November 30, 2022

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 30.11.2022, 12:48

NATO — NATO Foreign Ministers, who met in Bucharest, pledged to boost their support for Ukraine and help rebuild its energy infrastructure. They called Russia’s aggression a blatant violation of international law and pointed out that it has affected global food supplies, and endangered the world’s most vulnerable countries and peoples. NATO Foreign Ministers said in a joint statement that Russia’s unacceptable actions, including hybrid activities, energy blackmail, and reckless nuclear rhetoric, undermine the rule-based international order. They reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Black Sea for the Alliance and the fact that it will continue to defend every inch of Allied territory at all times. In this context, President Klaus Iohannis said the Black Sea has strategic importance for Euro-Atlantic security and member states should closely monitor evolutions in the region. ”I believe we must pay special attention to countries like Moldova and Georgia. Romania wants to encourage Moldova’s accession to NATO”, the head of state said. Iohannis reiterated that Bucharest remains a firm supporter of the open doors policy and hopes that Finland and Sweden will soon join the Alliance. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, attending the meeting in Bucharest, thanked the allied countries for the support granted to Ukraine during the Russian invasion and pointed out that the war continues and his country needs both weapons and equipment for energy supply.

ASPEN — The 11th edition of the Aspen GMF Bucharest Forum, focusing on the war in Ukraine, and the humanitarian and energy crises, has today ended in Bucharest. NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoana, the founder of the Aspen Institute, said more clarity is needed on the long-term as regards the defence means, given that the support granted to Ukraine in the war against Russia has decreased the allies’ reserves of ammunition and military equipment. Clarity brings predictibility, production and results from investments, Geoana also said. The annual Aspen — GMF Bucharest Forum is a platform for genuine, thought-provoking and forward-looking debate, which seeks to address topical questions and tackle the complex issues of increasingly dynamic and volatile regional and international contexts.

NATIONAL DAY — Romania’s National Day is celebrated on December 1st and marks 104 years since the Great Union. In Bucharest, over 1,500 troops and staff of the defence ministry, interior ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the Penitentiary Agency as well as vehicles and 40 aircraft will take part in a military parade on December 1. Around 150 troops from Belgium, France, North Macedonia, R. Of Moldova, the Netherlands, Portugal and the US, will also take part. Romanian military personnel on missions abroad will also organise special ceremonies. Events devoted to Romanias National Day have begun in Alba Iulia today, with military and wreath laying ceremonies. On December 1, more than 850 troops will parade in Alba Iulia, including a French unit part of the NATO battlegroup deployed in Cincu, Braşov County. The Bucharest Parliament held a solemn meeting on Monday in Bucharest to mark 104 years since the Great Union.

GOVERNMENT — Romanian PM Nicolae Ciuca held talks in Bucharest with his Moldovan counterpart Natalia Gavrilita, whom he promised further support for Chisinau on a number of levels. Ciuca said Moldova counts on Romania’s support as regrads electricity, natural gas and firewood supplies, and also as regards the country’s path to EU accession. Natalia Gavrilita said Chisinau is facing numerous crisis, triggered by the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which caused power outages of up to 24 hours in the neighbouring Moldova.

ST. ANDREW — Orthodox Christians celebrate St. Andrew today, the spiritual protector of Romania. St. Andrew is the Apostle who set up the first Christian communities on the country’s territory, in the south eastern region of Dobruja. In 1997, the Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church declared St. Andrew protector of Romania, and November 30 became, in 2001, a national religious holiday. Also today, more than 700,000 Romanians celebrate their name day.

AWARD — Romanian writer Mircea Cartarescu received the FIL Literary Award for Literature Romance Languages, at the International Book Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico. A special guest of the fair, Cartarescu talked about being a writer and the role of writers in a world defined by turmoil. Cartarescu was picked from among 80 applications in seven languages ”for his imaginative and dazzling prose,” the jury said in a communiqué. The first Romanian language writer rewarded with the FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages was Norman Manea in 2016. (EE)