August 13, 2018 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 13.08.2018, 19:01

PROTESTS – In Romania, military prosecutors called on people who
protested on Friday in Bucharest to come forward if they have been injured or
can provide important information. Dozens of people have filed complaints over
the last two days against the gendarmes after being injured in the protests. Forensic
medical reports have been issued for scores of people, including gendarmes. At
the same time, the two individuals who assaulted a female gendarme and her
colleague have been arrested. As a result of the violence that ensued on Friday
at the protests against the government, around 500 people needed medical care,
and 70 were hospitalized, including 11 gendarmes. The Romania 100 platform filed
a request with the prosecutors with the High Court of Cassation and Justice to
indict Bucharest Prefect Speranta Cliseru and Interior Minister Carmen Dan as a
result of the extreme violence perpetrated on the night of August 10 to 11.

MESSAGE – Romania is undergoing a period of
turbulence due to the violent protests, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday,
referring to last Friday’s violent anti-Government protests. The president said
the violent repression of protests is unacceptable, pointing out that those
responsible must be identified and brought to justice. President Iohannis also
condemned the actions of people who attacked the riot police, stating that no
one is yet being held accountable for the violent acts of August 10, adding
that at least one person should have stepped down by now. Romania is a balanced
and respected country, but the Government is doing everything in its power to
destroy this image, the President went on to say. Polls show that 80% of
Romanians believe Romania is headed in the wrong direction, Klaus Iohannis
argued. In turn, the Social-Democratic Party wrote in a press release that the
President encouraged the anti-Government protests, calling on Klaus Iohannis to
display responsibility and act like a President should, to help consolidate
democratic rights and values and the rule of law.

JUSTICE – European Commissioner for Justice Vera Jourova calls on
the government in Bucharest to reconsider their recent changes in the judicial
system, according to the DPA news agency, quoting an interview by the German
publication Die Welt. The European official said that the new version of the
laws threatens the independence of judges, limits the authority of prosecutors,
and undermines confidence in the judicial system. Commissioner Jourova said it
would be useful for the government in Bucharest to reconsider their plans. DPA
mentions that the judicial reform in Romania has sparked protests. According to
the source, the organizers of these protests claim that the laws favor corrupt
politicians, as they decriminalize abuse in office.

SUMMIT – Romania is ready to organize
the informal summit of EU heads of state and Government on May 9, 2019 in
Sibiu, central Romania, the Foreign Ministry reports. On Monday, Sibiu hosted a
working meeting to prepare next year’s summit as part of Romania’s mandate at
the helm of the European Council. Attending were representatives of the presidency
and local authorities. Devoted to the future of the EU and the upcoming
strategic agenda for the 2019-2024 period, the Summit will bring together 27
heads of state and government of member states, 36 official delegations, 400
high-ranking officials, some 900 journalists and 100 interpreters.

NAVY- The Romanian Naval Forces on August 14 will pay homage to the
heroes and soldiers who made history in the naval battles that helped preserve
the independence and sovereignty of the country, the Defense Ministry reports.
Romanian military will attend a special ceremony at the Sailors’ Monument in
Constanta. Wednesday, August 15, is Navy Day, which will be marked by a big
naval show held in Constanta and Mangalia. 2018 marks 116 years since the
Military Navy was founded.

VISIT – A delegation of the National Guard of the State of Alabama,
led by Major-General Sheryl Gordon, is paying an official visit to Romania over
August 13-16. The American delegation will attend the conference entitled 25
Years of State Partnership Program, organized by the Carol I National
Defense University in Bucharest. The agenda also includes visits to the Mihail
Kogalniceanu airbase, to the military port in Tulcea, and the Constanta
barracks, where they will meet with Chief of General Staff Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca
to attend ceremonies marking Navy Day. Cooperation between the Romanian Army
and the National Guard of the State of Alabama has been ongoing for the past 25
years, as part of the State Partnership Program.

THEATRE – Stage director Silvu Purcarete’s
latest show, The Story of an Ill-reputed Princess, has been selected for the
opening of the Cultural and Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo, the spokesperson of
the Radu Stanca National Theatre in Sibiu has announced. The show is based on
an original script written by Silviu Purcarete, grounded on a kabuki play. It
will premiere in June.

(Translated by V. Palcu)