Radio România Internațional

Tag: terrorist attacks

  • March 15, 2019

    March 15, 2019

    Budget — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday promulgated the 2019 state budget law. He said that he would have liked to promulgate a better budget for Romania and its citizens. President Ioahnnis criticized the fact that the Social Democratic Party, the main force in the ruling coalition, allotted only one day for the re-examination of the budget bill requested by the president and decided to send the bill back to the president without any modifications. President Iohannis labeled the MPs’ gesture as an ill-intentioned act and lack of responsibility. According to Klaus Iohannis the entire Social Democratic governance is a black hole for the Romanian economy and society. On Wednesday the Romanian Parliament adopted in its initial form the 2019 state budget law, which was re-submitted to Parliament by Klaus Iohannis. The Romanian President had previously notified the Constitutional Court over the budget bill but the Court rejected his recommendations. The ruling coalition claims the budget has the necessary resources for all the important domains of the economy.



    Wellington — The Romanian Foreign Ministry officials firmly condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated on Friday on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which left behind around 50 dead and many injured. They conveyed a message of condolence to the families of the victims and reiterated Romania’s support in fighting terrorism. The PM of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, described the attack as “an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence” adding that the authorities are on maximum alert level. She said 4 extremist suspects were arrested, and none of them were on security watch lists. PM Ardern underlined that New Zealand was a place of diversity, wellbeing and compassion, a home for those who share these values, that cannot be shaken by this attack. Islamic and political leaders from Asia have expressed their abhorrence at the attack, as their fellow nationals were allegedly killed in the attack.



    Prague – The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila is paying an official visit to Prague upon the invitation of her Czech counterpart Andrej Babis. Talks are aimed at consolidating economic and political ties and are focusing on the main files currently negotiated within the EU and on the way in which the Czech Republic could support Romania to reach the key objectives of the presidency of the Council of the EU. The visit agenda also includes meetings with high officials from the Czech Republic, the PM Andrej Babis and the speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate.



    Brexit — European leaders are looking into the request of British MPs for Brexit to be postponed. The British Parliament on Thursday evening passed the motion through which the government headed by Theresa May is asking for a postponement of Brexit that should first be accepted by the European leaders. The president of the European Council Donald Tusk is having talks today with the Dutch premier Mark Rutte, with the German chancellor Angela Merkel and the French President Emmanuel Macron. The EU leaders are to meet in Brussels on March 21 and 22, when they are expected to make a decision in relation to extending the deadline for Brexit beyond the current dealine of March 29.



    European summit — The participants in the 8th European Summit of regions and cities on Friday adopted the Bucharest Declaration entitled ‘Building the EU from scratch, together with the regions and cities’. The declaration was officially handed in, on Friday, to President Klaus Iohannis by the president of the European committee of Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, and it represents the contribution of local and regional authorities within the EU to the drafting of the 2019-2024 strategic agenda, which will be presented to the EU leaders in Sibiu on May 9, 2019. The document also includes ten measures aimed at consolidating the democratic basis of the EU and at strengthening the EU actions at local level in order to build a better future for the European citizens. (translation by L. Simion)

  • The world after 9/11/2001

    The world after 9/11/2001

    16 years on, America and the international community continue to mourn the dead of September 11 2001, the darkest day in the history of terrorist attacks against civilization. 3,000 people were killed at the time by Al Qaidas kamikaze commandos, who hijacked four planes and crashed them into emblematic buildings for the United States economic and military power, the World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon. One of the planes, which is believed to have targeted the White House itself, crashed in a forest after the passengers preferred to die fighting the suicidal terrorists. The number of victims has continued to rise in the following years, and a new monument was built this year in their memory.



    According to Radio Romanias correspondent in the United States, a Long Island beach where people gathered on September 11 2001 to watch in horror how the twin towers collapsed, is the venue chosen for a steel tower measuring over 9 metres in height and with granite plaques on which the names of the dead are engraved. The names of the 582 police forces, fire fighters, constructors and volunteers who spent days and even months among the ruins of the World Trade Centre and who later died because of the toxic ashes and smoke they inhaled were engraved on a separate plaque. In a symbolic detail, the plaque contains some free space for the names of those who may still be killed in the same way. Around 75,000 people still suffer from mental and physical disorders caused by the trauma 16 years ago.



    The overwhelming majority of those killed were civilians from 90 different countries, including 5 of Romanian origin: Eugen Gabriel Lazar, Corina and Alexandru Liviu Stan, Joshua Poptean and Ana Fosteris, as well as the famous architect Arkady Zaltsman from the majority Romanian speaking Republic of Moldova, whose designs were used in the building of the Parliament Palace in Chisinau. Like the entire civilised world, Bucharest also categorically condemned the attacks and joined the anti-terrorist coalition from day one.



    Already connected to America by a strategic partnership but still in the NATO antechamber, Romania did not hesitate to send its military to Afghanistan, where the Al Qaida network was enjoying the protection of the Taliban. According to the data published by the Romanian Defence Ministry, 25 Romanian military have been killed in combat and patrol missions and 100 have been wounded in the Afghan theatre of operations. 16 years on, the Romanian military are still there alongside their American colleagues. Deployed in the south, near Kandahar, they provide counselling to the Afghan armed and security forces and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan civilian population, carrying out daily reconnaissance missions, which often result in the capture of Taliban insurgents. (Translated by C. Mateescu, edited by D. Vijeu)

  • March 28, 2016 UPDATE

    March 28, 2016 UPDATE

    Brussels — The independent journalist Faycal Cheffou, the only person arrested and charged with involvement in the Brussels attacks, was released on Monday for lack of evidence. The man was initially suspected of being the mystery third man seen in a footage of the bombers. What’s sure is that the three suicide bombers at the Brussels metro station and airport were also involved in November’s attacks in Paris. The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed the attacks in both countries.




    MESSAGE – Romanias head of state Klaus Iohannis sent his condolences to the Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, following Sunday’s terrorist attack in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, which left more than 70 people dead and hundreds wounded. Iohannis voiced the Romanian people’s compassion and solidarity with the Pakistani people and the victims’ families. Romania’s Foreign Ministry reiterated the country’s firm commitment to fighting terrorism and the need to strengthen international efforts to curb all its forms. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the suicide bombing, which he described as an “appalling act of terrorism.” The attacks were perpetrated in a park where Catholic Christians were celebrating Easter. A Pakistani Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had targeted Christians. A mostly Muslim country, Pakistan has a roughly 2-million strong Christian community, accounting for some 1% of the total population.




    SRI – The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) cannot offer any information, for the time being, regarding the use of Romanian prepaid phone cards by the terrorists who commited attacks in Europe. The SRI has said, however, that it has information according to which such cards are being used in conflict areas such as Syria and Egypt. As the identity of the people using these cards cannot be established, there is a chance that they belong to Romanian citizens living in Syria or in other conflict areas but also to people in conncetion with terrorist activities, the SRI announced. The statements come after Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos said in a TV show that prepaid phone cards from Romania have been used in preparation for the attacks in EU member countries. Ciolos pleaded for a more thorough control of the prepaid phone cards sold, which in Romania can be purchased without checking the buyer’s identity




    ANTI-CORRUPTION — The Higher Council of Magistrates on Monday approved the nomination of Laura Codruta Kovesi for a new term in office as head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. She said that over the past three years, during her term, the number of indictments had increased by 50%, and the number of dignitaries indicted in corruption cases had risen 6 times. She added that the investigation of high-level corruption and recovering the losses incurred by the State remained her main priorities. Also on Monday, Justice Minister Raluca Prună said the decision to nominate Kovesi was based on the remarkable performance of the institution under her leadership. The chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate is nominated by the justice minister, approved by the Higher Council of Magistrates and appointed to office by the president, for a three-year term. The Directorate has been constantly praised in the reports issued under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, an instrument used by the European Commission to monitor the Romanian judiciary.




    FOOTBALL — Romania’s football team ended the match against defending champions Spain in a goalless draw. The game, played on home turf in Cluj, was part of the training stage for this summer’s European Championship in France. On Wednesday Romania had defeated Lithuania, also at home, 1-nill. In Euro 2016, the Romanian team will play the opening game of June 10th against France, in a group that also includes Switzerland and Albania. Romania last took part in a continental final tournament in 2008, when it left the competition in the group stage.



    (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • November 14, 2015

    November 14, 2015

    The French President Francois Hollande on Saturday announced three days of national mourning following Friday night’s terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 128 people, among whom 2 Romanian citizens, and wounded more than 250. The Jihadist group the Islamic State has claimed the attacks. “France will have not pity” said the French president who asked the French people to be united and keep a cold head. Following the tragedy the state of emergency was declared in France and temporary customs controls have been reintroduced. The 6 near-simultaneous attacks took place in various locations in Paris. Tens of people were taken hostage and killed in a concert hall where a rock concert was under way. Explosions were heard in the “Stade de France” area in the north, in the east and center, where the terrorists opened fire in crowded places. The 8 attackers were killed, seven being suicide bombers. In Bucharest the Romanian Foreign Ministry has activated a crisis unit, pointing out that a Romanian citizen was slightly wounded in the attacks. The Romanian Intelligence Service announced the level of terror alert would not be changed. The international community condemned the attacks in Paris labeled as cowardly and barbaric acts. The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said these attacks that killed innocent people should be a signal for the entire international community that should prove more determined to fight terrorism and defend human values.



    The structure of the new Romanian government and the governing program will be presented Saturday or Sunday at the latest. The hearing of the future ministers is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday when Parliament is expected to vote for the new ministers. The prime minister designate Dacian Ciolos has not ruled out a new round of negotiations with some parliamentary parties ahead of presenting the list of ministers. After the first talks the National Liberal Party, the National Union for the Progress of Romania and the national minorities group have announced their unconditional support for the new government. The Social Democratic Party, the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania are waiting to see the new ministers and the governing program before announcing their support.



    14 people who were injured in the October 30th fire in a Bucharest nightclub continue to be in a critical state. So far 55 young people have died following the terrible fire. At present over 60 patients are in hospitals in Bucharest and around 30 are being treated in Great Britain, Belgium, Austria, Israel and the Netherlands. The fire started from the fireworks used in the show. Many of the people who were in the club on October 30th died due to poisoning with toxic fumes.



    As many as 20 countries and international organizations are meeting today in Vienna in an attempt to reach an agreement over the ways to ensure the political transition and Syria and over a possible truce between the regime in Damascus and the different factions in opposition. Washington and Moscow have different viewpoints on the Syrian crisis. Russia and Iran support Damascus while the US and its European and Arab allies support certain groups in opposition and ask for the resignation of the Syrian president Bashar al Assad. A first round of negotiations regarding the situation in Syria took place in Vienna at the end of October. Then, Moscow proposed a plan, which includes, among others, an 18- month process of constitutional reform followed by elections. The plan was rejected by the West, though.

  • November 14, 2015

    November 14, 2015

    The French President Francois Hollande on Saturday announced three days of national mourning following Friday night’s terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 128 people, among whom 2 Romanian citizens, and wounded more than 250. The Jihadist group the Islamic State has claimed the attacks. “France will have not pity” said the French president who asked the French people to be united and keep a cold head. Following the tragedy the state of emergency was declared in France and temporary customs controls have been reintroduced. The 6 near-simultaneous attacks took place in various locations in Paris. Tens of people were taken hostage and killed in a concert hall where a rock concert was under way. Explosions were heard in the “Stade de France” area in the north, in the east and center, where the terrorists opened fire in crowded places. The 8 attackers were killed, seven being suicide bombers. In Bucharest the Romanian Foreign Ministry has activated a crisis unit, pointing out that a Romanian citizen was slightly wounded in the attacks. The Romanian Intelligence Service announced the level of terror alert would not be changed. The international community condemned the attacks in Paris labeled as cowardly and barbaric acts. The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said these attacks that killed innocent people should be a signal for the entire international community that should prove more determined to fight terrorism and defend human values.



    The structure of the new Romanian government and the governing program will be presented Saturday or Sunday at the latest. The hearing of the future ministers is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday when Parliament is expected to vote for the new ministers. The prime minister designate Dacian Ciolos has not ruled out a new round of negotiations with some parliamentary parties ahead of presenting the list of ministers. After the first talks the National Liberal Party, the National Union for the Progress of Romania and the national minorities group have announced their unconditional support for the new government. The Social Democratic Party, the Alliance of Liberal and Democrats and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania are waiting to see the new ministers and the governing program before announcing their support.



    14 people who were injured in the October 30th fire in a Bucharest nightclub continue to be in a critical state. So far 55 young people have died following the terrible fire. At present over 60 patients are in hospitals in Bucharest and around 30 are being treated in Great Britain, Belgium, Austria, Israel and the Netherlands. The fire started from the fireworks used in the show. Many of the people who were in the club on October 30th died due to poisoning with toxic fumes.



    As many as 20 countries and international organizations are meeting today in Vienna in an attempt to reach an agreement over the ways to ensure the political transition and Syria and over a possible truce between the regime in Damascus and the different factions in opposition. Washington and Moscow have different viewpoints on the Syrian crisis. Russia and Iran support Damascus while the US and its European and Arab allies support certain groups in opposition and ask for the resignation of the Syrian president Bashar al Assad. A first round of negotiations regarding the situation in Syria took place in Vienna at the end of October. Then, Moscow proposed a plan, which includes, among others, an 18- month process of constitutional reform followed by elections. The plan was rejected by the West, though.

  • August 10, 2015

    August 10, 2015

    Romanians abroad must benefit from fundamental rights related to the preservation of their national identity, reads a message sent by the Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu to the participants in the Summer University in Izvoru Mureşului, which began on Monday. He emphasised that the measures promoted by Romania with respect to the national minorities on its territory, designed to help protect their ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity, ought to be adopted by the countries that host Romanian communities as well. For one week, Izvoru Muresului is hosting representatives of the Romanian communities in the diaspora, MPs from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, as well as professors from the main universities in the country. The Romanian Cultural Institute, through the Directorate for Romanians Abroad, supports the participation in the event of 80 leaders of Romanian associations, notable personalities of the Romanian communities living abroad. The theme of this years edition is “Romania and the Romanians on the EU and NATO borders.



    In Romania, weather experts forecast another week with extreme heat. Until Wednesday, three counties in the west of the country are under a code orange alert for extreme temperatures, which may reach as much as 38 degrees Celsius. Scarce rainfall is expected this week as well. In most of the country farming areas have been affected by the lack of precipitations, and navigation on River Danube is hindered, although not completely stuck in any of the Romanian sectors of the river.



    Romanias trade balance deficit reached 3.3 billion euros in the first 6 months of the year, up 441 million since the corresponding period of 2014, according to data released on Monday by the National Statistics Institute. Between January and June this year, Romanias exports grew by 5.9% and the imports by 6.9%, compared to the same period last year. According to the National Statistics Institute, in the first six months of the year vehicles and transport equipment, as well as other manufactured goods, accounted for the largest part of both imports and exports.



    The Interior Ministry in Sofia denied the allegations published by Bulgarian media on Sunday, according to which the authorities were searching two presumed terrorists, a Romanian citizen and an Iranian-born French woman, who allegedly have connections with the Islamic State group. The Bulgarian Interior Ministry states in a news release that the individuals in question are searched for forging identity documents, and not for terrorist ties. The Romanian Foreign Ministry announced in turn that the information on the two suspects was false. The Ministry says the Bulgarian authorities temporarily introduced additional security measures on all border check points, and warns the Romanian citizens transiting this country that waiting times in Bulgarian check points may be extended.



    In Athens negotiations carry on between the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and IMF and the Greek authorities over a third bailout programme worth up to 86 billion euros. One of the delicate points has to do with the recapitalisation of Greek banks and the management of bad debts. Greece needs 10 billion euro to inject in its banks, another 7 billion euros to pay off a bridge loan taken out in July and more than 3 billion euros to pay off a loan from the European Central Bank on August the 20th.



    Four Turkish police and a military officer were killed on Monday in 2 attacks in the south-east of the country and blamed on Kurdish rebels. They came just hours after 2 attacks perpetrated in Istanbul and targeting the US consular office and a police station, and in which 3 people were killed and several others wounded. Turkish police have arrested one of the two perpetrators of Monday mornings attack on the American consular office in Istanbul. Meanwhile, the USA deployed six F-16 fighter planes and 300 US troops to the strategic base in Incirlik, in southern Turkey, to strike Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. A NATO member, Turkey last month launched a “synchronised war on terror, which includes air strikes against the jihadists in Syria and against the Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.

  • June 26, 2015 UPDATE

    June 26, 2015 UPDATE

    President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said on Friday in Brussels, after the summer meeting of European heads of state and government, that EU countries have undertaken to take part in redistributing the immigrants to Greece and Italy via the Mediterranean. He added that the Romanian Foreign Ministry will suggest a number of migrants that it can accommodate. Klaus Iohannis pointed out that the 2-year long relocation will be voluntary, in terms of the number of immigrants that each member state will take over. He added that the talks in Brussels also tackled a revision of the EU security strategy and the fight against terrorism. Opinions were also exchanged with the NATO Secretary General, who presented the measures the Alliance is considering in order to cope with the current security threats. On Thursday, the first day of the European summit, Greece was one of the major topics, after the Eurogroup once again failed to reach an agreement with the Greek officials. Unless a deal is struck by June 30, Greece risks defaulting on payments and exiting the Eurozone.



    The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, has strongly condemned Fridays terror attack in France, and said this was a tragic proof of the need to enhance global efforts at fighting terrorism. An International Court against Terrorism is needed, Minister Aurescu said in a Twitter post. The presumed attacker, aged 35, was held by the police shortly after the gas factory attack near Lyon, which left one person dead and two wounded. Also on Friday, around 30 people, including foreign tourists, were killed in the Tunisian tourist resort of Sousse. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, no Romanians are among the victims, but investigations go on. In Kuwait as well, around 25 people died and more than 200 were wounded in an attack on a Shia mosque claimed by the IS. Minister Bogdan Aurescu firmly condemned the attack in Sousse and said the events in Kuwait were shocking.



    Government corruption remains a widespread problem in Romania, reads the US Department of States report on human rights practices for 2014. The report mentions attempts by politicians to compromise the independence of the judiciary and undermine media freedom through threats to journalists, as well as instances of discrimination. Major human rights problems include police and gendarme mistreatment and harassment of detainees and Roma. According to the report, the Government and Parliament passed laws in a non-transparent manner, and Parliament often voted against lifting the immunity of its members for prosecution for corruption. Also, although the Romanian law guarantees the freedom of the press, there are media groups controlled by politicians. Bribery was widespread, especially in the healthcare sector. In 2014, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate continued to investigate high and medium-level corruption cases at a steady pace throughout the year, sending to court 710 individuals under corruption charges, as compared to 530 in the first half of 2013, the US Department of State also noted.



    Romanias womens epee team, made up of Ana-Maria Brânză, Simona Gherman and Simona Pop Friday won the gold medal at the Baku European Games, after having defeated Estonia, 31-25. The mens epee team, including Tiberiu Dolniceanu, Iulian Teodosiu and Alin Badea, lost the final to Italy, 45-44, and won the silver. Romania has won 12 medals in the European Games – 3 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze