November 11, 2019 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 11.11.2019, 19:58
DECISIONS – The European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Monday convened in Brussels to discuss the Councils response to the crisis in Venezuela, Turkeys illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and the developments in Syria. The EU foreign ministers agreed to impose economic sanctions over Turkey’s drilling off the coast of Cyprus, setting up the legal framework for travel bans and asset freezes. The decision is aimed to punish Ankara for violating Cyprus’ maritime economic zone by drilling off the divided island. According to EU ministers, the decision also provides for sanctioning individuals or entities responsible for or involved in unauthorized drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean.Turkey says it is operating in waters on its own continental shelf or areas where Turkish Cypriots have rights.
ELECTION – Acting President Klaus Iohannis, supported by the National Liberal Party, will face former Social-Democrat Prime Minister Viorica Dancila in the runoff for the presidential election, scheduled for November 24. According to data released by the Central Election Bureau, after counting 96% of the votes, Klaus Iohannis won 36.91% of the vote, followed by Viorica Dancila with 23.45%, the leader of Save Romania Union Dan Barna with 14.19% of the vote. The scores of the other 11 candidates range between 0.1% and 9.%. The voter turnout at national level was 47.66%. In the Diaspora, where the vote started on Friday and lasted until Sunday evening, a record high of 675 thousand people cast their votes.
DEFICIT – Romanias trade deficit exceeded 12 billion euros in the first 9 months of the year, up by 2.1 billion as compared to the same period last year, the National Statistics Institute reports. According to the latest data, exports accounted for 51.8 billion euros in the first 9 months of the year, a 2% increase compared to 2018, while imports stood at 63.8 billion euros, up by 5.1% compared to the same period of last year. Over January 1 – September 30, cars, transport equipment and other manufactured goods accounted for a great share of total exports and imports.
REMEMBRANCE DAY – The day of veterans and fallen heroes, known internationally as Remembrance Day, was marked on Monday in military ceremonies held in Bucharest and garrisons across the country. Similar events were staged at the tombs and monuments devoted to Romanian soldiers. Remembrance Day is celebrated internationally on November 11, marking the armistice signed by Germany and the Entente in 1918, marking the end of the Great War. Also on this day in 2003, Iosif Silviu Fogoras died in Afghanistan, the first Romanian soldier KIA in theatres of operations. November 11 was declared Veterans Day in Romania in 2014, in recognition of the merit of all military personnel who took part in military actions.
FRIGATE – The King Ferdinand frigate is taking part in a multinational anti-submarine military exercise, hosted by the Turkish Naval Forces in the Mediterranean Sea until November 20, the Naval Forces General Staff reports. The King Ferdinand crew will take part in specific training exercises in Turkeys territorial waters and nearby international waters, alongside military from Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Jordan, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, the United States of America and Turkey. According to the Romanian Naval Forces, the participation of King Ferdinand helps boost interoperability between Romania and partner states, and fosters the Romanian Armys professionalism at global level. (Translated by Elena Enache)
