December 2, 2022

VISIT - Romania's president, Klaus Iohannis, is paying a two-day visit to Greece, where he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Greece's Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. According to the Presidency, the visit confirms the continuous top-level dialogue and close cooperation between Romania and Greece with respect to hot topics on the current agenda. Talks will also focus on the potential of developing bilateral relations in the fields of economy and investments, culture, education, civil protection and tourism. Special attention will be devoted to infrastructure and interconnection projects, including in the energy sector, designed to curb dependency on Russian gas and boost the energy security of both Romania and Greece. Other topics on the agenda for talks include Russia's illegal war in Ukraine and the consequences of this conflict at several levels.

UNESCO - The Romanian traditional embroidered blouse known as 'ie' was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Romania had submitted the application jointly with the Republic of Moldova. The decision of the UNESCO Committee convened in Rabat, Morocco, comes in recognition of the identity and value of this element, also sending out a strong signal to Romanian and Moldovan cultural institutions that they should support and promote the art of the traditional embroidered blouse, which represents the centerpiece of the Romanian traditional festive outfit. Lipizzan horse breeding traditions in Romania and other European countries are also part of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

BUSINESS - The number of foreign startups in Romania has gone up in the first ten months of the year by 30.7% compared to the same period of last year, the National Trade Register Office reports. Some 6,100 new businesses were set up this year with a total capital of 35 million USD. By the end of the October, over 243 thousand companies with foreign capital participation operated in Romania, with a total subscribed capital of 67 billion USD. The largest number of companies with foreign participation had Italian investors, while Dutch businesses had the largest share of capital.

WAR IN UKRAINE - President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine will restrict the activity of Russian-affiliated religious organizations on its territory and will challenge the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is still connected to the Moscow Patriarchate. The announcement comes after Ukrainian security services searched several church buildings in November. Ukrainian services confiscated a few thousand USD and pro-Russian literature. Ukraine has two separate Eastern Orthodox ecclesiastical bodies: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which in spring broke ties with the Moscow Patriarchate due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which in 2019 was formally recognized by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople as a separate, independent and equal member of the worldwide communion of Orthodox churches. 

DIALOGUE - The presidents of the United States of America and France, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron respectively, have expressed their joint intention of coming up with a solution to end the war in Ukraine without reducing however their countries' assistance to Kyiv. During a visit paid to Washington by the French president, the White House leader said he is ready to talk to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, if the latter is willing to reach a solution to end the war. Prior to the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, president Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned Russia about the consequences of such an attack. Since then, the US president has had no direct contact with Moscow, although high-ranking US officials maintained communication channels open. In turn, France's president, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed his readiness to talk to Vladimir Putin, particularly regarding sensitive topics such as civilian nuclear power and the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The last official meeting between Macron and Putin was held on September 11.

NATIONAL DAY - December 1, the National Day of Romania, was celebrated on Thursday at home and abroad. Despite the rain, thousands of people attended the military parades held in Bucharest and Alba Iulia. Over 1,500 servicemen took part in the event, alongside 150 military from Belgium, France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Portugal, the USA and the Netherlands, as well as from other countries part of NATO structures in Romania.

GAUDEAMUS - The 29th edition of the "Gaudeamus" Book Fair hosted by Radio Romania kicks off next week. 200 publishers will be exhibiting their latest and current releases in various formats, addressing all age brackets and fields of interests, music as well as educational games. 600 events have been announced in addition to various related projects. Pavilions are also available online on gaudeamus.ro. The "Gaudeamus" Book Fair is financed by the Ministry of Culture. (VP)