Radio România Internațional

Tag: US President Donald Trump

  • July 25, 2018

    July 25, 2018

    VISIT- The Romanian Prime Minister
    Viorica Dancila is on a tour of the Western Balkans, which includes visits to
    Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia. The political dialogue with officials
    from the two countries will focus on reconfirming deep bilateral relations,
    based on support for EU accession and on ensuring regional stability and
    security, the Romanian PM has stated. Strengthening economic cooperation is another
    goal, Viorica Dancila has also said, alongside the European agenda of the two
    states, given the importance that Romania will pay to the Western Balkans region
    during its presidency of the Council of the EU, in the first half of next year.




    WILDFIRES – Athens has activated the EU
    Civil Protection Mechanism following the wildfires that engulfed the Attica region,
    keeling at least 79 people and wounding more than 200. Several countries have
    already offered their help, including Romania, which has decided to send two
    planes, one C-27 J Spartan, designed to extinguish fires, and a C-130 Hercules,
    for logistical support. Three days of national mourning have been declared in
    Greece. The wildfires were apparently caused by a heat wave, with temperatures
    of over 40 degrees Celsius, and extended rapidly carried by powerful gusts wind
    of up to 75 km per hour. Authorities are now considering that some of the fires
    may have been started deliberately.




    US AMBASSADOR – The US President Donald Trump has announced
    his intention to nominate the New York attorney Adrian Zuckerman to the
    position of ambassador to Bucharest, according to a communiqué issued by the
    White House. Zuckerman was born in Romania and emigrated to the US with his
    family at the age of 10. His Romanian is fluent and he is a partner in a New
    York law firm specializing in real estate transactions. Zuckerman has been
    close to the Trump family for two decades now, and he is also a known figure in
    the business circles in New York. If endorsed by the US Congress, Adrian
    Zuckerman will replace the current ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm.




    WORLD BANK – The World Bank has approved a 50
    million Euro funding to benefit Romania in case of disaster, given that the
    country is extremely vulnerable to seismic risks. This loan will help improve
    the resilience of emergency and response infrastructure and will strengthen
    institutional capacity to plan investments aimed at reducing the risk of disasters
    and adaptation to climate change. Romania is faced with one of the biggest
    seismic risks in the EU, with thousands of lives lost and dozens of thousands
    of buildings damaged in the earthquakes that have hit the area in the past two
    centuries. More than 75% of the country’s population, including 65% of the
    urban population, lives in areas of risk. Moreover, 45% of all critical
    services – transport, energy, water and communication – as well as 70-80% of
    Romania’s GDP are located in areas exposed to seismic risks. The World Bank set
    up its office in Romania in 1991 and since then it has provided funding worth a
    total of 13.6 billion Dollars, in the form of loans, guarantees and grants for
    all the sectors of Romanian economy.






    NATO – A group of NATO experts is in
    the Republic of Moldova these days, for consultations on the implementation of
    that country’s Defense and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative. NATO experts from the US and the UK have met
    with the Defense State Secretary Radu Burduja. They have discussed the first
    stage of the project, Moldova’s national security strategy and the action plan
    for the implementation of the strategy by 2021. In June 2015, the Republic of
    Moldova was accepted by NATO as part of the Defense and Capacity Building Initiative. The
    latest polls show that the number of those who are in favour or against
    Moldova’s joining the North-Atlantic Alliance is almost the same, standing at
    some 30%.




    WATER POLO – On
    Tuesday, the Romania men’s national water polo team was defeated by Spain 12-7
    at the European Water Polo Championship in Spain, so the Romanian squad will
    only be able to play for the 11th or 12th place. Trained by the Serb Dejan
    Stanojevic, in the next match Romania will play against the team losing the
    game between France and Germany. The Romanians have failed qualification for
    the quarter finals, after on Sunday evening, in play-off, they were defeated by
    Montenegro 5 – 15. The 16 best national men’s water polo teams are
    participating in the competition. At the previous edition, two years ago,
    Romania ranked 10th, and the best results obtained in the European competitions
    were the fourth place in 1993 and then again in 2006.




    FOOTBALL – The
    Romanian football champion CFR Cluj was defeated on Tuesday, on home turf, by
    the Swedish squad Malmo FF, in the second preliminary round of the Champions
    League. The team that will qualify for the third tour will play against the
    winner of the match between Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria and Vidi FC
    Szekesfehervar of Hungary and the eliminated team will play, in the Europa
    League preliminaries, the winner of the game between Sutjeska Niksic of
    Montenegro and the Armenian squad Alaskert. In the Europa League, the vice
    champions FCSB (formerly known as Steaua Bucharest) will on Thursday take on
    the Slovenians from NK Rudar Velenje. If it manages to qualify, FCSB will in
    the next stage play against the winner of the match between Hajduk Split of
    Croatia and the Bulgarian Slavia Sofia. Viitorul Constanta will play on home
    turf against the Dutch Vitesse Arnhem, after they eliminated in the first round
    Racing Union Luxembourg. In the third round, Viitorul would play with the winner
    of the game between PAOK Salonika, trained by the Romanian Razvan Lucescu, and
    the Swiss from FC Basel. The winner of the Cup of Romania, CSU Craiova, will
    play straight into the third round of the Europa League, against the winner of the
    match pitting the German RB Leipzig and the Swiss from BC Haecken.





  • July 12, 2018

    July 12, 2018


    ANTICORRUPTION DIRECTORATE – The fight against corruption will continue firmly and the legislation in the field will be enforced in keeping with the international efficiency standards, said on Thursday Romanias Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar, upon appointing the interim head of the National Anticorruption Directorate, Anca Jurma. Lazar described Ms Jurma as the right person, a professional with a very good expertise in the field. We recall that president Iohannis dismissed Laura Codruta Kovesi, the former chief prosecutor of the Anticorruption Directorate, to observe a ruling issued by the Constitutional Court. Initially the president had rejected the request for dismissal made by the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, but the latter notified the Constitutional Court, which defended his opinion. Laura Codruta Kovesi has been given a post of prosecutor with the Guidance and Control Service of the Prosecutors Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice.



    NATO SUMMIT – The conflict in Afghanistan is on the agenda of the NATO summit underway in Brussels, where Romania is represented by the head of state Klaus Iohannis. So far, the summit has been dominated by requests made by the US President Donald Trump, who has called on the NATO allies to earmark 4% of the GDP for military expenses. The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has voiced hope that the alliance will make decisions regarding the funding of Afghan security forces until 2024. The British Prime Minister Theresa May has already confirmed that Great Britain will deploy an additional 440 strong contingent for non-combat missions in Afghanistan. The US sent 3,000 soldiers in September 2017, raising to 15,000 the number of US soldiers deployed in that country. Romania has 700 soldiers in Afghanistan.



    EUROSTAT – According to Eurostat, Romania ranks 17th in the European Union with regard to imports from Russia, accounting for 2.48 billion Euros. With 29 billion Euros, in 2017 Germany was the largest importer of products from Russia, followed by the Netherlands and Poland. From 2008 until 2017, the EU registered a trade deficit in the relation with Russia, standing at 59 billion Euros last year. Also last year, the EU exported to the Russian market equipment, vehicles, chemical products and other manufactured goods. On the other hand, more than three quarters of EUs imports from Russia were energy products (oil and natural gas). The Eurostat data were made public against the background of statements made by the US President Donald Trump, who has stated that Germany is fully controlled by Russia because of the agreement existing between the two country on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.



    ECONOMY – The European Commission has maintained estimates regarding Romanias economic growth in 2018 and 2019, at 4.5% and 3.9% respectively. According to mid-term estimates published today by the Commission, the budget deficit would reach 3.4% of the GDP in 2018, to then grow to 3.8% in 2019. The rate of inflation would grow to 4.2% this year, and then go down to 3.4% in 2019. The unemployment rate is expected to stand at 4.5% in 2018 and 4.4% in 2019. The current account deficit will register a 3.6% of the GDP in 2018, and 3.9% in 2019.



    BREXIT – The new British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has stated that the debate in parliament on the British Brexit policy will be a fierce one, but it will help the negotiations with the EU move forward. In turn, the new Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab has voiced hope that the document that is to be published soon by the Government in London will provide further assurances for those in the EU who are concerned about Brexit. The EU Chief Negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier has announced that negotiations are to be resumed on Monday, as planned, with the new British negotiator appointed by Theresa May. Boris Johnson resigned from the office of foreign secretary on Monday, after the resignation of the former Secretary for Brexit David Davis, and only a few days after the Prime Minister May had obtained her ministers endorsement of the Brexit strategy.



    MIGRATION – The EU interior ministers have gathered in Innsbruck, Austria, to analyze in detail the idea of creating new types of centers for migrants. The agreement concluded by the European leaders in June includes the proposal to set up centers in regions such as North Africa for the migrants saved in the Mediterranean, as well as reception centers on European soil. Before the meeting organized by the Austrian presidency of the Council of the EU, the Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini will talk to his German and Austrian counterparts, Horst Seehofer and Herbert Kickl respectively, about means to close the migration route across the Mediterranean. A few weeks ago, Italy decided to no longer authorize the entrance of humanitarian vessels carrying migrants into its ports, and Matteo Salvini wants to extend this blockade to also cover those who take part in EU rescue operations.



    JAZZ – The 22nd Garana Jazz Festival kicks off today, and is expecting guests from all over Europe until Sunday. There will be 25 concerts given by musicians from 16 countries. The festival will be opened by La Classe operaia va in Paradiso, given by musicians Mircea Tiberian (piano), Claudio Puntin (clarinet), Daniel Erdmann (saxophone), Chris Dahlgren (double bass) and Tilo Weber (drums). Besides concerts, the audience can also participate in the presentation of an installation by the painter Gheorghe Fikl, a theater performance with The Farm by the troupe Aualeu, the National Vinyl Fair, a jazz posters exhibition and the launch of the book Instant Stage, signed by Ioana Taut. In the past 20 years, more than 70,000 spectators and lots of international artists have enjoined the experience of listening to vanguard jazz music listened under the clear skies of the small village in western Romania.



    FOOTBALL – FC Viitorul, ranking 4th in the Romanian national football champtionships, is today playing away from home against Racing Union Luxembourg, in the first preliminary round of the Europa League. Also competing will be the winner of the Cup, CSU Craiova and the vice-champion FCSB. The holder of the title, CFR Cluj, will play in the Champions League preliminaries.




  • December 8, 2017 UPDATE

    December 8, 2017 UPDATE


    MICHAEL I The last sovereign of Romania, King Michael I, is being commemorated through special religious services around the country and also in Switzerland, where he died on December 5th. His body will be brought to Romania on December 13th. Since his death, many people have signed books of condolences at the royal Peles Castle in the mountain resort of Sinaia and also in Bucharest. The Romanian government has declared the 14th , 15th and 16th of December days of national mourning. The former sovereign will be buried on December 16th in Curtea de Arges, southern Romania.



    CONSTITUTION Promoting the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and ensuring the integrity of public jobs and positions are constitutional, non-negotiable values, which cannot be restricted or eliminated, said President Klaus Iohannis on Friday, in a message conveyed on Romanian Constitution Day, established through a referendum 26 years ago. As the head of state, whose duties include defending and upholding the Constitution, Iohannis urged all state institutions to observe not only the letter, but also the spirit of the fundamental law. Romanians are now more united than ever around fundamental principles and they are campaigning actively to defend these principles, the president also stated. His address came against the background of street protests sparked off by some controversial amendments proposed by the leftist ruling coalition, which are currently under debate in Parliament.



    ISRAEL Romania maintains its stand with regard to the creation of two states, Israel and Palestine, existing together as good, prosperous neighbours, said in Bucharest on Friday the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu. He said that the solution must be reached through direct dialogue between the two parties and without unilateral measures, which would impact negotiations in a negative way. According to Melescanu, the announcement made by the US President Donald Trump regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel is a clear signal that the US wants to get involved in finding a solution. Donald Trumps statement triggered international reactions. An ally to the US, Saudi Arabia has termed the decision as irresponsible. Other traditional allies have criticised Trumps stand too, while Russia and China have voice worries over a potential escalation of tensions in the region. All Palestinian factions have condemned this decision, calling for strikes and protests. Large scale rallies have been staged in Gaza Strip and many countries in the region have warned that changing the status of Jerusalem will generate religious tension.



    BREXIT The European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker announced in Brussels on Friday that sufficient progress had been made in the first phase of Brexit negotiations to allow movement to the next phase. At a joint conference with the Prime Minister Theresa May, Junker said that both sides had shown adaptability and readiness for compromise. In turn, Theresa May stated that London and Brussels had reached an agreement on the rights of the EU and British citizens and on the Irish border. On December 15th, the European Council must decide whether sufficient progress has been made so that negotiations with London can advance. According to the European Commission, progress has been made in the three priority fields: citizens rights, dialogue on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the financial agreement. Following the European Commissions announcement, the Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu has stated that the situation of the Romanian citizens in Great Britain is priority zero.



    NATO A NATO liaison office was inaugurated on Friday in Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, after a series of delays. The opening ceremony was attended, among others, by the Deputy Secretary General of the Alliance Rose Gottemoeller and the Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip. The NATO Deputy Secretary General said that the inauguration of the office was a clear signal and confirmation of the fact that NATO paid particular attention to the relationship with the Republic of Moldova. In turn, Pavel Filip said that the opening of the office was an element of normality and openness towards the world. On the other hand, the President of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon stated that existence of the mission in Moldovas capital would be a security threat and would affect the states sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. NATOs liaison office in Chisinau, which, according to experts, is just a diplomatic mission, will have only civilian staff, just like the missions in Georgia, Russia and Ukraine.



    TRADE AGREEMENT The EU and Japan on Friday finalized negotiations for a trade agreement, which started in 2013. According to France Presse, the announcement was made right before the World Trade Organisation summit, sending a clear message to the international community, the US president Donald Trump in particular. In a joint satement, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe state that “the finalisation of the negotiations on the EU-Japan EPA demonstrates to the world the firm political will of Japan and the EU to keep the flag of free trade waving high and powerfully advance free trade”. According the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmstrom, the agreement is of utmost importance. “The Commission will submit the agreement for the approval of the European Parliament and EU Member States, aiming for its entry into force before the end of the current mandate of the European Commission in 2019” reads the European Commissions press realease. The EU is Japans third largest trading partner.



    DRILL The French frigate Guepratte, which has arrived in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, is to join Romanian corvette Eugeniu Rosca and dreadnought Lupu Dinescu for an air-defence drill, which also involves the participation of warplanes from the Romanian and Canadian air forces stationed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base. The drills main aim is to raise the training level of the participant crews as well as to develop relations between allied forces.



    HANDBALL Romanias national womens handball team has qualified on the first position for the round of 16 of the World Championships in Germany. On Thursday night the Romanian handballers clinched a win against Angola, while France drew their match against Spain allowing the Romanians to end up on the first position in group A. Romania will be further playing the winner of the game pitching Hungary against the Czech Republic. The Romanian handballers have so far managed only good shows with four wins in their fixtures against Paraguay, Slovenia, Spain and Angola. At the previous edition in 2015, Romania ended up on the third position walking away with bronze. Romania is the only side that has so far participated in all the 22 editions of the world championship.




  • Strong ties between Romania and the US

    Strong ties between Romania and the US


    Last week, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis paid a five-day visit to the US. The most important part of the visit was on Friday, when Iohannis met the US President Donald Trump. The main topics of discussion were the Romanian – US Strategic Partnership, signed twenty years ago, the fight against corruption and terrorism, and the budget earmarked for defense. The two heads of state highlighted the fact that this Partnership must grow stronger and define bilateral relations, because this is important to both nations. According to the Romanian head of state, the partnership with the US has helped Romania become what it is today: a solid democracy, with a solid an sustainable economic growth, a country who’s been standing together with the US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Iohannis stressed the fact that the Romanian – American relations and the trans-Atlantic ties are vital.



    Romania is a member of the European Union. And I think it’s the best interest of you, Mr. President, to have a strong European Union as a partner. This is vital for all of us. Our relationship, the transatlantic link is vital. The transatlantic link is not about diplomacy, about policy, it’s at the basis of our Western civilization. And together, we will make it stronger. Together, we will make it better, the Romanian President told Donald Trump. NATO and the European Union do not have to compete against each other. They have to work together. They have to work in such a manner as to produce synergetic effects. Make NATO stronger. Make Europe stronger. Make the United States of America stronger, the Romanian president also said.




    Klaus Iohannis also highlighted the fact that Romania relies on the US as regards the Eastern Flank, because Romania cannot stand there without the US. On the other hand, the Romanian President also said, the partnership between Romania and the US has a huge opportunity to step up not only in security matters, but also in commercial and economic matters.



    In turn, the US President Donald Trump hailed the relationship with Romania and stated that the Strategic Partnership covers many dimensions, including economic, military and cultural ties. The White House leader thanked the Romanian people for their support in combating terrorism. Romania has been a valuable member of the coalition to defeat ISIS, the US President said, adding that Romania is the fourth-largest contributor of troops in Afghanistan. Many Romanian soldiers have paid the ultimate price for being there and the American honors their sacrifice, the US President also said. President Donald Trump also appreciated the fact that Romania has earmarked 2% of its GDP to defense and voiced hope that other NATO allies would follow Romania’s lead in that respect.



    In another move, Donald Trump clearly committed the US to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which binds the members together, committing them to protect each other and setting a spirit of solidarity with any member under attack. The White House leader, who called the Romanian President a good friend, also applauded his Romanian counterpart’s courage and courageous efforts in Romania to fight corruption and defend the rule of law.



    The conclusion of the meeting between the two heads of state was drawn by President Trump himself, who wrote on Facebook: Great honour to welcome President Klaus Iohannis to the White House. The future of Romania and Romania’s relationship with the United States is very, very bright.




  • June 2, 2017 UPDATE

    June 2, 2017 UPDATE


    UN – At the UN headquarters in New York, Romanias Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu deposited Romanias instrument of ratification of the Paris agreement on climate change, reads a communiqué issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry on Friday. Melescanu has stated that a coordinated implementation of sustainable development and climate change strategies comes in line with Romanias commitments as a member of the EU and UN. In turn, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares has stated that Romanias ratifying the Paris Agreement helps maintain the issue on the international agenda. Minister Melescanu is in New York to promote Romanias candidacy for a two-year office of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Since it joined NATO in 1995, Romania has held four such terms.



    PARIS AGREEMENT – Climate changes represent a worldwide emergency, and the global solutions proposed by the Paris Agreement mustnt be turned down, according to actress Medeea Marinescu, Ambassador of the Agreement for Romania. Greenpeace International believes that the USs withdrawal from the agreement will turn the US from a climate leader at world level into an isolated society. The Romanian branch of Greenpeace too believes that this decision is one to be condemned, given that the US is one of the worlds biggest polluters. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has termed the decision a major disappointment for the global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote international security. The White House leader has invoked the level of contributions and the effects on the economy, saying that the accord has had negative consequences for the US industry and its workers, placing them at a disadvantage as compared to China, India or other emerging powers. The Paris Agreement, signed by 195 states, is aimed at combating climate change by curbing greenhouse gas emissions and containing the increase in the global average temperature.



    CONGRESS – The opposition Save Romania Union (USR), the third largest political group in Romanias Parliament, has announced its intention to hold a congress to elect its new leader, following the unexpected resignation on Thursday of its founding president Nicusor Dan. The USR vice-president Elek Levente, the head of the USR branch in Cluj, north-western Romania, has become the groups interim president. Nicusor Dan stepped down after the USR National Bureau had decided to oppose new Constitution amendments over redefining the family as the union between a man and a woman. The bill revising the Constitution has already been endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies and if the Senate endorses it too, the Romanians will be called to have their say in a referendum. The aforementioned Constitution amendments have been requested by three million Romanians.



    TALKS – We are having a constructive dialogue at European Commission level to ensure a good preparation for Romanias taking over the EU Council Presidency in 2019, the Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall has stated. The Romanian minister has held talks on the issue with Jean-Eric Paquet, Deputy Secretary General of the European Commission. “Holding the presidency of the EU Council is one of our priorities. Romania has been an EU member for 10 years now and I believe we have grown mature enough to turn a big challenge into an opportunity. Talks with European Commission officials are vital for ensuring a successful mandate at the helm of the EU Council in the first half of 2019”, Minister Birchall has also said.



    MOLDOVA – The Republic of Moldovas values are different from those of the Western countries, and the former Soviet state is now resuming its strategic partnership with Russia, said on Friday the Moldovan President Igor Dodon at the economic forum in Sankt Petersburg. “After eight years of pro-European and clearly anti-Russian policy, following last years presidential elections we have started to remedy this situation” the President added. He also said that his country cannot join the EU as it is today, questioning the benefits of such an integration, given that even Great Britain has decided to leave it. In turn, the Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia and NATO must cooperate in the fight against terror, because, otherwise more attacks will follow. However, Putin has also stated that to him NATO is one of the USs political instruments, also voicing concern over NATO military infrastructure getting closer to the Russian borders.



    NOBLE JUMP – A 50 strong Norwegian contingent has come to Romania to take part in the multinational exercise Noble Jump 2017 at the Cincu shooting range in Brasov Country, central Romania. On Thursday, eight NATO convoys also arrived in Romania, to participate in the exercise. The convoys are made up of some 300 soldiers and 150 battle vehicles and carriers. Noble Jump 2017, which started on May 26th, includes drills that are carried out on Romanian, Green and Bulgarian soil. 4000 Romanian soldiers and military staff from 11 NATO member countries are taking part in the exercise.



    CENTRAL BANK – Romanias foreign currency reserves dropped in May this year by 477 million Euros as compared to April, down to some 35.5 billion, according to date made public by the National Bank of Romania on Friday. As regards its gold reserve, last month it stood at some 104 tons. Against the latest price developments across the world, the value of this reserve is now 3.8 billion Euros. The Central Bank has also announced that over May 24th – June 23rd 2017, the minimum reserve requirement ratio on foreign currency-denominated liabilities will be reduced from 10 to 8%.



    TIFF – Some 200 feature films and short reels will be screened in Cluj Napoca, north-western Romania, at the 16th Transylvania International Film Festival – TIFF 2017, which started on Friday. Over 12 hundred Romanian and foreign guests are attending the screenings, concerts, workshops, debates and launches held during the countrys most important cinema event, which has Radio Romania as its partner. Romanian actress Tora Vasilescu is to be awarded an excellence award at the festival, whose special guest this year is the French film star Alain Delon, on his first visit to Romania.



    TENNIS – The worlds fourth tennis player Simona Halep of Romania will be playing Russian Daria Kasatkina, no. 28 WTA, in the third round of the Grand Slam tournament of Roland Garros on Saturday. Halep has clinched a two-set win against Tatjana Maria of Germany in the second round. Another Romanian in the competition, Sorana Cirstea has conceded defeat to Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain. In the doubles, the Romanian-Dutch pair made up of Horia Tecau and Jean Julien Rojer will be playing in the round of 16 against the winners of the game pitching Tunisian-Italian pair Jaziri/Seppi against Croatian-Spanish pair Dodig/Granollers.