November 26, 2018 UPDATE

Presidents Iohannis and Macron to inaugurate the Romania - France Cultural Season

Newsroom, 26.11.2018, 19:51

VISIT — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis travelled to Paris on Monday for a two-day official visit to inaugurate the Romania – France Cultural Season. On Tuesday, at the Georges Pompidou Center, he is joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the launch of the event. The two heads of state will visit Brancusis atelier, the exhibition dedicated to Romanian peasant garb as seen in the work of French painter Henri Matisse and Romanian painter Theodor Pallady, as well as contemporary exhibitions. Iohannis and Macron will hold official talks, confirming the special bilateral relations enjoyed by the two countries, as well as talks aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership, consolidating economic cooperation and the role of the Romanian community in France. Klaus Iohannis met on Monday with representatives of the Romanian community in France.

CONFLICT — The Romanian Foreign Ministry voiced deep concern at the recent naval conflict in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine. The reaction comes after Russian intelligence confirmed that their coast guard had captured three Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea. According to the ministry, aggression and violations of international law undermine the security of the entire region. Representatives of the ministry said that Romhania fully supports Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty, and its right to use its territorial waters. The UN Security Council will convene in emergency session to debate the incident in the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on Monday to introduce martial law for 60 days, a statement on his website said, though it needs parliamentary approval to come into force.

CEMETERY – The second cemetery for Romanian soldiers fallen on the Eastern Front in WWII was inaugurated in Russia, in the Krasnodar region, on Monday. The remains of 88 soldiers and officers who lost their lives on the frontlines in the Kuban region, who had been initially interred in 8 local villages, were reburied there. The Romanian cemetery will be part of a memorial complex alongside resting places of German, Slovakian, and Hungarian soldiers. The first Romanian cemetery for servicemen fallen in WWII in Russia was inaugurated in 2015 close to Volvograd, formerly Stalingrad, holding the remains of 1,644 soldiers.

EUROBAROMETER – Romanians are among the most concerned Europeans regarding the transparency of elections. They would also like to be more informed about the elections and that more youngsters should run in the elections in order to be motivated to come to the polls, reveals the latest Eurobarometer released on Monday. The Romanians’ highest concern as to the elections is about people voting in spite of not being entitled to. At the same time, Romanians fear multiple voting, the manipulation of elections and the buying of votes. The majority of the EU respondents were concerned about a range of potential electoral interferences. More than six in ten (61%) were concerned about elections being manipulated through cyber attacks, with 24% saying they were ‘very concerned’ about this.

RESIGNATION — Deputy PM and Minister for Development, Paul Stanescu, resigned on Monday all positions he held in the Government. Previously, PM Viorica Dancila had said she had asked for Stanescu’s resignation but that the latter had refused. Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea said on Monday that a decision as regards the steps to be taken if the head of state further refuses to fulfill his atributions regarding the appointment of new ministers. would be taken within the coalition next week.

FESTIVAL– Sunday night, the Irish Radio and Television Orchestra brought to a close the 4th edition of the RadiRo International Radio Orchestra Festival. For a week, the festival featured prestigious symphony orchestras from all over Europe. For the first time this year, the festival featured jazz recitals. RadiRo is the only event devoted to European and world radio orchestras. All concerts were broadcast live by Radio Romania’s channels, recorded and subsequently rebroadcast by the public television. The concerts were also rebroadcast by the radiobroadcasters that are members of the European Broadcasting Union.

(Translated by Elena Enache)