March 16, 2023

VISIT Upon the invitation of Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organisation of Francophony, is today paying a formal visit to Bucharest against the background of marking this year, 30 years of Romania's belonging in the Institutional Francophony. After meeting the head of the Romanian state, Louise Mushikiwabo will be attending jointly with president Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca the formal opening of the International conference "The Francophony of Future: education for sustainable development". In the evening, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of Francophony will join the country's Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, and Culture Minister Lucian Romascanu for a concert given by the Violoncellissimo Ensemble on the occasion of celebrating 30 years of Romania's Francophony membership. Events devoted to this anniversary will be staged throughout the year by various Romanian institutions involved in Francophony-related activities.  

CANAL As of today Romania is conducting a series of depth measurements on the Danube's branch Chilia and will soon commence similar procedures on the Bystroye Canal in Ukraine, official sources have told Radio Romania. The transport Ministry is doing research to clarify whether dredging and maintenance works have been conducted and to what extent these works can put the delta's biodiversity at risk. The measurements will be taking 10 days and three Romanian ships are to be granted access to the area. Authorities in Romania and Ukraine have agreed to check the depth of the Danube canals, after the neighboring Ukraine conducted a series of dredging works on the Bystroye Canal. According to the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry, after the so-called cleaning works on the canal, its depth has almost doubled. Kyiv denied that the dredging works it had carried out on the aforementioned canal, would have violated any agreement. Bucharest wants to make sure the works conducted by Ukraine do not jeopardize the Danube Delta ecosystem, a unique area in Europe, included on the UNESCO world heritage. 

DOHA Seven Romanian companies are participating in the 10th edition of the AGRITECH 2023 exhibition due over March 15th and 19th in Doha, Qatar. According to a communiqué by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR), 'participation in this event represents an opportunity for the Ministry to promote its own policies and strategies in this field, being at the same time beneficial to all the economic operators in Romania's Agrifood sector, allowing it to make its own product offer known and visible, explore the Qatar market as well as make connections with the business environment in this state. AGRITEQ has brought together 650 exhibitors from 52 countries.   

DRONE The downing of a U.S. drone by a Russian jet is part of a pattern of military behavior by Russia that is becoming more aggressive, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said on Wednesday. Milley and Defence Secretary Austin Lloyd held talks with their Russian counterparts regarding the incident. The MQ Reaper drone was on a surveillance mission in the Black Sea international waters, when it was intercepted by two Russian fighters Su-27. The two planes allegedly crossed the drone's trajectory a couple of times in an attempt to spray fuel on it. The planes eventually struck the drone's propeller causing it to crash. Russia denies having struck the drone's propeller and Ned Price, spokesman for the State Department said that the incident was likely an unintentional act from Russia's side.    

(bill)