August 27, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 27.08.2021, 20:00

MOLDOVA – Romania reiterates its firm and wide support for
the processes of reformand European integration in the Republic of Moldova,
Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis said during his visit to Chişinău on Friday. The Romanian official pointed out
Romania and Moldova are bound by a solid relationship: a communion of language,
culture and history. The president said the people of Moldova have expressed
their firm option in the latest election for the pro-reform trajectory and
irreversible European accession of their country, offering a worthy example to
follow by other states in the region. The president gave assurances Romania
will remain Moldova’s trusted partner in the future as well. President Klaus
Iohannis and his Ukrainian and Polish counterparts, Volodymyr Zelensky and
Andrzej Duda, attended festivities held in Chişinău marking 30 years since
the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence. Moldova’s president, Maia
Sandu, said her country wants to become a vector of stability in an area
constantly facing complex challenges. In turn, Polish president Andrzej Duda
expressed support for Moldova’s European integration ambitions, while his
Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, underscored that his country is also
celebrating 30 years of independence in very delicate security context. Created on a part of Romania’s eastern territories,
annexed by the Soviet Union through an ultimatum in 1940, the Republic of
Moldova won its independence after the abortive coup in Moscow against the then
Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. Adopted on August 27, 1991 by Parliament in
Chisinau, the declaration of independence was recognized by Romania on the same
day. The Republic of Moldova got international recognition on March 2, 1992
upon its accession to the United Nations Organization.

ATTACKS – Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has
firmly condemned the terror attacks in Kabul on Thursday, which made numerous
victims. In a Twitter message, Aurescu has conveyed condolences to the families
of the victims. He mentioned that the institutional crisis cell is keeping in
touch with the 9 Romanian citizens in Afghanistan, who were not wounded in the
attacks. In another development, US president Joe Biden has pledged to hunt
down all responsible for the attacks claimed by ISIS, which killed and wounded
many people, including 13 US troops. The White House leader says the
evacuations will carry on whereas France, Canada, Poland, the Netherlands and
Norway have announced the cessation of their evacuation efforts. Over 100
thousand people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the Taliban
takeover. The US and its allies have warned that more terror attacks are likely
in the Afghan capital as the deadline for military withdrawal from Afghanistan
draws near.

MEDALS – On Friday Romania obtained its first two medals
in Tokyo Paralympics. Romanian cyclist Eduard Novak, who is also Romania’s
incumbent Minister of Youth and Sports, won silver in the 4,000-meter
individual pursuit. Novak has thus won Romania’s first medal in the present
edition of the Paralympic Games and his fourth. Eduard Novak, 44, obtained gold
and silver medals at the 2012 edition of these games held in London and silver
in Beijing in 2008. Another Romanian, judoka Alex Bologa, won bronze in the 60-kg
category of the aforementioned competition. Romania is being represented by 7
athletes at the present edition of the Tokyo Paralympics who participate in
judo, athletics, table tennis, cycling and archery.

FOOTBALL – Romania’s football champions CFR Cluj have been
drawn in Group D in Conference League alongside AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands,
FK Jablonec of the Czech Republic and Randers FC of Denmark, following Friday’s
draw hosted by Istanbul. The winners of each group will qualify to the round of
16. Teams in second place in each group will play matches against teams in
third position in Europa League groups for a place in the round of 16. The
final will take place on May 25, 2022 on National Arena Stadium in Tirana. On
Thursday, CFR lost 1-2 on home turf to Red Star Belgrade of Serbia after losing
the first leg as well 4-0. (DB &VP)