July 22, 2024

A roundp of domestic and international news

Mihaela Ignătescu, 22.07.2024, 13:55

FAC. The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, is participating, today, in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest, the European officials will address issues regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, as well as digital diplomacy. The discussions regarding Russia will focus on the acceleration of military support for Ukraine, the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector, sanctions and the coordination of the EU’s diplomatic efforts ‘in support of President Zelensky’s Peace Formula. Regarding the security situation in the Middle East, the European foreign ministers will address the latest security developments, as well as the EU’s support for solving the crisis in the Gaza Strip. The officials will also have an exchange of views with the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Nadia Calvino, during an informal working lunch. The discussions will aim at intensifying the cooperation of the EU with the EIB in order to adapt the ways of financing foreign affairs policy goals of the EU to the geopolitical challenges – the MAE press release also reads.

Talks. The Romanian Minister of the Interior, Cătălin Predoiu, had, on Sunday, a bilateral meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Sandor Pinter, in the context of the Informal Meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council hosted by Budapest. The talks focused on the Schengen issue, organized crime and border-related issues. Sandor Pinter reiterated the Hungarian presidency’s goal to obtain the decision for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area also by land, by the end of 2024. Regarding bilateral cooperation, the two ministers stated that boosting cooperation to combat organized crime, with an emphasis on migrant trafficking, have proven their effectiveness, and the results have been very good. On the other hand, the two agreed on a set of measures to avoid the increase in waiting times at common border crossing points.

Bomber Task Force Europe. Two B-52H Stratofortress planes of the US Air Force have landed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, in southeastern Romania, to take part in the Bomber Task Force Europe 24-4 mission. According to a press release from the Office of Public Relations of the American Air Forces in Europe, cited by the United States Embassy in Bucharest, it is the first time that American strategic bombers operate from Romania. The squadron will be integrated with NATO allies and other international partners to pool capabilities and ensure security commitments within the US European Command’s area of responsibility.

Drug trafficking. The Romanian Government has supplemented the funds for combating drug trafficking, given that the age of consumption gets younger by the day. The anti-drug expert Cătălin Ţone told Radio Romania that for the first time in the history of the country, a drug-related Roadmap was created, one billion lei (over 200 million euros) were allocated, and the Romanian authorities are making efforts to recruit 200 more police officers, agents and officers into the anti-drug structures. Some 500 actions were carried out by the Romanian Police and the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism to prevent and combat drug trafficking, in the first 6 months of this year. In this interval, 700 kilograms of high-risk drugs, almost 4 tons of marijuana and the same amount of doping substances were seized. Also, over 800 people were arrested and over 150 others were placed under judicial control for trafficking in prohibited substances.

Washington. The Democratic President of the United States, Joe Biden, has announced that he will no longer run against the Republican Donald Trump in the presidential elections due in November. The announcement was made in a written statement, issued while Biden was in isolation due to COVID-19. The leader of the White House expressed his support for the Democratic Party’s nomination of its vice president, Kamala Harris, as a presidential candidate. Democratic leaders were quick to welcome Joe Biden’s decision to retire, while also praising his political career. Republican candidate Trump has stated that he considers Harris easier to defeat in the election than Biden. Many neutral commentators say, in turn, that, in the absence of any new coup, Trump’s return to the White House, after four years of Biden’s mandate, is very likely.

Music. The Bucharest National Opera Orchestra and Choir will perform, this evening, in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, an event held in the context of the Summer Olympics. According to the Radio Romania correspondent in Paris, the extraordinary concert entitled “Éthos Roumain” is a project financed by the Government of Romania, through the Department for Romanians Abroad, in partnership with the Romanian Cultural Institute in Paris. The event aims to increase the visibility of Romanian culture and its promotion abroad, as well as to strengthen the cultural ties between Romania and France. The Bucharest National Opera tour in France also includes a concert of sacred music held on July 24 at the Orthodox Cathedral “Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael” in Paris, and will end on July 25 at the Romanian Embassy in the French Republic, with a another concert, on the occasion of the inauguration of the House of Romania at the Olympic Games.

OG. Most of Romania’s Olympic team – 82 of the 107 athletes – arrived in Paris on Sunday, for the 32nd edition of the Olympic Games, which will begin on July 26. Rowers Ionela and Marius Cosmiuc, husband and wife, will be the bearers of the country’s flag at the opening ceremony. The competition will end on August 11. (MI)