April 29, 2018

April 29 marks the National Veterans Day, Aqaba Process meeting under way in Amman

Newsroom, 29.04.2018, 14:10

Veterans Day — April 29 marks the National Veterans’ Day, which has been celebrated in Romania since 2008 following a government decision. The title of war veteran was first recognized on April 29, 1902 through a decree issued by King Carol I. The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis took the opportunity to thank the Romanian war veterans for what they did to serve their country. In the message conveyed on the Veterans’ Day President Iohannis highlighted the sacrifice of the Romanian Army to help the coming generations. In the year celebrating the Great Union Centennial, the president went on to say, the Romanian Army needs to be appreciated and praised for the efforts made to continue the glorious heritage of the previous generations of brave soldiers. The Romanian Defense Ministry organized, for 4 days, in all garrisons across Romania, manifestations devoted to the War Veterans Day. Manifestations included military and religious ceremonies, wreath laying ceremonies, solemn meetings of the associations of war veterans, shows and exhibitions. Similar manifestations devoted to the memory of the Romanian soldiers were held at commemorative monuments in the Czech Republic, the Republic of Moldova, Russia, Slovakia and Hungary.

Amman — The Romanian defense minister Mihai Fifor is on a visit to Jordan until May 2 to participate in the Aqaba Process meeting. According to a Defense ministry communiqué, minister Fifor will be received by King Abdullah II of Jordan and will have a meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Mahmoud Freihat. The Aqaba Process is a platform for strategic dialogue launched in 2015, which is meant to coordinate the actions of the international community against terrorism and extremism. So far 4 trans-regional meetings have been held, the participant countries sharing the same concerns related to the consolidation of stability and security, irrespective of the geopolitical and geo-strategic context of the region they belong to. oldiers were held at commemorative monuments in the Czech Republic, the Republic of Moldova, Russia, Slovakia and Hungary.

May 1 holiday — More than 50 thousand Romanians chose to spend the May 1 mini-holiday on the Black Sea Coast. In the resorts of Vama Veche, Constanta, Mamaia and Navodari the beaches were prepared to offer proper conditions for relaxation and sunbathing and most hotels are fully booked. To ensure the tourists’ safety the Interior Ministry has mobilized as many as 700 policemen and gendarmes. Another 10 thousand Romanians chose to spend the mini-holiday in the Danube Delta while others went to the mountain resorts on the Prahova Valley. The Romanian Railway Authority has increased the number of train carriages for the most sought-after destinations.

Justice Laws — The special committee for the justice laws in the Romanian Parliament will start on May 2 to debate the proposals regarding the modification of the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure and Civil Procedure Codes. They aim at harmonizing the three laws with the decisions of the Constitutional Court, of the European Court of Human Rights and the European Directive in the field. In winter the Romanian Parliament passed a number of modifications to the justice laws, the statute of magistrates, judicial organization and the functioning of the Superior Council of Magistracy. Some of these modifications generated large-scale street protests.

Chisinau — Almost 1 million and half citizens of the Republic of Moldova have benefited from the visa waiver operated by the EU, which came into force 4 years ago. Thus, as of April 28, 2014, the Moldovan citizens who held a biometric passport could travel for 90 days to the Schengen space, but for no more than 180 days per year. According to Radio Chisinau which quotes the Border Police, the number of departures to the EU has increased by the year, from 300 thousand in 2014 to more than 1.5 million in 2017. The Republic of Moldova was the first state in the EU’s Eastern Partnership that obtained a visa waiver. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)