Radio România Internațional

Tag: solidarity

  • Assistance for people affected by flooding

    Assistance for people affected by flooding

    The state of alert has been instated in the counties of Galați and Vaslui, in eastern Romania, a region that bears the brunt of the latest flooding. The measure was aimed at enabling local authorities to access resources to rebuild the areas destroyed by the flooding waters.

    According to official data released, 26 towns and villages in the county of Galaţi and 20 in Vaslui, have been affected by heavy flooding, and the number of the households destroyed stands at 65 hundred. The urgent rebuilding of houses and buildings, as well as parts of the affected infrastructure such as roads and bridges, is a top priority, authorities say.

    In a special meeting on Monday, the Executive approved emergency aids of up to 2 thousand Euros for every affected family and another 2 thousand for the families who lost people, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced.

    Marcel Ciolacu: “The total amount of this first assistance programme is around 100 million lei. And I can assure the people affected by flooding that we aren’t going to stop until we have repaired all the bridges and roads in the area and have rebuilt all the households destroyed so that their lives may come back to normal as soon as possible.”

    214 tons of food and over 200 thousand liters of water have been dispatched to the affected areas and the first supplies have already been distributed.

    Another priority, the Prime Minister went on to say, is to enable the children in the affected areas to resume school classes.

    Marcel Ciolacu: “For this reason we are providing four modular buildings that may serve as makeshift schools where children can attend classes until the situation comes back to normal. Local authorities jointly with the Ministry of Education are presently working in order to turn these temporary schools operational.”  

    Camps have also been made available for the flood victims and many institutions have launched appeals to solidarity and started collecting things. The Romanian Red Cross has launched an assistance campaign and has already sent trucks with water and food supplies.

    The Romanian Waters has deployed teams which are operating in the areas consolidating the defence lines against flooding. Through its Solidarity Fund and Civil Protection Mechanism, the European Union will be providing assistance to the Romanians and the Europeans in the other member countries, the chief-negotiator for the Union’s budget, Romanian MEP Siegfried Muresan says, adding that he will call for a more flexible multi-annual budget, so that the bloc may react faster in emergency situations.

    (bill)

  • Romanian-Polish Solidarity Day

    Romanian-Polish Solidarity Day

    The Romanian-Polish Solidarity Day was established last year at the joint initiative of the two countries’ foreign ministers at that time, Bogdan Aurescu and Zbigniew Rau respectively. So on Sunday, 3 March 2024, Romania and Poland celebrated this day for the first time ever, with events that reflect the partnership between the two nations founded on a shared historical experience and the willingness to further strengthen bilateral relations, reads a joint press release issued by the two foreign ministries.

     

    The celebration of Romanian-Polish Solidarity Day is proof of the traditional friendship between the two countries and of the shared commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership and their cooperation within the European Union and NATO, the Romanian government also posted on its X account.

     

    It is not a coincidence that this celebration is marked for the first time in 2024. This is the year when the two countries celebrate 105 years of diplomatic relations, 85 years of asylum granted by Romania to the Polish government, which fought on against the Nazi German invader outside the country; 35 years of the fall of communism and democratic transition in Central and Eastern Europe, and the 15th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership.

     

    Ahead of the celebration, internationally acclaimed Romanian artists, including the Vienna-based pianist Adela Liculescu, the soprano Alexandra Zamfira, who currently lives in Spain, and the violinist Alexandru Tomescu, who plays a Stradivarius Elder-Voicu 1702 violin, performed at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, in a preview to the 2024-2025 Romania-Poland Cultural Season.

     

    In turn, this past weekend Bucharest hosted the opening of a photography exhibition at the Romanian Peasant Museum, and a recital by the Polish jazz pianist Leszek Leszek Mozdzer at the Romanian Athenaeum.

     

    Scores of other events, from exhibitions to concerts and from theatre performances to film screenings and book launches and readings, are scheduled to take place between June 2024 and October 2025, as part of the Cultural Season.

     

    The motto, “We speak the same language,” is a reference to the language of culture as an instrument of knowledge and of understanding between people, in a variety of forms, means of expression and traditions.

     

    The Cultural Season’s visual identity is the outcome of cooperation between the graphic design students at the National University of Arts in Bucharest (UNArte) and the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, with the logo based on the diacritics specific to the two respective languages. (AMP)

  • December 29, 2022

    December 29, 2022

    ENERGY The government of Romania passed a bill lifting the
    obligation for owners of more than one house to submit sworn statements in
    order to benefit from energy price caps. On the other hand, the government also
    decided that the 10 Eurocent governmental discount on fuel prices will no
    longer be applied as of January 1, 2023. PM Nicolae Ciucă promised that the
    authorities are prepared to reintroduce this measure in the future, should
    prices go up beyond citizens’ spending power.


    FOREIGN POLICY In 2023, ‘Romania’s foreign ministry will continue to
    give special attention to Romania’s Schengen accession and to joining the
    Organisation for Cooperation and Economic Development (OCDE)’. The announcement
    was made by the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu in a Report on Romania’s
    diplomatic activity released on Thursday. As far as 2022 is concerned, the
    Report says the year was marked at both a regional and a global level by the
    war of aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The
    report also covers the outcomes of the NATO Summit in Madrid in June 2022, and Bucharest’s
    successful hosting of the meeting of NATO foreign ministers and of the Munich
    Leaders Meeting in November 2022.


    COVID The
    European Commission organises today a meeting of healthcare officials to
    discuss a coordinated EU approach of the surge in Covid cases in China, AFP
    reports. After China loosened its strict zero-tolerance rules earlier this
    month, which triggered an explosion of cases in the country, states around the
    world are worried that new variants of the virus would spread from there. Italy
    has already on Wednesday introduced compulsory testing for incoming travellers
    from China, a measure also adopted by other countries, including the US and Japan.


    UKRAINE Ukraine suffered
    ‘massive’ attacks involving over 120 Russian missiles on Thursday morning in
    several cities including the capital Kyiv, the Ukrainian Army and Presidency announced.
    Air raid alerts sounded across the country. According to Ukraine’s head of
    intelligence services, the war is currently at a deadlock, as neither Ukraine
    nor Russia are able to make significant progress. In an interview to the BBC, Kyrylo
    Budanov said Russia was at a dead end, suffering significant losses, but he
    admitted that Ukraine lacks the resources to move forward. He added that Kyiv
    was waiting for more advanced weapons. Ever since October, Russia has been regularly
    hitting Ukraine’s energy and other critical infrastructure. Kremlin warned that
    there will be no New Year ceasefire in Ukraine.


    SOLIDARITY
    In the Republic of Moldova, neighbouring both Romania and Ukraine, lights will
    be turned off in the government’s and other public buildings, in solidarity
    with the millions of people in Ukraine left without electricity, water supply and
    heating. Last week, the Rome Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House, the European
    Parliament and the Wembley went dark in solidarity with Ukraine. In Bucharest, the
    City Hall discontinued holiday lighting for one hour during the winter solstice
    night.


    HANDBALL Romania’s
    men’s handball team takes on Algeria today in the 3rd place playoff
    of the Carpaţi Trophy, a competition
    traditionally hosted by Romania and taking place this year in Oradea. On Wednesday, Romania lost to Slovakia, 31-30, and
    Algeria was defeated by Egypt 38-27. The trophy
    final pits Egypt against Slovakia. (AMP)

  • March 13, 2022

    March 13, 2022

    VISIT The Romanian foreign
    minister Bogdan Aurescu is having talks in Bucharest today with his Israeli counterpart
    Yair Lapid, focusing on the management of the effects of the Russian military
    aggression in Russia. According to a news release issued by the foreign
    ministry, Mr. Yair Lapid’s visit to Romania takes place at the invitation of
    the Romanian minister, prompted by the deepening crisis in Ukraine and in the
    context of the excellent cooperation with the Romanian authorities in the
    evacuation of Israeli citizens from Ukraine. Israel is one of Romania’s main
    partners in the Middle East, and strategic bilateral relations have developed
    steadily over the past few years. According to the foreign ministry, talks will
    also touch on the development of bilateral relations between the 2 countries,
    with a focus on the political, economic and security areas. The 2 officials
    will also assess preparations for the 3rd Romania-Israel joint government
    meeting (G2G) scheduled to take place this year. During his visit to Romania,
    the Israeli foreign minister will also have talks with PM Nicolae Ciucǎ.


    UKRAINE The Romanian transport ministry launched an app for the Ukrainian
    refugees. The app includes information in Ukrainian, English and Romanian on
    the green transport corridors in Romania, covering areas like the road, railway
    and air network, customs offices, train stations, petrol stations and airports. Ukrainian
    refugees may travel free of charge in Romania, based on a government resolution
    in this respect. Moreover, the emergency number 112 and the special children
    emergency number, 119, are available for calls in Ukrainian as well. Additional
    measures were taken in border checkpoints to prevent human trafficking. As of
    Friday, another online platform has also been available, centralising
    assistance offers for displaced Ukrainians. On Saturday, several cities in
    Romania saw various solidarity actions with Ukraine. In Bucharest, the National
    Arena hosted a charity concert for refugees, with over 35 Romanian and foreign
    artists taking part, which raised some EUR 800,000. Solidarity events were also
    organised in Constanţa, Iaşi, Cluj-Napoca, Piatra Neamţ and Roman. Around 400,000
    Ukrainian nationals have entered Romania since the start of the Russian
    invasion. Many of them have already left for western Europe.


    FOODSTUFF The agriculture minister Adrian Chesnoiu has a meeting today with
    representatives of retail chains and Romanian sunflower oil producers, to
    assess stocks and reserves. The meeting comes amid substantial amounts of
    sunflower oil were purchased in recent days for fear that shops would run out
    of this product. Speculations on the topic are fuelled by the fact that
    war-affected Ukraine is the world’s biggest sunflower seed exporter. Romanian
    authorities promised that Romania has sufficient foodstuff stocks, including
    sunflower oil. They also recommend that people refrain from buying more than
    they need, so that everybody may have access to basic food stuffs. Just days
    before, for fear of skyrocketing fuel prices, unprecedented queuing was
    reported in petrol stations. The previous weekend, foreign currency was heavily
    purchased in Romania, amid rumours that the national currency would plummet. Romanian
    authorities warned once again that such fake news is designed to create panic
    among people.


    CENSUS Beginning on March 14, for 4 months, data will be collected for a
    population and household census in Romania. The operation is conducted every 10
    years and is necessary for the production of official national and European
    statistics. The census was originally scheduled to take place last year, but
    was postponed over the COVID-19 pandemic. This year brings a novelty, in that
    self-census options are available. Self-census is done online, based on a
    simple procedure, according to the authorities. Citizens are to fill in an
    online pre-registration form at www.recensamantromania.ro, followed by the
    questionnaires for each member of the household. Those who do not want or
    cannot fill in those forms will be assisted by census operators in door-to-door
    visits. (A.M.P.)

  • Solidarity with the Ukrainian refugees

    Solidarity with the Ukrainian refugees

    Innocent victims of Russia’s war against Ukraine, many Ukrainians have chosen to flee their country. Most of them are women, children, elderly or people with disabilities. Men between 18 and 60 have remained at home to defend their country against the invasion ordered by the Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin. The images are heartbreaking. In the Ukrainian cities, train stations have become too small for those fleeing the Russian army’s offensive. But the simple fact of getting on a train to escape has proved to be a difficult mission. On the road, since Friday, immediately after the beginning of the invasion, terrible traffic jams have slowed the fleeing of civilians. The slow advance and also the lack of gasoline or diesel, that were rationalized, made many Ukrainians leave their cars near the borders and walk tens of kilometers to the customs offices to cross and take refuge in safer countries.



    Romania is the EU state with the longest border with Ukraine, its neighbor to the north and southeast. There are no less than 19 permanent border crossing points between the two countries, road, railway, pedestrian and river points. Since the end of last week, the points at Sighetul Marmatiei and Siret, in the north, and at Isaccea, in the southeast were literally stormed by Ukrainians. People come from all regions of Ukraine. Some go to relatives or acquaintances from Romania. It is well known that Ukraine has an important Romanian ethnic community.



    Other refugees seek asylum in Romania or are transiting to other European countries. The number of people fleeing the war has risen sharply since Sunday afternoon, after the customs procedures, which were initially cumbersome on the Ukrainian side, were simplified. On the Romanian side of the border temporary mobile camps were set up for the Ukrainian refugees, and in the specially arranged tents people can find food, clothing, personal hygiene products, and can benefit from primary or emergency medical care.



    Also the Romanian citizens have shown impressive solidarity with their neighbors. Volunteers from all over the country – ordinary people or businesspeople, companies, NGOs or religious communities – are giving whatever support they can, providing food and water, or free transportation and indefinite accommodation. The Romanian Red Cross donates food and medicines and helps the refugees to contact their relatives from Ukraine. To help the refugees, the IT specialists have built a computer platform dopomoha.ro (ʹhelpʹ in Ukrainian), available in Ukrainian, Romanian, English and Russian, which provides information on the procedure for entering Romania, on asylum procedures, rights and obligations of applicants, as well as the resources they can access.



    Although the concrete, material support of the Ukrainians is of paramount importance, Ukrainians also need moral support. In Bucharest, just as in many other cities around the world, Romanians showed solidarity with the Ukrainian people in front of the Ukrainian Embassy, and also protested in front of the Russian Embassy against the Russian aggression against a European state. (LS)

  • Talks on “solidarity tax”

    Talks on “solidarity tax”


    Romanias coalition government faces significant budgetary strain, after having committed to raise minimum wages, public pensions and child allowances as of January 1.



    These days the 2022 budget is being outlined, and a means to increase revenues would be to levy a solidarity tax on big companies. The idea came from the most junior member of the ruling coalition, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. Its president, deputy PM Kelemen Hunor, said the proposed 1% of turnover will go into investments in priority fields such as healthcare and education.



    “It is a short-term proposal, for one year, in order to increase revenues to the budget at a difficult time, when inflation and the rising energy prices force us to bring additional funding to the budget so as to help the people who need assistance,” Hunor explained. He added that in difficult periods, companies must show solidarity towards the people and the society from which they derive their profits.



    The Social Democrats back the idea, but the Liberals are reluctant. The targeted private or public companies are the ones with turnover above 100 million euros.



    The matter will be discussed with the business community, which has already responded with little pleasure to the rumours of overtaxing. The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania, representing over 470 American, Romanian and multinational companies, voiced concern with the governments plans to increase the tax burden on big companies in Romania, at a time when investments and businesses are already affected by multiple crises.



    After an extended political crisis during which companies confidence in the Romanian business environment plummeted, concurrently with the Covid crisis, the energy crunch and deepening tensions in the labour market, the news of new taxes can only increase the risk of companies turning somewhere else for their investments and expansion plans, AmCham warned.



    According to its officials, the lack of predictability and deepening instability entailed by rushed measures discourage investments and businesses plans for the Romanian market, and the medium and long-term negative impact will overshadow the short-term gains.



    According to economic media, over 300 Romanian and foreign companies operating in the country may be affected by the 1% “solidarity tax”, and figures indicate that this way the government may collect an additional 1 billion euros to the state budget.



    In turn, the Foreign Investors Council also wants the measure dropped, arguing that it punishes precisely those companies that comply with fiscal regulations and have managed to perform properly under restrictive Covid-related circumstances. (tr. A.M. Popescu)


  • European coordination against Covid-19

    European coordination against Covid-19

    Ever since this spring, EU member states, each struggling to handle its own coronavirus crisis at home, answered the Commissions call for solidarity. Consequently, protection equipment was donated, medical teams were sent to countries in need, patients were treated in neighbouring countries and European citizens blocked abroad were repatriated. As for Romania, it sent medical teams to Italy in early April, to support their colleagues overwhelmed by the big number of patients. At the same time, the EU set up rescEU, a joint European reserve of medical equipment for emergency situations, financed exclusively by the Commission, to help member countries deal with the pandemic. Germany and Romania were the first countries to host this reserve and purchase the necessary equipment. The EU also extended its support to include countries in the Eastern Partnership and critical regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. There have been constant meetings in Brussels and conference calls held by leaders of the EU countries.



    The most recent online meeting was held on Thursday evening, to decide the allocation of 220 million euros to finance the transfer of patients across borders within the bloc, to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed, as Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations spike. EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said that, in order to facilitate these transfers, member states must supply accurate, real time data. Moreover, she sent five key messages to the member states: exchange information, exchange expertise, increase testing capacity, tracing and follow-up, and also vaccination. The Commission is also intensifying its efforts to get potential vaccines against the novel coronavirus, which will be made available to all countries at the same time. There will be a fair distribution of vaccines once available. That would be done in proportion to population, the European official explained.



    President Klaus Iohannis asked, on behalf of Romania, for more money for the diversification of the sources of these vaccines: ”As regards the vaccine against Covid-19, once available, hopefully as soon as possible, it will be distributed to all member states. However, increasing the financing available under the emergency aid instrument is also needed, in order to have more vaccine supply sources.”



    Another message sent after Thursday’s conference call was that, while fighting the pandemic, economies must be kept functional, borders must be kept open and the single European market must be protected. (Translated by Elena Enache)


  • September 24, 2020 UPDATE

    September 24, 2020 UPDATE

    COVID-19 Following tests conducted at national level, 1,639 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported in Romania as against the previous reporting. 41 people died taking the death toll to 4,591. 506 persons infected with the new coronavirus are in ICUs. The health minister Nelu Tataru announced that 103 million face masks have been distributed across the country for the disadvantaged. He added that he did not expect a new state of emergency to be declared, which would force people to isolate themselves in their homes, and urged people to observe the rules for preventing the spread of the new coronavirus. Minister Tataru warned that if people failed to observe the rules the number of cases of infection would definitely grow.



    PANDEMIC There are more than 32 million cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection around the world, with 980,000 people having been killed by the virus, according to worldometers.info. In France, the daily rise in the number of infections has brought restrictions back. The health minister Olivier Véran says the situation has worsened in the past two weeks, the spread of the virus being more intense in big urban agglomerations. Marseille and its metropolitan area are currently on high alert and as of Monday firm restrictions have been implemented for at least 2 weeks: bars, restaurants and cafes as well as other public areas were closed, with several exceptions, and most people returned to working from home. In Spain, doctors are preparing for protests after asking the government for many months, to no avail, to adopt further measures and allot more resources to avoid the collapse of the public health system, under extreme pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Israel the coronavirus ministerial committee considers necessary a total lockdown starting on Friday, due to the big number of infections.



    CEI The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu Thursday attended an online meeting of the Central European Initiative, hosted by Montenegro, the acting president. Bogdan Aurescu pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic can only be overcome through international solidarity. According to a news release issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, Aurescu emphasised Romanias contribution to fighting the pandemic, including the measures benefitting the Republic of Moldova, including the allocation of funds, medical teams and medical equipment, or the hosting of the RescEU strategic medical equipment reserve benefiting countries in the Western Balkans, among others. The Central European Initiative is a political platform that helps connect EU neighbouring countries to the values and standards of the Union. Romania joined the CEI, which comprises 17 countries, of which 9 are EU members, on June 1, 1996.



    CORRUPTION Criminal prosecution was initiated on Thursday against the chief of the Romanian Gendarme Corps, Bogdan Enescu, charged with abuse of office. According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, this year Bogdan Enescu was paid around 7,500 euros for extra hours, in breach of relevant legislation. Bogdan Enescu has been the head of the Romanian Gendarme Corps since December 2019. Also on Thursday, Dan Hosu, former police and husband to the acting head of the Directorate Combating Organised Crime and Terrorism, Giorgiana Hosu, received a 3-year suspended sentence from the Bucharest Court, in a case in which he is accused of inciting illegal access to a computer system and inciting the use of information not intended for publication. The ruling is not final. One day before, president Klaus Iohannis said that if the DIICOT chiefs husband was sentenced, there would be consequences. Giorgiana Hosu was appointed to office this year by the president, in spite of a negative opinion on the matter by the Higher Council of Magistrates.



    TENNIS Three Romanian players, Monica Niculescu, Irina Bara and Elena Gabriela Ruse, managed on Thursday to get into the final round of qualifications for the main group of the Roland Garros singles tournament. Monica Niculescu defeated Elitsa Kostova 6-0, 6-7, 6-3, and is to play next against the Russian Vera Zvonareva. Irina Bara beat Britains Harriet Dart 7-5, 6-2. In the last round she will take on the Dutch Richel Hogenkamp. In turn, Elena Gabriela Ruse beat American Francesca Di Lorenzo 6-2, 7-5, and will play against Barbara Haas of Austria. Five other Romanians are playing in the Roland Garros tournament – Simona Halep (seeded 1), Patricia Ţig, Irina Begu, Sorana Cîrstea and Ana Bogdan. (translated by A.M. Popescu, L. Simion)

  • March 30, 2018 UPDATE

    March 30, 2018 UPDATE

    DIPLOMACY – The Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dăncilă Friday took part in a meeting of the heads of EU diplomatic missions in Bucharest. The Prime Minister presented the priorities of her Cabinet in 2018, including the modernisation of the national economy, the introduction of measures to prepare the Eurozone accession and the preparations for the presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019. Of the topics currently on the EU agenda, the participants discussed the future of the Union, the security of the bloc and the EU multi-annual budget. The meeting was organised by the Embassy of Bulgaria, the country that is holding the EU presidency at the moment.




    TENSIONS – The Romanian Foreign Ministry Friday confirmed that a Romanian diplomat accredited in Russia was declared a persona non grata, after Romania adopted a similar measure in solidarity with the UK. Previously, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu had said the decision was a means for Romania to express its solidarity in the wake of the grave incidents in Britain. Meanwhile, the expulsion of 60 US diplomats and the closing down of a consulate in Russia marks a further deterioration of the US-Russia relations, the White House said after Russias move on Thursday. The Kremlins decision was a tit-for-tat response to Washingtons measures against Russia, in a show of solidarity with Britain after a former Russian double agent and his daughter had been poisoned. The US expelled 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closing of Russias consulate in Seattle. The spokesperson for the US State Department Heather Nauert said Washington is now reviewing all its options.




    CONDOLENCES – Russias Embassy in Bucharest has thanked all the Romanian citizens who expressed their condolences and sympathy for the families of the victims of the tragic incident in Kemerovo. On Thursday and Friday a condolences book was opened at Russias diplomatic office, to honour the 64 victims, including 41 children. On Wednesday, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, sent a message of condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Solidarity in Response to Terrorism

    Solidarity in Response to Terrorism

    Shortly after the Russian Ambassador to Ankara, Andrei Karlov, was murdered while giving a speech at an exhibition opening, Russias President Vladimir Putin defined the act as “a provocation designed to sabotage the rapprochement between Russia and Turkey and the peace process in Syria, which is actively promoted by Russia, Turkey, Iran and other countries interested in resolving the inter-Syrian conflict. There can be only one answer: stepping up the fight against terrorism, Putin went on to say. The attacker was an off-duty Turkish police officer who had carefully plotted the act.



    In Bucharest, the geopolitical strategy expert Alexandru Grumaz reached a first conclusion: Turkey seems unable to ensure the protection of the diplomatic corps in the current hostile security environment:



    Alexandru Grumaz: “The death of the Russian Ambassador is not only the death of an official who was supposed to be protected by Turkeys security forces, but it is also a problem for Ankara. Turkey already has a number of problems, both with the USA as regards the US allies fighting against the Bashar al-Assad regime, and with Russia. And I would like to remind you of the incident a year ago, when Turkey shot down a Russian aircraft in Syria. Turkey currently wages three wars in Syria, which makes it almost impossible for it to secure its own interests in that region.



    Unlike a year ago, when the incident mentioned by Alexandru Grumaz took place, the assassination of Karlov encouraged the dialogue between Ankara and Moscow, and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia appreciated the prompt response of the Turkish authorities. “Our relationship with Russia is very important for us and crucial for this region. So I tell all those who plan to weaken this relationship: your expectations will not come true. We have proven that we respect our commitment and will continue to do so with the same determination, the President of Turkey, Recep Erdogan said in his turn.



    Turkey has been targeted by several terror attacks in recent months. The one in Ankara, however, is the first one against a foreign diplomat. This dramatic incident once again highlighted the need to find a solution to the situation in Syria. Shortly after the incident, Russia, Turkey and Iran, all of which support parties in the Syrian conflict, voiced their willingness to broker an agreement between Damascus and the opposition. Here is the Radio Romania correspondent in Russia, Alexandr Beleavschi:



    Alexandr Beleavschi: “For the first time, the foreign ministers signed a joint declaration, indicating the intention of the three countries to take the political initiative in settling the Syrian crisis, which, as the declaration emphasizes, cannot have a military solution. It is also for the first time that Russia, Turkey and Iran voiced their willingness to broker and guarantee a deal between Damascus and the opposition, an intention which is mentioned in the joint declaration, which stipulates that this agreement may become the basis for a political process to settle the Syrian crisis. The declaration supports the decisions of the UN Security Council concerning Syria, and another first is that it only takes note of the decisions of the international Syria support group, which was unable to implement its decisions, as Sergey Lavrov said.



    On the same day that the Russian Ambassador was shot, another attack killed and wounded people, this time around in Berlin, where a truck rammed into the crowd taking part in a Christmas street fair. The attack came as a shock in a city with a longstanding Muslim community and not hit by the terrorist threat until then, the Romanian ambassador to Berlin, Emil Hurezeanu told Radio Romania:



    Emil Hurezeanu: “Germany does not have a high-level terrorist alert. Although several sporadic, isolated attacks took place in the south of Germany last summer, the atmosphere in Berlin in this respect is completely different from what happens in Paris or Brussels, as regards terror attacks. Berlin is not a city hit by terrorism, filled with police forces and so on. It is a city that has resolved its multicultural problems, to be euphemistic. There is an established Islamic community here, there are large Turkish neighbourhoods, with people who have been living here for decades. Over the past year and a half a lot of refugees from the Middle East have been sent here as well, but this attack has come as a huge surprise, as a shock.



    Speaking after the attack that left Germany in mourning, Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose open policy on migration is blamed for the death of innocent citizens, admitted that the attack had deeply affected her. Even her allies and supporters now call for a change in Germanys security and immigration policy. The Christian Social Union in Bavaria, an ally of the Christian Democratic Union headed by Angela Merkel, said the country owed it to the victims, to their families and to all its citizens to rethink and change the immigration and security policy.

  • Unanimous condemnation of the Brussels attacks

    Unanimous condemnation of the Brussels attacks

    In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, we felt the Romanians by our side, the Belgian ambassador to Bucharest, Thomas Baekelandt has said. And it was not only the Romanian officials who expressed their compassion and support, but the Romanians in general! Thursday was a day of national mourning in Romania, in token of solidarity with all those who lost their relatives or friends. Just like in many other cities, the Romanian Government’s headquarters was lit up with the Belgian flag colours, black, yellow and red, in solidarity with Brussels.



    Politicians and prominent figures of the Romanian society, foreign ambassadors accredited to Bucharest, as well as ordinary citizens, came to Belgium’s Embassy in Romania’s capital city to write a message in the book of condolences, pay floral tributes or light candles, in solidarity with the Belgian people, severely hit by Tuesday’s attacks. The first to sign the book of condolences was the French ambassador to Bucharest, François Saint-Paul, whose country was severely hit two times last year: in January, the terror attacks at Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris and in November, when a string of Jihadist attacks took 130 lives.



    Other heads of diplomatic missions who signed the book of condolences opened at the Belgian Embassy in Bucharest included the ambassadors of Germany, Spain, Japan, Greece, Bosnia, Serbia, Cyprus, Poland, Turkey and Cuba. Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, upon returning from a state visit to Turkey, urged people to show solidarity and courage:



    Klaus Iohannis: “I am confident that we can combat this scourge of attacks, only if all countries work closely together. The words which come to my mind when I’m thinking about what should be done are solidarity, calm, unity.”



    In his turn, the Prime Minister, Dacian Ciolos, has launched an appeal for solidarity in the fight against terrorism:


    Dacian Ciolos: “I firmly believe that only by boosting cooperation among us, the EU member states, we can we further preserve the freedom area we have within the Union, and which is worst tried. At present, each member state has the tendency to be in retreat, with the aim of protecting itself.”



    The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Valeriu Zgonea, stood for tightening security:


    “Freedoms are extremely important. But in order to have liberties, you should first ensure people’s welfare, well-being and security. Security is extremely important to us, at home and in the street.”



    Religions, dialogue and peace, are the terms of a theoretical equation, which however turns out to be far from reality, because bombs are detonated in the name of religion and the situation degenerates into major conflicts. Muslim and Christian religious leaders on Thursday attended a forum organised by the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, reiterating that extremism and fanaticism emerge out of a lack of education and as a result of manipulation. And, they agreed that dialogue should be the religious authorities’ response to Islamic radicalism, as dialogue can promote and herald a culture of peace and tolerance.


    (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • Compassion and Mobilisation after Paris Attacks

    Compassion and Mobilisation after Paris Attacks

    Friday night’s attacks in Paris, which left over 130 people dead and more than 300 wounded, including Romanians, sent shockwaves across the world. The international community condemned the attacks, claimed by the jihadist Islamic State group, as cowardly and barbaric. World leaders have expressed solidarity with France at this difficult time, as well as support for the war against terrorism. In a letter to his French counterpart Francois Hollande, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that these attacks must be a wake-up call for the entire community to show more determination in fighting terrorism and defending the values of humanity.



    Romanians expressed their solidarity with the mourning families and showed up at the Embassy of France in Bucharest carrying flowers and candles. The participants sang the French national anthem and observed a moment of silence. A condolences book was opened, already signed by Romanian political and cultural personalities. One of them was the PM designate of Romania, Dacian Ciolos, who said France needed support and would find it in the EU.



    Dacian Ciolos: “I believe Europe has proved that terror and hatred can never build anything. And this is precisely why they cannot last. These are hard times for the French people, and I believe we in Romania can very well understand this, given that just days ago we went through a tragedy ourselves. Of course, the two situations are different in nature, but it is hard to lose such large numbers of people that we love, of innocent people. But whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”



    In Paris, in solidarity with the French people, the Romanian flag is flown half-mast at the Embassy of Romania. After the terrorist attacks in Paris, many European countries announced they would tighten border security. In all European countries, Romania included, security measures around French institutions have also been strengthened. Several countries have advised their citizens either to avoid traveling to France, or to be very careful when in public places.



    The Romanian Foreign Ministry activated a task force, and the Romanian Intelligence Service announced that Romania’s terror alert level remained unchanged. At the request of France, the Luxembourg presidency of the EU called for an emergency meeting of the justice and home affairs ministers, to be held on November 20 in Brussels. The meeting is intended to strengthen the EU counter-terrorism measures.



    (Translated by: A. Popescu / Edited by: E. Enache)

  • Solidarity with the Colectiv victims

    Solidarity with the Colectiv victims

    The death toll following the horrific fire at the
    Colectiv club in Bucharest on October 30 is rising by the day. On Wednesday,
    the number of dead exceeded 50. Artists, journalists and foreign students are
    among them. Over 70 people are still in hospital in the capital city Bucharest,
    20 of whom in critical and serious condition. Over 30 people from the around
    150 who were taken to hospital on the night of the fire have been transferred
    to hospitals abroad. Doctors have warned that patients treated in the intensive
    care units and who have suffered severe burns are still at a high risk of
    infection as long as they have open wounds. Nevertheless, positive thinking is
    crucial for their condition to improve. Dr. Andrei Carandino, the chief of the
    plastic surgery unit at the Bagdasar-Arseni Hospital in Bucharest, tells us
    about the situation of the injured in his hospital:




    They were all in critical condition when they were
    first brought in. They have all undergone surgery and some of them will be
    operated on again, but their physical and mental condition is very good at
    present. Positive thinking is known to encourage healing irrespective of the
    nature of the injury, particularly in a situation like this. The fact that they
    see they are well taken care of, that their condition has improved, the support
    of their families and of the medical staff contributes to their recovery. If
    things go well, they can get well within the next two or three weeks, but
    functional recovery may take months.




    All this time, gestures of solidarity with the
    victims have been coming in from both Romania and abroad. The European
    Parliament opened its Wednesday’s plenary sitting by paying homage to the
    victims of the deadly fire in Bucharest. On this occasion European MP Victor
    Negrescu told his colleagues:




    Tens of people, most of them young, continue to
    fight for their lives in hospitals and a message from you is a gesture of
    solidarity with the Romanian society in this tragic moment. I would like to
    thank all member states that have offered us their assistance in these
    difficult times.




    Also on Wednesday, the Romanian national football
    squad and their coach Anghel Iordanescu, as well as the head of the Romanian
    Football Federation, Razvan Burleanu, lit candles outside the nightclub, in
    memory of the victims. The thoughts of the national team, the technical staff
    and the Football Federation are with the families of those who died, coach
    Anghel Iordanescu said.





    (Translated by: E. Enache; edited by: C. Mateescu)

  • Solidarity with Tragedy Victims

    Solidarity with Tragedy Victims

    Friday nights fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, which killed more than 30 people, has deeply impressed the Romanian society, which has mobilized in an unprecedented humanitarian effort. Sympathy messages are pouring in from abroad as well.



    President Klaus Iohannis Monday said he was impressed with the messages received from foreign heads of state and government, ambassadors and other officials, and thanked all of them. “There are warm words of support and encouragement sent to all Romanians, and I am reading them with a lot of emotion, Iohannis said. The President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, was among the first to send his condolences to the victims families.



    In turn, the European Commissioner for Regional Policies Corina Cretu voiced her grief and shock upon hearing about the tragedy in Bucharest. She called on fellow Romanians to remain united through this difficult moment. The embassies of the USA and the Russian Federation flew their flags at half-mast, while the ambassadors of the USA, Great Britain and France came to the Colectiv club to light candles and bring flowers in memory of the victims. We should note that several foreign citizens were among the victims of the fire.



    While on a visit to Romania, the President of Poland Andrzej Duda laid flowers and lit a candle at Colectiv. The Presidents of Armenia, Estonia and Turkey have also sent messages of condolences to their Romanian counterpart. The authorities of the neighbouring Republic of Moldova have donated nearly 700 litres of blood to help the injured, while in Chisinau thousands of people have lit candles and kept a moment of silence in front of the Romanian Embassy building.



    President Nicolae Timofti said it was time for the Republic of Moldova to prove it stood by its Romanian brothers, given that Romania has always shown its solidarity with the citizens of Moldova.



    Prince Charles, known as a friend of Romanians, wrote, “I was utterly appalled to hear of the dreadful tragedy in the Bucharest nightclub on Friday and wanted you to know how deeply I feel for all those Romanians who lost their loved ones in this terrible fire. My heart also goes out to the poor victims who are in hospital and to their families who wait anxiously by their bedsides. My thoughts and special prayers are with you and the Romanian people, Prince Charles said in a message to President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Victor Ponta.