November 22, 2023 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 22.11.2023, 20:00

VISIT The president of Romania
Klaus Iohannis Wednesday visited the UNESCO Heritage-listed Island
of Gorée in Senegal, and had talks with the officials of the House of Slaves,
now a museum. Mr. Iohannis said that Romania
will support the efforts of Senegal’s Association for the Protection of Children
with Mental Disabilities to ensure a better life for these children. On
Thursday the Romanian official is to be received by his counterpart Macky Sall.
Thursday’s agenda also includes participation in the opening of the United Nations
House in Senegal, the opening of a traditional mask exhibition and a meeting
with Senegalese experts who have studied in Romania. Senegal concludes the
Romanian president’s 10-day tour in Africa, which also included Kenya, Tanzania
and Cabo Verde.

MILITARY Eurofighter aircraft
from Germany arrived in Romania on Wednesday, at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base
in the south-east of the country, in an enhanced air policing mission (Air
Policing South), the German Embassy in Bucharest announced. In the previous
weeks, large-scale preparations were conducted for the deployment of the German
contingent of 150 troops. Four Eurofighter jets will be operational as of
November 27, strengthening the air defence of NATO’s south-eastern flank.

GAUDEAMUS The
Gaudeamus Radio Romania International Book Fair opened its doors in Bucharest
on Wednesday. It is one of the most eagerly awaited cultural events of the fall,
reaching its 30th edition. Until Sunday, more than 500 releases and editorial
events will take place at the fair. The longest-running book fair in the
country gathers this year almost 200 participants, mainly publishing houses,
but also educational, cultural and press institutions.

ISRAEL The European Union, the US and Russia
welcomed the deal for the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza, over a four-day
ceasefire. The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said
the Commission would use the truce to send as much humanitarian aid as possible
to the Palestinian population in Gaza. In turn, the EU foreign policy chief,
Josep Borrell, spoke about the European bloc’s willingness to get involved in finding
a long-term solution to the conflict through the creation of a Palestinian
state. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the Israeli government have
agreed on a 4-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 50 Israeli women and
children in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners. The deal was brokered by Qatar.
Hamas took around 240 hostages, including children and old people, during its
attack on Israel in which another 1,200 people were killed according to Israeli
sources. In turn, Hamas reported at least 13,300 Palestinians were killed in
subsequent air strikes and the invasion of Gaza by the Israeli forces.

BUDGET The 2024 EU budget was endorsed by the European Parliament convened
in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The chief negotiator was the Romanian MEP Siegfried
Mureşan. The EU budget currently stands at EUR 189 bln. According to Siegfried
Mureşan, there are enough resources now to finance the European Union’s
traditional priorities, such as the cohesion policy and the common agricultural
policy. In these areas, Romania receives most of its non-reimbursable
allocations. (AMP)