Radio România Internațional

Tag: US

  • Romania and nuclear energy

    Romania and nuclear energy

    The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted, as a decision-making body, the draft law on the approval of the signing of the Support Agreement between the Romanian state and the Nuclearelectrica National Company for the project of Units 3 and 4 at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (southeast). Nuclearelectrica has a major role at the national level, contributing over 18% to the total energy production and 33% to the total CO2-free energy production in Romania. It uses the Canadian CANDU 6 technology, based on natural uranium as a fuel and heavy water with a moderator and cooling role. The purpose of the agreement adopted by the Romanian deputies is to establish the effective methods of cooperation between the parties, by establishing commitments and obligations of the Romanian state regarding the provision of the necessary measures to finance the project, the implementation and adoption of support measures, including legislative measures.



    According to the data published on the Nuclearelectrica website, the project of the CANDU Units 3 and 4 CNE Cernavodă is included in the Energy Strategy Project of Romania 2019-2030 to be accomplished by 2050. It is also mentioned in the National Integrated Plan in the field of Energy and Climate Change, as a pillar of Romanias energy independence and of the fulfillment of the CO2 reduction targets assumed by Romania as a member state of the European Union. The adoption of this law was hailed by the energy minister Virgil Popescu. He emphasized that Unit 3 will come into operation at the end of 2030, and Unit 4 in 2031. Through the implementation of this law, Romanias energy independence and security will be ensured, Virgil Popescu pointed out. Through the implementation of the project, the contribution of nuclear energy to the total energy production, at the national level, will be 36%, and the contribution of nuclear energy to the total CO2-free energy production will be 66%. Consequently, the internal supply chain and other collateral industries will develop.



    “Nuclear energy, which is efficient, safe and clean, will make Romania an example at the regional and global levels, through various support partnerships associated with major investment projects”, the general director of Nuclearelectrica, Cosmin Ghiță highlighted. The intention of the Romanian state and of the Nuclearelectrica National Company, in accordance with the new strategy, is to implement this project within a Euro-Atlantic consortium based on the Agreement between the Government of Romania and that of the United States regarding cooperation in relation to the nuclear-power projects from Cernavodă and in the civil nuclear power sector in Romania, initialed in October 2020 in Washington DC. It’s worth mentioning that the US is interested in financing the Romanian energy projects, including nuclear power projects with 7 billion dollars. (LS)

  • March 10, 2023 UPDATE

    March 10, 2023 UPDATE

    ECONOMY Net
    investments in the Romanian economy in 2022 were over EUR 30 bln, up 8.5% since
    the previous year, PM Nicolae Ciucă announced. He says this proves the positive
    impact of the measures taken by his Cabinet on the economy. Investment in
    development, the PM also says in a Facebook post, will preserve jobs and
    generate new ones, and in the long term it will contribute to higher revenues. Other
    data made public by the National Statistics Institute, which the PM says
    confirm the success of the Romanian economy in 2022, are a 4.8% GDP growth, foreign
    direct investments of EUR 11.3 bln, a 73% rate of EU fund absorption and
    exports amounting to EUR 85 bln. On the other hand, Romania’s public debt
    dropped in December 2022 to 47.2% of GDP, from 48.3% in November 2022 and 48.9% in 2021, the finance
    ministry announced. In 2023, expenditure for public investments is expected to
    account for 7.2% of GDP.


    VISIT After his visit to Japan, president Klaus Iohannis travelled
    to Singapore, where he had talks with his counterpart, Halimah Yacob. The Romanian
    president highlighted Romania’s goal to step up bilateral relations with
    Singapore. Additionally, president Iohannis spoke of a set of common goals
    pursued by both presidents, such as inclusion policies, economic and social
    development and green transition. He voiced Romania’s special interest in fully
    tapping the potential of bilateral relations, particularly in the economic and
    investment area, and underscored Bucharest’s objective to attract investment
    from Singapore, especially since Romania is the third-largest EU provider of IT
    services to that country. In turn, the president of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, highlighted
    the importance of the bilateral relation considering Romania’s growing profile
    at EU and NATO levels, particularly in the geopolitical context generated by
    the war in Ukraine. President Yacob also addressed the need to boost investment
    and two-way trade, considering the opportunities provided by such sectors as
    IT&C, cyber security and tourism. The Romanian head of state also had talks
    with Singapore’s PM Lee Hsien Loong, who emphasised the convergence of views and
    interests of the two countries in the current geopolitical context, and the
    importance of respecting the rule-based international order centred on the UN
    Charter.


    BYSTROYE The biodiversity of the Danube Delta is not affected by
    dredging works on the Bystroye Canal, and no significant water flow changes on
    the river Danube have been reported compared to statistics published in recent
    years, says the Environment Minister Tanczos Barna after the first measurements
    conducted by Romanian authorities on the branch of Chilia and Romanian sections
    of the Danube. The Romanian official said Ukrainian authorities must provide a
    written consent before the three ships of the Transport Ministry can finalize
    depth measurements across the entire section of the Chilia branch, run a new
    analysis of water flows and provide their final report. Authorities from
    Romania and Ukraine have agreed to measure the depth of Danube River canals
    after Kyiv started dredging the Bystroye canal. The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry
    said that, once dredging works were completed, the depth of Bystroye grew from
    3.9 to 6.5 meters. Kyiv has however denied that the works violated any
    agreement. Bucharest wants to make sure Ukraine’s operation does not impact
    ecosystems in the Danube Delta, a protected UNESCO World Heritage site.


    REFUGEES A centre for Ukrainian refugees was opened on Friday within
    the Edmond Nicolau Technical College in Bucharest. The centre is
    the outcome of a partnership between Bucharest’s District 2 Hall, UNICEF and Habitat
    for Humanity. Its 3 floors, totalling 2,000 sq m, can host 100 people. The
    district mayor says refugees may live, cook, socialise here, and that special
    areas are arranged for children to do their homework.


    MOLDOVA The US Administration will provide the Republic of Moldova
    with USD 300 mln in assistance for the energy sector and will share information
    with this country in a move to fight Russia’s attempts to destabilise it, the
    White House announced on Friday. The national security spokesperson John Kirby
    told the media that, although there is no imminent military threat against
    Moldova, the US believes Russia is seeking to weaken this small country and
    bring in a more pro-Russian government. He also said Washington has confidence
    in Moldova’s democratic and economic institutions and in their capacity to
    withstand these threats. We will continue to provide significant support, said Kirby.
    Protests against the government and president Maia Sandu, organised in
    particular by the pro-Russian party Sor, have been a regular occurrence in
    Chişinǎu for several weeks. (AMP)

  • Positions on Ukraine

    Positions on Ukraine


    One year into the invasion of Ukraine, Putins Russia is changing nothing, even in terms of rhetoric. Speaking before the countrys political elite, Putin reiterated the claim that the attack on Ukraine was a response to an alleged Western plan against Russia. Kyiv would have prepared for a military offensive in Donbas anyway, last spring, Vladimir Putin claimed.



    While admitting that Russia was going through a difficult period, Vladimir Putin still described his country as the stronghold standing up against the Western decadence that seeks to rob the Russian people of their resources and to make them suffer. The West, the Russian president went on to say, has turned Ukraine into an anti-Russian project. And, he warned, the further into Russia Western weapons will hit, the more Moscow will be forced to remove these threats at its borders.



    Putin announced the suspension of the New START treaty with the US on the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons and warned that Moscow may resume nuclear tests.



    As for the waves of sanctions hitting the Russian economy, the Kremlin leader argued that it cannot be brought to its knees. Moreover, the sanctions purportedly created opportunities for autonomous development.



    Whereas Putins address in Moscow targeted a domestic audience that needs convincing that the West is an intractable enemy for Russia, the US president Joe Bidens speech in Warsaw was intended for the entire world, or at least the part of the world that loves freedom.



    Biden praised Ukraines resilience and reiterated his countrys and its Western allies unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and independence. Biden accused the Russians of extreme brutality and crimes against humanity. He reaffirmed the commitment of the US to the NATO collective defence clause. “We will be strong, we will be united. Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia,” the US leader promised.



    On the other hand, Biden dismissed Moscows claims that the West was plotting to attack Russia. “This war was never a necessity; its a tragedy. President Putin chose this war. Every day the war continues is his choice,” the US president said, and added that the war would be ended if Russia stopped invading Ukraine, but that if Ukraine stopped defending itself against Russia, it would be the end of Ukraine. This is why together we must make sure that Ukraine can defend itself, Biden argued.



    Attending the speech was also the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and president Biden asked the public to give her a round of applause, praising Chişinǎus path to EU membership and the peoples resolve to live in freedom. (AMP)


  • January 30, 2023

    January 30, 2023

    Parliament – The Romanian senators and deputies return, this week, to Parliament, for the first parliamentary session of the year. Among the priorities on the agenda are sensitive bills, such as the one on public service pensions, which should no longer exceed the salary from the active period, or the proposals to amend the education laws, on which the parties in the government coalition have so far failed to reach consensus.



    Brussels — The Romanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Petre Daea, participated, today, in Brussels, in the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The agenda of talks includes important topics for agricultural producers in Romania, such as: the market situation, the bio-economy, honey labeling, the directive on industrial emissions and animal transport. In the opening of the meeting, the Swedish Presidency will make a presentation of its work program for the current semester in the field of agriculture and fisheries. European officials will receive information from the German delegation regarding the Global Forum on Food and Agriculture, which was held in Berlin on January 21.



    Health — The Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said Sunday evening on a private television station that the number of flu and viral infection cases is decreasing in Romania. According to the minister, the flu epidemic will end in approximately two to three weeks. Alexandru Rafila stated that only in the last week, the number of cases reported was smaller by 25%, about 100,000 new cases of viral respiratory infections and cases of flu, compared to 140,000 a week ago. He also stressed that there were no problems with the stocks of medicines used in viral respiratory infections, even if their consumption has increased more than usual.



    ICR – The Romanian Cultural Institute – ICR announced the relaunch of the Cantemir Cultural Partnerships and Financing Program, intended for international projects. The main aim of the program is to connect culture operators from Romania with partners from abroad. Through the Cantemir Program, previously run between 2006 – 2012 and resumed in 2023 with some changes, ICR will grant non-refundable funding for cultural initiatives in the fields of visual arts – fine arts, decorative arts, science/research and architecture, design, new media, photography, performance and performing arts – theater, music and dance.



    Ukraine — The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg requested South Korea today to increase its military aid to Ukraine. The NATO leader is in Seoul, as part of a visit that will also include Japan. According to the BBC, Stoltenberg intends to strengthen NATO ties with the Asian allies of the United States. He mentioned the war in Ukraine alongside North Koreas nuclear and missile programs and Chinas growing assertiveness as reasons of concern for both East and West. In another development, on Sunday, in Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany would not send fighter planes to Ukraine, while Kyiv continues to request weapons from the Western countries to counter the Russian invasion. On Wednesday, Berlin decided to send 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other European countries to supply similar tanks to Kyiv. Also on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was confident that his country could defeat Russia this year, despite Ukraines current difficulties on the battle front. ‘2023 must and will certainly be the year of our victory’ President Zelenski wrote in a social media post. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader admitted that the situation was very difficult regarding the heavy fighting in the east of the country.



    Cairo – The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is meeting today in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to discuss regional issues such as the transition to democracy in Sudan and the elections in Libya. Blinken will also address the concerns related to the observance of human rights by the authorities in Cairo. Egypt is the first stage of the tour that the US official is taking in the Middle East, at a time of escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Today, Blinken will travel to Jerusalem, where he will reiterate the US calls for calm and the US support for a two-state solution, although US officials have admitted that the resumption of peace talks is unlikely in the near future. On Thursday, an Israeli raid on a refugee camp in the West Bank left ten people dead, and on Friday a Palestinian shot dead seven people near a synagogue in Jerusalem. The US Secretary of State will also travel to Ramallah, to meet with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. (LS)

  • January 20, 2023 UPDATE

    January 20, 2023 UPDATE

    ECONOMY
    Romania’s economy will be, this year as well, influenced by global
    uncertainties triggered by inflation, the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the
    energy crisis and problems in supply chains. This is one of the conclusions of
    a report on financial stability, made public by the National Bank of Romania. The
    report also mentions a systemic risk entailed by delays in reforms and in
    spending EU funds. On the other hand, the central bank calls on Romanians to be
    cautious with respect to residential real estate loans, as the high inflation
    triggers risks of default.


    PHARMACEUTICALS Romania obtained from Brussels a 3-month suspension of
    exports for certain drugs, particularly in the antibiotics and oral antipyretic
    categories. According to Bucharest, the measure is designed to ensure the
    availability of such medication for Romanian patients, as the country is
    struggling with a wave of viral respiratory infections.


    MILITARY Over 100
    troops from the US 1-26 Infantry Battalion are training with Romanian troops
    from the Sf. Andrei 300 Infantry Battalion in Galaţi until March this year. According
    to the Romanian defence ministry, the US troops were deployed late last year to
    the Mihai Kogălniceanu air base, and as of this week they were relocated to Galaţi.
    The goal of the joint training scheme is to practice working techniques,
    tactics and procedures, and to enhance interoperability in line with NATO
    requirements.


    DAVOS The international community cannot afford a strategic
    ambiguity regarding the war in Ukraine, the Romanian foreign minister said at
    the World Economic Forum in Davos. He mentioned the seriousness of the security
    crisis and the main risks and challenges for the international system, and
    emphasised the need to maintain a world order based on rules, supporting peace
    and facilitating solutions to global problems. The Romanian official also
    highlighted Romania’s efforts to support Ukraine, such as receiving over 3.3 million
    refugees and the transit of over 11 tonnes of Ukrainian grains and agricultural
    products, as well as the need to continue supporting this country. Mr. Aurescu had
    a number of meetings with representatives of the business communities in Canada
    and Portugal, with whom he discussed issues related to the energy sector in
    particular. (AMP)

  • 16 years since Romania joined the EU

    16 years since Romania joined the EU

    Romanias transition from one of the toughest communist dictatorships in Europe, that of Nicolae Ceauşescu, to the status of European Union member the lasted from December 22, 1989 until January 1, 2007. Preceded by the country’s admission to NATO, in 2004, Romania’s accession to the community structures was considered one of the major successes of the political class in Bucharest, dominated, at the time, by the President Traian Băsescu and the Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu. But all the important parties in Romania supported this target, thus resonating with the expectations of the Romanian society. The archives attest that, in the autumn of 2005, for instance, Romanians trust in the European Union was the highest among all EU member states or the countries in the process of EU accession.



    After EU accession, Romania became the seventh country in the Union in terms of the number of inhabitants, and the sixth after Brexit. The Romanian language became one of the official languages ​​of the EU and any Romanian citizen can address the community institutions in Romanian. The very name of the European Union, in Romanian, received official status. The Romanian MEPs took their seats in the European Parliament. Just as the other member states, Romania has a post of European Commissioner in the European Commission. Besides the political gains, the advantages of accession were also felt by Romanians in their daily lives, who became European citizens.



    They can travel and settle anywhere in the community space and can compete on the labor market in countries where the wages are much higher than at home. Romanias foreign trade is clearly dominated by exchanges with the EU partners, and the Gross Domestic Product grew constantly in the years after accession. Opinion polls show that most Romanians believe that the direction in which Romania should be going, in terms of political and military alliances, is the West, that is, the European Union, the United States of America and NATO. They think that joining the European Union brought more advantages.



    However, about two-thirds answered that their country must defend its national interests when they are not in line with the EU rules, even if it risks losing its position as a EU member state. Fewer respondents said that Romania, as a member state, must respect the community rules, even when its national interests are affected. Anyway, most respondents believe that the European Union should not fall apart in the coming years. However, the polls also show the frustration of most Romanians that their country has not yet been admitted to the free travel Schengen Area, which makes them feel like second-class European citizens. (LS)

  • November 17, 2022

    November 17, 2022

    Rectification – The Romanian government has scheduled for today the second meeting of this week aimed at correcting the budget for this year. It is about a positive rectification that will also lead to a reduction of the deficit to 5.74% of the Gross Domestic Product, from a previous 5.84%. The Finance Minister, Adrian Câciu, explained that the rectification was made on the principle of allocating additional funds to ensure the functioning of the administrative-territorial units, the normal unfolding of the activity of some of the main authorizing officers or the financing of the expenses with scholarships granted to students. At the same time, they took into consideration the provision of the necessary funds for homes for the elderly or people with serious disabilities and their personal assistants. Funds were also granted for farmers affected by the drought.



    Talks – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, is today in Luxembourg, for talks with his counterpart Jean Asselborn about the expansion of sectoral cooperation in which the Grand Duchy can offer expertise and assistance, such as financial and IT services, cyber security, green energy, research and development, agriculture and tourism. According to a press release from the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers are also addressing topics such as countering the food crisis, the impact of the war in Ukraine on other states in the region, with an emphasis on the Republic of Moldova, and supporting energy security. At the same time, Minister Aurescu presents the stage of Romanias accession process to the Schengen area, thanking his counterpart for Luxembourgs constant support in achieving this goal.



    Football – Romanias national football team meets Slovenia today in a friendly match played in Cluj-Napoca (north-west). On Sunday, the Romanian footballers will play, also a friendly match, against the Republic of Moldova, in Chisinau. Romania did not qualify for the World Cup in Qatar and is preparing the preliminaries for Euro 2024. Its opponents in group I are Switzerland, Israel, Kosovo, Belarus and Andorra. The two first-ranking teams will obtain qualification.



    Ukraine — The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, insists that the missile that killed two people in Poland on Tuesday was Russian. The representatives of NATO, the United States and Poland stated that the incident was most likely caused by a Ukrainian missile that went astray during the defense against the massive Russian air attack. President Zelensky, on the other hand, claims that he has no reason not to believe the reports of his military commanders, which state the opposite, and has asked that the Ukrainian experts should participate in the international investigation into this issue. The head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, declared, after a meeting of the ambassadors from the allied states, that Russia is, anyway, the main responsible, because it continues the illegal war against Ukraine. Moscow denied any involvement in the explosion in Poland, and the Russian ambassador to the UN accused Kyiv and Warsaw of seeking to cause a direct conflict between Russia and NATO through their statements. The Kremlin said, however, that it saw no reason for escalation after the incident in Poland.



    Assessment — A mixed team of experts from the European Commission and some member states, including the Netherlands, will be in Romania this week to assess the state of preparation for Schengen accession. According to the Bucharest Government, the visit is voluntary, similar to the one that took place between October 9-11. On Wednesday, the European Commission requested that Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia be part of the Schengen Area of ​​free movement without delay. The EC points out that Romania has a solid and high-quality border management and is involved in international cooperation in border police matters.



    Refugees – The Border Police General Inspectorate informs that on Wednesday, 66,246 people entered Romania through border points throughout the country, of whom 7,976 were Ukrainian citizens, an increase of about 5% compared to the previous day. According to a communique sent to the media on Thursday, starting on February 10, 2022, two weeks before the Russian army invaded their country, 2,847,088 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania. Most of them continued their journey to countries in Western Europe, but over 86,500 chose to stay in Romania, according to the Romanian authorities.



    Elections — The Republicans have secured the seats needed for a majority in the lower house of the United States Congress, one week after the midterm elections, while the Democrats retain control of the Senate. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Washington, the estimates show that, once the counting of all the votes is completed, the Republicans will have 221 seats in the House of Representatives, compared to the Democrats, who would get 214. A hostile Lower House of the Congress will make difficult the Democrat President Joe Biden’s last two years of mandate. He said he was ready to work with the new majority, if it is going to be for the good of the American people. (LS)

  • November 9, 2022

    November 9, 2022

    ENERGY Romania’s ruling coalition
    convenes today in an attempt to reach consensus with respect to regulating
    energy prices and increasing pensions. The Social Democratic Party and the
    National Liberal Party are struggling to reach common ground on these major
    issues. While the Social Democrats plead for a regulated energy market, the
    Liberals favour a semi regulated market. As for public pensions, the Liberals
    want a 15% increase, whereas the Social Democrats would like smaller pension
    benefits to be increased by a higher percentage. Meanwhile, on Tuesday the
    Chamber of Deputies passed a law on the decarbonisation of the energy sector.
    Also on Tuesday, Deputies approved the sale of the country’s uranium
    concentrate reserve to the Nuclearelectrica national corporation. Both
    laws will be forwarded to president Klaus Iohanis for promulgation.


    ELECTIONS The Republicans are set to
    win the US House of Representatives majority following Tuesday’s midterm
    elections. In the Senate, the race is still tight, with voting on-going in the
    western states. According to CBS News, the Republicans won 198 seats and
    the Democrats 167 seats in the House of Representatives, but ballot counting
    continues. The shift in the House majority will significantly affect president
    Joe Biden’s agenda in the second half of his term in office, including the US
    approach of the situation in Ukraine, Radio Romania’s correspondent in
    Washington reports. Final election results may still take days or even weeks to
    be announced, given the differences in ballot counting systems and possible
    court proceedings in the states with more competitive races.


    AWARD The European Parliament last
    night awarded its 2022 European Citizen’s prizes. The 30 winners include the
    Save the Children Romania organisation, for its assistance to the children in
    Ukraine. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the Save the Children
    organisation has provided basic food products, hygiene, clothing, footwear,
    children’s products, blankets and other immediate assistance products.It has responded to the acute needs
    of immediate humanitarian assistance, information and emotional support, both
    at the border and in the centres where refugee mothers and children are housed.
    Awarded every year, the European Citizen’s prize goes to projects organised by
    people or organisations that encourage mutual understanding between people in
    the EU, cross-border cooperation that builds a stronger European spirit and EU
    values and fundamental rights.


    NATO The meeting of NATO foreign ministers in
    Bucharest on November 29th and 30th confirms Romania’s
    role in the current security context and reflects the Allies’ interest in the
    region. The statement was made by Romania’s permanent representative to NATO,
    Dan Neculăescu. He mentioned that Romania hosted a summit in 2008, a
    meeting of NATO defence ministers and a meeting of the NATO Military Committee,
    the organisation’s highest military authority. The meeting of foreign ministers
    in late November will be the first of this kind ever hosted by Romania. It will
    include 4 sessions focusing on the implementation of the Madrid Summit
    decisions, the war in Ukraine, energy security and partners. Invited to attend
    the meeting are also Ukraine, the R. of Moldova, Georgia, Finland, Sweden and
    Bosnia.


    MILITARY The French Army is sending
    13 Leclerc tanks to the Cincu military base in Romania. The equipment is
    scheduled to reach the military base in central Romania by rail in about a week.
    The Leclerc is one of the most
    expensive tanks in the world, able to hit targets 4 km away while moving at 50
    kmph. France will send to Cincu a total of nearly 150 combat vehicles with
    complete equipment and ammunition, in order to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank
    in the context of the war in Ukraine. The NATO battle group in Romania was
    created in May and is spearheaded by France. (AMP)

  • US translator Sean Cotter

    US translator Sean Cotter

    The English version of the early 20th century Romanian novel Rakes of the Old Court was brought out in 2021 in the USA. The translator of the novel is Sean Cotter. The translator teaches Comparative literature and Translation studies with the University of Dallas in Texas. Sean Cotter specializes in Modernism, and in the Theory and History of translation. Sean Cotter also specializes in the literature of South-East Europe. Mateiu Caragiales novel, Rakes of the Old Court, was brought out in 1929. It is arguably one of Romanian literatures most relevant novels: lots of aficionados revolved around the book. According to a classification compiled by the Cultural Observer magazine in the early 2000, Rakes of the Old Court was rated as the best novel in Romanian literature. We sat down and spoke to Sean Cotter about the translation process proper, which was completed in eleven years. We also spoke about Sean Cotters most recent translations and about how he approached Romanian literature:


    In the USA, Romanian literature is practically unknown. Northwestern University Press has a series dedicated toi world literature and publishers were interested in bringing out this book, which is a great novelty for the American readers. I told them it was a very important book, a book of unparalleled beauty and that it would have been a pity for the American readers not to become familiar with it. My specialty, as a university professor of Comparative literature, is European modernism, I wrote about Lucian Blaga, T.S.Eliot as well as about other writers of that particular timeframe. What Im trying to say is that reaching out to Mateiu Caragiales book came as something natural and I must admit that for me, the translation of that text posed a true challenge, it was a set target for me, the translation of that text which is being known as partially untranslatable. As far as I am concerned, I take each and every word very seriously, I just cannot leave anything out. So I can quite aptly say mine was a very close connection with the text of Mateiu Caragiale, who in no way was an ordinary person. The documentation I made proved extremely helpful, I read just about all that was written on Mateiu Caragiale, ranging from G. Călinescu and Șerban Cioculescu to Nicolae Manolescu and Cosmin Ciotloș. Șerban Cioculescu even compiled a dictionary of words used by Mateiu Caragiale, which helped me a lot. So, the key to penetrating that writers fictional world was for me to imagine him like a character, to understand how he thought and how he wrote that book, I did need that image, so that I could create a bridge between myself and the original text. That is why Im saying that documentation in the case of the translation of the book Rakes of the Old Court was essential. Reading everything that was written about his work and also the biography of Mateiu Caragiale helped me a lot. I would characterize Mateiu Caragiale, first, as a dandy. In the English language literature, there is this type of character/author, and Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe are two such examples. This type of literature, the decadent English language literature, helped me a lot to understand and translate Matei Caragiale.



    Sean Cotter first arrived in Bucharest in 1994, because of a wrongly placed stamp. He was 23 years old and was working as a volunteer for a governmental organization. Here he is with details:

    That’s how it happened: I was supposed to go to Kazakhstan, I was a volunteer in a governmental organization, the Peace Corps. And I was very happy that I arrived in Romania, although I didn’t know anything about this country, I say it in all honesty. All I knew was that da meant yes and that nu was no, but I sometimes confused these words as well. I attended a Romanian language course, which was organized in the building of a general school in Piata Amzei- Amzei Square. There I learned Romanian intensively, four hours a day. I remember that at that course the teacher challenged us to try a translation of the Poem by Nichita Stănescu, of that short poem which read like this: ‘Tell me, if one day I grabbed you and kissed the sole of your foot, wouldn’t you limp a little, afterwards, for fear of crushing my kiss? As I teach the science of translation at the University, from time to time I also propose to my students to translate this poem. So, in just one year, it must have been translated by over 400 students, so we can say that it is the most translated poem from the Romanian language. Romanian literature is very close to my soul. My passion for Romanian literature is actually my life.



    Sean Cotter has translated into English many Romanian writers: Mircea Cărtărescu (Blinding – The Left Wing), (Wheel with a single Spoke), T.O.Bobe (Curl), Nichita Danilov (Second-hand Souls), Liliana Ursu (Lightwall), Magda Cârneci (FEM). This year will see the publication in the US, also translated by Sean Cotter, of the novel Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu who received important international awards. Sean Cotter is also the author of the book Literary Translation and the Idea of a Minor Romania (Rochester University Press, 2014), which won the Biennial Society for Romanian Studies – SRS Book Prize. (EN, LS)

  • August 3, 2022 UPDATE

    August 3, 2022 UPDATE

    Aid – The Romanian government has increased by 50% on average the amount of emergency aid that will be granted, this year, to families or single people affected by natural disasters, the Labor and Social Solidarity Ministry announced. The measure adopted on Wednesday was taken as a result of the increase in the construction cost index by up to 80%, according to the latest statistical price bulletin of the National Institute of Statistics – INS. The aid varies between 1,500 (approx. 300 Euros) and 10,000 lei (approx. 2,000 Euros). Most of the money, 10,000 lei (about 2,000 Euros), will be given to families and single people whose homes were affected in a proportion of over 75%. If loss of human life was also recorded, the family of the deceased person will receive an additional 7,500 lei (about 1,500 Euros), regardless of the number of victims. Meanwhile, the Romanian Waters Administration says that the strategic reserve of water from the main 40 lakes, although decreasing compared to the beginning of July, may ensure the necessary amounts for all beneficiaries who are fed from surface sources. According to the data presented, almost 800 localities have restricted power supply across Romania, and the drought continues, especially in the area of ​​small towns and villages in Moldavia (east). In terms of crops, the affected area has reached over 205,000 hectares.



    Revolution – The prosecutor general of Romania, Gabriela Scutea, on Wednesday announced the “Revolution Case” was referred back to the supreme court. In this case, the ex-president Ion Iliescu, former deputy PM Gelu Voican Voiculescu and Iosif Rus, former Military Aviation chief, are charged with crimes against humanity. According to the investigation, a widespread “terrorism” psychosis was created, which led to chaotic gun fire, fratricide, conflicting military orders. According to military prosecutors, this psychosis was induced deliberately, through disinformation and diversion, and resulted in over 850 dead, 2,380 wounded, hundreds of people illegally arrested and psychological trauma. Initiated in Timișoara in December 1989, the Romanian anti-communist revolution led to the flight, capture, summary trial and execution of the communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife Elena.



    China – The EU called for the tensions related to the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan to be settled through dialogue and for all communication channels with China to remain open, so as to avoid errors. China has its army on high alert in response to the visit, which it sees as a provocation. Chinas defense ministry announced “targeted military operations”, and the East Command of the Peoples Liberation Army said they involved live-fire drills near Taiwan-a self-ruled island that China views as part of its territory. In Washington, the Biden administration says there is no need for the Chinese authorities to turn this visit into a crisis. The White House spokesman for national security, John Kirby, said the House Speaker has the right to visit Taiwan, but highlighted that the trip was not a violation of Chinese sovereignty or of the One China Policy. The visit, which was not supported by US president Biden, is the first by a US official at this level in 25 years.



    Covid-19 – The next variants of the new coronavirus will most likely be not very aggressive, but easily transmitted, the head of the Matei Bals Institute for Infectious Disease, Adrian Marinescu believes. He says the pandemic has reached a stage where we cohabitate with the virus, and many of the infected people perceive the disease as similar to a common cold. The health minister Alexandru Rafila does not rule out a 7th pandemic wave in Romania this autumn, when schools and universities resume classes. The Defense Ministry announced that 3 military hospitals in Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara will re-open units for treating Covid patients. On Wednesday over 9,100 new COVID-19 cases were reported, most of them in Bucharest and in Cluj and Timiş counties. Nearly 4,000 COVID patients are hospitalized, of whom nearly 550 are children. 284 patients are in intensive care, and 41 COVID-related deaths have also been reported.



    Agriculture – Romanias grain yield is enough to cover the domestic demand and some exports, the agriculture minister Petre Daea said on Wednesday, as 96% of the crops have already been harvested. High temperatures and extensive drought have affected crops, particularly sunflower and maize, across the country. Romania is one of the largest grain exporters in the EU and an active exporter to the Middle East. Last year the country had record-large crops, including 11.3 million tons of wheat. The domestic grain yield is generally 2-3 times higher than the domestic demand. (AMP &LS)

  • July 30, 2022

    July 30, 2022

    Drill — The Romanian PM Nicolae Ciucă participates, today, in the battle flag presentation ceremony of the American unit from the 57th Air Base “Mihail Kogălniceanu” in the southeast of Romania. On this occasion, forces and equipment of the 2nd Combat Team Brigade from the 101st American Airborne Division, deployed in Romania after the Madrid summit, are conducting a demonstration exercise alongside Romanian soldiers of the 9th “Mărăşeşti” Mechanized Brigade. A technical exhibition is also organized that displays attack helicopters, tanks, armored amphibious transporters, artillery and anti-aircraft artillery elements, specific engineering and first aid equipment from the equipment of the Romanian and American subunits participating in the exercise.



    Olympiad — The PM Nicolae Ciucă congratulated the Romanian students, teachers and coordinators for the outstanding results obtained in this years International Linguistic Olympiad. The education minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu, has also praised the results of the Romanian team at this competition: one gold medal, one silver and one bronze. “Together with the young people who obtained excellent results in other subjects at the Olympiad, who have recently written success stories, they show that Romanian education is performing well and has a beautiful future. Good luck! We are proud of you” the PM Ciucă wrote in a message posted on the Governments Facebook page. We remind you that, this year, the Romanian students obtained the 3rd place in the world at the International Geography Olympiad and the second place in Europe. In Physics, the Romanian students won four gold and one silver medals, and in Mathematics, with two gold and four silver medals, the Romanian team ranked 5th in the world, out of 104 participating countries, and 1st in Europe.



    Sighisoara festival — Knight fights, demonstrations about the healing power of fairies, fairs, theater or medieval dances – these are some of the surprises that have been announced for Saturday, the second day of the 28th edition of the Sighişoara Medieval Festival, in central Romania, organized under the High Patronage of Her Majesty Margareta Custodian of the Romanian Crown. The Festival program also includes a painting workshop for children, an archaic music workshop and a horse riding and archery workshop. We recall that Sighişoara is the only inhabited medieval fortress in southeastern Europe.



    Olympics — The Romanian athletes won another five medals – one gold, two silver and two bronze, on Friday, on the last but one day of the 16th summer edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival, from Banska Bystrica (Slovakia). The gold went to the judoka Bogdan Alexandru Petre in the 100 kg category. In the swimming competition, Aissia Claudia Prisecariu won the silver medal in the womens 100m backstroke event, and the womens 4x100m mixed relay team won the bronze medal. In tennis, Gabriel Gheţu and Eva Ionescu won silver in the mixed doubles final, and Eva Ionescu also got bronze in the womens singles. Romania ranks 12th in the medal standings, with 3 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze medals. Romania is represented at the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival by 92 athletes, in 8 disciplines – athletics, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, judo, volleyball, handball and tennis. At the previous edition, in 2019, Romania won 19 medals.



    Monkey pox – The first two deaths, outside Africa, of people infected with monkey pox were announced on Friday by Spain and Brazil, but it is not known if the respective virus has caused the deaths. The Brazilian authorities stated that the Brazilian man who died also had serious comorbidities. The two deaths in Brazil and Spain bring to seven the number of deaths reported worldwide since May, with the first five reported in Africa, where monkey pox is endemic and was first detected in humans in 1970. The World Health Organization last week declared this disease a global health emergency, after approximately 16,000 cases have already been reported in 75 countries, many of them in Europe. (LS)

  • Prospects of the US-Romania strategic partnership

    Prospects of the US-Romania strategic partnership

    Romania has no better friend than the USA, US Secretary of State
    Antony Blinken has said 25 years on from the time when Bucharest and Washington
    concluded their Strategic Partnership. Twenty-five years ago, the United
    States and Romania launched our Strategic Partnership. Since then, we have strengthened
    ties on defense, energy, and economic cooperation. Romania has no better friend
    and we share a commitment to pushing back Russia’s aggression in the region Blinken
    said in a twitter message.




    In a common letter on this occasion, eight former US ambassadors
    to Romania said the Strategic Partnership between the two countries has proven to
    be one of the best US investments in Europe. According to the diplomats, the partnership
    helped the building of a stronger and prosperous Romania, which today is one of
    the closest and most capable US allies in Central and Eastern Europe. In their
    opinion, including Romania in the Visa Waiver programme ‘would stimulate trade,
    tourism, educational exchanges, as well as human relations, which are the
    foundation of Romanian-American friendship’.




    According to the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis the Strategic
    Partnership with the USA played an essential role in the democratic
    transformation of the country and led to the expansion of bilateral cooperation
    and also at international level it led to the strengthening of Transatlantic
    relation tightening the connections between the two peoples. A quarter of a century on from its launch,
    Romania and the USA are committed to extending and deepening all the dimensions
    of the Strategic Partnership, from the excellent bilateral cooperation in terms
    of security and defence to the fields of economy, energy security, education
    and human relations, a communiqué by the Presidential Administration says.




    According to the same sources, the solidity of the Strategic
    Partnership with the USA has been recently proved by the latest announcement of
    President Biden on beefing up the US military presence in Romania. The war
    Russia is presently waging on Ukraine and its severe consequences at
    international level and in key sectors has made us to take action together,
    more united than ever, in order to find solutions at the bilateral or the Euro-Atlantic
    level in order to consolidate and protect the values, security and the
    resilience of our societies, the head of the Romanian state has also said.




    Developing the Strategic Partnership with the USA in all its cooperation
    domains has become a priority of Romania’s, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has
    said. The tight and significant cooperation in the field of security and
    defence has been permanently consolidated being a vital component of the
    Strategic Partnership between the USA and Romania and its relevance has been
    highlighted more significantly against the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified
    Russian invasion in Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest said in a
    message.


    (bill)

  • July 2, 2022

    July 2, 2022

    Weather — The plain areas of western, southern and eastern Romania will see another scorching day today. In these regions, a yellow code alert for heat and high thermal discomfort is in place, the maximum temperatures ranging from 33 and 36 degrees Celsius. The noon reading in Bucharest was 32 degrees C. Meteorologists also issued a code orange alert for unstable weather, with heavy storms and heavy rains being expected in the mountainous areas, in the north, center, south and locally east of Romania, valid until this evening. While the authorities in the counties most affected by the heat have set up tents, doctors point out that the elderly, those with various health conditions and children are the most exposed to fainting and sunstroke. In the fields of constructions and agriculture, which involves long-term activities in the scorching sun, people have a hard time coping with hot temperatures.



    July 4 – The United States remains Romanias closest military ally, just as NATO remains the main guarantor of peace and security for all its members, the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said on Friday evening. Attending the Party organized by the US Embassy in Bucharest on the occasion of the Independence Day, the Romanian PM welcomed the decision made by President Joe Biden to boost the presence of American troops in Romania. On the other hand, PM Ciucă said that the Romanian Government would continue to work with officials in Washington so that Romanias accession to the Visa Waiver program becomes possible as soon as possible. In his turn, the charge daffaires of the US Embassy in Bucharest, David Muniz, said that Romania leaves a positive mark on the world, recalling, among other things, the readiness of ordinary Romanians and of the authorities to provide humanitarian aid to neighboring Ukraine. David Muniz added that Romania was one of the strongest partners of the United States.



    Theater — Six personalities from the performing arts world receive, this evening, a star on the Star Alley – Aleea Celebrităţilor, as part of the International Theater Festival in Sibiu (center). The merit of two Romanians will be recognized: namely Ion Caramitru, one of the most important and appreciated theater and film actors in Romania, who passed away in September last year, and the cellist Götz Teutsch. Sasha Waltz, Claus Peymann, Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt and Krzysztof Warlikowski will also receive a star on the Star Alley. Sasha Waltz is one of the most respected choreographers of the moment, a dancer and director, a member of the Berlin Academy of Arts. The German Claus Peymann has directed numerous shows based on plays from the classical and contemporary repertoire, and Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt is a French-Belgian playwright, prose writer, novelist, screenwriter and director. His books are translated into 48 languages, and his plays are staged in over 50 countries. The Polish Krzysztof Warlikowski is the artistic director of the Nowy Theater in Warsaw. In 2021, he received the Golden Lion lifetime achievement award at the Venice Biennale.



    Tennis — Romania has only one representative left in the third round of the Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon: Simona Halep (30 WTA), who meets, today, the Polish Magdalena Frech (92 WTA). In the doubles, the Romanian-Ukrainian pair Raluca Olaru / Nadia Kicenok qualified, on Friday, to the eighth finals, after defeating 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 the pair made up of the British Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls.



    Via Transilvanica – The section of the Via Transilvanica road located in Hunedoara county, in the center of Romania, is open, today, to the public. A project initiated in 2018 by the Tășuleasa Social Association, Via Transilvanica is a tourist and pilgrimage route of over 1,000 kilometers that starts from Putna, in the northeast of the country, crosses Transylvania and ends up in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, in the southwest. Nature and sports enthusiasts can walk it partially or completely, with their backpacks on, or they can go by bike or on horseback, on country paths and roads. Via Transilvanica crosses 10 counties, highlighting the cultural, ethnic, historical and natural riches of Romania. (LS)

  • Heat Wave in Romania

    Heat Wave in Romania

    A wave of heat has settled over Romania. It also affected Greece and Bulgaria, some of the most sought-after holiday destinations for Romanians. The heatwave has equally affected several western countries in recent days, including Spain, France, Great Britain and Belgium, as well as United States. In France, temperatures reached up to 43 degrees Celsius in some areas, exceeding the highest values ever recorded in June. In Spain, several fires have occurred that are wreaking havoc in the north, center and south, and tens of thousands of hectares of land have been burned to ashes. To blame is a wave of hot air coming from northern Africa. Temperatures are also increasing alarmingly in Romania.



    Meteorologists have announced that temperatures will exceed 35 degrees C starting in the western part of the country, after which the heatwave may extend to the southern areas, towards the end of the week, when temperatures of up to 40 degrees C are expected. Until Friday evening, an orange code alert for hot weather is in place for nine counties in the west, northwest and locally in the center of Romania, and a yellow one for the rest of the country. Bucharest is in for several scorching days, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees C. Thermal discomfort will be particularly high throughout the country, and the temperature-humidity index will exceed the critical threshold of 80 units. These high values are felt even more strongly by the human body and precautions must be taken, experts say.



    Doctors recommend people to drink a minimum of 2.5 liters of liquids per days during the scorching days, to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and to avoid alcohol and drinks with a high caffeine content such as coffee, tea and cola. At the same time, people should avoid staying in the sun and walking outside between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. In fact, people with various medical conditions are advised to stay in the house until the evening. And if they must go out, then they should wear sun hats, light-colored, loose clothes made of natural fibers. Outdoor activities such as sports and gardening should also be avoided.



    For the month of July, meteorologists in Romania have announced periods of heat alternating with periods of torrential rains, although rain will be scarce throughout the country. The UN has warned that the drought will be the next big problem facing humanity, and temperatures will reach shocking thresholds. The World Meteorological Organization urges the international community to adapt. And one of the ways to achieve this is to set up early warning systems and action plans. For its part, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that for a temperature increase of plus 1.5°C, the warm seasons will be longer and the cold seasons shorter. (LS)

  • Romania – US Strategic Partnership

    Romania – US Strategic Partnership


    Twenty-five years ago, more specifically on 11th July 1997, during a brief official visit to Bucharest by then US president Bill Clinton, the foundation was laid for a new Romanian-American cooperation. The partnership focused on strengthening bilateral relations, on supporting Romanias reform and Euro-Atlantic integration efforts, on promoting its role as a stability and security pillar in south-eastern Europe.



    The Romanian foreign ministry emphasises that at the time of its signing, the Strategic Partnership was a key element in the relations between the two countries and at the same time an efficient tool to support Romanias political, economic, military and administrative reform efforts.



    Fourteen years later, on 13th September, the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century Between the United States of America and Romania was adopted in Washington. An important document for the bilateral relations, it confirmed the good cooperation within the Partnership and defined the key elements of these relations: political dialogue, security, economy, grassroots contacts, science and technology, research, education and culture.



    To mark the 25 years of Partnership, Romanias ambassador to Washington, Andrei Muraru, was received by US president Joe Biden, who thanked Romania for the support provided to Ukraine since the start of Russias invasion. Andrei Muraru conveyed a message from president Klaus Iohannis, along with the desire to further strengthen this partnership.



    In a Facebook post that includes two photos with the White House leader, Andrei Muraru says that Romania is the strongest ally of the US in the region, but that the Black Sea region is, at present, the most vulnerable area in NATO.



    “If Russia is the main imminent and direct threat to us and our neighbours, the response can only be an even more robust US military presence in the region, particularly in Romania,ˮ Andrei Muraru says in his post.



    On the other hand, in the economic sector, president Klaus Iohannis Sunday welcomed his US counterpart Joe Bidens announcement regarding the USD 14-million funding provided by Washington for a new stage of the small modular reactor programme in Romania.



    “Ensuring energy security is a shared goal in the Romania-US strategic partnership,” Klaus Iohannis pointed out. In turn, PM Nicolae Ciucă said the decision of the US to finance the engineering and design study for the development of SMRs in Romania is a core element for the development of the national civilian nuclear programme. (AMP)