VISIT – Chief
of General Staff, General Daniel Petrescu is on a 10-day visit to the USA. The
Romanian official will meet the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee, the Chiefs of Services and representatives of certain think-tanks in
the security field. The visit of the Chief of General Staff is part of the constant
actions meant to consolidate the military cooperation with the USA. According
to a Defense Ministry press release, the current solid collaboration between
the two armed forces is one of the objectives of the Strategic Partnership between
our country and the USA, in line with Romania’s national interests in promoting
stability in Europe.
MOLDOVA – The
Moldovan Foreign Ministry has firmly condemned Russian missile attacks on Kyiv
and other settlements in neighboring Ukraine, including the missile taken down
by Ukraine’s air defenses that landed in northern Naslavcea, in the Republic of
Moldova, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Vodă has said.
According to the Moldovan official, these attacks, which continue to escalate
the security context, are a blatant violation of humanitarian international law
that forbids the targeting of civilians. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry
reiterated the fact that any attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
translates into huge economic and social losses for the entire European
continent, including the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who are affected
by the economic fallout from the war. The Republic of Moldova has strongly
condemned Russia’s use of energy resources as a weapon, Daniel Vodă went on to
say. Ukrainian authorities on Monday reported a new Russian drone attack on the
Dnestrovsc dam in Ukraine, located some 10 kilometers from Naslavcea. The dam
did not sustain any structural damage, although the attack did affect part of
the electronic equipment.
REFUGEES – The
Romanian Border Police announced that some 104 thousand people entered Romania
on Sunday, of whom approximately 8,800 were Ukrainian nationals, accounting for
a 7% drop compared to the previous day. According to a press release published
on Monday, some 2.7 million Ukrainians have entered Romania starting February
10. Most of them were in route to countries in Western Europe. Over 86,500 have
chosen to stay.
SANDU -
Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, on Tuesday is attending the international
conference Women MPs in Romania and promoting gender equality as a national
priority, an event hosted by the Romanian Parliament. During her visit,
president Sandu will meet her Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, Romania’s
Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, as well as representatives of the Club of
Businessmen from Bessarabia.
COVID-19
– The Health Ministry has announced that 21 COVID-related deaths
were reported over October 24-31 in Romania. In the last week, 3,077 new
infections were reported across the country, a slight drop compared to the
previous week. Since the start of the pandemic, 67,186 thousand people diagnosed
with COVID-19 have died.
DEFENSE – Senator
Angel Tîlvăr is the new Defense Minister of Romania. He will replace Vasile
Dîncu, who stepped down after making a series of controversial statements about
Ukraine. Angel TÎvăr said his main concern right now is Russia’s unprovoked and
unjustified invasion in neighboring Ukraine, as well as Romania’s contribution
to peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. Angel Tîlvăr also
insisted on earmarking 2.5% of the GDP to defense spending.
TENNIS – Tennis
player Simona Halep continues to rank 10 in WTA standings. The Romanian is
under a temporary suspension after failing a drug test at the US Open. Another
five Romanian tennis players are ranked in the WTA Top 100, Irina Begu (34),
Sorana Cîrstea (38), Ana Bogdan (48) and Gabriela Ruse (98). In the doubles WTA
standings, Romania has three representatives: Monica Niculescu (47), Irina Bara
(86) and Gabriela Ruse (93). (EE &
VP)