April 13, 2022
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 13.04.2022, 13:50
NATO. “We will continue our efforts to ensure the prompt, determined and robust response of the North Atlantic Alliance to any possible challenge or threat”, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has said today, also thanking all NATO allies for their presence in Romania. The head of state has visited the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base 57 (southeast), together with the Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. NATO is the strongest and most concrete security guarantee for the member states, Nicolae Ciuca has said. The Romanian PM has also said that an effective deterrence and defense posture must be developed on the eastern flank of the Alliance. Alexander De Croo had a meeting with the head of state on Tuesday. On this occasion, Klaus Iohannis stated that, this spring, the Allied Battle Group on the territory of Romania would be “negotiated and finalized”. Iohannis A Belgian military contingent is present in Romania, deployed within the NATO Response Force, and President Klaus Iohannis thanked Prime Minister De Croo for their support.
Ukraine. Ukraine and Russia are strengthening their military presence in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which has become Moscows main target. In the south, the Ukrainian army announces a counter-offensive, with the liberation of several localities. Near Odessa, Ukrainian defense forces pushed the Russian military away from the northern borders of the Kherson region, so that the artillery attack on the city stopped. According to Radio Romanias correspondent in neighboring Ukraine, the Ukrainian Army General Staff says the threat of missiles fired from the Black Sea remains high across the country. In the Black Sea and Azov waters, Russian naval groups are isolating the area and are conducting reconnaissance operations.
Refugees. The Romanian Border Police announced that, on Tuesday, within 24 hours, 9,429 Ukrainian citizens crossed Romanians borders, an increase of 12.9% compared to the previous day. Since the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, nearly 695,000 refugees have entered Romania, most of them transiting towards Western Europe. Control on border crossing points is carried out in keeping with the national and EU legislation and measures have been taken strengthen border surveillance .
Invictus. Soldiers from the Invictus Team Romania will be received today, in Bucharest, by the Custodian of the Crown of Romania, Margareta, and her husband, prince Radu. The event will also be attended by the Defense Minister Vasile Dincu. On Tuesday, the Invictus soldiers were received by president Klaus Iohannis. “Thanks to our soldiers heroism and their belief in the national values, the Romanian citizens feel protected and live in a safe society”, the Romanian head of state said on the occasion. The Romanian solders will be leaving for the Hague on Thursday, to represent the Romanian Army at the Invictus games, which will take place between April 16th – 22nd. The team is made up of 20 wounded soldiers, with 2nd and 3rd degree disabilities. This is the Romanian teams third participation in the Invictus Games.
Chess. Romanias two best chess players, Bogdan-Daniel Deac (world number 59) and Constantin Lupulescu (151), received wildcards for the first stages of the 2022 Grand Chess Tour, founded by the famous Garry Kasparov. Deac will perform in the Bucharest stage: Superbet Chess Classic Romania, May 4-15), and Lupulescu in the Warsaw stage (Superbet Rapid&Blitz Poland, May 17-24). Grand Chess Tour has 350,000 in prize money for the classic chess stage and 175,000 for the rapid and blitz one. The other stages Saint Louis Rapid & Bliz and Sinquefield Cup, hosted by Saint Louis, Missouri/US and SuperUnitedRapid&Blitz Croatia. (MI)
