CELEBRATION On January 24 Romanians
\nwill celebrate 165 years since the Union of the Romanian Principalities,
\nMoldavia and Wallachia, under the rule of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Military and
\nreligious ceremonies will be held in major cities across the country, as well as performances,
\nexhibitions, events in museums and other cultural institutions. In Foc\u015fani, in
\nthe south-east, a large-scale celebration will be held, including a military
\nparade and the traditional Union Round Dance in the town’s central square. The
\ncity of Ia\u015fi, in the north-east, will host a ceremony at the statue of ruler Alexandru
\nIoan Cuza and a military parade. In Bucharest, the George Enescu Philharmonic
\nOrchestra will give a special concert. In January 1859, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was
\nelected ruler both in Moldavia, and in Wallachia, and under the 1866
\nConstitution, the United Principalities started using the official name of
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VISIT Moldova’s deputy PM and minister of foreign affairs and European integration, Nicu Popescu, is on a working visit in
\nBucharest today, where he is to have talks with his Romanian counterpart,
\nLumini\u0163a Odobescu, and other officials, MOLDPRES
\nnews agency reports. The 2 foreign ministers will discuss means to develop and
\nconsolidate the bilateral partnership, and the next steps in Moldova’s EU
\naccession negotiations. The European Council recommended the start of EU
\naccession negotiations with Ukraine and the R. of Moldova in December.<\/p>\n
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DIPLOMACY The president
\nof Romania Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday, at the annual meeting with the
\nambassadors accredited to Bucharest, that Romania will continue to
\nstand by Ukraine. Iohannis emphasised that due to Bucharest’s efforts over 33
\nmillion tonnes of Ukrainian grains, accounting for more than 60% of the
\nproducts carried through the EU’s Solidarity Corridors, transited Romania. Klaus
\nIohannis added that Romania will stand by Moldova and Ukraine in their
\nnegotiations for EU accession, and emphasised that it is crucial for the 2
\ncountries to continue to receive financial support and know-how for the
\nconsolidation of their public institutions and economy. As for the situation in
\nthe Middle East, he voiced support for a two-state solution, in line both with
\nthe legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and with Israel’s right
\nto security. In this context, president Iohannis mentioned that Romania conducted
\na very difficult operation providing assistance and support to the Romanian
\ncitizens in that region. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the
\nRomanian authorities involved in the evacuation of the Romanian nationals
\nthere, as well as to thank our partners in Israel, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan for
\ntheir support, Klaus Iohannis added.<\/p>\n
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UKRAINE
\nThe Romanian foreign minister Lumini\u0163a Odobescu stated in Brussels on Monday
\nthat EU member countries must use all means to help Ukraine in its war
\nagainst Russia. Attending a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, she
\nemphasised that Ukraine must remain a priority on the EU agenda. It is
\nimportant for us to maintain pressure over Russia, and Romania supports a new
\nset of sanctions against Russia, the Romanian official added. Meanwhile, the
\nconflict carries on, with Russia attacking Kyiv and Kharkov with missiles this
\nmorning. Stay tuned for more after the news.<\/p>\n
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VIETNAM Over 2,000 Vietnamese nationals are legally
\nemployed in Romania, said the president of Romania’s Chamber of Commerce and
\nIndustry Mihai Daraban at the Romania-Vietnam Economic Forum held in Bucharest
\nin the presence of Vietnam’s PM, Pham Minh Ch\u00ednh. Daraban called on
\ndecision-makers in both countries to create a predictable environment for
\nemployment, because the Romanian economy needs more workforce.<\/p>\n
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NATO Turkey’s
\nParliament is today discussing the ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO, said
\nthe private tv station CNN Turk, quoted by France Presse. The foreign policy
\ncommittee in the Turkish Parliament last month endorsed the ratification, but a
\nvote in a plenary session is also necessary before the protocol may be signed
\nby president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO
\ncountries yet to ratify Sweden’s NATO accession. Ankara cited Stockholm’s lack
\nof cooperation in extraditing to Turkey a number of individuals suspected of
\nties with terrorist organisations, especially in the Kurdish region, while
\nBudapest says Swedish politicians have made a habit of criticising Viktor
\nOrban’s conservative regime, AFP reports.<\/p>\n
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ISRAEL The
\nIsraeli Army announced today that 24 Israeli troops were killed in the Gaza
\nStrip clashes in the last 24 hours, making it the worst daily toll for the
\nIsraeli Army since the start of the war against Hamas, Reuters reports. Last
\nweek, Israel launched an offensive to capture the town of Khan Yunis, which
\nIsrael says is now the main stronghold of the Hamas terrorists responsible for
\nthe October 7 attack in the south of Israel in which 1,200 people were killed.
\nSome 26,000 people died in Gaza since the start of Israel’s military
\noperations, the healthcare authorities in Gaza announced. (AMP)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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