January 28, 2025 UPDATE 1

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 28.01.2025, 18:37

Theft. The Dutch police are still looking for those who on Saturday morning blasted their way into the Drents Museum in Assen and left with four ancient artefacts belonging to Romania. In a communiqué, the Culture Minister in Bucharest, Natalia Intotero, has referred to the talks she had with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and the Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, about the theft. The minister says these aren’t simple artefacts, but essential parts of the history and identity of the Romanian people also representing a priceless cultural heritage, not only for Romania, but for the entire world and that there is a moral duty to protect and recover these symbols. Intotero has called on the Dutch authorities to attach the proper attention to the issue and take all the necessary measures to identify the thieves and bring the aforementioned treasure artefacts to Romania, where they actually belong. Natalia Intotero has dismissed the director of the National History Museum of Romania has proposed that such artefacts no longer be taken out of the country and only replicas of the original pieces should be exhibited abroad.

Elections. In its Tuesday session, the government in Bucharest endorsed the calendar of the upcoming presidential election. Under the document, the first round of election is due on May 4 and the second on 18. Candidacies are to be submitted to the Central Election Bureau until March 15 and the election campaign is due to get underway on April 4 and close on May 3, at 7 hours, local time. Romanians living abroad will also have three days to cast their ballot just like last year when the first round was cancelled under a Constitutional Court ruling.

Talks. On Tuesday, in Brussels, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emil Hurezeanu, hadmeetings with the executive vice-president of the European Commission, Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, and with Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement. According to the MFA, at the meeting with Roxana Mînzatu, the minister approached a series of important topics on the current European agenda regarding the EU enlargement process, the continuation of the support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, the development of a strategic vision for the Black Sea, the promotion of convergence and cohesion in the negotiations on the future Multiannual Financial Framework post – 2027 or the consolidation of European action in the field of Defence. During the meeting with Marta Kos, Emil Hurezeanu addressed topics such as the EU enlargement process, the Republic of Moldova and the complex situation in the Black Sea area. The head of Romanian diplomacy stressed that, in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, Russia’s hybrid actions against Chisinau would intensify, and the democratic administration would need more European support to increase its resilience in the face of these attacks.

Tourism. Bucharest has this week presented the fourth edition of the White Charter of Tourism, comprising the industry’s main characteristics, risks, vulnerabilities as well as the opportunities it has at national level. According to the survey more and more tourists are choosing Romanian travel destinations. The main investment domains in the aforementioned industry should remain entertainment and infrastructure and the promotion should be stepped up both at national and international levels. The field ministry believes that by 2035, Romania’s travel industry should have made 3 billion Euros in proceeds, including through the attraction of a larger number of foreign tourists and by doubling down on the existing demand.

Tennis. Romania’s tennis player Sorana Cirstea on Monday qualified for the round of sixteen of the WTA 500 tournament in Linz, Austria, a competition with roughly one million dollars in prize money. The Romanian has outperformed the Dutch challenger Arantxa Rus, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. Cirstea hasn’t won a game in the professional circuit since May last year. Another Romanian attending the Linz competition, Anca Todoni, has been defeated in the first round of the qualifying contest. (MI)