MOLDOVA – The
Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip has thanked Romania for the constant
support this country has provided to the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet
state with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population. He made the statement
after meeting in Chisinau his Romanian counterpart Mihai Tudose, with whom he
discussed means of boosting bilateral cooperation. The agenda of the Romanian
PM’s visit does not include a meeting with the pro-Russia socialist president
Igor Dodon. The visit to Chisinau is Tudose’s second official visit as prime
minister after his investiture in mid June. Last week he paid a visit to
Brussels, where he told EU officials that Romania bears a huge responsibility
with regard to safeguarding Moldova’s pro-European path.
SABER GUARDIAN 17
– In a communiqué issued on Friday, the Romanian Defense Ministry has announced
that Saber Guardian 17, the largest military exercise ever held in Romania has
reached its end. Saber Guardian 17 unfolded simultaneously on Romanian, Bulgarian
and Hungarian soil, following a fictional scenario involving the participation
of 25,000 military and some 3,000 pieces of equipment, including 90
fire-fighters and carriers. According to the scenario, they carried out
operations to free part of a territory occupied by a hostile force. Previously,
the Foreign Ministry too had hailed Romania’s hosting this exercise led by the
US Army Europe, saying the exercise was firm evidence of solidarity and
confirmation of the strength of the trans-Atlantic alliance and of the
strategic partnership between Romania and the US, which started 20 years ago.
ROMANIAN DIASPORA
– The Romanian Government has changed the procedure of granting
non-reimbursable funding for activities carried out by Romanians outside the
country’s borders. According to the Government, besides improving and rendering
the funding system more flexible, funds will also be available for projects
that are aimed at maintaining the ties between Romanians in the Diaspora and
the mother land and at promoting their interests. The Minister Delegate for
Romanians Abroad Andreea Pastarnac has stated that the bill changes provisions
that have been in place for 11 years, and which now meet the expectations of
the Romanian communities abroad . She has also announced the
launch of an information campaign, for the Romanians who want to work, study
and live abroad, called Informed at home, safe in the world!. The campaign
will start next month and is aimed at bringing to the attention of all
stakeholders their rights, but also the risks they are faced with, when taking
the decision to work abroad.
EARTHQUAKE – The
Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced that there have been no Romanian
citizens requesting assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake that shattered
the south-west of Turkey on Friday morning. The Romanian Embassy in Athens and
the General Consulate in Izmir have called on the local authorities to provide
them with information regarding the consequences of the earthquakes and
potential Romanian victims. The quake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale was
felt especially in the city of Bodrum and in the neighboring Greek islands in
the Aegean sea and claimed at least two lives.
FOOTBALL – The
Romanian football squad Astra Giurgiu has qualified for Europa League’s third
preliminary round, after ending 0-0 the match against the Azerbaijani team Zira
FK, the decisive leg of the second round. In the first leg, on home turf, in
southern Romania, Astra had won 3-1. Next week, Astra Giurgiu will take on the
Ukrainian team FK Oleksandria. Also in the third preliminary round of Europa
League, CS Universitatea Craiova will play against the famous AC Milan, and
Dinamo Bucharest will take on Athletic Bilbao. In the Champions League, the new
holder of the national title, FC Viitorul Constanta, will play against APOEL
Nicosia, and vice-champion FCSB (former Steaua Bucharest) will meet the Czechs
from FC Viktoria Plzen.