National Day of Romania
Romanians everywhere celebrated their National Day on December 1
România Internațional, 02.12.2015, 13:32
December 1, the National Day of Romania, was celebrated by all Romanians, regardless of where they live. The 97th anniversary of the union of all Romanians into a nation state was marked, in the country as well as abroad, with religious ceremonies, military parades, concerts and receptions. In Bucharest, thousands of people came to see the traditional military parade, which has been impressive this year as well.
More than 2,600 troops, armoured and combat vehicles, Hercules and Spartan planes and helicopters paraded in front of the Parliament building. The Romanian soldiers were joined by their counterparts from the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, the US, Poland and Turkey. A novelty this year was the presence of a military unit made up of Romanian troops wounded in the Western Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan theatres of operations.
Attending were senior public officials, including President Klaus Iohannis and PM Dacian Ciolos. The two pleaded for a new beginning in terms of practices, behaviour and approaches, of honouring the national symbols and of commending those who promote values in Romanian society. In an address given on this occasion, the head of state said the National Day of Romania this year may mark a new beginning in politics as well. This requires, according to the President, new ideas, approaches and attitudes, while at the same time preserving the stability and balance of the Romanian political system.
December 1st is not only a celebration of the past, but also the best opportunity for Romania to become better connected to the present, to the countrys position in Europe and the world. In a world in which unfortunately war and the threat of terrorism have paved their way, Romania is able to provide confidence and predictability, both with respect to its internal democracy and to its partnerships within the EU and NATO, Iohannis added.
After attending the parade in Bucharest, the President had a conference call with the Romanian military currently deployed abroad. He told them that the nation is proud of its army and urged them to continue to fulfil their duties with honour and dignity, to prove to the world that they are not only the defenders of Romanias national interests, but also the ambassadors of the Romanian spirit and respect for values.
The central Romanian city of Alba Iulia, where on December the 1st, 1918, shortly after World War 1, the union of Transylvania with the Romanian Principalities completed the formation of the Romanian nation state, hosted this year the Congress of Romanian Spirituality. At the end of the 19th edition of the Congress, the more than 200 delegates from 35 countries adopted a programme that lays down the preparations for the centennial of the Great Union, to be celebrated in 2018.
