December 18, 2015
Events marking 26 years since the first anti-communist protests continue in Timisoara./The anti-missile shield in Deveselu has been completed. /
Newsroom, 18.12.2015, 12:00
The anti-missile shield in Deveselu is a confirmation of the extraordinary relationship that the US and Romania share, the US ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm, said on Friday, when the elements of the American missile defence system installed at the military base in Deveselu, in southern Romania, became operational. The facility in Deveselu, which includes a sophisticated radar system, ballistic missile interceptors and state-of-the-art communication equipment, will be a major module of a larger NATO security project. To mark the occasion, the Romanian Foreign Ministry held a special ceremony. Hans Klemm underlined the defensive character of the project and the fact that it was exclusively directed against threats coming from outside Europe. In his turn, Romanian Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc said this is the most important Romanian-American project.
In Timisoara the events marking 26 years since the first anti-communist protests that started in this western Romanian city continue. Wreaths will be laid the Metropolitan Cathedral in the city, on whose steps tens of protesters were shot dead on December 18, 1989. Triggered by the opposition of the Timisoara locals to the authorities abuse, the Revolution soon extended to other Romanian cities. Over 1 thousand people died and around 3,400 were injured between December 16 and 25. Romania was the only communist country where the dictatorial regime was overthrown in a violent manner and its leader executed.
Representatives of the big powers gathered in New York on Friday to seek backing from the United Nations for a plan to bring about a negotiated end to Syria’s brutal civil war. US Secretary of State John Kerry has recently got Moscows support for this plan. Nevertheless, the US and Russia continue to have divergent opinions as regards the fate of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While Washington believes the Syrian leader must step down, President Vladimir Putin says he will never agree to the head of a country to be imposed from the outside. American leaders have already voiced concern at the Russian bombings against moderate rebels and not against Islamic State militants.
The European leaders, who got together in Brussels, are today discussing anti- terrorism measures and also economic, monetary and energy union. On Thursday, the first day of the meeting, EU leaders decided to tighten security at Schengen borders and address deficiencies in managing the wave of migrants. The proposal supported by Germany and France for creating an EU border and coast guard empowered to overrule national governments when the EUs external frontiers are deemed to be inadequately secured has been postponed by 6 months, as in many parts of the EU is viewed as an assault on the sovereignty of nation states. No conclusion was reached on Britains proposal to renegotiate its EU membership status either, and further talks will be held at the summit in February. PM Dacian Ciolos represents Romania at the summit in Brussels. He will today meet with Frans Timmermans, the European Commissions First Vice President.
The Romanian national womens handball team will today be playing against Norway in the semi-finals of the World Championship in Denmark. In the quarterfinals the Romanians beat the host country after having previously won against Brazil. In the other semi-final the Netherlands will be up against Poland. Romania is the only team that has participated in all World Championship editions as of 1957 and has won 1 gold medal in 1962 and 2 silver in 1973 and 2005 respectively. Russia, Germany and Norway are the teams with most gold medals in world championships so far.
(Translated by Elena Enache)
