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Tag: UN General Assembly

  • The Romanian president speaks at the United Nations Organisation

    The Romanian president speaks at the United Nations Organisation

    In the speech he delivered before the UN General Assembly in New York, president Klaus Iohannis pleaded for maintaining dialogue as an essential element for regional and global security. Iohannis also highlighted Romania’s contribution to solving the present global issues from security crises, such as the war in Ukraine or the Middle East conflict, to major challenges for mankind like climate change, the erosion of human rights or cyber threats. Speaking before the world leaders in New York, Klaus Iohannis said that Romania would always support the international world order with the UNO at its core. According to Iohannis, the main challenge of the world organization is to find the much needed solutions for reestablishing and protecting peace. Otherwise, the international order and law are wasted. Romania is fully backing the peace initiative of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as being the only alternative for obtaining a just and durable peace perfectly in accordance with the UN charter and international law, Iohannis said in New York.

    He underlined that security isn’t regional but global and the war Russia is waging on Ukraine has affected nations and people the world over.

    “This war has caused the biggest security crisis in Europe’s recent history, violating the international law and having implications far beyond Europe.

    In this context, Romania has provided a staunch multidimensional support to Ukraine and its people and pledged to keep it as long as needed” Iohannis went on to say mentioning the essential role played by Romania in easing the export of Ukrainian grain through its Danube and Black Sea ports.

    “If we want to find solutions, we must have a more responsible outlook over the world and understand its challenges. We regrettably notice that insecurity, violence, conflicts and even war have conquered our world”, Iohannis also said.

    The Romanian official also pleaded for more cooperation and solidarity, which would always represent a response to the world issues. Klaus Iohannis also referred to the conflict in Gaza calling for the cessation of violence and standing for the two-state solution. “We are backing all the efforts of resuming the political process based on the two-state solution, coexisting in peace and security within recognized and safe borders, the Romanian president underlined.  And ‘protecting all the civilians must remain our common objective’, Iohannis said in front of the UN General Assembly.

    (bill)

  • September 24, 2024 UPDATE

    September 24, 2024 UPDATE

    Budget – The Romanian government approved the adjustment of the state budget, social security budget and unemployment insurance budget, taking into account the macroeconomic forecasts made by the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis. The indices on which the adjustment is based include a revised 2.8% economic growth rate, an updated GDP of nearly 353 billion Euros and a 6.9% budget deficit. The adjustment focuses on 4 major areas: supporting investments, education, healthcare and social programs for citizens.

     

    UN – Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, is taking part on Tuesday and Wednesday in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, held in New York. The central theme of the current session is ‘Unity in diversity for the progress of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for everyone everywhere.’ The president’s participation in the UNGA this year is, according to the presidency, an opportunity to highlight Romania’s contribution to the global effort to step up progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Iohannis will give an address on Wednesday in the plenary meeting, when he will plead for maintaining multi-lateral dialogue, especially within the UN, as a key element of regional and global security. The Romanian official will also underscore Romania’s efforts and contribution at all levels to solving current global issues, from security crises such as the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, to major challenges for mankind, including climate change, the deterioration of human rights and cyber threats. Mr. Iohannis will also plead for a reformed UN system, able to meet all current and future challenges in an efficient and transparent manner.

     

    Ambassador – Romania is, along the other EU member states, among the main guardians and contributors in the field of human rights, the Romanian Ambassador to the UN, Cornel Feruţă, said in an interview to AGERPRES. He emphasized that Romania has a well-defined profile in terms of promoting international law, of a rule-based international order and the rule of law. According to the Romanian diplomat, the country has credibility in the international community thanks to its openness and willingness to support partners in various parts of the world, especially in Africa, Asia – Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, in fulfilling goals related to sustainable development and to strengthening public sector capabilities. Romania also intends to remain involved in defining global policies to fight climate change. The Romanian diplomat also said the dynamics in the diplomatic community in New York reflects the developments at global level, specifically the war of aggression waged by Russia for over 2.5 years against Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 tragedy.

     

    Conference – Early education is the cornerstone of children’s development, that’s why any investment in this sector is, in fact, an investment in the future, the education minister Ligia Deca said on Tuesday. According to her, this was also one of the central topics of discussions at the international conference “A bright future beyond borders: investment in early education and care of children”. Ligia Deca participated, on Tuesday, in this event organized in Chişinău by the UNICEF Offices in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, in collaboration with the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. Minister Deca wrote on a social network that Romania has understood the importance of early education, and the new Law on pre-university education reflects this. “Our country remains close to the Republic of Moldova, including in terms of the development of the education sector – the close collaboration that we already have is an important step in order to find solutions, together, to the problems that our systems are facing”, Ligia Deca also wrote.

     

    Eurobarometer – 68% of Romanians believe that the EU should have a stronger coordinating role in the field of energy, according to a Eurobarometer survey published on Tuesday. At the European level, the proportion is 77%. According to the research, 8 out of 10 Europeans and almost 7 out of 10 Romanians agree that the climate objectives of the EU will stimulate the creation of new jobs and will attract investments in the clean energy sector. At the same time, 76% of Europeans and 61% of Romanians believe that European policies will reduce dependence on energy imports – the Eurobarometer survey also shows.

     

    Danube – On Tuesday, the Interior Ministry asked the structures at the national and territorial level to be prepared for intervention to manage the risks related to the increase in the flow of the Danube River. Even if the existing information indicates that the estimated situation is not one that poses particular problems, the state secretary Raed Arafat emphasized that the level of preparation must be very high. The head of the Department for Emergency Situations emphasized the need for the representatives of the territorial structures of Romanian Waters to collaborate with those of the inspectorates for emergency situations. According to the National Administration Romanian Waters, the flow of the Danube at the entrance to Romania will be no more than 8,000 cubic meters per second, between September 29-30.

     

    Drone – Specialists of the Defense Ministry and the Romanian Intelligence Service found, on Tuesday, fragments of a Russian drone in an area south of the locality of Plauru in Tulcea county (east), outside the inhabited perimeter of the commune, the Defense Ministry informs. Forces of the relevant ministry continued the search for possible fragments of a drone that fell on the Romanian bank of the Danube, as a result of the attacks carried out in recent weeks by Russian forces on civilian targets and port infrastructure in neighboring Ukraine. The Ministry from Bucharest reiterates the firm message of condemnation of these attacks carried out by Russia against some objectives and elements of Ukrainian civil infrastructure, which are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law. (LS)

  • September 21, 2024 UPDATE

    September 21, 2024 UPDATE

    SUMMIT – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, will lead Romania’s delegation at the summit of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which will take place in New York. The central theme of the session is “Unity in diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for everyone everywhere”. According to a Presidency release, Klaus Iohannis will give a speech on Wednesday, when he will plead for the maintenance of multilateral dialogue, especially in the UN format, as a key element of regional and global security. The president will also highlight Romania’s efforts and contribution at all levels with a view to solving current global problems, from security crises such as the war in Ukraine or the conflict in the Middle East, to major challenges for humanity, including climate emergency or cyber threats.

     

    ADJUSTMENT – The Romanian government is next week discussing a budget adjustment proposal presented by the Ministry of Finance. Although it is based on an increase in revenues, expenses have also significantly increased, which will lead to a deficit of 7%, two percentage points above the authorities’ estimate at the start of the year. Meanwhile, the economic growth forecast was downgraded from 3.4 to 2.8% of GDP. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu gave assurances the adjustment is sustainable, as investment-related expenses account for 84% of the deficit. According to the draft decree published on the website of the Ministry of Finance, healthcare, transports and education will receive additional funds. The social insurance budget will also be increased, to ensure the payment of recalculated pensions, as well as unemployment benefits and related social insurance contributions.

     

    MEETING – In Toronto, Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, presented Romania’s experience in terms of promoting equal opportunities, combating discrimination and stereotypes, eliminating all forms of violence and abuse. The Romanian official attended the “Women Foreign Ministers’ Meeting”, organized by the Canadian and Jamaican Foreign Ministers, Melanie Joly, and Kamina Johnson Smith, respectively. Luminiţa Odobescu reiterated the importance of equal opportunities in Romanian diplomacy, a fact that has led to a situation of parity between women and men, both at the level of the Ministry staff, and in terms of management positions. On the other hand, the Romanian official met with representatives of the Romanian community in Toronto and with a group of students from York University, at a lecture given by university professor Dan Berbecel.

     

    FLOODS – The Danube floods peaked on Saturday in Budapest, with water flows reaching 8,200 cubic meters per second, which could significantly reduce flows on the Romanian segment, Romanian Water Administration officials say. Experts expect a maximum flow below 9,000 cubic meters per second, to be reached by September 29. In 2006, the Danube flow reached 15,600 cubic meters per second. In Budapest, the Danube overflowed, the streets and buildings near the embankment were flooded, and the Parliament building was also flooded. The Danube also overflowed in Slovakia and Austria. The European Commission has promised an emergency aid of 10 bln EUR for countries in Central and Eastern Europe affected by the floods.

     

    CLEANUP DAY – Over 200,000 volunteers and thousands of employees from institutions subordinated to the Environment Ministry took part in Saturday’s national campaign “National Cleanup Day, Let’s Do It, Romania!”, Environment Minister Mircea Fechet said. This year saw the launch of the  “Let’s Do It, Romania!” mobile app, available on iOS and Android, which allows users to report the existence of waste or ragweed and send notifications to the relevant authorities to ensure the cleaning of these areas. This app represents an essential element in efforts to protect the environment, facilitating the direct and quick involvement of citizens. According to data gathered by the “Let’s Do It, Romania!” team, from 2009 until now, over 2.4 million volunteers took part in greening actions on National Cleanup Day, carried out at national level. Romania thus joins 198 other countries in this global effort, which seeks to reduce waste and promote a cleaner and healthier environment.

     

    BUCHAREST DAYS – The Bucharest Days Festival has kicked off, marking the anniversary of 565 years since the city was first documented. Concerts, theater shows, acrobatics and animation performances, installations and art exhibitions are organized on this occasion, as well as various interactive activities for children. This weekend, the George Enescu Square hosts the 12th edition of “Bucharest Music Film Festival”, including performances by prestigious ensembles and artists. Also, children are invited on Sunday to take part in the workshop “Remi and the adventure of sounds: drums and rhythm, small percussion instruments”, where they will be able to experience various sounds and rhythms. (VP)

  • December 13, 2023 UPDATE

    December 13, 2023 UPDATE

    Summits. The future enlargement of the EU is on the agenda of talks in Brussels, where summits are scheduled from Wednesday to Friday. Attending on Wednesday the EU – Western Balkans summit, the head of the Romanian state, Klaus Iohannis, stated that Bucharest is of the opinion that the Western Balkans must reach the EU bloc and that ways must be found to speed up the negotiations. Several countries in the region have already started the negotiation process, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which received candidate status last year, hopes to start them as well. The European Council meeting, which starts on Thursday, will discuss the opening of negotiations for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking), which are candidate countries. Recently, in a telephone conversation with the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, Klaus Iohannis reiterated the support given by Romania to the European path of the neighboring state.



    Visit. The Romanian Minister of the Interior, Cătălin Predoiu, had a meeting in Bucharest with a delegation led by his Israeli counterpart, Moshe Arbel. The delegation also included members of the families of some Romanian citizens (with dual citizenship) kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas. The Israeli side expressed thanks for the solidarity that Romania showed in the context of the conflict caused by Hamas starting on October 7, 2023. In turn, the Romanian side thanked the Israeli authorities for the support given for the repatriation of the Romanian citizens who were in Israel at the beginning of the crisis. It was also highlighted the need to continue efforts together for the quick and safe release of all remaining hostages, no matter how difficult or complex this process may be. The two interlocutors welcomed the good level of bilateral cooperation and highlighted the importance of its consolidation and the resumption of pending projects once the security situation normalizes.



    Budget. Romanias state budget for next year was built on an economic growth of 3.4%, an average annual inflation of 6% and a deficit of 5% of the GDP, according to the 2024-2026 Fiscal-Budget Strategy published on Wednesday. Construction will continue to be the most dynamic sector, the document states. Social insurance contributions (over 31% of total revenue) account for the largest share of the budget revenue in 2024, followed by VAT (over 20%), amounts received from the EU (almost 12% of total revenue), taxes on wages and income (about 8% of the GDP) and non-tax revenues (7.8% of total revenues).



    Middle East. The UN General Assembly voted for a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas. The resolution was adopted with 153 votes in favor, 10 votes against and 23 abstentions. The United States voted against the resolution, but president Joe Biden warned Israel that it is beginning to lose international support.



    Conference. Ukraine is the topic of an international conference hosted by the Romanian mountain resort of Sinaia. For two days, Romanian and foreign officials address topics such as the challenges of the reconstruction process of Ukraine, energy and food security, freedom of navigation and critical infrastructure, as well as the role that Romania can play in these areas. The relations between Romania and Ukraine will soon reach a true strategic partnership, in which an essential component will be the logistic center on the territory of our country for the reconstruction of and assistance for Ukraine, said the head of the Romanian Government, Marcel Ciolacu. The Prime Minister assured that Romania is acting and will continue to be the promoter of the concerted measures of the Euro-Atlantic Community for the reconstruction of Ukraine, within the European integration process. A video message came from the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, who voiced confidence that his country will soon be part of the family of European nations. He stated that the Romanian-Ukrainian partnership was broad and comprehensive, and appreciated Bucharests support, both from a humanitarian and economic point of view.



    Army. The US Department of State has favorably approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Romania worth about 80 million dollars, announced the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The agency stated that the Bucharest government requested to purchase 263 Javelin FGM-148F missiles and 26 portable launchers for these missiles (Light Weight Command Launch Units). Their delivery to Romania supports the national security and foreign policy goals of the USA by contributing to increasing the security of a NATO ally, which is an important force for the political and economic stability of Europe, according to the justification document drawn up by the American side.



    Olympiad. The Romanian government has given prizes to almost 140 Romanian pupils who took part in international school Olympiads to reward them for the medals they won in these competitions, in a ceremony hosted on Tuesday by the National Theatre in Bucharest. The government allocated around 785,000 euros for the Romanian pupils, the teachers who trained them for the competitions, and their schools. Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who attended the event, said the 2024 budget bill has the highest sum earmarked for education in Romanias history, namely 4.1% of the countrys GDP. With every pupil who achieves excellence in their chosen field, we can build a better and prosperous future, he said.



    Exhibition. The Salvador Dali Universe exhibition was opened in Bucharest on Wednesday, showcasing for the first time in Romania a selection of works by the Catalan artist. The exhibition brings together 170 works, including sculptures, graphic art, etchings, miniatures from gold, diamond, emerald, sapphires and glass, as well as surrealist furniture, which can be visited until May next year. (MI)


  • September 20, 2023 UPDATE

    September 20, 2023 UPDATE

    UN – The
    extended Black Sea region must be protected against the fallout from Russia’s
    war in Ukraine, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis said on the sidelines of the
    UN General Assembly. Romania will not abandon its most vulnerable partners, the
    president said, referring to the transit of Ukrainian grain on Romanian territory.
    Klaus Iohannis said the war proved the Black Sea deserves more attention at
    global level, being of strategic importance for trans-Atlantic security. The
    Romanian president also said Romania is concerned about the effects of climate
    change, pollution and energy insecurity and is making visible efforts to combat
    these phenomena. At the same time, Klaus Iohannis underscored the importance of
    climate education, which he described as a priority for Romania, adding that
    climate and security must be interconnected and be a priority on the UN agenda.
    Earlier on Wednesday, the president said Romania has attained 62% of its national
    objectives for implementing 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and has
    reported major progress regarding the implementation of Sustainable Development
    Goals (SDGs) linked to environment protection and curbing the effects of
    climate change.




    LAW PACKAGE – The Government on
    Wednesday debated the law package consisting of fiscal regulations and measures
    to cut public spending. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wants to adopt the
    document over the next days and then assume responsibility for the bill before
    Parliament. The package comprises measures designed to combat tax evasion and
    cut public spending. The opposition claims the fiscal measures will have a
    negative impact on the economy, entrepreneurs and liberal professions. Ahead of
    the government session, the Prime Minister said Romania has the highest tax
    evasion rate at EU level, accounting for over 10% of the GDP.




    EXPLOSION – An explosion took
    place on Wednesday morning on a Togo-flagged ship in the Black Sea, near the
    Romanian port of Sulina. The Regional Port Authority said that, at the request
    of the ship’s captain, all 12 crew members were brought to Sulina safely and
    are undergoing medical investigations. Representatives of the Coast Guard and
    the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea also participated in the
    rescue operation of the ship’s crew. The cause of the explosion is
    unknown for the time being. Whether or not it was due to a mine remains to be
    established by the Ministry of Defense, the port authority said. The
    Naval Forces General Staff decided to send to Sulina a military ship
    specialized in the detection of sea mines. Sulina is located close to Romania’s
    border with Ukraine.




    MOTION – The
    Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday voted against the simple motion tabled by Save
    Romania Union and the Force of the Right, from the center-right opposition,
    against the Social-Democratic Health Minister Alexandru Rafila. The motion
    initiators are blaming Rafila, among other things, for the way he managed the
    health reforms and investment stipulated in the National Recovery and
    Resilience Plan. Rafila has rejected the allegations and has deemed the
    opposition’s move as demagogical. (VP)

  • The UN condemns Russia

    The UN condemns Russia

    The UN General Assembly
    has overwhelmingly condemned Russia’s proclaimed annexation of four Ukrainian
    regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, calling it illegal. The resolution
    was initiated by Ukraine and Albania, following the Russian Federation’s
    rejection of a similar resolution in the Security Council at the end of
    September. The text was co-sponsored by Romania, along with 75 other UN member
    states. Of the organization’s 193 member states, 143, including Romania,
    adopted Wednesday’s resolution. It is the largest number of votes obtained
    since the beginning of the war against Ukraine in favor of a UN General
    Assembly resolution on this topic.






    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the vote
    showed international unity against Russia and repeated Washington would never
    recognize the sham referendums.






    The vote is a powerful reminder that the overwhelming
    majority of nations stand with Ukraine, in defense of the UN Charter and in
    resolute opposition to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and its people,
    Blinken said in a statement. With very few nations voting with Russia today,
    it is clear that international unity on this question is resolute and support
    for Ukraine at the UN and beyond is unwavering, Blinken also said.






    It came as no
    surprise that five countries, namely Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and
    Nicaragua, voted against. 35, among which China, India, Pakistan and South
    Africa abstained, despite the diplomatic efforts of the United States. Before
    the vote, the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, asked as many
    countries as possible not to abstain. Today it is Russia invading Ukraine. But
    tomorrow it could be another nation whose territory is violated. It could be
    you. You could be next. What would you expect from this chamber?, she said.





    Through this resolution, co-edited by the European Union and presented by Ukraine, the Westerners state that, seven months after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, they have proved that President Vladimir Putin’s Russia is isolated on the international stage. The text urges that no state recognizes these annexations and demands the immediate withdrawal of the Russian troops, who entered Ukraine on February 24.


    Romanian
    Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu welcomed the adoption of the
    resolution condemning the illegal annexation by Russia of the four Ukrainian
    territories. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Bucharest
    condemned in the strongest terms the signing of the so-called agreements of
    accession to the Russian Federation of some Ukrainian regions under the
    illegal occupation of Russian troops. These actions cannot produce any kind of
    effect from the point of view of international law, and Romania does not
    recognize their validity, especially with regard to the operation of any change
    regarding the territorial membership of the Ukrainian regions concerned , the Romanian
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also stressed. (MI)







  • September 21, 2021 UPDATE

    September 21, 2021 UPDATE

    Covid-19RO. 6789 cases on Covid-19 were reported in Romania on Tuesday, in 60 thousand tests. It was the highest daily figure reported this year. 129 related deaths were also reported. Some 1000 Covid-19 patients are in intensive care. The authorities have announced new measures to ensure the care of the patients in serious condition. As of Tuesday, the situation of available ITU beds will be monitored daily by the Sanitary Authority. 270 localities in Romania have a 14-day aggregated incidence higher or equal to three per one thousand inhabitants. In these places, those who want to participate in various events or go to a restaurant need a green certificate, attesting vaccination, a negative test or evidence that theyve had the disease. After a long period when the vaccination pace stalled, a slight increase has been registered in the past few days. The coordinator of the vaccination campaign, Valeriu Gheorghita, announced on Tuesday that some 2.5 million doses would be delivered to Romania in September, of which 1.9 million doses of Pfizer vaccine and 500,000 doses of vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson.



    UN. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is heading the Romanian delegation to the high-level segment of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, is also attending. The theme of the session is “Building resilience through hope – to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainability, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations”. According to the Presidential Administration in Bucharest, “the participation of the President of Romania in this session will be an opportunity to highlight our countrys position on current global challenges, which require common solutions, solidarity and cooperation, based on sound democratic principles and respect for international law”. On Wednesday, the head of state will take part, at the invitation of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, in the Global Summit on the coordination of the international response in the context of the new coronavirus. In a speech at the UN on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said the world was facing a decisive decade and that addressing a variety of challenges would depend on the ability to recognize “our common humanity”.



    Meeting. The situation in Afghanistan was the main topic of discussion at the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers, where Romania was represented by Bogdan Aurescu. Held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit, the meeting set out to launch an EU platform for co-operation with Afghanistans neighbors (Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), in order to deal with the multiple consequences of the crisis in the country. The head of Romanian diplomacy expressed support for the platforms objectives, namely stability and security, prevention of the spread of terrorism and crime, migration control, border protection and humanitarian assistance. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, Bogdan Aurescu stressed the importance of maintaining the EUs unity and commitment to the efforts to support Afghans, especially women and children, as well as that part of the population that shares Western values.



    Government. The government in Bucharest is preparing two emergency ordinance bills regarding the insurance market – Prime Minister Florin Cîţu has announced. One of the documents addresses the price of the policy, and the second regards the protection of the clients of the insurance company City Insurance, which was the market leader, with 3 million mandatory civil liability insurance for car owners issued, and which is currently declaring its bankruptcy. Meanwhile, the National Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies of Romania, together with the Motor Insurers Bureau, have launched a guide with useful information both for those who have a mandatory policy issued by City Insurance and for those who have been victims of a car accident with a car insured with this company.



    Award. The young Romanian tailor Vlăduţ Mihail Motău is the winner of the prestigious Italian Golden Scissors 2021 award, a competition that has reached its 70th edition. The award ceremony took place in Rome. Vladut Mihail Motău was born 27 years ago in Neamţ County (northeast of Romania) and settled in Italy eight years ago. He worked alongside his master, Daniel Robu, in his tailors shop in Turin. According to the Italian agency ANSA, taken over by Rador news, the theme of this years edition of the contest was Technique and Elegance. The works were evaluated not only by Italian referees, but also by a jury composed of several great masters of international tailoring. (MI)



  • September 23-27

    September 23-27

    President Iohannis attends the UN General Assembly


    Romania will do more to achieve the
    objectives pertaining to the UN’s 2030 sustainable development agenda,
    President Klaus Iohannis told the UN General Assembly meeting held in New York.
    High on the agenda are eradicating poverty, clean energy for affordable prices
    and swift measures to combat climate change. The President recalled that
    Romania too had to deal with the adverse effects of climate change and has
    initiated programs to curb greenhouse gas emissions. President Iohannis also
    condemned terrorist attacks and reiterated Bucharest’s firm commitment to
    combating global terrorism. He recalled that two Romanian military have been
    recently killed in Kabul in attacks orchestrated by the Taliban. On the
    sidelines of the UN General Assembly, President Iohannis had bilateral talks
    with his Ukrainian and Moldovan counterparts, Volodimir Zelenski and Igor
    Dodon, respectively, whom he assured of Romania’s support for the two
    countries’ European accession efforts.



    Prime Minister Dancila on a visit to the US


    Also in the United States Prime
    Minister Viorica Dancila met with US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, on which
    occasion Romania and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding
    concerning strategic civil nuclear cooperation (NCMOU). According to a
    Government release, the Romanian official expressed her Government’s commitment
    towards the development of economic cooperation under the Strategic Partnership
    between the two states, grounded on a pragmatic and mutually advantageous
    cooperation. Viorica Dancila also met with the Secretary General of the
    Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Angel Gurria, expressing
    Romania’s firm commitment and readiness to start OECD accession negotiations.



    Laura Codruta Kovesi appointed at the helm of the EPPO


    Romanian Laura Codruta Kovesi will
    become the first European chief prosecutor, after the European Parliament and
    the Council of the European Union reached a final agreement in this matter. The
    former head of the National Anticorruption Directorate in Romania, Laura
    Codruta Kovesi is extremely competent, with an impressive record of
    achievements in fighting corruption, the Budget Control Committee Chair Monika
    Hohlmeier said. The agreement over the appointment of Kovesi as European chief
    prosecutor must now be made official by the European Parliament and the Council
    of the European Union. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is set to start
    its activity next year, and will be able to investigate, prosecute and bring to
    court any offences against the EU budget, such as tax evasion, corruption and
    major cross-border VAT fraud.



    Uncertainties over Romania’s
    candidate for the position of European Commissioner


    Romanian Social-Democrat MEP Rovana
    Plumb’s candidacy for the position of European Commissioner for Transport was
    rejected on Thursday by the European Parliament’s Judicial Committee, with 15
    votes against, 6 in favor and two abstentions. According to procedures, without
    the Committee’s go-ahead, Plumb’s hearing in the Transport Committee was
    cancelled. Plumb was called to appear before the judicial committee to answer
    the questions raised over her wealth declaration.



    Energy interconnection


    Three agreements on the
    implementation of the project aimed at interconnecting the energy grids of
    Moldova and Romania were signed on Thursday in Chisinau. According to the
    agreements, Chisinau is due to access a 60-million-euro loan from the European
    Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with another 40 million euros due to be
    disbursed by the European Union. The funds will be used to modernize the energy
    sector, especially for building a station that will interconnect Moldova and
    Romania’s energy grids. Moldova’s Western Partners have pointed out that the
    project will help consolidate energy security and reduce Moldova’s dependency
    on Russian gas imports.


    Presidential election candidates


    Meanwhile, in Bucharest, the
    Central Election Bureau has finished the registration of candidates for the
    November 10 presidential election. All parliamentary parties have submitted a
    candidate, and pundits expect a second ballot will most likely be held on
    November 24. The top candidates are acting President Klaus Iohannis,
    Social-Democrat Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, Dan Barna representing the Save
    Romania Union – Plus Alliance, Theodor Paleologu, the candidate of the People’s
    Movement Party, Mircea Diaconu, who has rallied the support of the Alliance of
    Liberals and Democrats, and Kelemen Hunor from the Democratic Union of Ethnic
    Hungarians. The other candidates are either independent or supported by small
    non-parliamentary parties, which have so far kept a low key on the Romanian
    political stage.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • Romania’s President delivered speech at the UN General Assembly

    Romania’s President delivered speech at the UN General Assembly

    Romania’s national strategy on climate change has been conceived so as to create an economy with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, able to integrate climate policies through intelligent growth, said the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in his speech delivered at the UN General Assembly meeting. President Iohannis believes that climate change represents a global challenge, mentioning the drinking water shortage and food insecurity as well as the increase in the level of seas and oceans.



    The Romanian President said Romania did not escape the collateral effects of these changes and expressed hope that it is not too late to have a safe planet where the environment is protected for our children. The Romanian official pleaded for concrete measures to be taken in order to meet the pledges assumed under the Paris Agreement and through the rules agreed upon in Katowice, including continued efforts to ensure that global temperatures don’t rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels.



    Through the National Strategy on Climate Change, Romania aims at achieving, by 2050, a society in which the economic, social and environment policies are interconnected and designed so as to ensure sustainable development, high living standards and a high quality of the environment, Klaus Iohannis went on to say. The president recalled that during its presidency of the Council of the EU, Romania promoted the EU agenda on climate change.



    President Iohannis pointed out that transition to a climate-neutral economy was intensely debated within the EU and the Union’s long term strategy on climate change is to be soon finalized. He added that Romania responded to the appeal made by the UN Secretary General related to starting national initiatives in 9 concrete domains with a potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to intensifying global action aimed at adaptation and resilience.



    Romania’s 2030 National Strategy for Sustainable Development sets the country’s action guidelines in this respect for the next 12 years. Drafted after a large-scale public consultation, the strategy reflects the Romanian society’s expectations and identifies the policies necessary for meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Targets. According to President Iohannis, creating sustainable development structures within the administration and setting up a coalition of civil society for sustainable development are some of the instruments envisaged by the authorities for accelerating and boosting national efforts in the field.



    The president also referred to fighting terrorism, which killed several Romanian citizens, the most recent victims being in Kabul. Klaus Iohannis has condemned terrorist attacks in his speech, and reiterated Romania’s firm commitment to combating terrorism at international level by all means available. (translation by L. Simion)

  • September 25, 2019

    September 25, 2019

    Washington – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will deliver a speech today at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly under way in New York. The Romanian President’s participation in the meeting is a good opportunity to reiterate Romania’s commitment to multilateral governance in managing the main global challenges and to highlight the results Romania obtained in this respect during its presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2019. Klaus Iohannis will also take part in the high level political forum on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. On the occasion the Romanian President will present Romania’s progress in implementing the agenda, including the regional role Romania has assumed through the organization of events meant to promote regional partnerships to meet the agenda.



    Visit — The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila is on a working visit to the US where she had a meeting, on Tuesday, with the secretary general of the OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Angel Gurria. During the meeting Mrs. Dancila underlined that Romania continued to be firmly committed to its aim of joining the organization and that it was ready to start negotiations in this regard. According to a government communiqué, the Romanian official highlighted Romania’s positive economic developments, the results of the reform program and the active participation of institutions from Romania in the activities, projects and programs of the OECD structures, as well as in the organization’s regional and global initiatives. The PM Dancila also met with the US Secretary of Energy Richard Perry with who she signed a document in the domain of civil nuclear power. During the meeting, the Romanian official expressed the Romanian government’s determination to develop the economic dimension of the US- Romania Strategic Partnership.



    Electoral Bureau — In Bucharest, the Central Electoral Bureau is dealing, today and tomorrow, with possible appeals made against the candidacies for the November 10 presidential election. On Friday, the Bureau is to announce the final list of candidates. So far it has validated 14 candidates. On Tuesday, the Bureau rejected two candidacies and announced officially that it would file a complaint with relevant institutions after finding similarities between the signatures submitted by several candidates.



    Brussels — The negotiating teams of the EP and the EU Council reached an agreement on Tuesday evening over the appointment of the Romanian Laura Codruţa Kövesi at the helm of the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office, shows an EP communiqué. The negotiations over the appointment of the new European prosecutor started in spring. The EP’s negotiating team supported Laura Codruţa Kövesi from the very beginning despite opposition from the EU ministers.



    Handball — Romania’s women’s handball team is taking on today, on home ground, the team of neighboring Ukraine in the debut match of Group 7 of the 2020 European Championship preliminaries. Poland and the Faroe Islands are also in the Group. The first two teams in the group will qualify to the final. In the 2018 edition of the championship Romania was ranked 4th in the group, failing to get the bronze medal which went to the Netherlands. In the men’s competition, Romania’s champions Dinamo Bucharest are playing at home against Danish vice-champions GOG Gudme in Group D of the Champions League. In the previous matches, Dinamo defeated, in Bucharest, the Swedish team IFK Kristianstad and drew the match with the Swiss team Kadetten Schaffhausen away from home. (translation by L. Simion)

  • September 23, 2019

    September 23, 2019

    ELECTION – The
    registration deadline for the November presidential election was Sunday at
    midnight. The official list of candidates will be announced on Monday.
    Challenges can be filed until Wednesday at the Constitutional Court, while the
    final list will be made public on Friday. Acting President Klaus Iohannis and
    Prime Minister Viorica Dancila have enrolled in the race, among others.




    UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    – President Klaus Iohannis is attending the UN General Assembly meeting in New
    York. The agenda of the 74th session includes such topics as
    stepping up multilateral efforts to eradicate poverty, quality education,
    climate action and inclusion. The Romanian President will give a speech before
    the UN General Assembly and take part in the high-level political forum, which
    will focus on accelerating the implementation of the 2030 sustainable
    development agenda. The 2030 Agenda is a global action program adopted four
    years ago, with the aim of facing economic, social and environment-related
    challenges. Eradicating poverty, zero hunger, health and prosperity, clean
    water, decent work and economic growth are but some of the goals UN leaders
    plan on achieving globally by 2030. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
    meeting, President Iohannis will also have a series of bilateral meetings and attend
    the reception hosted by US President Donald Trump.




    VISIT – This week
    Romania’s Prime Minister Viorica Dancila is on a one-week working visit to the
    United States. She is accompanied by Defense Minister Gabriel Les and Finance
    Minister Eugen Teodorovici. The Prime Minister on Saturday announced she would
    have talks with Vice-President Mike Pence and would attend a meeting on
    combating terrorism. The Romanian official also said a memorandum on energy
    would be signed, as well as a document in the area of health with the World
    Bank. The agenda of the visit also includes meetings with American business
    people, whom she will present with the advantages of investing in Romania. The
    prime minister has also stated she plans to meet representatives of the Romanian
    community in the United States.




    COUNCIL MEETING -
    Romania’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Petre Daea, is as of
    today taking part in the informal meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries
    Council, hosted by Helsinki on the sidelines of the Finnish Presidency of the
    Council of the European Union. High on the agenda are promoting management
    practices that should ensure the protection of soil resources, promoting
    sustainable agriculture by sequestering soil carbon, the sequestration of soil
    carbon for climate action. Romania is promoting measures to promote sustainable
    agriculture development by sequestering soil carbon as part of its national
    strategic plan as one of the provisions of the 2021-2027 Common Agricultural
    Policy. Romania, Finland and Croatia are consecutively holding the rotating
    presidency of the Council of the European Union over January 2019 – June 2020.




    EUROSTAT -
    Romania ranks among the last 4 EU member states in a 2017 Eurostat survey
    measuring the expenditure governments allot to recreation and sport, with 23
    euros per capita, as compared to the EU average of 100 euros per capita.
    Romania is followed by Slovakia with 23 euros, Bulgaria with 16 euros and
    Croatia with 13 euros. Luxembourg ranks first with 500 euros per capita,
    followed by Sweden and Finland. Also in 2017, the 28 EU member states spent
    51.3 billion euros of government expenditure on recreation and sport.




    ENESCU FESTIVAL -
    The George Enescu International Music Festival came to a close on Sunday. The
    festival brought together famous musicians and orchestras from around the
    world. Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu gave a recital in Toronto, while
    the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest played host to Mozart’s Don Giovanni, performed by the Chamber
    Orchestra in Basel. Also in Bucharest, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of
    Amsterdam gave its second representation. Radio Romania was co-producer of the
    Enescu Festival, established in 1958 to honor the memory of the great Romanian
    composer and violinist George Enescu. Over August 31 – September 22, over 2,500
    of the world’s most prestigious musicians performed in Bucharest, other cities
    in Romania as well as cities in Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the Republic
    of Moldova.

    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • September 19, 2019 UPDATE

    September 19, 2019 UPDATE

    EPPO – The Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European
    Union (COREPER) has voted the Romanian Laura Codruta Kovesi as the first
    European Chief Prosecutor, with 17 votes out of 22. Kovesi’s candidacy must
    also be endorsed by the European Parliament, which has already voiced its
    support for the Romanian candidate. Kovesi on Thursday told a television
    station that the vote represents an acknowledgment of the activity of the
    entire Romanian justice system, a success for all Romanians who in recent years
    have supported the fight against corruption and upheld the rule of law. In
    turn, President Klaus Iohannis said the vote in favor of appointing Laura
    Codruta Kovesi as chief European Prosecutor is a major win for Romania.




    GENERAL ASSEMBLY – Romanian
    President Klaus Iohannis next week will attend the UN General Assembly meeting
    in New York. High on the agenda are eradicating poverty, quality education as
    well as social inclusion and climate change. Klaus Iohannis will give speeches
    and have a series of bilateral meetings. The 74th session of the UN
    General Assembly kicked off on September 17, being the most important annual
    event devoted to multilateral diplomacy.




    ECHR – Romanian Prime
    Minister Viorica Dancila Thursday received in the Bucharest the president of
    the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos. The two
    officials discussed progress with a view to streamlining the Court’s activity,
    with a focus on the future European Convention of Human Rights. Prime Minister
    Dancila pointed out Romanian authorities are actively taking part in the
    process of reform regarding the future system of the Convention. The Romanian
    official has reiterated Romania’s trust in the ECHR, in its role to uphold
    fundamental rights and liberties, underscoring its attachment towards the
    values of the Council of Europe. In turn, the ECHR president referred to the
    good cooperation with Romanian authorities.




    MIGRATION – Last year, some
    5.3 million migrants left their home countries to settle in developed
    countries, reads a report published in Paris by the Organization for Economic
    Cooperation and Development. Romania ranks second after China among the
    countries with the largest number of migrants. Last year, some 500,000
    Romanians emigrated. Most of them got to Germany, Great Britain and Italy. As
    regards migration to Romania, most of the immigrants came from the neighboring Republic
    of Moldova, followed by Chinese and French.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • National Minorities’ Day in Romania

    National Minorities’ Day in Romania

    26 years ago, the UN General Assembly adopted the
    Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious
    and Linguistic Minorities. The international document provides guarantees for
    their rights in general, so several states recognized its importance by
    declaring December 18th the National Minorities’ Day. Romania too
    has joined the international initiative, so on December 18th we
    celebrate all national minorities living in this country: Albanian, Armenian,
    Bulgarian, Croat, Greek, Jew, German, Italian, Hungarian, Polish, Roma, Lipovan
    – Russian, Serb, Slovak, Check, Tartar, Turkish, Ukrainian, Macedonian and
    Ruthenian. Cultural events, symposiums, round tables and other specific actions
    are held on this day.

    National Minorities’ Day is the expression of the
    general interest in living in a democratic society, characterized by tolerance
    and diversity, in the good functioning of which we are all engaged, says
    Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis, himself an ethnic German, in a message
    conveyed on the occasion. Preservers of ancestors’ traditions, and valuable
    contributors to modernizing the state and shaping our European identity, the
    national minorities have built, together with the Romanian majority, the
    democratic and pro-European road that Romania took to in December 1989 the
    Romanian president’s message also reads. In a world of competition and global
    challenge, Romania must be defined by inter-ethnic dialogue, as a factor of social
    cohesion and human development, tolerance and fight against chauvinism and
    xenophobia, the president also says.


    The Romanian Parliament too has sent a message to the
    Romanian citizens belonging to national minorities, through the voice of
    Varujan Pambuccian, a representative of the Armenian minority. National
    minorities in Romania have developed and asserted their own ethnic identity,
    not only by means of laws, but also and more importantly, on the basis of a
    process that started 100 years ago, when the Romanian people decided to form
    the Romanian modern nation and Greater Romania together with the other peoples
    living on the historical territories of Romania, with whom they shared
    history, says Varujan Pambuccian. Romania is a European model with regard to
    the protection of national minorities’ rights, which go beyond international
    standards and support their participation in the decisions making process concerning
    society as a whole.


    We recall that 18 of the recognized national
    minorities in Romania are represented in the Chamber of Deputies, and the
    Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, the political party of the largest
    minority in Romania, has been part of many coalition governments established
    since 1996.

    (Translated by M. Ignatescu)

  • September 29, 2018 UPDATE

    September 29, 2018 UPDATE

    FUND – The Romanian Ministry of Public Finance
    has launched a bill aimed at defining the legal framework for the Sovereign
    Development and Investment Fund for public debate. The fund will be a Romanian
    judicial entity whose organization and functioning are regulated by Government
    decree. The Fund will be a joint stock company owned entirely by the Romanian
    state. According to the Finance Ministry, the Fund is aimed at developing and
    financing sustainable investment projects using its own funds. It will bring
    together 33 state-owned companies, with a total social capital of some 2
    billion euros.




    MEETING – Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu
    met with counterparts from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Sri Lanka, Bahrain,
    the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Laos on the sidelines of the UN General
    Assembly held in New York. Additionally, the Romanian official met with his
    Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto. According to a Ministry release, the
    two officials looked at ways to improve bilateral relations, based on the Strategic
    Partnership between the two countries, EU and NATO membership and mutual
    respect. Talks focused on topics of mutual interest, especially supporting the
    European track of states in the Western Balkans and the need to diversify
    energy transport routes, in order to ensure energy security at regional and
    European level.




    LAW ENFORCEMENT – The Romanian Police has identified
    32 vehicles wanted internationally. Eight were reported as stolen in the United
    Kingdom, five in Belgium and Spain each, four in Italy, three in Germany, two
    in France and one in Poland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania
    each. The Romanian Police recommends prudence to people who want to buy a
    second-hand vehicle in trade fairs abroad and to ask the buyer for all the proper
    car identification documents.




    GUAM – Ex-soviet states making up the so-called
    GUAM group – Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova, will
    join efforts to consolidate their positions and defend territorial integrity,
    GUAM officials said as part of a GUAM Parliament Assembly held in Chisinau.
    GUAM officials have criticized Russia’s involvement in fueling territorial
    conflicts and military aggression, particularly in Georgia and Ukraine. GUAM
    was set up in 2006, with the aim of developing cooperation between members,
    consolidating stability and joint security at European level. The Republic of
    Moldova is currently holding the rotating presidency of GUAM. Chisinau is
    facing increased pro-Russian separatism in Transdniestr, a region the broke
    with Moldova in 1992 in the wake of an armed conflict that killed hundreds and
    that ended with the military intervention of Russian forces.




    TSUNAMI – The Romanian Foreign Ministry has conveyed
    its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of Friday’s earthquake
    and ensuing tsunami that hit Sulawesi Island, the Republic of Indonesia, which
    killed hundreds and left scores wounded or missing. The Ministry also expressed
    compassion and solidarity with the Indonesian people and authorities, also in connection
    to the high number of victims and the level of damages. Most casualties were
    reported in Palu city on the western coast of the island.




    RECORD – 4,807 people, mostly high-school children
    from all over the country, on Saturday set a new world record in Alba Iulia,
    central Romania, making up the largest human image of a country. The map of
    Romania had the number 100 highlighted at its center, standing for the
    celebration of the Great Union Centennial in 2018. The previous record was held
    by Myanmar, where 3,466 people made a human representation of their country in
    February 2018.




    TENNIS – Romanian tennis players Irina Begu and
    Raluca Olaru on Saturday lost 7-5, 6-3 to Olga Danilovic of Serbia and Tamara
    Zdansek of Slovenia in the women’s doubles final at the tournament in Taskent,
    Uzbekistan, totaling 250 thousand dollars in prize money. Olaru has previously
    won the Taskent doubles twice, in 2008 alongside Olga Savchuk of Ukraine and in
    2016 with Ipek Soylu of Turkey. Begu won the women’s singles in 2012.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • September 29, 2018

    September 29, 2018

    TREASON CASE – The Directorate Investigating Organized Crime and
    Terrorism in Romania (DIICOT) has announced that it has closed a case based on
    the high treason accusations brought by Ludovic Orban, the president of the
    National Liberal Party in opposition, against Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă.
    According to the Directorate, the case, which concerned the memorandum approved
    by the Government with respect to the relocation of the Romanian Embassy from
    Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, was dismissed because no breach of the law has been
    established. The criminal complaint filed in May by Ludovic Orban also
    concerned Liviu Dragnea, the president of the Social Democratic Party in power,
    who was accused of unlawful disclosure of state secrets, Orban said at the
    time.




    MEETING – Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu
    met with counterparts from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Sri Lanka, Bahrain,
    the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Laos on the sidelines of the UN General
    Assembly held in New York. Additionally, the Romanian official met with his
    Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto. According to a Ministry release, the
    two officials looked at ways to improve bilateral relations, based on the
    Strategic Partnership between the two countries, EU and NATO membership and
    mutual respect. Talks focused on topics of mutual interest, especially
    supporting the European track of states in the Western Balkans and the need to
    diversify energy transport routes, in order to ensure energy security at
    regional and European level.




    LAW ENFORCEMENT – The Romanian Police has identified
    32 vehicles wanted internationally. Eight were reported as stolen in the United
    Kingdom, five in Belgium and Spain each, four in Italy, three in Germany, two
    in France and one in Poland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania
    each. The Romanian Police recommends prudence to people who want to buy a
    second-hand vehicle in trade fairs abroad and to ask the buyer for all the
    proper car identification documents.




    GUAM – Ex-soviet states making up the so-called
    GUAM group – Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova, will
    join efforts to consolidate their positions and defend territorial integrity,
    GUAM officials said as part of a GUAM Parliament Assembly held in Chisinau.
    GUAM officials have criticized Russia’s involvement in fueling territorial
    conflicts and military aggression, particularly in Georgia and Ukraine. GUAM
    was set up in 2006, with the aim of developing cooperation between members,
    consolidating stability and joint security at European level. The Republic of
    Moldova is currently holding the rotating presidency of GUAM. Chisinau is
    facing increased pro-Russian separatism in Transdniestr, a region the broke
    with Moldova in 1992 in the wake of an armed conflict that killed hundreds and
    that ended with the military intervention of Russian forces.




    TSUNAMI – According to authorities in Indonesia,
    some 400 people were killed in the earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit
    Sulawesi Island on Friday. Most casualties were reported in Palu city, hit by
    tsunamis measuring three meters in height. The coms and power grid are
    temporarily offline, while images flooding public media reveal dead bodies
    amidst debris along the shoreline, international news agencies report.




    HANDBALL – The Romanian women’s handball team
    is today playing Poland’s B team as part of a training campaign ahead of the
    European Championship hosted this year by France. The tournament will take
    place over November 29 – December 16. Romania was drawn in Group D along with
    Norway, Germany and the Czech Republic. At the European Championships of 2016,
    Romania was ranked 5th.




    TENNIS – Romanian tennis players Irina Begu and
    Raluca Olaru on Saturday lost 7-5, 6-3 to Olga Danilovic of Serbia and Tamara
    Zdansek of Slovenia in the women’s doubles final at the tournament in Taskent,
    Uzbekistan, totaling 250 thousand dollars in prize money. Olaru has previously
    won the Taskent doubles twice, in 2008 alongside Olga Savchuk of Ukraine and in
    2016 with Ipek Soylu of Turkey. Begu won the women’s singles in 2012.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)