December 1, 2016 UPDATE

Romania marked national day on December 1/ Holiday lights in Bucharest/ Royal trains stops in Sibiu

Newsroom, 01.12.2016, 12:15

NATIONAL DAY – Romania’s National Day is marked each year on December 1 by all Romanian citizens in the country and abroad as well as in the theaters of operations where Romanian military are participating in international missions. Military parades were organized in several cities of Romania and the authorities prepared concerts, traditional public meals and fireworks shows. The most important parade was held in Bucharest with the participation of more than 3 thousand military and experts with the National Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Intelligence Service. Also parading were military vehicles and tens of aircrafts among which the multirole F-16 Fighiting Falcon, the latest acquisition of the Romanian Air Forces. This year the parade held in Bucharest paid homage to the heroes killed in WWI in the context in which Romania marked in 2016 100 years since it entered the War. Military detachments from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Slovakia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Spain and the US participated, for the first time, in the National Day parade. The National Day was also celebrated abroad through various cultural events organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute Representations in cooperation with Romania’s diplomatic missions.

MESSAGES ON DECEMBER 1 – President Klaus Iohannis said Thursday on the occasion of the party given on Romania’s National Day that December 1 was a symbol of unity, solidarity and national pride and told Romanians not to doubt themselves and their country. Previously, the PM Dacian Cioloş had conveyed a message in which he referred to the Great Union of 1918, which he considered a miracle of history. On December 1 Romanians also received messages of congratulation from the US authorities on behalf of the American people and of President Barack Obama. The document posted on the website of the US Department of State highlights the importance of the US- Romania Strategic Partnership, the fact that Romania remains a trustworthy ally within NATO, which contributes significantly to international peace and security. On Wednesday Romania’s Ambassador to the US, George Maior, met with Jackie Walorski, a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, who gave assurances that the bilateral Strategic Partnership would be intensified and would focus on issues of common interest during the future American administration. George Maior reiterated Romania’s firm commitment to increasing the budget for defense to 2% of the GDP in 2017 and to maintaining it at this level for the next 10 years.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS – During the month of December Bucharesters as well as visitors of Romania’s capital will have the opportunity to enjoy more than 3 million holiday lights decorating the capital on the occasion of the winter holidays. Besides the festive lights that cover some 23 kms, Bucharest also boasts a 25-m tall fir tree decorated with thousands of lights, which is located in the center of a traditional Christmas Fair. This year the Fair is organized near the Parliament Palace. Visitors are expected by more than 100 wooden houses and traditional dishes, Santa’s House, a skating rink and many gifts. Also various shows will be held during the month of December.

RETURN GUIDE – The Department of Policies for the Relation with the Romanians in the Diaspora within the Romanian Foreign Ministry has drafted and published a “Return Guide” for the Romanians living outside Romania. The document was drawn up based on the questions asked by those Romanians who intend to return home and includes basic information and useful contacts that could make their reintegration in Romania easier. According to estimates made by the Foreign Ministry, between 3.5 and 4 million Romanians are now living abroad.

EUROSTAT – In 2015 households in Romania allotted almost 22% of their total consumption expenses for their homes, water supply, electricity, gas and other fuels as compared to 21% in 2005, show the latest data made public by the European Statistical Office. At the level of the EU, families allotted a quarter of the money for consumption to these expenses, the total sum of 2 thousand billion euros accounting for the largest category of household expenses in the member states.

ROYAL TRAIN – The Romanian royal train ended its annual trip on Thursday in the central city of Sibiu. This year the trip was dedicated to the anniversary of 150 years since the setting up of the Royal House of Romania and to the promulgation of the 1866 Constitution. During the two-day trip, Crown Princess Margareta of Romania, Prince Radu and Princess Maria were accompanied by representatives of the royal families of Belgium and Bulgaria as well as by eminent students, teachers and personalities of Romania’s civil society. The first Romanian Constitution was drafted in 1866 during the reign of Carol of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, after the model of the Belgian Constitution, which was considered, at the time, the most democratic Constitution in Europe. (translation by L. Simion)