September 5, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 05.09.2021, 20:00

COVID-19 – The daily number of COVID-19
infections is on the rise. The pandemic is again putting additional strain on
medical units across the country, as for several days the number of infections has
exceeded the 1,500 mark. 1,242 new cases of COVID infection were reported on
Sunday, in addition to 11 related fatalities. Over 3,000 people are being treated
for COVID-19 in hospitals across the country, while 372 people are currently in
intensive care. Health Minister Ioana Mihăilă announced additional ICU beds
will be made available in Bucharest, where the largest number of new cases was
reported. Over 6,600 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday, while
5.1 million people have completed the vaccination scheme. On the other hand,
Romania has sent 100 thousand rapid antigen COVID tests to neighboring Moldova.
Romania’s ambassador to Chişinău, Daniel Ioniţă, said the donation reflects the
special relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. So far Romania
has donated 500,000 anti-COVID-19 vaccine shots to neighboring Moldova.

LIST -
The updated list of countries representing an epidemiological risk was
published on Sunday by the National Committee for Emergency Situations. Serbia,
Estonia and Albania have entered the red zone, while all arrivals from this
country will enter quarantine, unless they provide proof of vaccination or that
they had the disease. Norway, Austria and Bosnia Herzegovina have now entered
the yellow zone, in addition to Spain and Lichtenstein, where infection rates
have dropped. People coming from these areas will not enter quarantine if they
provide proof of vaccination, of a PCR negative test or if they’ve had the
disease.

POLITICAL
CRISIS – The Parliament leadership is meeting on Monday to discuss the
timetable for the debate and vote of the no-confidence motion filed on Friday
by AUR and USR-PLUS MPs against the Cabinet led by Liberal Florin Cîţu.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, the Parliament session was suspended due to
lack of quorum. Titled The demise of the Cîţu Cabinet, Romania’s only chance
at survival!, the document claims the Government plunged the country into a
deep economic and social crisis. Considered a protector of the Prime Minister,
president Klaus Iohannis has called on the USR-PLUS alliance to resume dialogue
within the ruling coalition and come up with a viable and reasonable solution
to overcome the political deadlock. The president accused USR-PLUS they lost
credibility with their own voters for associating themselves politically with
AUR, a party that disregards Western values. In response, USR-PLUS continues to
call for the resignation of Prime Minister Florin Cîţu. The motion filed by USR-PLUS and AUR was
signed by 122 MPs. For the document to be adopted in Parliament, a minimum of
234 votes are required, which means USR-PLUS and AUR will need the support of other
parliamentary parties. From the opposition, PSD says it will vote the motion,
but only if it leads to snap elections. The Social-Democrats want to file their
own motion, claiming USR-PLUS ministers should also be dismissed.

DIPLOMACY
– The Romanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs over September 7-9 is organizing
the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy, the Ministry announced in a release
published on Sunday. This year’s theme is titled Diplomatic action to
consolidate Romania’s resilience. Traditionally organized around Romanian
Diplomacy Day, this year the event will be held online and will involve the
participation of the heads of Romania’s diplomatic missions and consular
offices abroad. Attending will also be the Foreign Minister of the Republic of
Moldova, Nicolae Popescu, who will be paying an official visit to Bucharest,
the Foreign Minister of Greece, Nikos Denidas, who will also be in Romania for
an official visit. Keynote speeches will be delivered by Italy’s Minister for
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, the Indian
Foreign Minister, Australia’s Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investments, as
well as European Commission and OSCE officials. European Commission
vice-president for democracy and demography, Dubravka Šuica, the Secretary
General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Helga
Schmid, who will give online presentations, as well as Thomas Garrett, the
Secretary General of the Community of Democracies, who will attend the meeting
physically.

EVACUATIONS
– Another 80 Afghan citizens were successfully evacuated on Sunday from
Afghanistan via land transport, and are now safe in Pakistani territory, the
Romanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced. The special task force
coordinated by Minister Bogdan Aurescu announced it is looking for the most
effective means of transporting the citizens safely to Romania. The group of
people includes former collaborators of the Romanian Armed Forces, students
with scholarships in Romania, a human rights university professor, a
representative of the Afghan Police, members of their families and other
vulnerable categories. The task force has so far evacuated 156 Afghan citizens
who risked being persecuted by the Taliban regime in Kabul if they had stayed.

PATZAICHIN
– The several-time Olympic canoe champion Ivan Patzaichin passed away on Sunday,
aged 71, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee writes on its Facebook page.
Ivan Patzaichin won seven medals at the Olympic Games, four gold and three
silver. He took part in five editions of the Games, from 1968 to 1984. He is
also the holder of 22 world titles. He went on to become a great coach, his
trainees winning 150 Olympic, world and European medals. He was the
vice-president of the Romanian Federation of Kayak-Canoe and the vice-president
of the Romanian Olympic Committee. Elected in 1990, Juan Antonia Samaranch, the
chairman of the International Olympic Committee, bestowed on Patzaichin the
Platinum Wreath, the highest Olympic distinction, becoming the only Romanian to
hold this title. In 2000 he was given the Faithful Servant national order in
rank of knight. In April, 2019, Ivan Patzaichin was also awarded the Golden
Wreath, the highest distinction of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.
In 2019, the presidency awarded Patzaichin The Romanian Star national order
in rank of knight. (VP)