18 September 2017
PM Tudose visits storm hit areas in western Romania; President Iohannis attends UN General Assembly
Corina Cristea, 18.09.2017, 14:15
STORM — Romanian PM Mihai Tudose and Interior Minister Carmen Dan visit the areas in western Romania worst affected by the extreme weather recently. The head of government will be coordinating the Commandment for Emergency Situations, which will evaluate damage and find solutions for speedy intervention and support for the people and communities affected, according to the government. 8 people lost their lives and almost 140 have been injured in the violent storms that ravaged on Sunday several western, central and northern counties in Romania.
PARLIAMENT — The Senate in Bucharest will debate and vote today on the simple motion filed by the main opposition parties, the Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union, against Education Minister Liviu Pop. The signatories call on the latter to submit to Parliament a report on the state of Romanian education. Opposition senators accuse Pop of the situation in the education system as the current school year starts. School drop-out rates are at a record high, most schools have not been issued authorizations, and fifth graders still have not been issued textbooks.
UN — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis takes part in the UN General Assembly in New York, where he will address the organization during debates. According to the presidency, the Romanian head of state will emphasize the importance of an international order based on principles and rules, international rule of law, and the need to strengthen the UN, adapting it to present challenges. Iohannis agenda will include high level meetings, a number of bilateral meetings with the UN Secretary General, the head of the General Assembly, as well as some of his counterparts across the world. Iohannis will take part in the reception hosted by US President Trump for heads of delegation attending the General Assembly. President Iohannis will also hold meetings with the main Jewish and Romanian organizations in the United States in the Philadelphia area.
DEFENSE — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor is on a six day working visit to Washington. He is scheduled to meet Defense Secretary James Mattis, Deputy National Security Adviser Ricky Waddell, members of Congress and representatives of the defense industry. The minister is accompanied by Chief of the General Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca, State Secretary for Armaments, Florin- Lazar Vladica, and several other top Defense Ministry officials. Bucharest considers the strategic partnership with the US as one of the fundamental pillars of the countrys defense and security, the more so considering the difficult regional and international situation.
FESTIVAL — Today, on the 17th day of the prestigious George Enescu International Festival, hosted by Romania every other year, the Romanian Atheneum will be host to Anoushka Shankar and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. Also in Bucharest, the Grand Palace Hall is host to the Orchestre Nationale de France, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach, while pianist Viktoria Vassilenko and violinist Erzhan Kulibaev, a winner at the festival in 2016, will be performing in the city of Sibiu. Over three thousand artists from across the world perform in this years festival, in Bucharest and seven other cities all over the country. The festival, which began in 1958, and suspended by the communist regime between 1971 and 1989, ends this year on September 24th.
SCHENGEN — The European commissioner in charge of security Julian King said on Monday, after meeting in Bucharest Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, that all countries would have something to gain if Romania joined the Schengen space. Commissioner King emphasized the fact that the EU needs proper coordination in fighting terrorism. He said that, even though Romania has not been the target for a terrorist attack, but that Romanian citizens have been affected by such incidents in other countries. The European commissioner will be visiting the Operational Coordination Center of the Romanian Border Police.
HONORS — The body of the Romanian soldier killed on patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Friday has arrived back home. Sublieutenant Madalin Stoica, 41, was on his first theater of operation mission. Ceremonies to honor the serviceman fallen in the line of duty were held by all military units in Romania and abroad. Two other soldiers were injured in the incident, and are reported to be in stable condition. This year, Romania contributes 620 troops to NATOs Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. So far, 29 Romanian soldiers have lost their lives and 180 have been injured in foreign missions.
Translated by Calin Cotoiu
