Radio România Internațional

Tag: US-Iran crisis

  • January 11, 2020

    January 11, 2020

    EARLY ELECTIONS – Prime Minister and leader of
    the National Liberal Party, Ludovic Orban, announced following Friday’s talks
    with President Klaus Iohannis that they reached an agreement to kick off
    procedures to organize early elections. The Prime Minister said a special task
    force will be set up to negotiate with parties to rally their support. Ludovic
    Orban said the Social-Democratic Party, which holds a fragile majority in
    Parliament, is hindering the legislative process, the only solution being the
    organization of early elections at a date close to the local elections slated
    for May. In another development, the Social-Democrats said they might call for
    a no-confidence vote against the Government, saying the idea of early elections
    would plunge Romania into a superficial political crisis. In turn, the Save
    Romania Union-PLUS Alliance believes early elections might represent the best
    solution at present.






    CRASH -
    On Saturday Iran admitted it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian Airlines
    passenger jet. Due to a human error, the army launched missiles against the
    aircraft. Iranian President Hasan Rouhani expressed his deep regret over the
    incident which he labeled a great tragedy and an unforgivable error. Ukrainian
    President Volodimir Zelenski said the culprits must be held accountable as
    compensation to the victims’ families. In turn, Canadian Prime Minister Justin
    Trudeau called for justice to be served to the victims’ families. We recall a
    Ukrainian airliner crashed on Wednesday shortly after taking off from Teheran
    airport, hours after Iran launched a missile attack on two US military bases in
    Iraq. The plane was bound for Canada via Kiev, with most of the passengers on
    the manifest due to disembark in the Ukrainian capital city. All the 176 people
    onboard were killed. Initially the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization said the
    plane was old and had undergone its last technical inspection on Monday,
    reporting technical problems shortly after takeoff.






    ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH – As of Saturday Aurel Perca
    (aged 68) has become the new Roman-Catholic Archbishop of Bucharest. To mark
    this event a solemn mass was officiated at the St. Joseph Roman-Catholic
    cathedral in the capital city, attended by thousands of faithful and over 200
    priests, two cardinals, 24 Catholic bishops, civil and political authorities,
    representatives of the diplomatic corps and knights of the Sovereign Military
    Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. Aurel
    Perca was appointed Archbishop of Bucharest by Pope Francis after Ioan Robu
    turned 75, the canonical age of retirement under the laws of the Catholic
    Church. Previously Perca served as auxiliary bishop of Iasi. He was ordained in
    1979 and named bishop in 1999. Ioan Robu will become an emeritus metropolitan
    archbishop.






    OMAN – Romania’s President Klaus
    Iohannis on Saturday conveyed his condolences for the death of Oman’s Sultan,
    Qaboos bin Said al-Said. Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, Qaboos’s cousin, was sworn
    in on Saturday as the new sovereign leader of Oman, the Government in Muscat
    has announced. Oman’s Royal Family decided to open the letter where Qaboos
    designated his successor. The Constitution of Oman stipulates that the Royal
    Family can appoint a successor of its own within three days of the throne
    falling vacant. Sultan Qaboos of Oman passed away on Friday, aged 79, after
    nearly half a century of rule. Supported by Western powers, Qaboos ascended to
    the throne in 1970, at the end of a bloodless coup, assisted by Great Britain.
    The new Sultan, Haitahm bin Tariq, aged 65, a sports enthusiast, served as
    deputy secretary of state in the Foreign Ministry before becoming Minister of
    Heritage and Culture in the mid-90s. In the 1980s Haitham bin Tariq became the
    first president of Oman’s Football Federation.






    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona
    Halep will play Germany’s Angelique Kerber in a demonstrative doubles match
    featuring other special guests on Sunday in Adelaide, organizers of the WTA
    tournament say. The match will be part of the event called The Adelaide
    International Rally for Resilience, meant to raise funds to support the
    victims of the wildfires in Australia. 27 people were killed in the raging
    bushfires and 63,000 square kilometers burned to the ground. World no. 3,
    Simona Halep is seeded 2nd in the Adelaide tournament, also
    featuring the WTA leader Ashleigh Barty, Czech player Petra Kvitova (WTA no.
    7), Belinda Bencic of Switzerland (WTA no. 8) and Kiki Bertens of the
    Netherlands (9 WTA). Halep is now training with her coach, Darren Cahill in
    Adelaide.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • January 6-10

    January 6-10


    Prime Minister Ludovic Orban on a
    visit to Brussels


    Upon his first official visit to
    Brussels since his Government took office last November, Prime Minister Ludovic
    Orban met with several high-ranking EU and NATO officials over the course of
    the three-day visit. Prime Minister Orban and NATO Secretary General Jens
    Stoltenberg on Thursday discussed, among other things, cooperation within NATO,
    the developments in the Middle East and security in the Black Sea region. Secretary
    Stoltenberg hailed Romania’s contribution to the training mission in Iraq, stating
    NATO has the possibility of doing more in the Middle East, just as President
    Donald Trump has asked. Ludovic Orban said the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance
    is a major partner of Romania, reiterating Bucharest’s full support for the
    fulfillment of the organization’s goals. The Romanian Prime Minister said
    Romania would continue to take part in NATO missions and initiatives concerning
    NATO’s advanced presence on its eastern flank, as well as in Afghanistan,
    Kosovo and Iraq. Secretary Stoltenberg hailed Romania’s efforts to earmark 2%
    of its GDP to defense spending, pointing out the Black Sea region is of
    strategic importance to NATO. Also in Brussels, Prime Minister Orban met with
    the European Council President, Charles Michel, saying Romania would promote
    the EU’s strategic agenda, which is bound to protect citizens and liberties and
    build a green, equitable and climate-neutral Europe, as well as help promote European
    values and interests at global level. Orban subsequently had talks with the EU
    Chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, both highlighting the importance
    of the agreement struck with Great Britain regarding its withdrawal, especially
    in terms of protecting citizens’ rights. During his meeting with European
    Parliament President, David Sassoli, Ludovic Orban reiterated Romania’s plea to
    join the Schengen Area, an objective supported by the European Parliament.
    Talks also focused on negotiations over the upcoming multiannual financial framework
    and the European Ecological Pact. Orban expressed concern over the possible
    negative consequences the implementation of the Green Pact would have on the
    competitiveness of European companies. Measures to reform the Romanian
    judiciary as well as Bucharest’s economic policies were high on the agenda for
    talks with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. The two
    also tackled topics pertaining to the future of Europe. Romania is a serious,
    responsible partner committed to attaining EU goals and implementing
    regulations adopted by community institutions, Romania’s Prime Minister Ludovic
    Orban said. The EU is Romania’s ally as it prepares for the digital era,
    relying on Bucharest’s support, which enjoys an outstanding reputation in this
    field, the EU official said in turn.



    Romania and the developments in the
    Middle East


    The headline-grabbing event this week
    was the US-Iran crisis, triggered by the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani,
    the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In retaliation, Teheran
    launched missile attacks on US military bases in Iraq. The attacks have outraged
    the international community, including Romania, which decided to temporarily
    relocate its 14 military deployed to Iraq. Bucharest authorities have called
    for a calm and diplomatic solution to the crisis. Foreign Minister Bogdan
    Aurescu:


    Romania firmly reiterates its call
    for the de-escalation of tensions. Our Romanian military part of the anti-DAESH
    international coalition haven’t been affected, which is good news. Also,
    considering some of the missiles targeted the Erbil region, which is home to some
    180 Romanian citizens, our General Consulate in Erbil has confirmed the absence
    of any casualties.


    In turn, president Klaus Iohannis
    called for a larger implication of NATO in the Middle East, both in terms of
    security and reconstruction, the latter being to Romania’s particular interest.
    President Iohannis said the latest developments in the Middle East might impact
    Europe’s security as well, not just the actors involved. The President said
    Romania is in permanent contact with its European and NATO partners, especially
    the United States, and that our country supports the integrity, unity and
    sovereignty of Iraq. Klaus Iohannis said the fight against terrorism should continue,
    calling on the sides involved to resume dialogue and observe their pledged
    commitments.


    The President pays an official visit to Bavaria


    On Tuesday the Romanian President
    Klaus Iohannis paid a working visit to the State of Bavaria where he attended a
    meeting of the local government. The Romanian head of state met with the prime
    minister of Bavaria, Markus Söder, who is the president of the Christian Social
    Union (CSU). The two discussed bilateral relations as well as European issues
    such as the upcoming multiannual financial framework of the EU, Brexit and the
    migration policy. Klaus Iohannis promised Romania will get involved alongside
    the other member states to make the EU stronger and more united. Romania is
    still waiting for the go-ahead for our country’s Schengen accession, without
    which the travel-free area cannot fully function, the President told MPs from
    the Christian Social Union. On the other hand, Klaus Iohannis launched a plea
    for unity, cohesion and solidarity in efforts to consolidate the European
    project. President Iohannis also said the EU’s top priority should be achieving
    an undivided Europe that should bring Member States more convergence and
    equity, with tangible benefits to its citizens.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)