October 10, 2023 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 10.10.2023, 19:18
VISIT – President Klaus Iohannis will pay a visit to Hungary on Wednesday, at the invitation of his Hungarian counterpart Katalin Novák, this being the first official visit to Budapest by a Romanian president in the last 14 years. According to the Presidential Administration, the visit takes place in the context of increased dynamics of high-level contacts, after the official visit made by President Katalin Novák to Bucharest in September 2022, and the participation in the 8th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, hosted by Romania in September 2023. The head of state will reiterate Romania’s interest and openness to a constructive, pragmatic and transparent cooperation with Hungary. The two presidents will analyze the current situation at the regional, European and global level, in the context of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine.
EXERCISE – More than 400 soldiers take part in the Steadfast Jupiter 2023, the most complex computer-assisted NATO exercise, held at the Getica Joint Training Center in Cincu, central Romania. Military personnel from 17 allied states and over 20 subunits of the NATO command and force structure are taking part. The exercise focuses on a 360-degree approach to the security and collective defense of the North Atlantic Alliance. According to the Defense Ministry, the exercise is intended to strengthen the cohesion and interoperability of the armed forces involved and represents the final certification stage of the Southeast Multinational Corps Command in Romania, able to ensure the command and control of NATO’s ground operations at regional level, in any situation.
UKRAINE – Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to Romania on Tuesday. After the meeting, President Zelenskyy thanked Romania for supporting Ukraine at the most difficult time in its history. Talks with President Klaus Iohannis focused on security at the Black Sea, bilateral cooperation, Ukraines EU and Euro-Atlantic integration as well as full respect of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. In turn, Iohannis assured his Ukrainian counterpart of Romania’s determination to further support the neighboring country, as long as needed, until its entire territory is liberated. Zelenskyy also had talks with the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the Speaker of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, and the interim Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfred Simonis.
ISRAEL – Israel announced that it is mobilizing another 60,000 reservists in addition to the 300,000 that have already been called up. Massive forces and heavy equipment were concentrated on the border with the Gaza Strip. 100 people captured by Hamas when it attacked Israel are kept hostage, and the terrorist organization has threatened to start killing them if more civilian targets are bombed. The toll of the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas exceeded several thousands dead and wounded, on both sides. UN humanitarian agencies have warned of the serious consequences of Israel imposing a total siege on the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas attack. The UN Children’s Agency has expressed concern about the restriction of water and food to Gaza. UN agencies also condemned the mass killing of Israelis by Palestinian armed groups and asked them to release the hostages.
IMF – The International Monetary Fund estimates an economic growth of 2.2% for Romania this year compared to the previous forecast of 2.4%, according to a report the IMF presented on Tuesday. For 2024, the IMF estimates a 3.8% economic growth. The annual inflation rate forecast stands at 10.7% in 2023 and at 5.8% in 2024. According to a report of a recent IMF mission to Bucharest, budget deficit will stand at 6% this year and 5% next year. The head of the IMF mission in Romania, Jan Kees Martijn said the government’s fiscal package is designed to curb public spending, although additional measures are required to boost efficiency and revenues. (EE)
