April 19, 2022
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 19.04.2022, 14:19
CONSULTATIONS – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is today taking part in consultations with a number of EU and NATO leaders on the topic of regional security, at the invitation of the US President Joe Biden. The allies will discuss the crisis in Ukraine and coordination in terms of response to Russia. Similar consultations with NATO and EU leaders were held in February. The Russian offensive continues in Ukraine, where the western town of Lviv, close to the Polish border, was heavily bombarded. The Dombas region, in the east, was also under missile attack last night, just like the town of Kharkov, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia. According to the Ukrainian PM, Mariupol is not under Russian control yet. The last Ukrainian troops defending the besieged town are in the Azovstal steel plant and local officials say civilians have also taken shelter there, the BBC reports. More than 7,000 alleged war crimes committed by the Russian troops in Ukraine are being investigated, the Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office has announced.
TALKS — Romanian Defense Minister Vasile Dincu and Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu held talks, over the phone, with their American counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken respectively. Security in the Black Sea region, in the context of the war in Ukraine and NATO’s efforts to strengthen allied posture on the eastern flank were the main topics. Making the allied battle group in Romania operational was also discussed. The two defence ministers voiced concern at the situation in Ukraine. Against this background, the consolidation of the American military presence in Romania was also discussed.
LAW – The extraction of natural gas from the Romanian maritime perimeters in the Black Sea may start soon, PM Nicolae Ciuca said on Radio Romania. Meanwhile, the Senate is debating, following an emergency procedure, the amendments to the Offshore Law. Authorities say the amended law will ensure stability and legal predictability to companies willing the take part in natural gas extraction.
BORDER – The Romanian Border Police has announced that almost 77,000 people entered Romania on Monday, of whom 6,602 Ukrainian citizens, down by 2.1% against the previous day. Also on Monday, a record number of Ukrainian refugees required assistance at the support centre in Timisoara, western Romania. More than 743 thousand Ukrainians entered Romania until April 18, most of them heading for other countries. Of the Ukrainian refugees who found a job in Romania after the Russian invasion of their country, 40% are working in the processing industry, but also in constructions and the hospitality industry.
TRAFFIC – Traffic through Nadlac 2, Romania’s most transited checkpoint, in the west, has doubled in the last 24 hours. The large traveller inflow was triggered by the return to western Europe of the Romanians working abroad, who came home last week to benefit the days off occasioned by the Catholic Easter. Travellers are unhappy with the waiting time to get through the check point, which they say they only experience at the Romanian-Hungarian border. Over 10,000 people exited Romania in 24 hours, double the number in a normal day.
COVID-19 – State Secretary with the Romanian Health Ministry Andrei Baciu has today announced that the new Covid-19 immunization policy, namely vaccination at the general practitioner, will enter into force on July 1. Until that date all people who want to get vaccinated can do so at the vaccination centres that are still operational and at the general practitioners’ offices.
TENNIS – Two Romanian tennis players are today taking part in the first round of the WTA 250 tournament in Istanbul. Sorana Cirstea, (WTA 24) will be up against Aleksandra Sasnovici (50 WTA) of Belarus, while Ana Bogdan is playing Croatian Ana Konjuh. Sorana Cirstea won the Istanbul tournament in 2021, after defeating Belgian Elise Mertens in the final. Another Romanian, Patricia Tig, won the competition in 2020. (EE)
