December 1, 2021

A roundup of domestic and international news.

Newsroom, 01.12.2021, 14:00

NATIONAL DAY — Around 1,500 military and experts with the Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Special Telecommunication Service and the National Administration of Penitentiaries, as well as foreign military, took part on Wednesday at Bucharest’s Triumphal Arch, in a military parade occasioned by the celebration of the National Day of Romania. Also, some 100 military vehicles and technique and 30 aircraft took part in the parade. A military and religious ceremony was held previously and wreaths were laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. December the 1st, Romania’s National Day, is marked across the country and in the theatres of operations where Romanian troops are dispatched. A military ceremony attended by 550 military is being held today in Alba Iulia, the city of the Union. On December 1st, 1918, delegates of Romanians in Transylvania gathered together in Alba Iulia and voted in favor of the Union with Romania. Previously, Romanians in Bessarabia and Bukovina had taken the same decision. After the anti-communist Revolution of 1989, December 1st was proclaimed a National Day and has been celebrated across the world ever since.

DECORATIONS – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is decorating today, on the occasion of the National Day of Romania, a number of healthcare staff, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society, defense and interior ministry representatives. In his turn, PM Nicolae Ciuca said in a message that the Great Union is the most beautiful page in Romania’s history, a lesson on perseverance and cohesion, a lesson that is very useful and necessary today. Ciuca also referred to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that this year the heroes are the Romanians who have been fighting the virus every day. The European Commission and the EU Council on Wednesday posted congratulation messages, photos and information about Romania on Facebook. Thus, the EU Council reminded that Romania has the fastest broadband internet in the EU and that the world’s first female neurosurgeon was a Romanian named Sofia Ionescu-Ogrezeanu. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, congratulated the Romanian people on behalf of the United States. ‘Romania and the United States enjoy a longstanding partnership built on shared values, common interests, and strong people-to-people connections. We are proud to stand alongside Romania as NATO Allies, working together to overcome the threats and challenges of today and tomorrow, in both the Black Sea region and beyond. We thank Romania for its steadfast commitment to defending peace and freedom around the world, including in Afghanistan’, the American official said in his message.

RADIO CHISINAU – December 1st is not only Romania’s National Day but also the birth date of Radio Chisinau in the neighboring Republic of Moldova, a country with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population. Part of Radio Romania, Radio Chisinau celebrates today 10 years since its first broadcast. Initially opened in 1939 as a regional station, it was operational only 300 days, being closed down in 1940 by the Soviet troops who occupied the Romanian region of Bessarabia. Radio Chisinau reopened on December 1st, 2011. During its 10 years of activity, Radio Chisinau has been a voice that takes Romania’s message to listeners in Moldova and that of Moldovans to Romania.

COVID-19 – Around 1,140 new COVID-19 cases have been reported today in Romania, along with 89 deaths, 10 of which from a previous date. Most counties in the country are in the green zone at present. Meanwhile, authorities are trying to repatriate Romanian citizens stranded in various countries after commercial flights to and from these countries were suspended to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron. A flight has been scheduled for Thursday to bring back home from Morocco 72 Romanians. All 70 people flown home on Tuesday from South Africa tested negative to coronavirus. The Romanians were quarantined and the other European passengers were sent back to their countries.

NATO – The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu took part on Tuesday and Wednesday in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers held in Riga, Latvia. The meeting was a major landmark in preparing negotiations on NATO’s new Strategic Concept and for the summit due in Madrid next year. Minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated Romania’s support for preparing the new Strategic Concept, able to provide adequate response instruments to the challenges of the current security environment. According to the foreign ministry, Aurescu also discussed the latest security developments in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the need to carry on efforts to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in a coherent and comprehensive manner for the entire Eastern Flank, including the Black Sea region. He pleaded for a continuation of NATO’s ‘open door’ policy and reiterated Romania’s solidarity with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, countries faced with a tough hybrid campaign from the Belarusian regime. (EE)