

King Mihai stood for the hope of a reborn and free Romania, and will be remembered as a great political figure, President Klaus Iohannis said, addressing Parliament. In turn, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has expressed confidence that the King will become an important part of Romania’s history, while his vibrant personality will continue to inspire Romanians for generations to come.

I lost a father, as did the entire nation, said the King’s first-born daughter, the Custodian of the Royal Crown, Her Royal Highness Princess Margareta. The Royal House will continue to do everything in its power to help the country move forward, together with the state’s underlying institutions, Princess Margareta promised.

The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church Daniel also honored the King’s memory, calling him “a staunch believer” who never refrained from overtly upholding his religious convictions. The King, the Patriarch went on to say, also showed a great deal of reverence towards the other religious denominations, as he “advocated “peace between ethnicities and religions”.

The chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, Aurel Vainer, also eulogized the former monarch, describing the King as “a man of the people”. Also on Monday the Choral Temple in Bucharest played host to a commemorative ceremony devoted to the King. During the Holocaust, King Mihai and the Queen Mother Elena took action to support and save Jews in Romania.

12 December 2017
Romania loses symbolic figure

An orphan country – this is how Romania feels after the death of its former sovereign, King Michael I. At a time of media overflowing with short-lived celebrities, the King was coming from an entirely different world and era. The last surviving World War II head of state, King Michael never ceased to believe in a moral, united and prosperous Romania, and lobbied with modesty and without wavering for Romanias NATO and European Union membership. On October 25, 2011, on his 90th birthday anniversary, he presented his political and moral legacy to the Parliament in Bucharest.

King Michael: “Democratic institutions are not governed only by laws and ethics. A sense of duty, love for the country and competence are the key criteria of public life. Have confidence in democracy, in the purpose of institutions and in their rules! The world of tomorrow cannot exist without morals, without faith and without memory. We must not allow cynicism, petty interests and cowardice control our lives.”

Michael I took the throne in September 1940, and for a long time his was a merely ceremonial role, with the pro-German strongman Ion Antonescu actually ruling the country. But on August 23, 1944, when the Red Army had already entered Romania and was threatening to wipe Bucharest off the map, the King had the courage to have Marshall Antonescu arrested, to break the countrys ties with the Axis and have Romania join the anti-Nazi coalition. Historians agree that this decision shortened the war by months, saving tens of thousands of lives.

Princess Margareta, the eldest of Michaels five daughters and named Custodian of the Crown, is determined to carry on his legacy. Princess Margareta:

“His kindness and forgiveness outshined all the evils of last century. His wisdom ensured the continuity of our identity, at times of grave deviation from the countrys natural course. Our King was a part of the very fabric of the Romanian state. With all his life, my father continued the ties of the royal family with the Romanian nation. He gave us his today for our tomorrow. A new era begins for the Royal House of Romania. With the same principles and sentiments as my father, I will continue to serve the fundamental interests of the Romanian nation. So help me God!”

The King was forced to abdicate and leave the country in 1947, when the country was ruled by a Soviet puppet government and was practically under Soviet military occupation. In order to survive in exile, the dethroned monarch did not hesitate to work. Until the 1989 anti-communist uprising in Romania, the political police, Securitate constantly monitored his life.

Driven out of the country at the age of 26, Michael was only allowed to return at 75. In a painful exercise of virtual history, many Romanians are now wondering what the country would look like today, if the King had not been ousted, and without the callous communist dictatorship and incoherent transition to democracy that followed. (Translated by Ana Maria Popescu)

6 December 2017
Romania commemorates its WW1 heroes

Romania has celebrated 100 years since the battle of Marasesti seen as the country’s most important military operation in WWI. In Marasesti, in the summer of 1917, the Romanian Army stood against the much better equipped German and Austrian-Hungarian troops. To honour the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the fierce battle, the authorities staged on Sunday impressive ceremonies at the Mausoleum in Marasesti, in eastern Romania.

Thousands of people, among whom high ranking officials, representatives of public authorities, the diplomatic corps, political parties and religious denominations came to pay their homage to the over 25 thousand Romanian soldiers who were killed or went missing that year. President Klaus Iohannis said that 1917 was the most difficult period in Romania’s modern history, as the country was threatened not only by foreign armies but also by Bolshevism.

Romania’s future was safeguarded, the President said, by the heroism of the Romanian Army and by the society’s cohesion around a project for a country not just united, but more democratic and inclusive. Iohannis also mentioned the role played by King Ferdinand, Queen Marie and the then government and politicians in ensuring the country’s future. The decisions taken in 1917 are very good examples of responsible ruling and deep sense of duty, Iohannis also added.

The President evoked the support of the French military mission headed by General Berthelot, who had a vital contribution to the victories won in the summer of 1917. He also paid homage to the Russian soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield in Marasesti alongside Romanian military. 100 years later, Iohannis went on to say, Romania is a stronger state that our allies and partners can count on and also a security pillar in the region, and this owes a great deal to the Romanian Army. Today, when the EU values are under siege by populism and demagogy, remembering WWI is a good opportunity to highlight its present significance, now when the history of Europe and of the whole world is at a crossroads.

Klaus Iohannis: “There is full compatibility between the aspirations of the Romanian nation and the vision of the founding fathers of the united Europe. This compatibility is given by the high price we put on freedom and by the aspiration towards a society in which the law is the same for everyone.”

In his turn, Senate Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu said: “Marasesti will always be in the national conscience a symbol of the Romanian people’s determination and a moment of glory in the country’s military history.”

The heroes in Marasesti were also commemorated by the members of the Romanian Royal Family through a religious ceremony held in Savarsin in western Romania. Crown Princess Margareta said that the young people must know their country’s history which paved the way for the lives they live today.

7 August 2017
April 23, 2017 UPDATE

SPEECH — Romanian Crown Princess Margareta will deliver a speech before Parliament on April 26, marking the anniversary of 100 years since Iasi was named the capital of the Kingdom of Romania between 1916-1918 and the City of the Great Unification”. The event celebrates the adoption 100 years ago of the laws reforming the Romanian modern state, the agrarian law and the election law, both adopted by the Senate and the Deputies’ Assembly. According to a press release issued on Suday, political and legislative measures adopted by the Parliament that fled to Iasi during the Great War, are the expression of a concerted political effort on behalf of all the parties making up the Constituent Assembly, as expressed by King Ferdinand in his opening speech in the Parliament plenary session of December 15, 1917. We recall that after the Great War, all of Romania’s historical provinces were united under one single entity, the Kingdom of Romania.

AVALANCHE — Saturday’s avalanche in Retezat Mountains killed two teenagers, 13-year-old Dor Geta Popescu and 14-year-old Erik Gulacsi, both professional climbers enrolled in a sports club in Brasov. The local mountain rescue service has warned against imminent avalanche risks. Dor Geta Popescu was the holder of six world titles and a European trophy. At 10 years of age she became the world’s youngest climber to summit Ararat, at an altitude of 5,000 meters. Erik Gulacsi last year was designated the youngest European climber to summit Aconcagua Peak in Argentina, at over 6,900 meters, the highest in America. The police is investigating the tragedy.

ROMANIANS — Three Romanians from Constanta, eastern Romania, attended festivities marking 2770 years since the city was founded. Disguised as Dacians, the three reenacted battles led by Emperor Trajan in the Dacian-Roman wars on modern-day Romanian territory in 101-102 and 105-106 CE. After their defeat, the Dacians were Romanized, while only a few Dacian words still survive in Romanian, the only neo-Latin language in southeastern Europe. A chronicle of the Dacian-Roman wars is sculpted on the famous Trajan Column in Rome.

SAINT GEORGE — Over a million Romanians celebrated their name day on Sunday, the feast day of Saint George, the first martyr of early Christianity. Saint George is also the patron saint of the Romanian Land Forces. Ceremonies were held in most barracks across the country, attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defense, local authorities, military on reserve status and war veterans.

GYMNASTICS — Romanian athlete Catalina Ponor on Sunday grabbed gold in the beam final at the European Gymnastics Championships hosted by Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania. In the same event Larisa Iordache won bronze. Also on Sunday, Marian Dragulescu won silver in the men’s vault event, after winning gold in the floor final on Saturday. Cluj hosted the European Gymnastics Championships 60 years after the last edition was held in Romania. A total of 274 athletes from 37 countries took part in the event.

TENNIS — Romania’s Fedcup team defeated Great Britain on home turf 3-2 in the playoffs for the Second World Group. On Sunday, Simona Halep defeated Johanna Konta of Great Britain, 6-1, 6-3 in the third rubber match while Irina Begu defeated Heather Watson. On Saturday, Halep won against Watson while Konta defeated Sorana Cirstea. We recall that Saturday’s match between Konta and Cirstea was interrupted due to an incident caused by Romanian coach Ilie Nastase, who was sent off after swearing at the umpire and verbally abusing Johanna Konta and the British coach. The ITF has launched an investigation (Translated by V. Palcu)

23 April 2017
May 1, 2016 UPDATE

EASTER -
Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers worldwide are celebrating Easter, or the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In his Easter message, the Patriarch of the Romanian
Orthodox Church, Daniel, said the Resurrection of Christ is symbolical of the
triumph of love, which renders our lives meaningful. The high prelate also
mentioned the Romanians who live outside the borders of the country, saying
Let us not forget, in our prayers, those who live far from the country,
longing for home. We are waiting for all of them to return to the country for
good, because many of Romania’s localities are sad and helpless without them.
Our villages are getting old. Many children grow up without their parents and
many old people are helpless without their sons and daughters who live far
away, the patriarch also underlined at the Patriarchal Cathedral, during the
Easter mass, which was also attended by Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis and
his wife. According to a poll, 68% of the Romanians believe Easter should be
celebrated simultaneously by Orthodox and Catholic believers.

VISIT -
The presence of Romanian troops on the theatre of operations in Afghanistan
comes as Romania’s firm response to NATO’s request to ensure that country’s
security and stability, says Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis. The head of
state on Sunday visited the Romanian troops stationed at the military base in
Kandahar and celebrated Easter together. In a speech to the military, President
Iohannis underlined that Afghanistan is, for the North Atlantic Alliance, the
main battlefront against terrorism. He added that the reconstruction of that
country entails long-term efforts, fully assumed by the international
community. The Romanian President also met with brigadier general Antonio
Aguto, commander, Train, Advise, Assist Command – South, in Afghanistan. The
talks between the two officials underlined the excellent level of cooperation
between Romanian and US troops in the new common missions, focussed on
providing assistance and training the Afghan security forces.

NEW UCC -
The main customs formalities will be simplified as of May 1, following the
enforcement of the new Union Customs Code across the EU. The code sets common
and streamlined procedures in all EU member states, to make life simpler for
businesses doing trade in Europe. The same rules apply regardless of where in
the EU the goods are declared and once the goods have cleared customs in a
member state, they can circulate freely or be sold anywhere within the EU
customs territory, that is in any of the 28 member states. Furthermore, the use of
IT &C becomes mandatory. Thus, the European Commission hopes to reduce tax
evasion in the field of cross-border trade, which currently stands at 50
billion Euros a year.

NATIONAL OPERA ROW – Romanian Prime Minister Dacian
Ciolos on Tuesday will send to President Klaus Iohannis the proposal to revoke
Vlad Alexandrescu from the position of culture minister and to nominate another
person at the helm of that institution. The revocation comes against the
backdrop of the Bucharest National Opera scandal, which was generated by
general discontent about successive nominations at the top management of the
institution and about salary disparities between Romanian and foreign ballet
dancers. Protests led to the cancellation of three performances and prompted
Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to demand Vlad Alexandrescu’s resignation. In
several Facebook posts and articles in the press, Vlad Alexandrescu claims he
had to leave office because he had reportedly disturbed various groups of
interests, such as those in Rosia Montana, which he added on the country’s
tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Prime Minister said he hadn’t
been briefed on the problems Vlad Alexandrescu claims to have been faced with,
and promised to request the new culture minister to go ahead with the reforms
started by his/her predecessor.

PAY RISE – Over one million one hundred thousand Romanian employees will receive a pay rise worth 200 lei (some 50 Euros), as of May 1st, following a government decision adopted at the end of 2015, which increased the minimum wage from 1,050 lei to 1,250 lei.

ROYAL FAMILY – Romania’s Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu, alongside officials
and members of other European Royal Houses, attended a series of
events held in Stockholm to mark the 70th anniversary of King Carl Gustaf XVI
of Sweden. Princess Margareta and Prince Radu who started an official visit to
Sweden on Friday, attended the special Easter mass at the Romanian Orthodox
Bishopric and met with members of the Romanian community. This is the third
official visit abroad by Romania’s royal family this year, after those to
Turkey and the Republic of Moldova. The Royal House recalls that King Carl
Gustaf XVI of Sweden and Queen Silvia paid a state visit to Romania back in
2003.

BUCHAREST CITY TOUR – The Bucharest Public Transport Utility, RATB, on Sunday reactivated
the Bucharest City Tour tourist line. Four double deckers will take the tour
of the city and of its main tourist objectives. The buses are equipped with
audio-guides in Romanian, English, French and Italian. A ticket costs 25 lei
(approximately 5 Euros) for adults and 10 lei (around 2 Euros and 20 cents) for
children in the 7-14 year age bracket. The travel pass can be purchased on the
bus and can be used all day long, for tourists to be able to visit all tourist
attractions in Romania’s capital city.

BOXING – Romanian Lucian Bute faced Swedish boxer
Badou Jack in Washington on Sunday morning for the WBC super middleweight belt,
the oldest and most prestigious belt in boxing. The match ended in a draw. In
such a situation, the belt is kept by the defending world super middleweight champion,
Badou Jack. Lucian Bute, 36, is the former super middleweight champion in the
IBF version. He successfully defended his title nine times, for nearly four
years and a half. Jack Badou, 32, defended his WBC belt for the second time.

(Translated by Diana Vijeu)

1 May 2016
May 1, 2016

EASTER – Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers worldwide are celebrating Easter, or the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In his Easter message, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, said the Resurrection of Christ is symbolical of the triumph of love, which renders our lives meaningful. The high prelate also mentioned the Romanians who live outside the borders of the country, saying “Let us not forget, in our prayers, those who live far from the country, longing for home. We are waiting for all of them to return to the country for good, because many of Romanias localities are sad and helpless without them. Our villages are getting old. Many children grow up without their parents and many old people are helpless without their sons and daughters who live far away, the patriarch also underlined at the Patriarchal Cathedral, during the Easter mass, which was also attended by Romanias President Klaus Iohannis and his wife. According to a poll, 68% of the Romanians believe Easter should be celebrated simultaneously by Orthodox and Catholic believers.

ROYAL FAMILY – Romanias Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu, alongside officials and members of other European Royal Houses, on Saturday attended a series of events held in Stockholm to mark the 70th anniversary of King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden. Princess Margareta and Prince Radu who started an official visit to Sweden on Friday, attend the special Easter mass at the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric and meet with members of the Romanian community. This is the third official visit abroad by Romanias royal family this year, after those to Turkey and the Republic of Moldova. The Royal House recalls that King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden and Queen Silvia paid a state visit to Romania back in 2003.

NEW UCC – The main customs formalities will be simplified as of today, following the enforcement of the new Union Customs Code across the EU. The code sets common and harmonised procedures in all EU member states, to make life simpler for businesses doing trade in Europe. Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs said: An efficient EU Customs Union facilitates trade while at the same time enforcing necessary rules for security, safety and intellectual property rights. The new Union Customs Code opens the door to new state-of-the-art IT systems that will provide fast and quality data on goods being traded and will allow extremely close coordination among the administrations of our Member States, a press release issued by the European Commission writes. The Customs Union is unique in the world and is essential for the proper functioning of the Single Market. The new UCC reflects a move towards a more modern customs environment for EU countries, making European business more competitive and advancing the EU Strategy for growth and jobs. The use of IT &C will become a rule. Thus, the European Commission hopes to reduce tax evasion in the field of cross-border trade, which currently stands at 50 billion Euros a year.

PAY RISE – Over one million one hundred thousand Romanian employees will receive a pay rise worth 200 lei (some 50 Euros), as of May 1st, following a government decision adopted at the end of 2015, which increased the minimum wage from 1,050 lei to 1,250 lei.

NATIONAL OPERA ROW – Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos on Tuesday will send to President Klaus Iohannis the proposal to revoke Vlad Alexandrescu from the position of culture minister and to nominate another person at the helm of that institution. Vlad Alexandrescu seems to have lost his portfolio following the scandal which broke out at the Bucharest National Opera House. Romanian artists, old time employees of that institution, have done everything they could to remove from the institution the group of foreign ballet dancers brought to the Bucharest Opera House, a couple of years ago, by choreographer Johan Kobborg

BOXING – Romanian Lucian Bute faced Swedish boxer Badou Jack in Washington on Sunday morning for the WBC super middleweight belt, the oldest and most prestigious belt in boxing. The match ended in a draw. In such a situation, the belt is kept by the defending world super middleweight champion, Badou Jack. Lucian Bute, 36, is the former super middleweight champion in the IBF version. He successfully defended his title nine times, for nearly four years and a half. Jack Badou, 32, defended his WBC belt for the second time.

BUCHAREST CITY TOUR – The Bucharest Public Transport Utility, RATB, has today reactivated the “Bucharest City Tour tourist line. Four double deckers will take the tour of the city and of its main tourist objectives. The buses are equipped with audio-guides in Romanian, English, French and Italian. A ticket costs 25 lei (approximately 5 Euros) for adults and 10 lei (around 2 Euros and 20 cents) for children in the 7-14 year age bracket. The travel pass can be purchased on the bus and can be used all day long, for tourists to be able to visit all tourist attractions in Romanias capital city.

(Translated by Diana Vijeu)

1 May 2016
April 30, 2016 UPDATE

POLL – 68 % of the Romanians believe Easter should be celebrated simultaneously by the Orthodox and Catholic believers, a poll conducted by IRES shows. This option is endorsed mostly by respondents over 65, living in urban areas, as well as by Romanian nationals living in the central region of Transylvania and Banat, in the south east, regions which are home to many mixed Orthodox and Catholic families. 87% of the respondents say they will attend the Easter Mass. The poll was conducted in April, on a nation-wide representative sample of 1,240 people aged over 18, with an error margin of plus/minus 2.8%.

LUMEN INFINITUM– Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers worldwide, including Romania, a country with a majority Orthodox population, on Saturday to Sunday night celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Jerusalem, the Holy Fire Mass was celebrated on Saturday. In an annual unique orthodox ritual, the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem came out of the Holy Sepulchre with candles lit and shared the light, called “lumen infinitum”. On Good Friday, the Passion of Christ was remembered by the Orthodox believers. Hundreds of people in Targu Jiu, southern Romania, symbolically retraced “Via Dolorosa” or the Way of Suffering, marching in the longest such procession in Europe.

ROYAL CELEBRATION- Romania’s Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu, alongside officials and members of other European Royal Houses, attended a series of events held in Stockholm to mark the 70th anniversary of King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden. Princess Margareta and Prince Radu who started an official visit to Sweden on Friday, will also attend a special mass on the second Easter day, at the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric and will meet with members of the Romanian community. This is the third official visit abroad by Romania’s royal family this year, after those to Turkey and the Republic of Moldova. The Royal House recalls that King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden and Queen Silvia paid a state visit to Romania back in 2003.

NEW UCC — The new Union Customs Code, which comes into force on May 1, across the EU, including Romania, will make life simpler for businesses that trade in Europe, such as a reduced number of customs checks. According to the head of Romania’s General Customs Directorate, Claudiu Ardeleanu, some companies will benefit from a reduction and even the elimination of warrantees, or the postponement of paying the VAT at the customs points. Also on May 1, an electronic system will be implemented to facilitate exchanges of information between the customs authorities, as well as between entrepreneurs and customs officers. Thus, the European Commission hopes to reduce tax evasion in the field of cross-border trade, which currently stands at 50 billion Euros a year.

ROAMING CHARGES CUT– Mobile phone roaming charges were cut within the European Union on Saturday, in a last stage preceding their complete elimination in mid 2017. The maximum overcharge will be of five cents per minute for calls, two cents for texting, and five cents per MB for people downloading data – such as emails, pictures or social media.

FLYOVER CLARIFICATIONS — The Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced that it is in permanent and direct contact with the Government in Chishinau, on the presence of a Romanian aircraft over Transdniester, a pro-Russian separatist region in the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian Foreign Ministry’s announcement comes shortly after the authorities in the separatist region claimed their airspace has been violated and activated their anti-aircraft warfare. The ministry makes clear the aircraft belongs to a private company based in Romania, which won a tender to conduct mapping and do a digital model of the relief of the Republic of Moldova. Complete information on this mission has been sent in due time to the authorities in Chishinau.

CAR BOMBING– Over 21 Shia pilgrims were killed in a car bombing on Saturday, on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital city, Baghdad. The so-called Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Shia pilgrims, considered to be heretics by the Islamic State, were on their way to a shrine near Baghdad, the BBC reports.

MEDIA 2020 CONFERENCE AND CONCERT-The second Media 2020 Conference hosted by Beijing, China, has come to a close. Organised by Radio Romania and the Asia Broadcasting Union, the event was aimed at delivering rich content across a range of platforms. The conference ended with a special gift offered by radio Romania to the participants of the conference: a concert by the outstanding Romanian musical duo- violinist Gabriel Croitoru and pianist Horia Mihail. The performance included pieces by famous European composers such as F. Kreisler, E.Elgar and Pablo de Sarasate as well as by the prominent Romanian composer and violinist, George Enescu. The programme was named after the great composer, The Violin of George Enescu, since Gabriel Croitoru played Enescu’s violin. Gabriel Croitoru and Horia Mihail won over the audience with their high professionalism and style.

HANDBALL — Romania’s national women’s handball team will play Angola, Brazil, Montenegro, Spain and Norway in the Olympic Games Group A due this summer, following the drawing of lots in Rio de Janeiro, on Friday evening. Group B is made up of: Holland, Russia, Sweden, France, Argentina and South Korea. The Olympic handball tour will start on August 6, and the opening match will be played by Romania and Angola. To go past the group stage, the Romanian handball players will have to rank on one of the fourth positions. The women’s final is scheduled for August 20.

(Translated by Diana Vijeu)

30 April 2016
April 30, 2016

LUMEN INFINITUM– Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers worldwide, including Romania, a country with a majority Orthodox population, are today celebrating Holy Saturday, the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the day that Jesus Christs body lay in the tomb and the Harrowing of Hell. In Jerusalem, the Holy Fire Mass is celebrated today. It is a unique orthodox annual ritual, during which the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem comes out of the Holy Sepulchre with candles lit and shares the light, called “lumen infinitum”. A delegation of the Romanian Patriarchate will bring over the Holy Light from Jerusalem to Romania, by a special plane. Yesterday, on Good Friday, the Passion of Christ was remembered by the Orthodox believers. Hundreds of people in Targu Jiu, southern Romania, symbolically retraced “Via Dolorosa” or the Way of Suffering, marching in the longest such procession in Europe.

POLL – 68 % of the Romanians believe Easter should be celebrated simultaneously by the Orthodox and Catholic believers, a poll conducted by IRES shows. This option is endorsed mostly by respondents over 65, living in urban areas, as well as by Romanian nationals living in the central region of Transylvania and Banat, in the south east, regions which are home to many mixed Orthodox and Catholic families. 87% of the respondents say they will attend the Easter Mass. The poll was conducted in April, on a nation-wide representative sample of 1,240 people aged over 18, with an error margin of plus/minus 2.8%.

ROYAL CELEBRATION- Romania’s Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu, alongside officials and members of other European Royal Houses, are currently in Stockholm to attend a series of events marking the 70th anniversary of King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden. Princess Margareta and Prince Radu who started an official visit to Sweden on Friday, will also attend a special mass on the second Easter day, at the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric and will meet with members of the Romanian community. This is the third official visit abroad by Romania’s royal family this year, after those to Turkey and the Republic of Moldova. The Royal House recalls that King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden and Queen Silvia paid a state visit to Romania back in 2003.

FLYOVER CLARIFICATIONS — The Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced that it is in permanent and direct contact with the Government in Chishinau, on the presence of a Romanian aircraft over Transdniester, a pro-Russian separatist region in the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian Foreign Ministry’s announcement comes shortly after the authorities in the separatist region claimed their airspace has been violated and activated their anti-aircraft warfare. The ministry makes clear the aircraft belongs to a private company based in Romania, which won a tender to conduct mapping and do a digital model of the relief of the Republic of Moldova. Complete information on this mission has been sent in due time to the authorities in Chishinau.

ROAMING CHARGES CUT– Mobile phone roaming charges are today cut within the European Union, in a last stage preceding their complete elimination in mid 2017. The maximum overcharge will be of five cents per minute for calls, two cents for texting, and five cents per MB for people downloading data – such as emails, pictures or social media.

BOXING-Romanian Lucian Bute will return to the boxing ring on Sunday morning. In a boxing gala hosted by Washington, Bute will fight Swedish boxer Badou Jack for the WBC super middleweight belt. Lucian Bute, 36, is the former super middleweight champion in the IBF version. He successfully defended his title nine times, for nearly four years and a half. If he wins, Bute will become the only Romanian boxer to hold two world titles in the two boxing versions. Jack Badou, 32, defends his WBC belt for the second time.

HANDBALL — Romania’s national women’s handball team will play Angola, Brazil, Montenegro, Spain and Norway in the Olympic Games Group A due this summer, following the drawing of lots in Rio de Janeiro, on Friday evening. Group B is made up of: Holland, Russia, Sweden, France, Argentina and South Korea. The Olympic handball tour will start on August 6, and the opening match will be played by Romania and Angola. To go past the group stage, the Romanian handball players will have to rank on one of the fourth positions. The women’s final is scheduled for August 20.

(Translated bu Diana Vijeu)

30 April 2016
The King of Romania

Aged 94 and suffering from two types of cancer, king Mihai 1st has been recently operated on and is now undergoing a complex and difficult medical treatment. He has entrusted his daughter, princess Margareta, the Custodian of the crown, with the mission of carrying on his projects.

The former sovereign has also written a good-bye message, which was read publicly by the Royal Council Spokesman Andrew Popper: “I have recently received a serious medical diagnosis. This situation coincides with the period in which the family and the country are celebrating 150 since the setting up of the dynasty and of the Romanian modern state. I am sure that my daughter Margareta, the Custodian of the Crown, will find the necessary wisdom and strength to represent me and to carry through all the public actions that I have initiated. I have requested the Royal Council to carry on its mission and to help the Custodian with advice. Signed: King Mihai, March 1st, 2016.”

This situation brings to an end a chapter in the history of Romania that has been both heroic and tragic. Barely a grown-up, at the age of 19, Mihai 1st became King of Romania in 1940, after the abdication of his unpopular father, Carol the 2nd. Seen as immature and easy to manipulate by the iron man of the time, Marshal Ion Antonescu, which had placed Romania on the orbit of Nazi Germany, the king stayed in the shadows for a very long time. However, on August 23rd, 1944, when the outcome of WWII had already become easy to predict, the young sovereign was brave enough to arrest the marshal and pull out the country from the alliance with Hitler and place it on the side of its traditional allies, the British and the Americans. According to historians, that change of sides shortened the war by at least six months and saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

However, both Romania and its King were refused the right to stand among the winners. On December 30th, 1947, when the country was practically under Soviet military occupation and was led by a shadow communist government, the King was forced to abdicate and go into exile. For decades, the only way in which he could relate to his people, which remained trapped behind the Iron Curtain, was through radio messages.

Marked by the ideological prejudice imposed throughout decades of dictatorship, the leftist power instated after the Anti-Communist Revolution of 1989, forbade the King access to his own country. It was only in 1997 that the predominantly Christian — Democratic government facilitated his return and granted him Romanian citizenship again, also returning part of his properties. So, once again, the King unconditionally placed himself in the service of the country.

He promoted Romania’s accession to NATO and the EU, stood for rendering state institutions democratic and free of communism, got involved in charity and patronage programs and thus became one of the most respected and loved public figures.

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has voiced hope that the King will find the power to get over these difficult times and that the Royal Family will remain the same beacon of hope and solidarity.

In turn, Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos has recalled that for decades, His Majesty, the former Sovereign of Romania, has been for this people a source of love, hope and support.

3 March 2016