July 30, 2019

CARACAL MURDERS – Citizens must regain their trust in the state by completely eliminating from the system all those who have failed to do their duty, said Romanias president Klaus Iohannis at the end of Tuesdays meeting of the countrys Supreme Defense Council, where the reports drawn up by the Interior Ministry and the Special Telecommunication Service on the terrible crimes committed in Caracal, southern Romania, were analyzed. Iohannis said that the reports revealed a number of problems: unjustified delays in starting the investigation, some police officers displaying an unprofessional attitude towards the victim, problems in the system and also in terms of inter-institutional cooperation. The head of state called on the Government to draft, by the end of August, the necessary rapid reaction measures, norms and procedures, in order to prevent a similar situation from occurring again. Also, the president asked for an urgent analysis of the legislation on serious and very serious offences, especially in cases where a persons life, freedom and corporal integrity are jeopardized, and an identification of the means of rendering the emergency service 112 more efficient. The Supreme Defense Council has issued a decision for the release from office of the head of the Special Telecommunication Service, General Ionel Vasilca, who resigned on Monday. The new minister, Nicolae Moga, handed in his resignation before the Supreme Defense Council, only after 6 days of office. Also on Tuesday, president Iohannis signed the degree appointing the Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Fifor as interim Minister of Internal Affairs. Previously, the head of the Romanian Police, Ioan Buda, had been dismissed alongside local police chiefs and the prefect of Olt county. PM Viorica Dancila stated on Tuesday that a pragmatic approach was needed in order to resolve all the malfunctions revealed by the Caracal case and voiced her availability to call a special session of Parliament and to issue an emergency ordinance to that end. We recall that Gherghe Dinca, a mechanic from the town of Caracal, in southern Romania, on Sunday admitted to kidnapping, raping and killing two teenagers. Alexandra Macesanu, aged 15, was reported missing on Wednesday, and on Thursday she managed to call 112, operated by the Special Telecommunication Service, which was however unable to accurately locate the girl. The police needed 19 hours to get into the suspects house. 18-year old Luiza Mihaela Melencu shared a similar fate in April. The bodies of the two girls have not been found yet.

Newsroom, 30.07.2019, 19:58

EC – The Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has had a phone conversation with the newly elected president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. According to a communiqué issued by the Governments press office, the Romanian PM congratulated the new head of the Commission and assured her of the Romanian Governments support. Viorica Dancila stressed the fact that to Romania, the EC was a key partner and a vital pillar for the institutional architecture of the European Union. Referring to the future structure of the European Commission, PM Dancila voiced Romanias interest in a consistent portfolio in the College of Commissioners, which would reflect Romanias expertise and its contribution to strengthening and developing the European agenda, a fact that has been recently proven by a successful term at the helm of the Council of the EU. Viorica Dancila and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to continue the dialogue, both during a visit to Brussels by the Romanian PM and during the visit Ms. von der Leyen will pay to Bucharest.

MILITARY – The Romanian Defense Ministry will participate with 2,376 military and civilian staff in missions and operations abroad in 2020, and the Interior Ministry will contribute 1,009 people, according to a decision issued by the countrys Supreme Defense Council. As a first, in the first semester of the year 2020 Romania will participate with a command ship in the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2, which will operate in the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.

AWARD – On Tuesday, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis awarded the tennis player Simona Halep the Order of the Star of Romania, the Knight Rank, as a token of appreciation and recognition of her winning the Wimbledon Trophy, of the exceptional results obtained throughout her career, of her becoming one of the best players in the world, her talent, dedication and professionalism, which have helped promote Romanian sports at international level and among young people. Simona Halep, aged 27, currently no. 4 in the WTA rankings, was number one between 2017 and 2019, for 64 weeks. Besides this years Wimbledon Trophy, she won another Grand Slam trophy last year, namely the Roland Garros.