Radio România Internațional

Tag: strategic

  • August 19, 2024

    August 19, 2024

    HEAT WAVE A persistent heat wave is reported in Romania, with code red, orange and yellow alerts issued in most regions of the country. The temperature-humidity index is above 80%, while highs range between 29 and 39 degrees Celsius. In Bucharest, the temperature is expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius, after 31 degrees Celsius reported at noon.

     

    EU PM Marcel Ciolacu makes a visit to Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, to talk with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, about the seats Romania will hold in the future Commission. According to governmental sources, Bucharest may appoint the new commissioner for enlargement, who will be nominated from among the Social Democratic MEPs. Meanwhile, also this week, the government is scheduled to discuss the national strategy for the defence industry. Its goals are to ensure the development, revamping and upgrading of defence facilities, and to promote research, development and innovation by opening excellence centres and by attracting foreign and Romanian investors.

     

    CAR SCRAPPING A new session of the “Rabla Plus” national car scrapping programme, aimed at facilitating the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles by individuals, public institutions and local administration units, has been launched today. According to the Environment Fund Authority, applicants receive a voucher for the purchase of a new vehicle, in return for scrapping 1 or 2 vehicles older than 6 years. The voucher for the purchase of an EV is worth approx. EUR 5,000, and the one for a hybrid car or electric motorcycle is around EUR 2,600, irrespective of the number of cars scrapped. For public institutions, the voucher amounts to EUR 24,000.

     

    PENSIONS Millions of Romanian pensioners will receive pension benefits based on a new calculation formula as of September 1. The authorities promise this new system would remove all inequities in the pension system. According to official data, after recalculation the average public pension benefits will increase from around EUR 460 to around EUR 540. The finance minister, Marcel Boloș, says that in the forthcoming period the pressure on the public deficit will increase. Under the new regulations, in order to receive public pension benefits in Romania the minimum payment contribution period will be 15 years, with the retirement age planned to reach 65 for both men and women in 2035.

     

    BACCALAUREATE The autumn session of the baccalaureate exam is under way in Romania. After the Romanian language and literature test on Monday, written tests will be held in mathematics and history in the next few days, followed by tests in the subjects chosen by the applicants. The final results will be announced on August 30. Over 33,000 applicants have enrolled for the exam this autumn, following an over 78% pass rate at the June session.

     

    UKRAINE Ukraine continues its attacks in Russia’s Kursk region, where it destroyed a second strategic bridge on Sunday. Military analysts quoted by Reuters say there are 3 strategic bridges facilitating military supply for the Russian forces in Kursk. Kyiv claims to have seized some 1,150 square km and over 80 settlements so far. This is the 14th day of the Ukrainian strike, the first by a foreign army in Russia since WWII, with Moscow seemingly unable to initiate large-scale defence operations. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reiterated that Kyiv’s goal is to create a buffer zone to protect Ukraine’s border regions from Russian bombings. Meanwhile, Belarus announced the mobilisation of one-third of its army at the border, in response to the Ukrainian operations. At the start of the offensive in Kursk, Belarus, Russia’s closest ally and the country that allowed Russia to use its territory to attack Ukraine, claimed that Ukrainian military drones had violated its air space. (AMP)

  • Russia has got the opposite effect

    Russia has got the opposite effect

    Romania is the EU and NATO member with the
    longest border with Ukraine and also a Black Sea riparian country, a region
    affected by the present war, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis told the
    students of the prestigious Columbia University where he was attending the
    World Leaders Forum.


    For this reason, Iohannis went on to say,
    Romania’s prospect over the impact of the war in its strategic vicinity and at
    global level is relevant. According to Iohannis, Russia expected a weak international
    community and a Ukraine, which was supposed to comply with Kremlin’s demands. However,
    through their threats and the subsequent use of force, the Russians have got
    the opposite effect. According to Radio Romania special correspondent, president
    Iohannis says that by invading Ukraine, Russia tries to bring back revisionism to
    international relations as well as the spheres of influence in the global and
    regional politics.


    Moscow, he says, is using outdated concepts
    such as the so-called right of the great powers in order to impose the foreign
    policy directives on smaller states and is at the same time attacking
    democratic values and the rule-based world order.


    The Romanian president has also told the
    students that Romania, as a strategic partner of the US and a NATO ally is now
    at the highest security level in its recent history. We are now having a more
    coherent approach focused on several domains concerning defence in the Eastern
    Flank. We have resorted to concrete measures to step up cooperation with other
    Black Sea allies, mainly with the United States of America – Iohannis went on to say.


    However, Ukraine must win the war commenced
    by Russian Federation and no peace can exist without the restoration of the
    independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of this country. All those
    who committed atrocious crimes in Ukraine and against Ukraine must be brought before
    court. And all the countries with the same outlook have agreed that we must carry
    on our support for Ukraine – the Romanian president pointed out. Both Ukraine,
    and the neighboring Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet Romanian speaking
    country, must receive complete support for their integration into the European
    Union, Iohannis added. Earlier during the General Assembly of the UN the head
    of the Romanian state said this war proved that the Black Sea needs more
    attention at the global level, being of strategic importance for the
    Transatlantic security. He pledged that Romania would continue to ease the shipments
    of the Ukrainian grain to the world’s markets as they are essential for the
    world food security.


    (bill)

  • November 29, 2022

    November 29, 2022

    NATO The foreign ministers of NATO member countries, partner countries
    and of the 2 candidate countries are in Bucharest for a 2-day meeting. It is
    the first meeting of this kind hosted by Romania since it joined the Alliance and the
    first event held in a NATO eastern flank country since the start of the war in
    Ukraine, Romania’s foreign ministry highlighted. The meeting comprises 3
    working sessions, 2 of which will be attended by the Allies together with
    Sweden and Finland. Taking part in the third session will also be the foreign
    ministers of Bosnia – Herzegovina, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. The
    first day of the meeting will conclude with a working dinner attended by the
    foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and the EU foreign policy chief,
    Josep Borrell. The agenda of the meeting in Bucharest includes the
    implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO summit in Madrid. The war in
    Ukraine and the provision of long-term political and practical support from the
    Allies will be the main topic of discussion. Other topics include energy security,
    China, the strategic importance of the Black Sea region. NATO’s secretary
    general Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Bucharest on Monday, and had meetings with
    president Klaus Iohannis, PM Nicolae Ciucă and the foreign minister Bogdan
    Aurescu.


    MEETING Bucharest is the capital of European and Euro-Atlantic diplomacy
    and even beyond these regions, the Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu
    said. Apart from the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Romania is hosting
    these days, for the first time ever, a Munich Leaders Meeting. 75 top-level
    governmental officials and foreign policy and security experts are discussing
    the consequences of the war in Ukraine as well as other security issues in the
    region. The 11th Aspen Forum also begins in Bucharest today, with
    participants including the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. The 2022 edition
    of the Forum takes place in the context of the war in Ukraine, which has
    affected the entire world both in economic and security terms, and which is not
    expected to come to an end soon, therefore it will only deepen multiple crisis,
    the Aspen Institute says in a news release posted ahead of the meeting. Also in
    Bucharest, a new energy coordination task force is scheduled to convene. The
    group comprises officials of G7 and other Allied countries, and is working to
    mobilise or plan the supply of equipment to Ukraine as soon as possible.


    PARTNERSHIP Ahead of the US secretary of state Antony Blinken’s visit to
    Bucharest to take part in the NATO Council, the US Department of State hailed
    the celebration of 25 years since the Strategic Partnership with Romania was
    signed. A US Department of State news release mentions Bucharest’s contribution
    to NATO and multinational operations, the fact that the country hosts several
    NATO and American military structures, including the missile defence system in Deveselu.
    I am very happy and proud to say that our strategic partnership has reached the
    highest level in its quarter-century history, the Romanian PM Nicolae Ciucă
    said in his turn, after the meeting with the US official in Bucharest. Twenty-five
    years is a very important benchmark, which makes us aware that in 1997 a
    generation was born which grew up and reached maturity concurrently with the
    strategic partnership. I am confident that this generation will do everything
    in their power to safeguard the freedom and rights we have secured and
    democratic values, Mr. Ciuca also said. We have an unshakeable alliance, built
    on shared values, and strong relations in the economic sector, including the
    energy sector, Antony Blinken said, and also mentioned the academic and
    cultural exchanges between the 2 countries.


    NATIONAL DAY The Romanian Cultural Institute organises 50 events until December
    10, to celebrate the National Day of Romania in 31 cities abroad. According to
    the president of the Institute, Liviu Jicman, the events held in emblematic
    locations in the respective countries place the works of Romanian artists among
    the most important cultural landmarks of today and contribute to raising
    awareness among foreign cultural and arts communities and the general public
    with respect to the Romanian culture. On December 1, the National Day of Romania, a parade will be
    organised in Bucharest and another one in Alba Iulia. On Monday the Parliament
    celebrated 104 years since the Great Union in a special meeting. (AMP)

  • Romania and R. Moldova strengthen cooperation

    Romania and R. Moldova strengthen cooperation

    Romania and the neighbouring Republic of Moldova intend
    to step up their common efforts to mitigate the negative effects of the current
    context created by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, disruptions in
    international trade circuits and the steep global inflation. This is the
    announcement made by PM Nicolae Ciucă, after taking part in a forum focused on
    cooperation in the capital market, held in Bucharest and also attended by Moldova’s
    PM Natalia Gavriliţa.


    On this occasion, the two officials analysed the
    progress in implementing projects intended to support Moldova in areas like the
    energy and gas sector, ensuring funding under the EUR 100 mln assistance
    package provided by Romania and the EUR 10 mln direct budget assistance. According
    to Nicolae Ciucă, developing trade and supporting investments are critical to
    both the consolidation of the bilateral strategic partnership, and Moldova’s EU
    accession.


    Nicolae Ciucă: In the first 5 months of this year, bilateral
    trade already went over EUR 1.2 bln, thus confirming the accelerated increase
    in trade between our countries. This is good, but it’s not enough. We must make
    joint efforts and send messages to the business communities in both Romania and
    Moldova, so as to best put to use the potential of the 2 economies.


    In turn, Natalia Gavriliţa emphasised that Moldova needs
    a more active capital market and international investments. The Moldovan PM
    said professionals are needed in Chișinău, such as insurance and pension fund
    managers. Moreover, Natalia Gavriliţa explained that an investment in the R. of
    Moldova should be seen as an opportunity to also access the Romanian market. As she put it, We know that for some
    companies, the Moldovan market may seem too small to justify an investment. However,
    given the linguistic and cultural proximity, many Moldovan companies tread the
    Romanian market as an extension of the domestic one. This is why Romania is by
    far the largest export market for our businesses, so when you assess Moldova, you
    shouldn’t see it just as a small market of less than 3 million people, but rather
    as an access point to a combined market of over 20 million potential consumers.


    The 2 prime ministers also discussed the support
    Bucharest is able to provide in the preparations for the start of Moldova’s EU accession
    negotiations, and looked at the current progress made by Chişinău in this
    respect, particularly in the field of the judiciary. (AMP)

  • Prospects of the US-Romania strategic partnership

    Prospects of the US-Romania strategic partnership

    Romania has no better friend than the USA, US Secretary of State
    Antony Blinken has said 25 years on from the time when Bucharest and Washington
    concluded their Strategic Partnership. Twenty-five years ago, the United
    States and Romania launched our Strategic Partnership. Since then, we have strengthened
    ties on defense, energy, and economic cooperation. Romania has no better friend
    and we share a commitment to pushing back Russia’s aggression in the region Blinken
    said in a twitter message.




    In a common letter on this occasion, eight former US ambassadors
    to Romania said the Strategic Partnership between the two countries has proven to
    be one of the best US investments in Europe. According to the diplomats, the partnership
    helped the building of a stronger and prosperous Romania, which today is one of
    the closest and most capable US allies in Central and Eastern Europe. In their
    opinion, including Romania in the Visa Waiver programme ‘would stimulate trade,
    tourism, educational exchanges, as well as human relations, which are the
    foundation of Romanian-American friendship’.




    According to the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis the Strategic
    Partnership with the USA played an essential role in the democratic
    transformation of the country and led to the expansion of bilateral cooperation
    and also at international level it led to the strengthening of Transatlantic
    relation tightening the connections between the two peoples. A quarter of a century on from its launch,
    Romania and the USA are committed to extending and deepening all the dimensions
    of the Strategic Partnership, from the excellent bilateral cooperation in terms
    of security and defence to the fields of economy, energy security, education
    and human relations, a communiqué by the Presidential Administration says.




    According to the same sources, the solidity of the Strategic
    Partnership with the USA has been recently proved by the latest announcement of
    President Biden on beefing up the US military presence in Romania. The war
    Russia is presently waging on Ukraine and its severe consequences at
    international level and in key sectors has made us to take action together,
    more united than ever, in order to find solutions at the bilateral or the Euro-Atlantic
    level in order to consolidate and protect the values, security and the
    resilience of our societies, the head of the Romanian state has also said.




    Developing the Strategic Partnership with the USA in all its cooperation
    domains has become a priority of Romania’s, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has
    said. The tight and significant cooperation in the field of security and
    defence has been permanently consolidated being a vital component of the
    Strategic Partnership between the USA and Romania and its relevance has been
    highlighted more significantly against the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified
    Russian invasion in Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest said in a
    message.


    (bill)

  • July 12, 2022

    July 12, 2022

    FISCAL CODE Consultations continue in Bucharest between the authorities,
    trade unions and employers’ associations, after representatives of the business
    community, trade unions and local authorities voiced discontent with the
    changes the government intends to operate on the Fiscal Code. During the talks held on Monday with PM Nicolae Ciucă and the finance
    minister Adrian Câciu, they requested, among other things, a postponement to
    next year of the measures that the government plans to introduce as of August 1.
    These include the increase in alcohol excise duties, the lower ceiling for tax
    facilities in the constructions sector and the idea that part-time employees
    should pay social contributions corresponding to the national minimum wage.


    INFLATION The year-on-year inflation rate reached 15.1% in June, as
    against 14.5% in May, the National Statistics Institute announced today. According
    to the institution, non-foodstuff prices went up nearly 18%, food prices rose
    by roughly 15% and the price of services also increased by some 8%. The
    National Bank of Romania adjusted its inflation forecast to 12.5% for the end
    of this year and to 6.7% for the end of 2023.


    COVID Starting today, COVID-19 updates will be released on a daily basis
    in Romania rather than weekly, after a steep rise in the number of cases,
    accounting for a doubling of new infection numbers every 7 days. On Tuesday the
    authorities announced over 4,000 people tested positive in 24 hours, out of
    over 21,000 tests conducted. Nine COVID-related deaths were also reported, all
    of them in patients suffering from prior conditions. The number of hospitalised
    COVID patients is 1,361, with 90 patients in intensive care. According to
    experts, the new Omicron sub-variant that causes the current infection wave
    around the world, and which has also been identified in Romania, affects the
    protection provided both by the vaccine and by natural immunisation, but it
    generally seems to cause milder forms of the disease. The health minister
    Alexandru Rafila announced that prevention measures remain in place, especially
    face covering and physical distancing. COVID-19 vaccines are still recommended
    by the authorities, particularly to vulnerable categories.


    PARTNERSHIP Romaniahas no better friend than the US, the US secretary of state
    Antony Blinken said on the celebration of 25 years since the launch of the
    Strategic Partnership between Washington and Bucharest. In turn, former US
    ambassadors to Bucharest state in a letter that the strategic partnership with
    Romania has proved to be one of the best investments in Europe for the US. They
    also say that Romania plays a decisive part in the defence and strengthening of
    NATO’s eastern flank and in consolidating stability and security at the Black
    Sea.


    REFUGEES Over the past 24 hours around 226,800 people have crossed the
    border in and out of Romania, the Romanian Border Police Inspectorate announced.
    Of these, over 22,000 are Ukrainian nationals who came into Romania via various
    checkpoints. Since the start of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, more than 1.5
    million Ukrainian citizens have crossed the border into Romania.


    VISIT The head of the European Public
    Prosecutor’s Office, Laura Codruţa Kovesi,
    is on an official visit to the R. of Moldova until 14 July. The European
    official will have meetings with Moldovan authorities. Moldova’s president Maia
    Sandu, who had a meeting with Laura Codruţa Kovesi in January 2021 in Brussels,
    expressed at that time her willingness to work together with the European
    institution to encourage the country’s reforms in the judiciary. Experts in
    Chişinău note that Codruţa Kovesi’s visit takes place after Moldova was recently
    granted the EU candidate status, and that Brussels would like to make sure that
    Moldova stays on a predictable path. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office
    became operational on 1 June 2021, and is in charge with investigating and
    prosecuting offences against the EU budget. (AMP)

  • Romania – US Strategic Partnership

    Romania – US Strategic Partnership


    Twenty-five years ago, more specifically on 11th July 1997, during a brief official visit to Bucharest by then US president Bill Clinton, the foundation was laid for a new Romanian-American cooperation. The partnership focused on strengthening bilateral relations, on supporting Romanias reform and Euro-Atlantic integration efforts, on promoting its role as a stability and security pillar in south-eastern Europe.



    The Romanian foreign ministry emphasises that at the time of its signing, the Strategic Partnership was a key element in the relations between the two countries and at the same time an efficient tool to support Romanias political, economic, military and administrative reform efforts.



    Fourteen years later, on 13th September, the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century Between the United States of America and Romania was adopted in Washington. An important document for the bilateral relations, it confirmed the good cooperation within the Partnership and defined the key elements of these relations: political dialogue, security, economy, grassroots contacts, science and technology, research, education and culture.



    To mark the 25 years of Partnership, Romanias ambassador to Washington, Andrei Muraru, was received by US president Joe Biden, who thanked Romania for the support provided to Ukraine since the start of Russias invasion. Andrei Muraru conveyed a message from president Klaus Iohannis, along with the desire to further strengthen this partnership.



    In a Facebook post that includes two photos with the White House leader, Andrei Muraru says that Romania is the strongest ally of the US in the region, but that the Black Sea region is, at present, the most vulnerable area in NATO.



    “If Russia is the main imminent and direct threat to us and our neighbours, the response can only be an even more robust US military presence in the region, particularly in Romania,ˮ Andrei Muraru says in his post.



    On the other hand, in the economic sector, president Klaus Iohannis Sunday welcomed his US counterpart Joe Bidens announcement regarding the USD 14-million funding provided by Washington for a new stage of the small modular reactor programme in Romania.



    “Ensuring energy security is a shared goal in the Romania-US strategic partnership,” Klaus Iohannis pointed out. In turn, PM Nicolae Ciucă said the decision of the US to finance the engineering and design study for the development of SMRs in Romania is a core element for the development of the national civilian nuclear programme. (AMP)


  • Romanian-American consultations in Washington

    Romanian-American consultations in Washington

    Romania and the US reconfirmed on Monday in Washington
    their commitment to consolidating the Strategic Partnership, covering areas
    from military and security cooperation to political cooperation, economy,
    energy and grassroots relations.


    The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised,
    during the meeting with the Romanian diplomacy chief Bogdan Aurescu, that Romania
    is a stalwart
    NATO Ally and the 2 countries work
    closely together on many topics. We stand united in the face of the challenges
    posed by Russia in various places, by China. We stand united as regards Europe’s
    security and stability, the US Secretary of State also pointed out. According to
    a press release by the US State Department, the 2 officials agreed
    to collaborate on Black Sea security issues, among others.


    In turn, Bogdan Aurescu told Radio Romania that all
    the dimensions of the Strategic Partnership were discussed during the bilateral
    talks:


    Bogdan Aurescu: We discussed first of all our
    cooperation within NATO, the need to consolidate defence and deterrence on the
    Eastern Flank, especially at the Black Sea, in the context of the latest
    security developments in the region, and we also discussed the importance of an
    enhanced military presence of the US in the region and obviously in Romania.


    The Romanian foreign minister also pointed out the
    importance of developing some major strategic interconnection projects,
    Rail2Sea and Via Carpathia. These projects will have a direct positive impact both
    on the region’s economic development, and on military mobility. As regards
    bilateral economic cooperation, Bogdan Aurescu stressed the need for increasing
    American investments in the region.


    He also reiterated Romania’s interest in concrete
    progress with respect to Romania’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver programme, so
    as to scrap visa requirements for the Romanians traveling to the US. He called
    for the involvement of the American side in meeting this goal, among others by
    supporting an adequate communication campaign to help lower the visa refusal
    rate, which is the last criterion yet to be met by Romania.


    Bogdan Aurescu: Obviously, at present we are dealing
    with a refusal rate standing at 10.14%, as against the 3% ceiling stipulated by
    the American legislation. This is why we need common goals, so as to find out
    precisely the reasons that lead to this visa refusal rate and to be able to
    calibrate a public information campaign.


    The Romanian foreign minister’s visit to Washington
    marks, among other things, the official opening of the 7th Strategic
    Dialogue exchange. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • November 1, 2020

    November 1, 2020

    ELECTION Presidential elections are underway in the neighboring Republic
    of Moldova, an ex-soviet Romanian-speaking country. According to Radio
    Chisinau, the president will be decided in the second round between the two
    candidates, the incumbent pro-Russia president Igor Dodon and the former
    pro-Europe Prime Minister Maia Sandu. 13 polling stations have been made
    available in Romania for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to cast their
    ballot. Dodon came to power in 2016 amid a scandal involving the pro-Western
    political groups being ahead of all the other 7 candidates. Maia Sandu, a former
    economist with the World Bank, who also studied at Harvard and is known for her
    anti-corruption stance, has pledged that if she wins she will try to get additional
    funds from Brussels, whereas Dodon promised an agreement with the breakaway
    region of Transdniester. In 2014 the EU signed an agreement on boosting trade
    and political relations with the former soviet republic, which unfortunately
    has attracted a lot of criticism for its failure to implement reforms.










    RADIO November 1st is the
    day of Romania’s National Radio, as in 1928, the country inaugurated its first
    radio station with a broadcast announced by professor Dragomir Hurmuzescu as ‘Hello,
    Hello, this is Radio Bucharest, Romania. During its existence spanning 92
    years, the public radio has covered all the major events in Romania’s history. In
    WWll, the station announced the country’s decision to join the Allies and
    covered the anti-communist revolution of 1989. For 92 years, in times of peace
    or war, in prosperity or crisis, the national radio managed to remain a
    reference point in terms of accuracy and credibility. Romania’s Parliament has
    endorsed the day of November 1st as the National Radio Day in
    recognition of the role it played in the country’s history. According to the
    latest audience measurements, Radio Romania is a market leader with a 30%
    national share and over 3.6 million daily listeners.








    COVID-19 Over 5,324 new infections with the novel coronavirus were reported in
    Romania on Sunday by the Strategic Communication Group. The total number of
    infections since the onset of the pandemic exceeded 246 thousand. 910,
    are being treated in IC units. 99 new
    fatalities have been registered and the death toll has exceeded 7 thousand.
    Bucharest has reported the highest number of infections and authorities are presently
    looking for solutions to the overcrowded ER units. Romania’s Health Minister
    Nelu Tataru has recalled that 43 thousand rapid tests will become available
    next week and pledged that the number of these tests are to reach one million
    soon.










    NATO
    Romania’s Frigate Queen Marie is in the Turkish port of Aksaz until Monday to
    restore its battle capabilities. The ship has on board a Puma Naval helicopter
    and a Special Operation unit and is carrying out missions of monitoring
    maritime traffic and deterring illegal activities on NATO’s southern flank,
    being part of the permanent Standing NATO Maritime Group -2 (SNMG-2) until
    November 23rd. The group, which is also made up of the Spanish
    Frigate ‘Alvaro de Bazan’, the Spanish transport ship ‘Patino’ and Turkish
    frigate Gaziantep is operational in southern Mediterranean being one of the Alliance’s
    collective security efforts. The Queen
    Marie frigate is part of the military forces Romania has made available for
    NATO and has been participating in the SNMG-2 missions for the third time.








    (bill)

  • Romanian foreign minister on US visit

    Romanian foreign minister on US visit

    The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu had political consultations in Washington with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on which occasion he welcomed the United States intention to strengthen its military presence in Romania.



    In turn, the American official appreciated the several decade-long partnership between the 2 states, recently illustrated by the intergovernmental agreement signed on October 9th for revamping and building a new reactor for the Cernavodă nuclear power plant in south-eastern Romania.



    The 2 officials discussed ways to strengthen relations in the field of defence, to enhance energy security in Europe by means of Black Sea gas development, as well as the Three Seas Initiatives potential to generate growth. They also tackled a stronger US involvement, including financial involvement, in projects targeting the interconnection of the north and south of the region, with both economic benefits and with a strategic impact on military mobility.



    The Romanian diplomacy chief explained for Radio Romania that the projects will be implemented through the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund:



    Bogdan Aurescu: “Sometime, most likely by the end of the year, the Investment Fund will make public the projects it has selected in the first series to be financed by the Fund. We have also discussed the importance of launching as soon as possible the development of the energy resources on the Black Sea continental shelf, with American involvement, because these are extremely necessary for ensuring the energy independence of Romania, the Republic of Moldova, as well as other states in the region.



    On the other hand, Bucharest and Washington will have a joint task force working for Romanias inclusion in the Visa Waiver programme. Moreover, the European Parliament is to pass a resolution asking the European Commission to take measures with respect to the fact that Romanians need a visa to reach the US.



    Bogdan Aurescu: “Talks are held on a regular basis, because the situation is monitored and there is a dialogue between the US and the EU as regards mobility, including the Visa Waiver. During my discussion here I emphasized the importance that Romanian citizens attach to this programme and to Romania being included in the Visa Waiver, the symbolic importance and the sensitivity on the part of the Romanian people with respect to this goal. Secretary Pompeo has understood very well the goals and arguments we have presented, which is why we have agreed to set up this task force, to see the steps that need to be taken in the forthcoming period so that we may accomplish this goal.



    Bogdan Aurescu also said that preparations are ongoing for the 7th session of the bilateral strategic dialogue, scheduled to take place in Washington in the first half of next year. (translated by: A. M. Popescu)

  • August 17, 2019

    August 17, 2019

    VISIT The head of the Romanian state, Klaus Iohannis, will be on an official visit to Washington D.C. on August 19 and 20, at the invitation of the US president, Donald J. Trump. The 2 leaders will have a meeting on August 20, to discuss ways to strengthen and further develop the strong and dynamic strategic partnership between Romania and the US, in all its components. The Romanian president will emphasise on this occasion that his country will remain a reliable ally and strategic partner of the USA, one of the priorities of Romanias foreign policy being to consolidate the trans-Atlantic relation and Euro-Atlantic security. Klaus Iohannis said he also intended to talk to Donald J. Trump about the American troops in Romania and about the countrys capacity to host more US troops. The issue of US visa requirements for Romanian citizens will also be approached. Meanwhile, according to the White House, the US president looks forward to celebrating the 30th year since the fall of communism and the 15th year of Romanias NATO membership with president Iohannis. Klaus Iohannis and Donald Trump previously met at the White House in 2017, when they discussed the prospects for deepening and broadening the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US.



    UNIVERSITY The 17th edition of the Izvoru Mureşului Summer University comes to a close today in Harghita County, central Romania. This years theme was “Romania and the Romanians abroad, one year since the Great Union Centennial. The topics approached include means to preserve the identity of Romanian communities in Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova in the context of regional geopolitical developments and the Romanian national interest, the policies of parliamentary parties and public institutions with respect to the Romanians abroad and the Romanians in multi-ethnic communities in the country. Attending the works were students from Romania and from the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and the diaspora, academics from the main universities in Romania and abroad, civil society and mass media representatives.



    VOTE Nearly 9,000 Romanians living abroad had registered to vote by mail on the www.votstrainatate.ro portal 20 days since its release. According to the Permananet Electoral Authority, this is more than the total number of registrations for mail voting for the 2016 parliamentary elections. The website www.votstrainatate.ro has been created to ensure better records on the Romanians living abroad and to help keep them better informed on the voting process ahead of this Novembers presidential election. The Ministry for the Romanians Abroad also launched an information campaign in this respect and announced that over 5.5 million Romanians have left the country. In the recent elections for the EP, tens of thousands of Romanians queued for hours in polling stations abroad, and many of them eventually failed to cast their ballots.



    PIPELINE The BRUA pipeline, designed to carry natural gas from the Caspian and the Black Sea to Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria, will only be completed in December 2020, one year behind schedule, according to the financial report for the first half of this year made public by the Romanian company Transgaz. The reasons for the delay include problems in the bidding process, the need to amend the legislative framework, the discovery of archaeological sites, adverse weather conditions for extensive periods of time as well as delays in the negotiations with some of the land owners or users, the company explains. Last month, the Romanian Economy Ministry announced having finalised almost half of the pipeline, and around 80-90% of the 3 compressor stations. Stage I of the BRUA project requires total investments of nearly 500 million euro, of which the EU has offered a 179-million grant. The Government of Romania holds about 60% of the stock of Transgaz, with the remaining shares traded in the stock market.



    MILITARY The National Defence Ministry will organise at the Mihail Kogălniceanu 57 Air Base, in the south east, a ceremony to mark the dispatch of the ‘Carpathian Pumas’ unit on a mission in Mali. The Romanian troops will take part in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. The around 120 members of the Romanian unit, accompanied by 4 IAR-330 Puma L-RM helicopters, will be in charge of medical evacuation, transportation of troops and materials, passenger transport, air patrol and monitoring activities beginning mid-October. At present Romania has 1,033 troops involved in missions abroad.



    SONGS All Romanians are invited to vote for one month to choose the 6 songs representing Romania in the first EU Songbook. So far 65,000 people in 26 countries have voted for their favourites, says the organiser of the event, the European Union Songbook organisation, on its website. The EU Songbook is a non-profit organisation without political or financial connections with Brussels. The first edition of the Songbook will be published on Europe Day, May 9, 2020.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Geopolitica energiei

    Geopolitica energiei

    Petrolul a adus omenirii o criză teribilă, acum 4 decenii, în timpul căreia au curs şi cantităţi uriaşe de cerneală jurnalistică. Omenirea şi-a revenit destul de repede, un pic mai matură, un pic schimbată, având însă o monedă nouă, aşa-numiţii petrodolari.



    În Orient, bogăţiile fabuloase pluteau acum nu pe fire de poveste, ci pe oceanul de petrol ce sălăjuieşte acolo. Marile puteri ale lumii au această mare slăbiciune, lipsa de petrol. Iar cei care au petrol din solul propriu, cum este cazul Statelor Unite ale Americii, sunt departe de ideea de autosuficienţă, având nevoie de mari cantităţi pentru a susţine un mod de viaţă şi industriile bazate pe petrol. Energia nucleară părea a fi o soluţie, dar, după Hiroshima şi Nagasaki, nimic din munca cu atomul nu poate fi lipsit de temeri.



    În ultimele decenii, gazul natural a început să se impună în Europa, ca o sursă importantă de energie. În anii 90, încă se mai făcea reclamă la gaz pentru consumul casnic, iar industria care prelucrează acest combustibil fosil s-a dezvoltat continuu. Ca în orice sursă energetică, problema esenţială este dată de provenienţă, de izvorul său, uşor de secat şi prost plasat geografic.



    Dacă petrolul europenilor venea mai ales din Orientul islamic, gazul vine din spaţiul fost sovietic, în cote importante chiar din Rusia. Ultimii ani ai comunismului sovietic au aparţinut doctrinei vecinătăţii apropiate, centrul fiind, desigur, la Moscova. Aceast centrism în gândire continuă să funcţioneze şi astăzi, ba chiar mai strict, interesele ruseşti fiind urmărite până la anexare. Între timp, însă, s-a dezvoltat o puternică dependenţă europeană de gazul venit din Estul apropiat, fost sovietic. Astfel, Rusia şi republicile ex-sovietice asiatice, furnizoare de gaze şi petrol, au devenit o zonă de interes prioritar stringent pentru Europa comunitară sau unele dintre marile sale puteri. Încărcătura strategică a acestei dependenţe a fost exercitată de mai multe ori, dar nu pe ţările comunitare, ci pe Ucraina vecină, şi cu mult înainte de anul 2014, când lucrurile par a o fi luat razna în acest colţ de lume. De fapt, robinetul gazoductelor ruseşti orientate spre Europa s-au închis de mai multe ori, parţial sau temporar, parcă pentru a reaminti decidenţilor despre importanţa acestei pârghii geopolitice.



    În 2007, Italia şi Rusia s-au aşezat la capetele unui gazoduct uriaş, numit Southstream. El trebuia să aducă gaz din Rusia, pe sub Marea Neagră, până la ţărmul bulgar şi mai departe, prin Balcani şi sudul Europei, spre inima Vechiului Continent. Ideea se năştea, însă, la 5 ani după ce alte ţări europene şi Turcia stabiliseră să construiască Nabucco, un gazoduct ce ar fi alimentat Europa cu gaz caspic, prin Turcia, până în Austria. Cu timpul, Southstream a înaintat în preferinţele europenilor, trecând Nabucco în uitare. Nu de mult, însă, liderul rus Vladimir Putin a anunţat fără drept de apel că Southstream este un proiect abandonat. Moscova, prin liderul său, se gândeşte la alte variante prin care vânzarea de gaz către europeni să fie mai eficientă, dar şi mai importantă din punct de vedere strategic.



    Situaţia relaţiilor dintre Rusia şi europeni este mult mai complicat în prezent decât acum 7 sau 12 ani, când erau propuse Southstream şi Nabucco. Atunci, nici NATO şi nici Uniunea Europeană nu erau numiţi inamici ai capitalismului rus, iar Crimeea era încă o parte a statului Ucraina, mare consumator de gaz rusesc. Decizia de a abandona proiectul Southstream este una dintre cele mai importante mişcări geopolitice actuale şi culisele sale sunt departe de a fi înţelese.

  • Obiectivele diplomaţiei române

    Schimbările tot mai rapide şi mai greu previzibile de pe scena internaţională şi mai ales de pe cea regională impun o adaptare continuă pentru diplomaţia română. Reuniţi la Bucureşti timp de trei zile, şefii misiunilor diplomatice şi consulare ale României din întreaga lume, alături de directorii institutelor culturale româneşti din străinătate, au făcut o analiză a activităţii şi rolului diplomaţiei române, în contextul actual al relaţiilor internaţionale.



    Prezent la reuniune, premierul Victor Ponta le-a cerut reprezentaţilor diplomatici să prezinte la posturi foarte clar poziţia Bucureştiului faţă de cele mai importante teme ale momentului şi în acelaşi timp să promoveze interesele legitime ale României, ale UE şi ale partenerilor ei strategici. Primul-ministru român a mai spus că, la summitul NATO din Ţara Galilor, România îşi doreşte consolidarea flancului estic al Alianţei Nord-Atlantice, întărirea parteneriatului strategic cu Turcia şi cu Polonia şi o prezenţă militară cât mai consistentă a NATO pe teritoriul României.



    Victor Ponta: Cred că România a dovedit încă o dată că este un partener solid al Uniunii Europene, al NATO şi al partenerilor noştri strategici, SUA. Este o oportunitate într-o situaţie de criză, ca România să-şi consolideze acest statut şi să şi-l afirme cu mai mare încredere şi cu mai mult curaj.”



    Din punctul de vedere al Bucureştiului, NATO trebuie să-şi consolideze flancul estic, inclusiv pe teritoriul românesc, a apreciat şi ministrul de externe, Titus Corlăţean: Poziţionarea României în raport cu vecinătatea estică este de natură să favorizeze profilarea ei ca actor important în eforturile de stabilizare a regiunii, transformând astfel o potenţială vulnerabilitate, într-un avantaj strategic.”



    De altfel, transformarea unor aparente vulnerabilităţi ale României în avantaje reprezintă un obiectiv al Bucureştiului, alături de celelalte obiective, punctate de şeful diplomaţiei: Cele legate de fructificarea chiar mai bună a parteneriatului strategic cu Statele Unite, care se reflectă în aspectele politice şi de securitate, dar şi în componenta economică. Alte obiective sunt cele legate de apartenenţa noastră la NATO şi în acest moment se pune foarte serios în discuţie repoziţionarea Alianţei pentru a consolida încrederea şi siguranţa, securitatea aliaţilor din flancul estic, prin redeplasarea unor capacităţi militare de securitate şi pe teritoriul României. Mai este vorba despre mizele europene ale României în interiorul, dar şi în exteriorul UE, evoluţiile din Ucraina, Irak, Siria, Libia, ş.a.m.d., pentru că ele sunt foarte legate de Europa şi, bineînţeles, flancul estic pe cere îl avem ca prioritate. Am lăsat nu întâmplător la urmă Republica Moldova pentru că această toamnă este esenţială pentru viitorul european, destinul european al Republicii Moldova. Sunt alegeri prevăzute şi este nevoie ca după alegeri să rămână un guvern proeuropean care sa obţină şi confirmarea perspectivelor europene clare, pentru o viitoare integrare europeană a Republicii Moldova.”



    Previzibil, situaţia în continuă degradare din estul Ucrainei a dominat întâlnirea din capitala României, Bucureştiul reafirmându-şi susţinerea pentru Kiev. Emil Hurezeanu, jurnalist şi comentator pe probleme de politică internaţională: Conflictul din Ucraina a intrat într-o fază nouă şi mai periculoasă şi sigur că Alianţa Nord-Atlantică şi fiecare din ţările membre ale Alianţei Nord-Atlantice, pe de altă parte, dar si Statele Unite vor judeca, în cunoştintă de cauză dacă este cazul să recurgă la o fază nouă de ajutorare direct cu armament. Germanii, de exemplu, nu sunt de acord ca Alianţa Nord-Atlantică să livreze arme, dar, pentru că Germania, între altele, este al treilea mare exportator de arme – peste cinci miliarde de euro în fiecare an este comerţul de arme al Germaniei – sigur că îşi va pune problema dacă livrează arme în mod bilateral Ucrainei. Este de analizat în ce măsură perioada sancţiunilor economice, care n-au atins punctul maxim, se închide sau continuă şi, în paralel, vom asista la un program de livrare de armament.”



    Noi suntem obişnuiţi cu raţionalităţile, oricât de respingătoare, care au stat în subsolul sau în culisele oricăror ofensive militare în ultimele decenii, mai spune Emil Hurezeanu, potrivit căruia, şi al doilea război mondial şi războiul rece aveau un esafodaj de raţionalitate care se baza pe acorduri, pe strategiile intimidării reciproce, pe potenţialul nuclear relativ egal al celor două mari tabere. Or, astăzi, suntem într-o fază care poate nu întâmplător la 100 de ani de la izbucnirea primului război mondial ne aduce aminte de iraţionalităţi.



    În aceste condiţii, este Occidentul în situaţia să aibă un plan de contraofensivă în această situaţie? Sunt mijloacele raţionale în măsură să confrunte mijloace ale iraţionalităţii? Cred că asta este viitoarea problemă a dezbaterii politice şi strategice, conchide Emil Hurezeanu.