Radio România Internațional

Tag: Romanian-US relations

  • September 20, 2017

    September 20, 2017

    UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis will deliver a speech today before the UN General Assembly. His speech will focus on the importance of having a world order based on principles and regulations, the rule of law at international level, the need to strengthen the UNO and adapting it to current challenges. In another move, the Romanian President will underline the need to have an efficient response to the major threats to international peace and security. Klaus Iohannis will attend an event titled “Education for peace”, organised by Romania and enjoying the participation of high-ranking officials. The Romanian President will underline the role played by education in conflict-prevention. Also in New York, the Romanian President will attend an event organised by the UN Secretariat and meant to launch an important report promoting the equality of chances between men and women. Klaus Iohannis will also have bilateral talks with the Moldovan PM, Pavel Filip, and the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, respectively.



    WASHINGTON — The Romanian defence minister Mihai Fifor has met in Washington with the White Houses Deputy National Security Adviser, Ricky Waddell. The Romanian minister has hailed the excellent cooperation between Romania and the US, both at bilateral level and within NATO, and the US official has pointed to the extremely positive agenda of cooperation between Bucharest and Washington in the following years. Mihai Fifor has also reiterated Romania’s commitment to allot 2% of the GDP for defence, whereas the American side has shown interest in supporting NATO’s efforts to fully secure the eastern flank of the Alliance and underlined that the US will further be committed to Europe.



    UKRAINIAN EDUCATION LAW — The Romanian Senate and Chamber of Deputies, gathered in a plenary session in Bucharest, have issued a declaration on the new education law in neighbouring Ukraine. The Romanian MPs say they are following with concern and maximum attention the latest developments generated by the recent adoption by Ukraine’s Supreme Rada of this law which drastically infringes upon the rights to education in the native language of the ethnic Romanians in Ukraine. They are launching an appeal for a fast settlement of this situation, by well intended actions and goodwill, in the spirit of cooperation, inclusive dialogue and the strict observance of European standards in the field of national minority protection, abiding by the relevant multilateral and bilateral agreements, that Ukraine is a signatory to. On Tuesday, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a similar resolution, condemning the new law, which –in the opinion of the Hungarian MPs- does not observe the commitments made by the Kiev authorities and infringes upon the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine. The law drastically limits the access to education in the native language of many ethnic minority communities in Ukraine. This stipulates that Ukrainian should be the only teaching language in high-schools and faculties, and education in the languages of the ethnic minorities is possible only in nursery and primary schools. Almost half a million ethnic Romanians are living in neighbouring Ukraine, most of them in the Romanian territories annexed by the former USSR in 1940, following an ultimatum, and taken over by Ukraine, in 1991, as a successor state.



    BUCHAREST — Romania’s capital city, Bucharest is today celebrating 558 years since it was first mentioned in documents. The name of today’s city was first mentioned in a document issued in 1459, by the then ruler of Wallachia, the famous Vlad the Impaler. In order to mark the event, the city hall has organised over the past few days, open air parties, concerts, vintage costume parades, fairs and exhibitions. Bucharest became Romania’s capital city in 1862. In the inter-war period, Bucharest was dubbed “Little Paris”, due to its elegant architecture. Romania’s main economic engine, Bucharest is considered to be a city difficult to manage, because of an old and insufficiently developed infrastructure and of heavy traffic.



    MEXIC/EARTHQUAKE — A provisional death toll is expected to rise after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake stroke 120km from Mexico City, collapsing buildings and killing at least 250 people. It was the most powerful earthquake since the one which hit Mexico City in 1985, killing over 9,000. The tremor had the epicentre close to the border between the Puebla and Morelos states, in the centre, at a depth of 51 km. Many world leaders have expressed their sympathy with Mexico and offered their support to that country, which was still recovering from a fatal earthquake in the south of the country in early September.



    TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (no. 55 WTA) has today been defeated by Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (no.71 WTA), 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, in the eighth finals of the Seoul tennis tournament, with 250,000 US dollars in prize money up for grabs. Irina has also qualified to the doubles quarterfinals, alongside the Czech player Krystina Pliskova. The two will play the all Thai pair Luksika Kumkhum/ Peangtarn Plipuech. Romania’s second player in Seoul, Sorana Cîrstea (no. 52 WTA), will meet in the eighth finals American Nicole Gibbs (no.121 WTA). We recall that Irina Begu is the holder of the Seoul tournament title in 2015.

  • July 4th in Romania

    July 4th in Romania

    This year, one day ahead of the already-traditional party, the US Embassy in Bucharest invited the Romanian public to the screening of the biopic “42: The Story of Jackie Robinson. The film tells the story of the great player who erased colour barriers in baseball, and the choice was not made randomly, as Ron Hawkins the Counsellor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest has said baseball is a metaphor for democracy (…) anybody can play and everybody has to play by the same rules. The film screening in Bucharest enjoyed the participation of Sharon Robinson, the daughter of the legend-making Jackie Robinson, of three professional baseball players and of many high-school students, among others.



    Ron Hawkins: “Its the day that we celebrate the independence of the United States of America. And this year we are incredibly pleased to also celebrate the 70th anniversary of when Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in baseball. Now, think about that. I said 70 years ago, that is 1947, 8 years before the US got rid of segregation, 8 years before Rosa Parks. So, we are talking about the decade before Martin Luther King came on the scene. This is a major milestone in the civil rights movement, really ahead of the modern civil rights movement. And it was when America was starting to embrace its diversity. And thats what we are celebrating. We are celebrating diversity. We are also celebrating the fact that baseball is a great metaphor for democracy. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between the United States and Romania, its a great opportunity to use this metaphor: anybody can play and everybody has to play by the same rules. Baseball is democracy



    In his already traditional 4th of July message, the US ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm has also dwelt on the importance of the Strategic Partnership and the US-Romanian relations:



    Hans Klemm: “We are celebrating the 241st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by the United States of America. This year we are also marking the 20th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States. This partnership was recently strongly reaffirmed by President Trump and President Iohannis at the White House in Washington. Looking forward, the United States Embassy and I, well now work with our Romanian friends to strengthen the Strategic Partnership across every dimension. Our priorities remain to promote security, to promote democracy and the rule of law and to promote prosperity. Please join us in celebrating Americas Independence Day.



    As the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm, has said, earlier this month, on June 9th, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The main topics of discussion were the Romanian – US Strategic Partnership, the fight against corruption and terrorism, and the budget earmarked for defence.



    The two presidents said the Partnership must grow stronger and define bilateral relations, because it is important to both nations. According to Klaus Iohannis, the Partnership with the US has helped Romania become what it is today: a solid democracy, with a solid an sustainable economic growth, a country who’s been standing together with the US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Iohannis also underlined the fact that the Romanian – American relations and the trans-Atlantic ties are vital.



    Klaus Iohannis: Romania is a member of the European Union. And I think it’s the best interest of you, Mr. President, to have a strong European Union as a partner. This is vital for all of us. Our relationship, the transatlantic link is vital. The transatlantic link is not about diplomacy, about policy, its at the basis of our Western civilization. And together, we will make it stronger. Together, we will make it better, the Romanian President told Donald Trump. NATO and the European Union do not have to compete against each other. They have to work together. They have to work in such a manner as to produce synergetic effects. Make NATO stronger. Make Europe stronger. Make the United States of America stronger, the Romanian president also said.


    In turn, the US President Donald Trump hailed the relationship with Romania and stated that the Strategic Partnership covers many dimensions, including economic, military and cultural ties. The White House leader thanked the Romanian people for their support in combating terrorism.



    The conclusion of the meeting between the two heads of state was drawn by President Trump himself, who wrote on Facebook: Great honour to welcome President Klaus Iohannis to the White House. The future of Romania and Romania’s relationship with the United States is very, very bright.



    Happy 4th of July to all our American friends, wherever you may be!

  • June 1, 2017 UPDATE

    June 1, 2017 UPDATE

    VISIT – Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, will pay a working visit to the US, as of Sunday. The most important moment of the visit will be an official meeting in Washington on June 9 with US President Donald Trump, the Romanian Presidential Administration has announced. The White House has also officially confirmed the meeting. The White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, has said President Trump is looking forward to discussing ways to boost ties between the US and Romania and to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In a message posted on Facebook on Thursday, President Iohannis has also said that during the meeting with Donald Trump he will reiterate Romanias firm commitment to further be a trustworthy ally of the US. During his visit to the US, President Iohannis will be the honorary guest of the Global Forum of the prestigious organisation American Jewish Committee, which will award the Romanian President its highest distinction, Light Unto the Nations. This award is offered to heads of state or government in recognition of the significant international impact they have had in the domain of peace, security, democracy and the promotion of human values. Last but not least, the visit to the US by President Klaus Iohannis will also include a meeting with representatives of the Romanian community in the US.



    INTL CHILDRENS DAY – Romanians enjoyed a day off on June 1st, to celebrate the International Childrens Day. Last year, MPs declared June 1, a day off from work, for parents to spend the day with their children. Special events, contests, shows and exhibitions were organised across the country to mark the International Childrens Day. In a message launched on the occasion, PM Sorin Grindeanu, said he would like Romanian children to benefit from a good quality education system, meant to encourage true values and able to take measures to reduce school dropout, as well as from proper conditions to grow up healthily and proud of their native country. The International Childrens Day is celebrated on June 1 by approximately 50 countries the world over. Also, a day devoted to children is celebrated on various days of the year, by another 100 countries.



    CRIMINAL COMPLAINT – The Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile on Thursday made a criminal complaint at the General Prosecutors Office, denouncing the inhuman treatments applied during the communist regime in three foster care centres and hospitals, which caused the death of some 800 children, aged under 18. The respective centres were located in Cighid (in the west), Pastraveni (in the east) and Sighetu Marmatiei (in the north). The President of the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile, Radu Preda, has told Radio Romania that 10,000 victims of the system have been identified so far. Those children “have been beaten, starved and sedated instead of receiving proper medical treatment in those institutions.



    MILITARY EXERCISES – Eight NATO military convoys, taking part in the multinational exercise Noble Jump 2017, on Thursday crossed the border into Romania. The convoys are made up of some 300 troops and over 150 vehicles and helicopters. They are expected to reach the Cincu shooting range in central Romania by Sunday. We recall that exercise Noble Jump 2017 is held between May 26 and June 16 on the territory of three countries: Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. A total number of 4,000 troops from Romania and 11 other NATO member countries as well as 500 pieces of technical equipment are taking part in the exercise.



    MULTINATIONAL DIVISION SOUTHEAST – The first military of the contingent Poland contributes to the Multinational Division Southeast arrived in Craiova, southern Romania, on Thursday. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Defence Ministry, a first echelon is made up of 48 troops and 18 pieces of technical equipment. Poland contributes a contingent made up of 230 troops and 47 technical means to the 26th Infantry Battalion “Neagoe Basarab, as part of the Multinational Division Southeast. The other Polish troops will arrive in Romania in the following weeks, thus complying with the pledge the two countries made at the NATO Summit in Warsaw. The Romanian and Polish troops will train together, as part of the strengthened allied presence on the eastern flank.



    INVESTIGATION – The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether Romania’s gas transmission system operator Transgaz has been hindering gas exports from Romania to other EU Member States. The Commission will investigate whether Transgaz has abused a dominant market position in breach of EU rules. The Commission also underlined that consumers throughout the EU should enjoy secure energy supplies at affordable prices and therefore an integrated and competitive single European energy market is essential in this regard. Romania is the third largest natural gas producer in the European Union, after the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and has important gas reserves, including newly discovered natural gas “fields in the Black Sea. Transgaz is the sole operator of the natural gas transmission system in Romania.



    RESIGNATION – Nicusor Dan, the leader of the Save Romania Union, USR, an opposition parliamentary party on Thursday announced he would step down from the position of party president and would also leave the party he founded in 2016. His decision comes after the USR leadership stood against the idea of redefining the notion of family in the Romanian Constitution. In early May, the Chamber of Deputies adopted a draft aimed at revising the fundamental law of the country, in an attempt to redefine family as being based on the consensual marriage between a man and a woman. If the draft is also be endorsed by the Senate, Romanians will be called to vote in a referendum within 30 days since the draft is adopted. This revision of the Constitution has been demanded by a citizens initiative signed by 3 million Romanians. At present, the Constitution stipulates that family is based on the consensual marriage between spouses.



    THE UN – Romanias Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Wednesday reiterated Romanias commitment to the UN and underlined the added value that Bucharest can bring to multilateral diplomacy. Melescanu is in New York to formally launch a campaign to promote Romanias candidacy for a term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council between 2020 and 2021. He had a meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who underlined that Romania is an example of cooperation with the UN. Romania forwarded its candidacy in 2006, for a new term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The voting is due to take place in June 2019. Since becoming a member of the United Nations in 1955, Romania has held a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council four times.

  • June 1, 2017

    June 1, 2017

    VISIT – Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, will pay a working visit to the US, as of Sunday. The most important moment of the visit will be an official meeting in Washington on June 9 with US President Donald Trump, the Romanian Presidential Administration has announced. The White House has also officially confirmed the meeting. The White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, has said President Trump is looking forward to discussing ways to boost ties between the US and Romania and to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In a message posted on Facebook earlier today, President Iohannis has also said that during the meeting with Donald Trump he will reiterate Romanias firm commitment to further be a trustworthy ally of the US. During his visit to the US, President Iohannis will be the honorary guest of the Global Forum of the prestigious organisation American Jewish Committee, which will award the Romanian President its highest distinction, Light Unto the Nations. This award is offered to heads of state or government in recognition of the significant international impact they have had in the domain of peace, security, democracy and the promotion of human values. Last but not least, the visit to the US by President Klaus Iohannis will also include a meeting with representatives of the Romanian community in the US.



    INTL CHILDRENS DAY – Romanians enjoy a day off, for the first time on June 1st, to celebrate the International Childrens Day. Last year, MPs declared June 1, a day off from work, for parents to spend the day with their children. Special events, contests, shows and exhibitions are held in Romania today to mark the International Childrens Day. In a message launched on the occasion, PM Sorin Grindeanu, says he would like Romanian children to benefit from a good quality education system, to encourage true values, to take measures to reduce school dropout, as well as from proper conditions to grow up healthy and proud of their native country. The International Childrens Day is celebrated on June 1 by approximately 50 countries the world over. Also, a day devoted to children is celebrated on various days of the year, by another 100 countries.



    THE UN – Romanias Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Wednesday reiterated Romanias commitment to the UN and underlined the added value that Bucharest can bring to multilateral diplomacy. Melescanu is in New York to formally launch a campaign to promote Romanias candidacy for a term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council between 2020 and 2021. He had a meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who underlined that Romania is an example of cooperation with the UN. Romania forwarded its candidacy in 2006, for a new term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The voting is due to take place in June 2019. Since becoming a member of the United Nations in 1955, Romania has held a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council four times.



    MILITARY EXERCISES – Eight NATO military convoys, taking part in the multinational exercise Noble Jump 2017, are today crossing the border into Romania.The convoys are made up of some 300 troops and over 150 vehicles and helicopters. They are expected to reach the Cincu shooting range in central Romania by Sunday. We recall that exercise Noble Jump 2017 is held between May 26 and June 16 on the territory of three countries: Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. A total number of 4,000 troops from Romania and 11 other NATO member countries as well as 500 pieces of technical equipment are taking part in the exercise.



    ROLAND GARROS – The best-ranking Romanian woman tennis player of the moment, Simona Halep, no.4 WTA is today facing German Tatjana Maria (no. 104 WTA) in the second round of the Roland Garros Tennis Tournament, the second largest Grand Slam tournament of the year. Also today, in the same round, Sorana Carstea (no.64 WTA) meets Spanish Carla Suarez Navarro (no.23 WTA). Four other Romanian women tennis players Irina Begu, Monica Niculescu, Ana Bogdan and Patricia Ţig got eliminated in the inaugural round.

  • February 7, 2016 UPDATE

    February 7, 2016 UPDATE

    ROMANIA— Romania is doing surprisingly well at the moment and has a healthier political system than Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria, and “the economic growth rate compares very favourably to that in the rest of Europe”, says US pundit and writer Robert D. Kaplan, in an interview with the AGERPRES news agency. He said he is aware that Romanians still complain about many things that are not going well and that there is still a certain amount of corruption in the country, but “the point is that Romanian people are concentrating on the right things.“ Kaplan also believes that Romania and the United States “are as close now as one could hope for,” and this closeness is also owed to the fact that “Romania is one country in East-Central Europe that does not have a pro-Russian party, a pro-Russian faction.”



    COSAC — The Chair of the European Affairs Committee with the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Ana Birchall, is attending in the Hague, the Netherlands, the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC). The focal points of the talks are the priorities of the Dutch presidency of the EU Council, which include migration, tightening EU border security, EU and Euro zone finances, strengthening the European domestic market and the relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom. The Netherlands is currently holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2016.



    SECURITY — The UN Security Council convened in an emergency meeting in New York on Sunday, after North Korea launched a long-range missile overnight, apparently to place a satellite on orbit. The meeting had been requested by the US and Japan, members of the Council, alongside South Korea, which claim that it was actually a ballistic test carried out by Pyongyang. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has called on North Korea to halt provocative actions. The international community has condemned Pyongyang’s ballistic test, which comes just a month since the latest nuclear test carried out by North Korea. Heavy international sanctions have already been imposed on Pyongyang, following its ballistic firing and carrying out three nuclear tests in October 2006, May 2009 and February 2013, respectively.



    TENNIS– The Czech Republic defeated Romania 3-2 in the first round of the Fed Cup World Group. In the last match Andreea Mitu and Raluca Olaru lost to Karolina Pliskova-Barbora Strycova in two sets. Simona Halep (WTA’s no.3) battled past Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the western Romanian city of Cluj Napoca on Sunday, in a first round match of the Fed Cup World Group. In another match, Monica Niculescu (WTA’s no.37) lost to Karolina Pliskova (WTA’s no.13), in three sets. The Czech Republic boasts four Fed Cup titles, in the past five years.



    RUGBY– Romania’s national rugby team on Saturday scored a clear victory, 39-14, on home turf, in the city of Cluj Napoca, north-western Romania, against Portugal, in a new edition of Rugby Europe Championship, the second ranking continental competition, after the famous RBS 6 Nations Tournament. In the next leg, due next Saturday, Romania will meet Spain, in Madrid. In March, Romanian rugby players are pitched against Russia, Germany and Georgia. In autumn, under the guidance of Welsh coach Lynn Howells, Romania participated in the World Cup final tournament in England, where it defeated Canada, in the group stage, and lost to France, Ireland and Italy.


    (Translated and edited by Diana Vijeu)