August 23, 2021

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 23.08.2021, 13:55

COVID-19 -
Romania remains in the green scenario in terms of the number of infections,
which is going up. On Monday, 415 new infections were reported, in addition to
13 related fatalities. 193 people are currently in intensive care. At national
level, the vaccination rate remains low. Over 5 million people in Romania have
completed the full vaccination scheme.

CRIMEA – The
Crimea Platform is today being launched in Kiev, a Ukrainian initiative aimed
at drawing more global attention to Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean
Peninsula and returning the territory to Ukraine. A total of 44 countries and
international organizations, including 14 heads of state and government and EU
leaders have confirmed their presence at the Crimea Platform summit. Kiev officials
say the militarization of the peninsula and Moscow’s aggressive policy in the
area are affecting all countries in the Black Sea region. Romania is
represented by Prime Minister Florin Cîţu and Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.
The Prime Minister will also give a speech and attend the ceremony marking the
official launch of the Platform. On the sidelines of the event, Minister Aurescu
will meet Volodymyr Zelensky and will also hold talks with his Ukrainian
counterpart, Denis Shmyhal. Florin Cîţu and Bogdan Aurescu will also visit the headquarters
of the Crimea Platform and attend the launch of the Permanent Executive Agency,
which will be enacting the summit’s decisions.

AUGUST 23 -
President Klaus Iohannis today conveyed a message marking Black Ribbon Day,
also known as the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all
totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. The president said the infamous
Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, signed on August 23, 1939, marked the beginning of
Europe’s tragedy, a milestone that paved the way for a string of deadly abuses,
tearing apart territories by dividing Central and Eastern Europe into spheres
of influence. The so-called non-aggression pact shattered the hopes and ideals
of European nations, triggering the Second World War, with devastating
consequences for mankind, the president’s message reads. Klaus Iohannis also
referred to King Michael I’s act of courage, on August 23, 1944, when he broke
ties with Nazi Germany, supported by the Romanian Army. Let us keep in mind the
lesson of that great moment of political prowess as a symbol of vertical
thinking, unity and morality, the president said. The European Parliament in
2008 designated August 23 as a Europe-wide day of Remembrance for the victims
of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. In 2011, the Romanian Parliament
designated August 23 the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism and
Communism.

US-ROMANIA RELATIONS – Defense Minister Nicolae Ciucă and the head of general staff, General Daniel Petrescu, on Sunday met with a delegation of the US Congress, discussing security in the Black Sea region and major investment projects aimed at consolidating military infrastructure in Romania. The US delegation was led by Senator Richard Shelby, the head of the US Senate Committee on Appropriations. According to a Defense Ministry release, talks focused on hot topics on the security and defense agenda and elements pertaining to US-Romanian cooperation, at bilateral level as well as at NATO level. Minister Nicolae Ciucă said the American military presence on Romanian soil is evidence of the USA’s firm commitment to ensuring security and stability, reiterating the importance of consolidating this presence.

FESTIVAL -
27 events are scheduled today on the sidelines of the International Theatre
Festival in Sibiu. The Play Stock Exchange opens its doors today in Sibiu,
titled Outdoor performing arts: purpose and relevance at local, national and
international level. Over 100 performances and events have brought together
thousands of spectators from across the world during the first three days of
the festival. Performances were held on outdoor stages, as well as online. The
28th edition of the Festival runs until August 29 under the slogan
Building hope together. Over 2,000 artists from 38 countries will be
attending the festival, the biggest such event in Romania and one of the most
important of its kind in Europe. (VP)