March 14, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 14.03.2023, 19:45

Partnership. Romanian president
Klaus Iohannis is paying an official visit to Sofia on Wednesday at the
invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev. According to a statement
from the Romanian president’s office, the main focus of the visit will be the
signing of a joint declaration on the establishment of the strategic
partnership between the two countries. The document will further consolidate
bilateral political dialogue, boost economic exchanges and cross-border
cooperation, improve connectivity and infrastructure, promote projects to
develop the Danube region, ensure energy security and promote green energy. The
declaration also refers to the cooperation in the area of European affairs and
the enhanced cooperation in the areas of defence and security. Klaus Iohannis
and Rumen Radev will also have talks on their countries’ common goal of joining
the Schengen area and reiterate their firm commitment to continue efforts to
secure a positive decision in this respect this year.

ROMANIA-USA. Romania’s
prime minister Nicolae Ciucă received Dereck J. Hogan, the Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US
Department of State, who paid a visit to Bucharest to attend the US-Romanian
Strategic Dialogue. Talks focused on political, economic and military
cooperation between Romania and the USA. Talks also looked at the cooperation
between the two states in the fields of energy, IT&C and agriculture. Prime
minister Ciucă expressed an interest in attracting a large number of US
businesses with a view to developing more projects in Romania. Another major
topic on the agenda was regional security in the context of the Russian
military aggression in Ukraine. The Romanian prime minister highlighted the
multi-dimensional support which Romania has provided to Ukraine as well as the
support given to the Republic of Moldova. Bucharest’s significant contribution
was hailed by the US administration. The two officials also discussed the security
situation in the Black Sea region. During the talks, the US side offered
technical support for Romania’s inclusion into the Visa Waiver programme.

Protests. Trade
unions in the education sector on Tuesday began a new series of protests
demanding higher pay and bonuses. The south-eastern city of Constanţa was the
first city to see such protests. Trade unions are calling on the government to
find solutions to increase the incomes of auxiliary teaching staff and provide
overtime pay for auxiliary teaching and non-teaching staff. Protesters also
demanded the enforcement of regulations on the provision of bonuses for working
conditions, saying the employees in the education sector are the only category
of public sector employees not to receive such bonuses.

Archbishop.
Romanian prime minister Nicolae Ciucă on Tuesday met the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin
Welby. Talks focused on the situation generated by Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine, the support for refugees and the combating of human trafficking. The
Prime minister Ciucă presented Romania’s contribution to the efforts of the
international community to provide assistance to the victims of war and the
Ukrainian people and authorities. The archbishop congratulated Romania for its
vision and coordination of the humanitarian support for Ukrainian refugees.
Earlier, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel had talks
with the archbishop about migration, thanking him for the support for the
Romanian Orthodox congregation in the UK, who rent 38 places of worship and church buildings
from the Anglican Church. (CM)