August 25, 2016 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 25.08.2016, 12:15
EARTHQUAKE – In Italy, thousands of rescuers are trying to find among the debris survivors of the earthquake that hit a mountain area in the center of the country on Tuesday night. According to the latest toll, some 250 people have died and hundreds are wounded. Six Romanian citizens are among the victims, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced. Another 5 are wounded, 18 are missing and 10 are in a camp. Two mobile consular teams are providing ground assistance to the Romanians living in the areas affected by the quake.
VISIT – On his first formal visit to the Republic of Moldova, the former soviet country with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population, Romanias Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos has met with his counterpart Pavel Filip. Ciolos has stated that the Romanian Governments goal is to improve the Moldovan citizens situation and it fully supports the reforms that the Moldovan authorities have decided to implement. Dacian Ciolos has announced that on Wednesday Romania disbursed the first installment of the 60 million Euro reimbursable loan to the Republic of Moldova. In turn, Pavel Filip has stressed that Romania is a close and dedicated friend to the Republic of Moldova, proof of that standing the bilateral strategic partnership for European integration. The Moldovan Prime Minister has stated that the main priority in the bilateral relations is energy cooperation, especially extending the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipe-line.
PARTNERSHIP – Cooperation in the defence intelligence sector between the US and Romania as part of the Strategic Partnership was one of the topics on the agenda of Thursdays meeting between Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc and the director of the Defence National Intelligence Agency Lieutenant-General Vincent R. Stewart. Minister Motoc expressed appreciation for the US support to the General Intelligence Directorate with the Defence Ministry and highlighted the importance of cooperation in the field of intelligence. In turn, Lieutenant-General Stewart praised the skill and value of the Romanian military, adding that Romania is a trusted partner of the USA.
SYRIA – Syrian rebels supported by the Turkish army have taken control over the town of Jarabulus, in northern Syria, near the border with Turkey, from Islamic State jihadists. Turkish tanks have today crossed the Syrian border as part of the offensive launched by Ankara to oust jihadists from this Syrian town. Turkey is thus trying to prevent the Kurdish militias from getting control over the town and to open a corridor for the Syrian anti-government rebels, a Turkish official has stated. The same official has mentioned that Ankara will carry on operations in northern Syrian until it makes sure the imminent threats against its national security have been neutralized.
BOOK FAIR – Romania, who is a guest of honour at the 2016 International Book Fair in Beijing, on Thursday prepared many cultural events, book launches, exhibitions, music recitals and theatre performances. An album and a film devoted to composer George Enescu was launched, followed by a recital by the Romanian violinist Andrei Mihail. On Wednesday, the Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing, Constantin Lupeanu, dubbed the greatest sinologist in the world, got the Special Book Award, Chinas most prestigious distinctions in the field, for his translating and publishing more than 30 Chinese books. The Romanian stand has on display more than 12000 albums and books, published by 20 publishing houses, as well as translation from Romanian authors, published with the support of the National Book Centre. At this edition of the fair, there are another 15 guests of honour from central and Eastern Europe, besides Romania.
(Translated by M. Ignatescu & V. Palcu)
