September 2, 2020 UPDATE

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 02.09.2020, 20:21

SENATE – The Senate in Bucharest has
unanimously endorsed a declaration on the human rights violation in Belarus.
The Romanian Parliament has thus expressed its solidarity with the people of
Belarus calling for the cessation of violence against peaceful protesters. According
to the document, a more articulated reaction from the international community
is needed unless the situation improves. The document calls on the authorities
in Minsk to observe the citizens’ right to participate in public rallies and
refrain from the illegal using of force, to release those illegally detained
and initiate an authentic and substantial political dialogue with civil
society.

POISON – Germany has ‘unequivocal
proof’ that the opposition leader in Russia, Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a
novichok nerve agent, the spokesperson of the Berlin government was quoted by
Reuters and DPA as saying on Wednesday. Navalny fell ill on a flight back to
Moscow from Siberia on August 20th and was transferred to Berlin two
days later. His supporters believe he was poisoned while drinking a tea at the
airport. According to TASS news agency, investigations carried out in a Russian
hospital shows that no poisonous substances were found in Navalny’s body.

COOPERATION – Romanian Foreign Minister
Bogdan Aurescu and his Israeli counterpart Gabriel Ashkenazi on Wednesday
signed a cooperation programme between Romania and Israel in the fields of
culture, education and sports. The two officials also decided the setting up of
a joint working group to extend economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
The talks illustrate the excellent level of our bilateral relations, which
have a strategic character and the long-time friendship between Romania and the
state of Israel, Aurescu said in a press statement in Jerusalem. This visit
reflects the excellent relations between our countries as Romania is one of our
best friends in Europe. I appreciate the support for the state of Israel in the
EU and in other international forums, the Israeli Foreign Minister said. The
two ministers also tackled the latest developments in the Middle East, mainly
the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and
the introduction of direct flights between the two states. Aurescu went on to
say that the ‘Israeli citizens born in Romania represent a strong,
well-integrated community with an active role in the Israeli society and in easing
the economic development between the two countries. Aurescu is paying a two-day
formal visit to Israel and Palestine.

MEASURES – Measures
regulating the educational activity in the new school year have been made
public, aiming at reducing the risk of infection with Covid-19. There are three
scenarios each school will be able to put into practice depending on the
infection rate revised every 14 days. The ministerial order detailing the new
measures also stipulates that teachers and pupils have to wear facemasks in
school. If one coronavirus case is found in a class, the activity of the
respective class will be suspended for 14 days. If three separate cases are
confirmed in a school, then the whole school is to close for 14 days.

(translated by bill)