Radio România Internațional

Tag: Strategic Partnership

March 13, 2018 UPDATE

ROMANIA-US RELATIONS – The Romanian Government on Tuesday announced the setup of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the implementation of results obtained under the Strategic Partnership with the USA and other Romanian-US bilateral projects. According to a Government release, the Committee will be coordinated by Ana Birchall and will compile the efforts of the ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Finance and the Economy. The committee will convene on a quarterly basis or in case of emergency with the purpose of monitoring the status of implementing the desired projects.

DEFENSE – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday received NATO
Defense Ministers from the alliance’s eastern flank. The President expressed confidence
the NATO Summit of July in Brussels will contribute to adapting NATO to current
security challenges and threats. Previously, Defense Minister Mihai Fifor said on
the sidelines of the Bucharest Initiative that states on NATO’s Eastern flank
share a series of concerns, from the prospect of approaching security risks and
threats. Participants agreed closer cooperation is needed to consolidate NATO’s
eastern flank. Attending were Defense Ministers from nine former communist
states, including Romania, NATO officials and representatives of the US
Department of Defense. The Initiative was launched in 2014 as a platform for
stepping up cooperation between NATO allies.

INFLATION – The Romanian National Institute of Statistics put out inflation figures recently. According to official data, the annual rate of inflation in the country went up to 4.7% from 4.3% in January. The increase is believed to be due to increases in the price of food, consumer products and services. Food products went up in price by 3.7% compared to February, while consumer products went up in price by 6.27%. Services went up in cost by 3% compared to last year. Last month, the Romanian National Bank adjusted its forecast for inflation as by the end of the year from 3.2% to 3.5%.

HEALTHCARE – Trade unions in the healthcare sector on Tuesday held talks with Line Minister Sorina Pintea, demanding a 25% increase of the base salary for the medical staff and the elimination of the 30% ceiling for bonuses. After the meeting unionists confirmed protests would continue next week. On Wednesday a public debate on bonus regulations will be held in Bucharest. Minister Pintea expressed hope a solution will be found to avoid the situation from escalating.

ACQUITTAL – Former head of the Romanian Financial Administration Authority Sorin Blejnar on Tuesday was acquitted in a case where he was accused of supporting a criminal group and tax evasion. Prosecutors claim that in 2010 oil products were traded illegally, which made the state incur losses worth €4.5 million. The products were sold by a crime group to Romanian, Hungarian and Italian citizens. Prosecutors say the crime group enjoyed the support of several decision-makers, including the Financial Administration Authority. Blejnar is currently subject to several pending investigation.

FLU – The flu has killed 99 people in Romania this season according to the latest toll published by the National Centre for the Supervision and Control of Communicable Diseases. The number of respiratory infections has also gone up last week to over 140,000 cases, 67% more than the same period last year. Healthcare Minister Sorina Pintea says Romania is not faced with a flu epidemic.

WHITE HOUSE – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday replaced Rex Tillerson at the helm of the State Department with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. The White House leader said the replacement follows disagreements with Tillerson over Irans nuclear programme and he wanted to appoint a new team ahead of historic negotiations with North Korea. Replacing Pompeo at the helm of the CIA will be Gina Haspel, the CIA Deputy Director, thus becoming the first woman to hold this position.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

13 March 2018
Japan’s Premier visits Romania

Romania and Japan decided to take the necessary measures in order to turn their bilateral relation into a Strategic Partnership, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced at the end of the talks he had with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Bucharest on Tuesday. Abe came on a historic visit to Bucharest, the first paid by a Japanese high-ranking official to Romania. The relations between the two countries have reached a superior level of maturity, which will lead to stepped-up cooperation in all fields, the Romanian president believes.

Klaus Iohannis: “We have agreed that we share the same values and strategic objectives, we have similar assessments in terms of security in such a volatile environment and we also have common economic interests. I have encouraged the Japanese businesspeople to make more investments in Romania and also an increase in economic exchanges and I am glad the Prime Minister Abe came to Romania accompanied by a significant delegation of businesspeople. We’ve had a fruitful exchange of opinions on our cooperation in the field of security and we have analyzed the security situation in our regions with emphasis on the latest developments in the Black Sea region and the North-Korean file.”

Romania has a strategic geographic position and is a crucial partner for Japan, Prime Minister Shizo Abe said, underlining that the two countries share common values and principles such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The Japanese official has also underlined the importance of cooperation in the economic and security fields.

According to the Japanese official, the most important thing for the Romanian economy is to consolidate its infrastructure and Japan is getting involved with all dedication in a project aimed at linking the capital city Bucharest to the Henry Coanda airport via a sixth underground line.

Prime Minister Abe has also announced visa waiver plans for the Romanian citizens. On the other hand, the Japanese official has underscored the fact that the two countries do not accept the North Korean nuclear programme and that the international community should step up pressure on this country in this respect.

The labor force quality and the IT sector are several elements that attract Japanese investors to Romania, says Norio Maruyama, director general for press and public diplomacy with the Japanese Foreign Ministry. ‘Japanese companies are interested in Romania. The quality of its labour force and the IT environment in Romania are very attractive to Japanese companies’, Maruyama explained.

Out of protocol reasons, in the wake of Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose’s resignation, Shinzo Abe had to give up his meeting with government officials, but the business people who accompanied him were received by a government delegation led by Romania’s deputy Prime Minister.

17 January 2018
September 4, 2017 UPDATE

PM’S HOUR – The head of the left-of-centre government of Romania, Mihai Tudose, held the Prime Ministers Hour in the Chamber of Deputies for the first time since taking office. The 5.6% economic growth rate reported in Romania is the best indicator for the state of the economy, Tudose said on this occasion. He also announced that the 2018 state budget bill would be sent to Parliament in November. The National Liberal Party, which had requested the PM to answer questions in Parliament, argues, among other things, that Romania has the deepest budget deficit in recent years, that revenues to the state budget are some 1.1 billion euro below forecasts and that the trade deficit widened by 30%.

PARTNERSHIP – The Senate Speaker Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu announced on Monday that at his initiative the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament would adopt a political declaration on September 12, to mark 20 years since Romania and the USA signed their bilateral strategic partnership. He added that the draft had been sent to the floor groups. Just days ago, the Ambassador of Romania to the USA, George Maior, said relations between Washington and Bucharest are at the highest level of implementation of the bilateral strategic partnership, in all its aspects, from defence and security to economy and culture. Nonetheless, Ambassador Maior said Romania seeks strengthened cooperation with Washington in the field of defence, and mentioned in this context that the Romanian Defence Minister, Adrian Ţuţuianu, would have a meeting with his American counterpart James Mattis on September 19.

ENESCU FESTIVAL – The George Enescu International Festival, one of the most prestigious music events in Europe, continues in Bucharest. For 3 weeks, 80 concerts and other events will bring more than 3,000 of the best international artists to Bucharest and 7 other major Romanian cities. Radio Romania is the only media institution in the country to broadcast the concerts live, on its channels Radio Romania Music and Radio Romania Culture. First organised in 1958, 3 years after the famed Romanian composer had died, the George Enescu Festival was discontinued in 1971 by the communist regime, and was resumed in 1989. It has been held every 2 years ever since.

EXERCISE – Between September 4 and 22, more than 100 Romanian troops are taking part in the 4th edition of Vigorous Warrior, a NATO medical exercise held this year in Lehnin, Germany, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Taking part in this exercise organised by the NATO Excellence Centre for Military Medicine are around 900 military from 27 NATO member and partner states.

TURKEY – The actions of the Turkish authorities make it impossible for that country to join the European Union, the European Commission said on Monday, after the German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the halt of accession talks. Also on Monday, Turkeys Minister for European Affairs, Omer Celik, said that any talk of breaking off negotiations would be an attack on the founding principles of the European Union. Turkeys accession negotiations started in 2005, but are currently stalled because of the political developments in this country and of the authoritarian conduct that president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accused of, Reuters comments.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

4 September 2017
September 2, 2017 UPDATE

DIPLOMACY – The Ambassador of Romania to the USA, George Maior, says the relations between Bucharest and Washington are currently at the highest level of implementation of the bilateral strategic partnership, in all its aspects, from defence, economy, diplomacy to culture. However, the Romanian Ambassador said Romania seeks strengthened cooperation with the US in terms of defence. In this context, on September 18 the Romanian Defence Minister Adrian Ţuţuianu will have a meeting with his American counterpart, James Mattis. Ambassador Maior also mentioned the visit made by the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to the US in June, when he had a meeting with the US President Donald Trump.

PARLIAMENT – In Bucharest, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have convened for the second regular parliamentary session of the year. Romanian MPs are scheduled to handle overdue bills from previous sessions, and the new draft legislation tabled by the Government. Debates are to begin next week. Apart from the emergency orders concerning special pension benefits, child allowances and police salaries, Parliament is also to discuss a bill on mandatory vaccination. The most eagerly awaited debates concern the new Pension Bill, which is to reach the Parliament chambers by October 1, and the changes of the laws on the judiciary and the set-up of a Sovereign Investment Fund.

CORRUPTION – The former president of the National Healthcare Insurance Agency, Marian Burcea, has been placed under 30-day arrest in an investigation into illegal refunds for healthcare services. According to the Bucharest Court of Appeals, in the same case the judges have also decided to place other individuals under pre-trial arrest. Anti-corruption prosecutors suspect frauds involving the funds of the Bucharest City Healthcare Insurance Agency, consisting in the refund of fictitious healthcare expenditure. The refunds were allegedly granted based on hundreds of fake medical records and involved agency personnel protected by top officials of the National Healthcare Insurance Agency. Tens of searches conducted at the offices of companies and institutions as well as at the homes of several individuals in Bucharest seem to indicate losses of 3 million euros caused to the public budgets.

ENESCU FESTIVAL – The George Enescu International Festival, one of the most prestigious music events in Europe, opened on Saturday. For 3 weeks, 80 concerts and other events will bring together in Bucharest and 7 other major Romanian cities more than 3,000 of the best international artists. The honorary president this year is the famous conductor Zubin Mehta, and another conductor, Vladimir Jurowski is the artistic director. Radio Romania is the only media institution in the country to broadcast the concerts live, on its channels Radio Romania Music and Radio Romania Culture. The opening show, a performance of George Enescus opera “Oedipus by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with conductor Vladimir Jurowski, included multimedia features. First organised in 1958, 3 years after the famed Romanian composer had died, the George Enescu Festival was discontinued in 1971 by the communist regime, and was resumed in 1989. It has been held every 2 years ever since.

POLICE – Fifty Romanian policemen have carried out operative support missions in France this year, according to the Romanian General Police Inspectorate. They have provided direct assistance to the French authorities in securing the areas with high seasonal tourist inflows and have facilitated data and intelligence exchanges. These activities have been requested by the French partners, as a result of the good cooperation and based on an administrative arrangement between the Romanian and French interior ministers, the Romanian Police Inspectorate also said.

HARVEY – The US President Donald Trump has requested Congress to earmark 7.85 billion US dollars for relief and reconstruction following hurricane Harvey, Reuters reports. Trump is to visit the disaster-hit areas today, for the second time. Harvey, one of the worst hurricanes to have hit the US in terms of the damages it has caused, forced one million Americans out of their homes. Tens of people died. Houston, the largest city in Texas and the fifth-largest in the US, is still paralysed by floods. In Beaumont, over 120,000 people are without drinking water.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

2 September 2017
9 June, 2017 UPDATE

UPDATE: Romanian President Klaus Iohannis meets U.S. President Donald
Trump at the White House

U.S. President, Donald Trump, on
Friday appreciated the example set by Romania among the NATO member states to
increase defense spending from 1.4% to over 2% of the GDP. During a joint press
conference given together with President Klaus Iohannis, after a top-level
meeting at the White House, Donald Trump thanked the Romanian people for their
contribution to U.S. defense and in the fight against terrorism. Together we can confront the common
security challenges facing the world.

He explicitly expressed NATO
Treaty’s Article 5 commitment that an attack on one member country will be
treated as an attack on all. Donald Trump didn’t formally endorse Article 5
commitment at the first NATO Summit he attended, in Brussels in May.

President Trump has also said U.S. strongly supports Romania and the country’s fight against corruption. Referring to investment, he said: We have people going over to Romania
and investing… That shows very, very big progress.

In his turn, President Iohannis has
said the Strategic Partnership shaped
Romania as it is today. Romania, a solid democracy, underlining the
partnership has to become stronger. He has also said it’s
vital for U.S. to have a strong European Union as a partner, adding
that NATO and EU must work together, so that they, as well as U.S., can become
stronger.

When asked about the visa waiver, President Trump said he and President Iohannis didn’t discuss the issue.
President Iohannis has said they will discuss it because many Romanians come to
the U.S. and it’s an important issue.

EXPO ASTANA 2017. Romania will
take part in Astana EXPO 2017 international exposition titled The Energy of the
Future, which opens on Saturday in Kazakhstan’s capital. More than 110
countries are taking part. The central element of the Romanian pavilion will be
the ELI-NP laser project in Magurele, which is seen as the most important
investment in Romanian research in the last 50 years. Romania will present
itself at the exposition in Astana as a country of innovation and inventions.
After 1989, Romania has taken part in all world and international expositions
held under the aegis of the Bureau of International Expositions. EXPO Astana is
open until the 10th of September.

Croatia visit. The Romanian
prime minister Sorin Grindeanu travels to Zagreb on Monday for talks with
Croatia’s president Kolinda Grabar, prime minister Andrej Plenkovic and the
Parliament speaker Gordan Jandrokovic. Talks will focus on bilateral and
European issues, including the future of the European Union. Romania and
Croatia both support the need for cohesion and solidarity within the Union. The
two countries also plan to work together to join the Schengen area. An
agreement will be signed during prime minister Grindeanu’s visit on the mutual
protection of classified information, as well as a memorandum of understanding
on the cooperation between their respective Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Government order. The Romanian
government on Friday issued an emergency order to amend the fiscal procedure
code to the effect that multinational companies will have to provide reports on
their incomes, profits and taxes in the state where they have their fiscal
residence. According to the government’s spokeswoman Alina Petrescu, the
amendment seeks to translate a European directive into the national
legislation. Multinational companies will also have to report the number of
employees, their declared capital, undistributed profits and fixed assets in
each fiscal jurisdiction. The new order seeks to combat tax evasion and
aggressive tax planning, on the one hand, and make the activities of these
companies more transparent, on the other.

EU. The Deputy Secretary General of the European Commission Jean-Eric Paquet on
Friday held talks in Romania with the local authorities on community law and
the accurate and timely harmonisation with the EU legislation. Jean-Eric Paquet
also discussed the future of Europe with Romanian students and representatives
of civil society, the academic community and the media.

Republic of Moldova. The
Parliament in Chisinau held on new vote on Friday on a protocol to amend a
military cooperation agreement between the governments of Romania and the
Republic of Moldova. The document, which was previously passed by Parliament,
has been rejected by the Moldova’s pro-Russian president Igor Dodon, who views
it as unconstitutional on account of violating his country’s neutrality status.
Signed in April 2012, the agreement also provides for the possibility of carrying
joint military exercises. Igor Dodon has already been opposed on a number of
times to the participation of the Moldovan military in multi-national military
exercises carried out in Romania.

Roland Garros. Romania’s
highest-ranked player and world no. 4 Simona Halep on Saturday faces Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko (world no.
47) in the final of
the Roland Garros tennis tournament. In the semi-finals on Thursday evening,
Halep defeated world no. 3 Karolina
Pliskova of the Czech Republic in three sets. This is
Halep’s second Roland Garros final, having lost her first to Maria Sharapova in
2014. If she wins, Halep becomes world no. 1.

Football. The Romanian football
side face Poland on Saturday in Warsaw in a Group E match as part of the
qualifiers for the World Cup hosted by Russia next year. In other group
fixtures, Kazakhstan face Denmark and Montenegro face Armenia. Poland currently
top the group with 13 points followed by Montenegro and Denmark, each with 8
points, Romania and Armenia, each with 6 points and Kazakhstan with 2 points.
Romania have a foreign manager for the first time in their history, namely the
German coach Cristoph Daum, who took over last autumn after Romania’s mediocre
run at the European Championships in France.

Sibiu festival. The 24th
edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival got under way on Friday.
The French company Remue Menage opened the
festival with their production Abysses held outdoors in the city’s historic
centre. The Sibiu Book Festival also began on Friday, lasting four days. The
indoor events began with a staging of Eugene Ionesco’s Bald Soprano by another
French company. The biggest of its kind in Romania and one of the biggest in
the world, the Sibiu International Theatre Festival will see around 500 different
performances and events for the next ten days, bringing together 3,300
participants from 72 countries. The theme of this year’s edition is love.

9 June 2017
US-Romania Strategic Partnership

During a trip to the US, the Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos met Vice-president Joe Biden in Washington. The two officials discussed some of the main aspects on the bilateral agenda, while emphasising their shared interest in the consolidation of the Strategic Partnership, which forms the basis of Romanian-American cooperation. Ciolos and Biden expressed their satisfaction with the excellent level of security and defence cooperation and said there were good premises for its consolidation.

Dacian Ciolos: “We have requested support from the United States and have been promised that we would be supported with respect to the consolidation of the Black Sea cooperation, more specifically high level navy cooperation. We have explained the actions we have already taken in cooperation with Bulgaria and Turkey, and have been given the promise that this Black Sea cooperation would be supported by NATO at the summit.

Vice-president Biden emphasised that Romania has been and will remain a trusted partner and ally for the United States. He said there is mutual interest in tapping the significant potential for developing the economic cooperation. Bucharest has also requested support for a multinational brigade on Romanian territory, under the NATO umbrella, to strengthen the defence system of the south-eastern European flank.

Vice-president Biden reiterated his countrys commitment to strengthen security and defence in the Euro-Atlantic area, both on a bilateral level and in the allied context. He welcomed Romanias active involvement in efforts to prevent and combat the security risks and challenges facing the North-Atlantic Alliance.

Speaking about the preparations for the NATO Summit to be hosted by Warsaw in July, Prime Minister Ciolos highlighted the security and defence aspects of particular interest for Romania, and the countrys position vis-à-vis the main subjects to be discussed at the summit. The Prime Minister also spoke about the importance of developing economic ties, with an emphasis on the development of American investments in Romania.

Dacian Ciolos: “We have the support of the White House in this respect, and this is something we have in fact discussed in Detroit, at the Ford headquarters, as well as with Commerce Secretary Pritzker. We have a roadmap supported by the US to develop financial instruments for small and medium sized companies and to improve the management of state-owned companies.

Last but not least, the talks were an opportunity for Romania to tackle the Visa Waiver programme that would allow Romanian citizens to travel visa-free to the US. Prime Minister Ciolos said the two sides would work together to find a solution as soon as possible.

25 May 2016
135 Years of Romanian-American Diplomacy

In 1877, at the end of several centuries of Ottoman domination, Romania was gaining its independence. Three years later, the young state established diplomatic relations with the USA. Historians say that the connections between the two countries, the North American giant and the small state in south-eastern Europe, became indestructible with the outbreak of World War 1, when they were allied as part of the Entente.

After the war, which had brought the Romanians the completion of their nation state formation, thousands of Americans on the East Coast came out in the street to welcome Queen Marie of Romania, who made a diplomatic tour of the US. The Second World War, when Romania, threatened by Soviet expansionism, found itself forced to join the Axis, and the long Communist dictatorship that followed, never managed to alter the Romanians pro-American sentiment. They continue to view the US as the foremost bastion of freedom and democracy in the world.

Last week, an opinion poll revealed that Romanians see the USA as their greatest friend and the ally that could best protect them, with Russia at the opposite pole, as the greatest threat to the security of Romania, Europe and the world. Shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the US, Bucharest joined without hesitation the anti-terror coalition and deployed troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, together with their American colleagues.

Admitted into NATO in 2004, tied to the US through a strategic bilateral partnership, the host of American military bases and of elements of the missile defence system, Romania is in turn seen by many experts as the most important ally of the US in the region.

On Tuesday, December 1st, the US Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated the Romanian nation, on behalf of President Barack Obama. A news release issued by the State Department mentions the 135th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between the USA and Romania, tied by a friendship based on the shared commitment to democratic government and the rule of law. Promoting the prosperity of citizens through extensive trade relations and investments and the common NATO membership seen as a guarantee of a free, united and peaceful Europe, are other affinities mentioned by the American Secretary of State. The US is proud that American and Romanian troops have taken part, over the years, in common missions to safeguard freedom and justice in a world threatened by war and terrorism, Kerry also said.

The House of Representatives in Washington in its turn adopted a resolution hailing the anniversary of 135 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and underlining Romanias outstanding commitment within NATO and its key role as an ally of the USA.

2 December 2015
23 November, 2015

The government in Bucharest meets today to debate the budget for next year. PM Dacian Ciolos said that he would like the budget to pass in Parliament in the first half of December. Until then, however, the new ministers have to analyze the projects left pending by the former cabinet, deciding which to integrate in the new bill. The executive also wants to propose new projects reflecting the new platform, among them a rapid reaction plan issued by a joint institutional group. This group would be coordinated by deputy PM Costin Borc, and has to find solutions to boost confidence in the Romanian economy.

Belgium is on its third day of the highest level of terror alert, level 4, imminent risk of attack, in Brussels and its surroundings. The metro train and most public transportation are not in operation, while railway stations and airports are guarded by heavily armed police and army units. The streets are patrolled by military vehicles, and public venues like cinemas, shops, restaurants and cafes are still closed. The Belgian authorities have announced they arrested 16 people on Sunday to Monday, at the top of a wide ranging anti-terror operation. Among the people detained is Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the Paris attacks of November 13th.

French President Francois Hollande and British PM David Cameron met in Paris today, promising to intensify their countries fight against the so-called Islamic State, ten days after the terror attacks that left 130 dead in the capital of France. Hollande said that his countrys aim in Syria and Iraq was to cause the highest amount of damage possible to the terror group, confirming that France would step up its air raids against extremists. Cameron said he was firmly in favor of French action being taken, and said that the British air forces have to also launch strikes against IS. He added that he opened a British airbase in Cyprus to French forces. The PM is scheduled to deliver to Parliament a comprehensive strategy for fighting IS.

Today in Bucharest Romania and the United States hold the fourth meeting of the task force for implementing the common statement on the 21st century Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the two countries are reviewing bilateral cooperation, discussing the aims and cooperation priorities for the upcoming period.

The Romanian- Dutch tennis pair Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer have emerged victorious in the last major international tournament of the year. On Sunday, the two have defeated in two sets the Romanian-Indian pair Florin Mergea and Rohan Bopanna. This is the first time when Romania has two players in this competition, with seven million dollars in prize money, which featured the top eight players of 2015, as well as the eight best male double teams.

The former mayor of Bucharest, Sorin Oprescu, goes on trial today for bribe taking, money laundering and abuse of office. The Anti-Corruption Directorate alleges that between 2013 and 2015 he joined a local administration ring that rigged public acquisition procedures in favor of companies providing bribes and kickbacks. The former official was detained in early September, and has been under house arrest since release. Over the last few months, several officials from Bucharest City Hall have been jailed for corruption. Sorin Oprescu, a former member of the former ruling Social Democratic Party became mayor in 2008, and was re-elected as an independent in 2012.

Translated by Călin Coţoiu

23 November 2015
November 22, 2015 UPDATE

RESUMPTION OF PAYMENTS-The European Commission has unblocked the Regional Operational Program and the reimbursement of European funds will start in the near future, Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos said on Radio Romania, on Sunday. He explained that, by the end of the year, the absorption rate of structural funds might reach 70%, for the 2007-2013 budget exercise. As regards the reform of the administration, Ciolos said he would lay emphasis on the principles of transparency and integrity. The integrity criteria, that have already been signed by the members of the new cabinet, will have to be assumed by all public administration employees. The Prime Minister said Romania needs a functional system so that corruption and bribe no longer permeate the administration.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP — Romanian State Secretary for Strategic Affairs, Daniel Ionita, and the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Hoyt Yee, will co-chair in Bucharest on Monday, the fourth meeting of the Task Force for the implementation of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the US. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Romanian and US officials will assess the stage of bilateral cooperation and will also discuss objectives, action lines and co-operation priorities for the ensuing period of time. The Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the US was adopted, at the highest level, in September 2011. It is the first bilateral political document which validates, in writing, the Strategic Partnership between the two countries and includes key domains of bilateral cooperation.

COLECTIV FIRE VICTIM – One of the people who sustained burn injuries in the Colectiv nightclub fire died on Sunday in Vienna, where he was undergoing treatment. Thus, the death toll has risen to 60. 26 people were killed by the deadly fire that devastated Colectiv on October 30, and a 27th person died on the way to hospital. 33 other people died within the 3 ensuing weeks. 150 other people were injured and admitted to hospitals in Bucharest. 39 of them were taken to foreign hospitals, but 11 passed away, of whom 3 in the UK, one in Israel, two in the Netherlands, one en route to Switzerland, one in France, two in Germany and one in Austria. 40 injured people, of whom 10 in critical or severe condition, are still hospitalised in Bucharest.

TERROR ALERT– The Belgian authorities are on alert, for fear of possible attacks. Prime Minister Charles Michel has said there is credible information on the risk of attacks similar to those in Paris. On Sunday, Brussels was on lockdown, over serious threat, with the subway system, shopping centres, cinema halls, museums, restaurants and cafes closed. Stations and airports were guarded by heavily- armed joint police- army patrols. Military vehicles patrolled the streets of Brussels, while the security forces continue the manhunt for key suspect and Paris fugitive, Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to hide in the Brussels region, trying to find the opportunity to leave for Syria.

DIPLOMACY— US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is currently on a three-day visit to the Middle East. The agenda of the talks held in Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah (the West Bank) covers such issues as the situation in Syria, laying emphasis on the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation and the recent Israeli-Palestinian wave of violence. In the wake of the Paris attacks, the US tries to consolidate militarily the international coalition against the Islamic State, FP reports.

ECONOMY— The total value of Romania’s imports in 2014 exceeded 58 billion Euro, registering a 5.8% increase as compared to the previous year. Data made public by the National Institute for Statistics show 75.4% of the imported goods came from EU member states, particularly from Germany, Italy and Hungary. As compared to 2013, China outclassed the Russian Federation, in terms of the volume of imports made by Romania. According to the National Institute for Statistics, in 2014 Romania fostered trading relations with 212 countries.

BOOK FAIR-The “Gaudeamus” International Book Fair, organised by Radio Romania in Bucharest, came to a close on Sunday. Since it opened its doors, on November 18, the fair hosted 700 events and the stands of over 300 publishing houses. The honorary guest of this year’s edition was the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations and Institutions in Romania.

TENNIS– The pair made up of Romanian Horia Tecau and Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer on Sunday won the men’s doubles final of the WTA Tournament in London. In the last match of the competition, Tecau and Rojer defeated the pair Florin Mergea Romania)- Rohan Bopanna (India), 6/4, 6/3. It was for the first time in history that Romania had two representatives in this tournament with 7 million dollars in prize money up for grabs, which brought together the best 8 players of the 2015 season as well as the best men’s doubles pairs.

22 November 2015
November 22, 2015

UPDATE 2:(18:50) The pair made up of Romanian Horia Tecau and Dutch
Jean-Julien Rojer on Sunday won the men’s doubles final of the WTA Tournament
in London. In the last match of the competition, Tecau and Rojer defeated the
pair Florin Mergea Romania)- Rohan Bopanna (India), 6/4, 6/3. It was for the
first time in history that Romania had two representatives in this tournament
with 7 million dollars in prize money up for grabs, which brought together the
best 8 players of the 2015 season as well as the best men’s doubles pairs.

UPDATE 1 : (14:17): COLECTIV FIRE VICTIM – One of the people who sustained burn injuries in the
Colectiv nightclub fire died on Sunday in Vienna, where he was undergoing
treatment. Thus, the death toll has
risen to 60. 26 people were killed by the deadly fire that devastated Colectiv
on October 30, and a 27th person died on the way to hospital. 33 other people died within the 3 ensuing
weeks. 150 other people were injured and admitted to hospitals in Bucharest. 39
of them were taken to foreign hospitals, but 11 passed away, of whom 3 in the
UK, one in Israel, two in the Netherlands, one en route to Switzerland, one in
France, two in Germany and one in Austria. 40 injured people, of whom 10 in
critical or severe condition, are still hospitalised in Bucharest.

RESUMPTION OF PAYMENTS-The European Commission has unblocked the Regional Operational Program and the reimbursement of European funds will start in the near future, Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos has said on Radio Romania, earlier today. He has explained that, by the end of the year, the absorption rate of structural funds might reach 70%, for the 2007-2013 budget exercise. As regards the reform of the administration, Ciolos has said he will lay emphasis on the principles of transparency and integrity. The integrity criteria, that have already been signed by the members of the new cabinet, will have to be assumed by all public administration employees. The Prime Minister has said Romania needs a functional system so that corruption and bribe no longer permeate the administration.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP – Romanian State Secretary for Strategic Affairs, Daniel Ionita, and the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Hoyt Yee, will co-chair in Bucharest on Monday, the fourth meeting of the Task Force for the implementation of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the US. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Romanian and US officials will assess the stage of bilateral cooperation and will also discuss objectives, action lines and co-operation priorities for the ensuing period of time. The Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the US was adopted, at the highest level, in September 2011. It is the first bilateral political document which validates, in writing, the Strategic Partnership between the two countries and includes key domains of bilateral cooperation.

TERROR ALERT– The Belgian line authorities maintain the highest alert level in Brussels, for fear of possible attacks. Prime Minister Charles Michel has said there is credible information on the risk of attacks similar to those in Paris. Brussels remains on lockdown, over serious threat, with the subway system, shopping centres, cinema halls, museums, restaurants and cafes closed. Stations and airports are guarded by heavily- armed joint police- army patrols. Military vehicles are patrolling the streets of Brussels, while the security forces continue the manhunt for key suspect and Paris fugitive, Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to hide in the Brussels region, trying to find the opportunity to leave for Syria.

DIPLOMACY– US Secretary of
State, John Kerry, is currently on a three-day visit to the Middle East. The
agenda of the talks held in Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah (the
West Bank) covers such issues as the situation in Syria, laying emphasis on the
fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation and the recent
Israeli-Palestinian wave of violence. In the wake of the Paris attacks, the US
tries to consolidate militarily the international coalition against the Islamic
State, FP reports.

SANCTIONS– Western leaders meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit held in Turkey last week, have agreed on a 6 month extension, by July 2016, of the sanctions imposed on Russia for the actions it had taken in Ukraine. According to Reuters, the confidential decision was made public by a high level European diplomat. The measure is taken against the backdrop of appeals for tighter cooperation with Russian president Vladimir Putin against the Islamic State Jihadist group, following the November 13 attacks in Paris, which made over 130 victims.

ECONOMY– The total value of Romanias imports in 2014 exceeded 58 billion Euro, registering a 5.8% increase as compared to the previous year. Data made public by the National Institute for Statistics show 75.4% of the imported goods came from EU member states, particularly from Germany, Italy and Hungary. As compared to 2013, China outclassed the Russian Federation, in terms of the volume of imports made by Romania. According to the National Institute for Statistics, in 2014 Romania fostered trading relations with 212 countries.

BOOK FAIR-The “Gaudeamus International Book Fair, organised by Radio Romania in Bucharest, will come to a close today, when the winners of the Gaudeamus Prize Draw are made public. Over 100 events are scheduled to take place today, among which the Prizes of the Salon of Inventions and Scientific Creation for Youth as well as the Goncourt Prize, offered following the publics vote, by the French Institute in Romania.

TENNIS– Two Romanian tennis players will meet in the mens doubles final of the ATP Tournament in London. The pair made up of Romanian Florin Mergea and Indian Rohan Bopanna will face Romanian Horia Tecau and Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer. It is for the first time that Romania has two representatives in this tournament, with 7 million dollars in prize money up for grabs, and which brought together the best 8 players of the 2015 season as well as the best mens pairs playing in the doubles.

22 November 2015