Israel. Romania has strongly condemned Iran’s attack against Israel. “We stand in full solidarity with the Israeli people in these difficult moments. We call for avoiding further regional escalation”, the country’s president Klaus Iohannis posted on Sunday, a sentiment shared by prime minister Marcel Ciolacu: “We firmly condemn this attack and support Israel’s right to ensure the security of its citizens”. The country’s foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu said the ministry is in contact with the Romanian embassies in the region. “We are deeply concerned about the security situation in the Middle East”, she also said. NATO has also condemned Iran’s attack as “escalation” and called for restraint. Many European countries as well as Canada, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar voiced concern about the situation in the region and called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, urging restraint as tensions rise in the Middle East.
Elections. The candidates lists for the upcoming local elections can be submitted from 16th April, with 30th April the deadline. A few days ago was the deadline for the submission of candidates lists for the European Parliamentary elections, which are taking place on the same day as the local elections, on 9th June. The Central Electoral Bureau is analysing the documents filed by the 15 political parties and election alliances and seven independent candidates and will announce the final list of candidates on 29th April. According to a eurobarometer published by the European Commission, 53% of Romanian voters say they intend to cast their ballot in the European elections, while 10% say they are unlikely and another 10% that they are very unlikely to vote. According to the survey, the highest voter turnout is expected in Bucharest and Ilfov county, and in the north-east and south-east of the country, while the lowest is expected in the south-west and west of the country.
Congress. Representatives of Ukrainians from some 70 different states have met these days at the Ukrainian World Congress hosted by Bucharest, to discuss ways to consolidate Ukrainian culture, identity, tradition and language among communities around the world. They also discussed the problems faced by Ukrainian refugees in the countries where they found asylum and possible mechanisms to provide them with support and integration. Talks also focused on issues relating to the support for Ukraine on its European and Euro-Atlantic path. Nicolae Miroslav Petreţchi, a member of the Romanian Parliament representing the ethnic Ukrainian community in Romania, said Bucharest is a reliable partner for Ukraine and that bilateral relations are very close and at a strategic level. After the pandemic and a wide-scale war, Romania has time and again demonstrated that it is a reliable partner and friend for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, he said. The Ukrainian diaspora is one of the most numerous in the world, with over 26 million members, not including the around 6 million Ukrainians displaced as a result of Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Tennis. Romania qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the first time after beating Ukraine 3-2 on Saturday in the US. In the doubles match that secured Romania’s qualification, Jaqueline Cristian and Ana Bogdan defeated Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6. Earlier, Jaqueline Cristian beat Lesia Tsurenko and Ana Bogdan beat Elina Svitolina. The teams that will compete in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals are Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and the US.