Deember 1, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news.

Newsroom, 01.12.2021, 20:00

NATIONAL DAY — Romanians at home, abroad and in historical communities around the country’s borders celebrated on Wednesday the National Day of Romania and 103 years since the Romanian nation state was created. On December 1, 1918, after WW1, representatives of Romanians in Transylvania, Banat, Maramures and Crisana, which had been under the rule of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, decided during an impressive national assembly in Alba Iulia the union of these provinces with the Kingdom of Romania. Previously, on November 28, Bukovina, which had been annexed by the Habsburg Empire in 1774, was brought under Bucharest’s authority. The creation of the Romanian nation state had started on March 27 the same year, when, following the dismantling of the Russian Empire, the legislative body in Bessarabia voted the unification with the Kingdom of Romania of this mostly Romanian province, annexed by the Russians in 1812. In the summer of 1940, following an ultimatum, the USSR annexed both Bessarabia and North Bukovina, territories that currently belong to the former Soviet republics of Moldova and Ukraine. In 2018, when the Great Union Centennial was celebrated, numerous local administrations in the Republic of Moldova adopted symbolic declarations of reunification with Romania.

HONORS – December 1st is that time of the year when we reflect more on the importance of our national identity and the values and aspirations that we share. December 1st is also an occasion to thank some outstanding personalities who, through their daily work, make Romania better, said President Klaus Iohannis. He decorated, on the occasion of the National Day, healthcare and education workers as well as civil society representatives, for their efforts during the pandemic. 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 on Facebook congratulation messages, photos and information about Romania. The EU Council mentioned, among others, 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. Also, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, congratulated the Romanian people on their National Day on behalf of the United States.

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 celebrated on Wednesday 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.

BANKNOTE – Romania’s National Bank issued on December 1, on the occasion of the National Day, a new banknote with a nominal value of 20 lei, the equivalent of around 4 euros. The banknote celebrates World War I lieutenant Ecaterina Teodoroiu, the first named woman to be depicted on Romanian money. Teodoroiu became a combatant during World War I after her four brothers died in battle. She was killed on the front lines in 1917 at age 23. According to the central bank, the new banknote answers a widely supported legitimate public interest to promote and consolidate gender equality and the major role female characters have played in Romanias history and society.

HANDBALL – Romania’s national handball team travelled to Spain on Wednesday to attend the IHF Women’s World Championship. Romania is part of Group C and will be up against Iran on December 3, Kazakhstan on December 5 and Norway on December 7. The first three teams qualify to the main groups. Cristina Neagu, designated best handball player in the world four times, has decided to take a break from the national squad this year so she is not part of the team coached by Adrian Vasile. Romania has not missed any world championship. It won the title in 1962, silver medals in 1973 and 2005 and bronze in 2015. (EE)