February 16, 2023 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 16.02.2023, 19:52
RESOLUTION – In a resolution adopted on Thursday, European Parliament members asked that the Russian leaders guilty of war crimes in Ukraine be prosecuted by an international court. The resolution was passed around the anniversary of 1 year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister, said in Strasbourg that Russias attack does not only target Ukraine but Europes entire security and peace structure. Consequently, the EUs economic, financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine must be increased, the MEP said.
QUAKE – Three aircraft of the Romanian Air Forces carried out a humanitarian mission on Thursday in support of the people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, which made over 41 thousand victims. Two C-27J Spartan aircraft flew towards Gazintep, Turkey and one C-130 Hercules towards Beirut, Lebanon, with 12 tons of humanitarian aid donated by the Romanian state. The first Romanian rescuers deployed to Turkey in the wake of the February 6 quake returned on Wednesday to the country. The team managed to save Turkish citizens trapped under the rubble, restoring hope to those in despair, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said. In turn, Interior Minister Lucian Bode said the actions of Romanian rescuers confirm that Romania can provide support to every European citizen in critical need of help. 59 Romanian rescuers are still deployed to Turkey in support of local authorities. Romanian PM Nicolae Ciucă announced on Thursday the creation of a task force that will monitor developments with a view to preparing the proper response to emergency situations.
VISIT – Chamber of Deputies speaker Marcel Ciolacu is paying, as of Thursday, a two-day official visit to Rome, Italy. On the first day of the visit, the Romanian official met with his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Fontana and with the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri. On Friday Marcel Ciolacu will hold talks with Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and with representatives of Romanian parishes in the Lazio region.
MOLDOVA – Moldova’s Parliament on Thursday passed the programme and structure of PM Dorin Receans cabinet. Most ministers in the previous government preserve their portfolios, and only four ministers will be replaced. A new ministry, the energy ministry, has been set up. Among the objectives of the programme proposed by the new government are opening negotiations for EU integration and speeding up the accession process. Dorin Recean was proposed for the PM position by the pro-Western Moldovan President, Maia Sandu, following the resignation of former PM Natalia Gavrilita last week.
TIMIȘOARA – Over 130 events will take place over February 17-19 in Timișoara as the city prepares to officially launch its program Timișoara – European Capital of Culture 2023. The city mayor Dominic Fritz announced that the opening event held in the Union Square will start with a symbolic moment whereby the city will receive the Melina Mercouri Award of the European Commission, traditionally bestowed to every European capital of culture that successfully complies with their candidacy obligations. We have the historic opportunity to shape public perception and do away with prejudice. Let us use Timișoara’s European story to create a new European destiny for Romania and rebrand the city on the map of Europe, the Romanian official said. According to Dominic Fritz, the program will comprise over 1,000 events to be held over the course of the entire year. (EE)
