August 28, 2021

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 28.08.2021, 14:00

COVID-19 – 1,015 new cases of
COVID-19 infection were reported on Saturday out of some 43,000 tests, the
Group for Strategic Communication reports. 19 related fatalities have also been
reported, while 243 people are in intensive care. 57,000 people are in home
isolation and 63 in institutionalized quarantine. Most new cases were reported
in Bucharest and Ilfov, Timiş,
Bacău, Constanţa and Cluj counties. While Romania remains in the green zone,
the overall incidence rate has been going up.

MOLDOVA – Romania
supports the modernization of the Army of the Republic of Moldova, Romania’s
Defense Minister, Nicolae Ciucă said during a meeting with his Moldovan
counterpart, Anatolie Nosaty. The two officials tackled topics pertaining to
bilateral military cooperation. Minister Nosaty said Romania is a trusted and
strategic partner of the Republic of Moldova, expressing gratitude for the
constant assistance coming from Bucharest in the field of defense. He also
referred to the training of Moldovan Army personnel in relevant Romanian
institutions, the expertise offered in drafting strategic documents as part of
the Initiative for Consolidating Defense Capabilities, as well as assistance
aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic. General Ciucă on Friday attended, alongside
President Klaus Iohannis, the military parade marking 30 years since the
proclamation of independence of neighboring Moldova. 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.

AFGHANISTAN – The
crisis task force set up by Romanian authorities managed to evacuate 5 Afghan
nationals from Kabul, who were admitted on Kabul airport and subsequently
evacuated with support from Romania’s international partners, the Foreign
Ministry in Bucharest has announced. The Afghan citizens – an exchange student
studying in Romania and two journalists together with their families, are now
safe outside Afghan territory. The task force has issued and submitted
documents to the five Afghan citizens, conforming they are under the protection
of the Romanian state. The Ministry says Romania will continue to take steps to
evacuate Afghan nationals who worked together with Romanian troops and
international organizations, students in Romania, vulnerable categories such as
journalists, human rights activists, magistrates and members of their families.
All 49 Romanian citizens who wanted to leave Afghanistan have been evacuated.
At the same time, the task force maintains contact with the nine Romanian
citizens who are still in Afghanistan and who have notified Romanian
authorities they do not wish to be evacuated.

BORDER POLICE – The
Romanian Border Police have seized eight Indian nationals trying to illegally
cross into Romania on the northeastern border, their aim being to reach the
Schengen Area, the Border Police Territorial Inspectorate announced on
Saturday. The eight men are aged 19 to 48 and are now being investigated by
Romanian and Ukrainian authorities. Based on the agreement signed by the
European Union and Ukraine, the eight citizens have been taken into custody by
authorities of the neighboring state.

MEDALS – 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. (VP)