VISIT – On a visit to the United Arab
\nEmirates, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis this morning met in Abu Dhabi with
\nhis counterpart, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan. On this occasion, the
\ncountries’ relevant ministers and officials signed bilateral documents in the
\nfields of energy, cyber-security and education. Yesterday, president Iohannis
\nvisited Masdar City, a model of urban sustainable development focusing on
\nenergy efficiency and environment protection. President Iohannis attended a
\npresentation of projects in the fields of transport, urban ventilation and
\ncooling, building-generated energy and making optimal use of sunlight in
\nresearch and education institutions. Successfully tested in Masdar City, these
\nsolutions can inspire projects in other cities, including Romania, which have a
\ngrowing interest for sustainable energy. Romanian researchers affiliated with
\ninstitutes in Masdar City have also contributed to their development, the
\nPresidency reports. <\/p>\n
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EXERCISE – Over March 20 – April 2, some 3,400
\nRomanian and international servicemen are taking part in the Sea Shield 2023
\nexercise held in the Black Sea, the Danube River, the Danube Delta and coastal
\nareas. Sea Shield 2023 is the largest-scale training exercise planned and
\ncarried out by the Romanian Naval Forces this year. Attending will be military
\nunits from 12 allied and partner states, accompanied by military watercraft,
\naircraft and other combat equipment. The exercise will help increase the level
\nof interoperability of participant forces and is part of NATO’s multinational
\ntraining programs. <\/p>\n
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MEETINGS – Romania’s Foreign Minister, Bogdan
\nAurescu, is today attending the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
\nAccording to a Foreign Ministry release, EU Foreign Ministers will discuss
\nRussia’s aggression in Ukraine, with this country’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro
\nKuleba, expected to join talks in videoconference format. Minister Aurescu will
\ndiscuss the need to maintain support for Ukraine at all levels, both from the
\nEU and Member States individually, with a focus on providing military equipment
\nand training for the Ukrainian army as quickly as possible as part of the EU
\nMilitary Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The Romanian
\nofficial will also express support for consolidating the sanctions regime
\nagainst Russia, while also streamlining the implementation of existing
\nrestrictions, with a focus on continuing diplomatic efforts to further isolate
\nthis aggressor state. Minister Aurescu will also address the security
\ndevelopments in the Republic of Moldova and destabilizing actions targeting the
\npro-European administration in this country. The Romanian Foreign Minister will
\nencourage Member States to continue their support for Chi\u0219in\u0103u. Also today,
\nBogdan Aurescu is attending the joint meeting of EU Foreign and Defense
\nMinisters and the International Conference of donors in support of the people
\nof Turkey and Syria, affected by the February 6 earthquake. <\/p>\n
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MOLDOVA – Romania’s Prime Minister, Nicolae
\nCiuc\u0103, will this week travel to the Republic of Moldova to meet his Moldovan
\ncounterpart, Dorin Recean. On this occasion, Prime Minister Ciuc\u0103 will reassert
\nRomania’s support for the reform process in this country, the consolidation of the
\neconomy, the resilience and security of Romania’s neighbor, as well as for
\nadvancing Moldova’s European track. On the other hand, Moldova’s Supreme
\nSecurity Council is expected today to discuss what president Maia Sandu has
\ncalled the exceptional situation of the country’s judiciary, after the
\nGeneral Assembly of Magistrates has delayed the appointment of members of the
\nSuperior Council of Magistracy. President Sandu argues Moldovan judges want to
\nblock efforts to reform the judiciary by setting their next meeting for the end
\nof April. In last week’s address to Parliament, the Moldovan president called
\non the Government and Parliament to create a special court of law to
\ninvestigate corruption cases in the justice system. <\/p>\n
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AWARD – The Radio Drama show The Sixties
\nwritten by Ema Stere and adapted and directed by Mihnea Chelaru scooped the
\nBest European Drama award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2023 in a gala hosted
\nby the BBC Broadcasting House in London. Starting 2012, the BBC Audio Drama
\nAwards have been celebrating the range, originality and cut-through quality of
\naudio drama on air and online and giving recognition to the creativity of
\nactors, writers, producers, sound designers and others who work in this genre. The
\nBest European Drama was introduced in 2019 to acknowledge the role of other
\nEuropean public service broadcasters in nurturing this distinctive genre.<\/p>\n
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RUGBY – Romania’s national rugby team
\nranked 3rd in the 2023 edition of Rugby Europe Championship after
\nsecuring a dramatic 31-25 win against Spain in the bronze final, held away from
\nhome. In the big final, Georgia defeated Portugal 38-11. Romania’s rugby team
\nwill next play friendlies against Georgia and Italy ahead of its participation
\nat the World Cup in France this autumn. Romania has been drawn in Group B
\nalongside Ireland, South Africa, Scotland and Tonga. (VP)<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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