May 17, 2022

A round up of local and international news.

Newsroom, 17.05.2022, 13:50

EU.
Romanian defence minister Vasile Dîncu is today attending in Brussels a meeting
of EU defence ministers as part of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council. Talks are
focusing on the security situation in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s invasion and
the Union’s support for Ukraine. Romania’s
foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu was also in Brussels yesterday to attend a
meeting of EU foreign ministers. He presented, among others, the measures taken
by Romania to support Ukraine and said his country would continue humanitarian
efforts, including assistance to the refugees crossing the border into Romania
and via the humanitarian hub in Suceava, in the north-east. He also expressed support
for the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, emphasising the need to
maintain pressure on the latter. He also called for broader international
effort to create a transport corridor for Ukrainian goods to third destinations,
including by sea, especially for cereals, saying Romania could also act as a
transit route.

Ukraine. An operation to rescue Ukrainian fighters trapped in the Azovstal steelworks, the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol, got under way today, according to Ukraine, who believes these soldiers have ended their mission. Ukraine confirmed last week that over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, of whom 600 wounded, were at this industrial complex, whose underground tunnels stretch for kilometres. The port city of Mariupol is now in Russian hands, after being under siege from the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24th February. Owing to its location near the Sea of Azov, Mariupol is a strategic link between Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and the Donbas mining region, in the east of Ukraine, where there are two pro-Russian break-away republics and where most Russian attacks are now concentrated. It is not clear yet if the evacuation of the Azovstal steel works is the end of the defence of Mariupol.

France. Romanian prime minister Nicolae Ciucă in a Twitter post
congratulated Élisabeth Borne for her appointment as prime minister of France and
assured her of cooperation within the bilateral strategic partnership. Borne,
who was appointed yesterday evening by president Emmanuel Macron, takes over
from Jean Castex, who resigned earlier. Having served in every Macron
government, Élisabeth Borne is only the second woman to become prime minister in
France after Édith Cresson, who held this office for less than a year under the
socialist president François Mitterand. Castex’ resignation paved the way for a
much-awaited government reshuffle by president Macron, who, since re-election,
has promised to downsize government. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent
in Paris, Élisabeth Borne and her team will only be able to govern if the
presidential party and its allies obtain a majority in the parliamentary
elections of June 19th.

Vaccine. Romania has begun the roll-out of the fourth dose of the Covid
vaccine. This booster is only available
from Pfizer and only to be administered to persons over the age of 18 provided
they had earlier received an ARN messenger shot and more than fourth months
have passed since the previous shot. Doctors are advising persons at risk and
those who wish to be better protected against infection to take this booster
jab. Experts are taking into accounts the possibility of a new wave of Covid
infections in autumn.

Cannes. The 75th edition of the Cannes Festival is getting
under way today on the French Riviera. 18 productions are vying for the Palme d’Or
trophy, both French and international films, including RMN, by the Romanian
director Cristian Mungiu, a Cannes regular. Another Romanian film, from
first-time director Alexandru Belc is in competition in the Un Certain Regard
section, a festival sidebar that focuses on original and daring productions
from directors who are at the start of their careers or little known. (CM)