Events held in Romania to celebrate National Flag Day./ Foreign ministers of Romania, Austria and Lithuania end South Caucasus diplomatic trip on behalf of EU.
Covid-19. 62 new Covid cases from over 27,000 tests were reported in Romania on Saturday, as well as 6 new related deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours. 532 Covid patients are receiving hospital treatment, including 97 in intensive care. More than 4.7 million Romanians have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, which accounts for 25% of the country's eligible population. A further easing of coronavirus restrictions will come into effect from 1st July.
Flag Day. On National Flag Day on Saturday, president Klaus Iohannis issued a statement saying the Romanian flag witnessed the most important events in modern Romanian history and symbolises the link between the country's past, present and future. Together with the coat of arms and the anthem, the flag, the president also said, forms part of the national identity and represents the unity of the Romanian nation, the independence, sovereignty and indivisible nature of the state. The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban, who attended events in Iaşi to celebrate National Flag Day, spoke about the importance of the flag in the development of the Romanian state and the challenges faced by Romanians throughout history. Various military and cultural events were held to mark National Flag Day. In June 1848, the revolutionary government in Bucharest established, in its first decree, blue, yellow and red as the colours of the Romanian flag.
Diplomacy. During talks with Georgian officials in Tbilisi on Saturday, Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu highlighted the risks posed by the protracted conflicts on Georgian territory and the region to regional security and stability and reiterated Romania's and the European Union's support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of this state within its internationally-recognised borders. Aurescu together with his Austrian and Lithuanian counterparts were on a diplomatic tour of South Caucasus as mandated by the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. On Friday in Yerevan and Baku, the three ministers had talks with high officials from Armenia and Azerbaijan, respectively, reiterating the priority given by both the European Union and member states to the stability and security of the states in this region, including through enhanced involvement to find sustainable solutions to protracted conflicts. According to a statement from the ministry in Bucharest, Aurescu conveyed the European Union's commitment to continue efforts to diffuse tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with solutions to achieve this including Azerbaijan's release of the persons detained in last year's conflict and Armenia's release of the map of land mines. Sensitive subjects were tackled relating to general conflict regulation, such as humanitarian access to the region affected by the conflict, demarcation of borders and the pull-out of troops from the border area, with minister Aurescu singling out the processes in which the European Union may become involved.
Healthcare. The government on Saturday approved the framework agreement for the conditions for providing medical care, medicine and medical devices, technologies and assistive devices as part of the health insurance system for 2021-2022. The bill aims to increase the share of primary and outpatient care and reduce unjustified hospitalisation. The bill also introduces further specialist services provided through primary and outpatient care, such as remote consultations for chronic patients, psychiatric therapy and medical-related services provided by psychologists and speech therapists.
Tennis. Romania's Monica Niculescu reached the Wimbledon main draw after defeating the American player Kristie Ahn in straight sets on Friday in the last qualifying round. Romania has six players on the women's singles main draw at Wimbledon, which gets under way on Monday: Sorana Cîrstea, Patricia Ţig, Irina Begu, Ana Bogdan, Mihaela Buzărnescu and Monica Niculescu. World no. 3 Simona Halep and the winner in London two years ago, on Friday pulled out of the tournament with calf injury. (CM)
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