January 11, 2024
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 11.01.2024, 13:55
VACANCIES
– The Romanian government is today examining the memorandums for the
organization of vacancy-filling contests in hospitals administered by the
Health Ministry and local administrations. Last week, Prime Minister Marcel
Ciolacu called on the Health and Development Ministries to submit a report on
available vacancies in the medical system, saying the medical doctors who took
the specialty exam last year must also find suitable jobs. The health system
faces a severe shortage of medical staff.
TRANSPORT
– Representatives of Romanian transporters who protested on Wednesday are today
meeting with government officials for talks. They are disgruntled with civil
liability insurances for vehicles and the increase in fuel excises. The protest
was not claimed by any employer’s association or trade union, although the
Federation of Romanian Transport Operators offered to mediate a dialogue
between hauliers and the authorities. Also on Wednesday farmers staged a
protest of their own.
SNOW
MEETING – Romania’s Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu is attending the
two-day informal Snow Meeting hosted by Trakai, Lithuania, focusing on
external policy and security topics. Held today and tomorrow, the event will
bring together EU and NATO Foreign Ministers as well as high-ranking officials
and academia from Europe and the USA. The meeting will address security hot
topics such as the strategic consequences of the war in Ukraine, the future
security framework in Europe, celebrating 20 years since the NATO enlargement
of 2004, the July NATO Summit in Washington and prospects of cooperation with
the Asia-Pacific region.
MEMORANDUM
– Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are today signing a Memorandum of Understanding
for the creation of a joint task force charged with demining operations in the
Black Sea – MCM Black Sea, the Defense Ministry reports. MCM Black Sea is an
initiative of the three Black Sea riparian allies designed to facilitate safe
navigation by means of combating the threat posed by sea mines. Defense
Minister Angel Tîlvăr will sign on behalf of Romania. The operational structure
of MCM Black Sea, which will change command on a six-month rotation basis and
will consist of two planned activations for every rotation, will ensure the
maximum level of vigilance and training and contribute to strengthening the
Allied posture of deterrence and defense of the Eastern flank. NATO’s littoral
partners, as well as NATO’s Standing Naval Groups and non-littoral Allies, will
be able to participate in MCM Black Sea activities to develop cooperation in
support of Black Sea security and improve interoperability. The initiative was
launched by Turkey last year. All activities have a peaceful purpose and are
not targeted against any country.
STRIKFORNATO
– Romania and Lithuania have joined the NATO Striking and Support Force
(STRIKFORNATO). Romania thus became the 15th member of the most powerful NATO
naval force, the Defense Ministry reports. The accession is all the more
important as this year marks two decades since Romania joined NATO, Defense
Minister Angel Tîlvăr says. Cooperation between the Romanian Naval Forces and
STRIKFORNATO started over a year ago, as Romanian officers took part in
activities and missions carried out by the STRIKFORNATO Command. The NATO
Striking and Support Forces Command focuses on high-precision strikes, carrier
battle groups, expedition units and strike groups made up of cruisers,
destroyers and frigates. Its mission is to ensure security in the Black Sea
region, an area of strategic importance to NATO.
TENNIS
– In the opening round at the Australian Open, Sorana Cîrstea (26 WTA) will
play Yafan Wang (97 WTA) of China. Ana Bogdan (66 WTA) will take on a player
from the qualifying phase, whereas Jaqueline Cristian (84 WTA) will go up
against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic (49 WTA).
