March 20, 2023

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 20.03.2023, 13:55

VISIT – On a visit to the United Arab
Emirates, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis this morning met in Abu Dhabi with
his counterpart, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan. On this occasion, the
countries’ relevant ministers and officials signed bilateral documents in the
fields of energy, cyber-security and education. Yesterday, president Iohannis
visited Masdar City, a model of urban sustainable development focusing on
energy efficiency and environment protection. President Iohannis attended a
presentation of projects in the fields of transport, urban ventilation and
cooling, building-generated energy and making optimal use of sunlight in
research and education institutions. Successfully tested in Masdar City, these
solutions can inspire projects in other cities, including Romania, which have a
growing interest for sustainable energy. Romanian researchers affiliated with
institutes in Masdar City have also contributed to their development, the
Presidency reports.

EXERCISE – Over March 20 – April 2, some 3,400
Romanian and international servicemen are taking part in the Sea Shield 2023
exercise held in the Black Sea, the Danube River, the Danube Delta and coastal
areas. Sea Shield 2023 is the largest-scale training exercise planned and
carried out by the Romanian Naval Forces this year. Attending will be military
units from 12 allied and partner states, accompanied by military watercraft,
aircraft and other combat equipment. The exercise will help increase the level
of interoperability of participant forces and is part of NATO’s multinational
training programs.

MEETINGS – Romania’s Foreign Minister, Bogdan
Aurescu, is today attending the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, EU Foreign Ministers will discuss
Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, with this country’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro
Kuleba, expected to join talks in videoconference format. Minister Aurescu will
discuss the need to maintain support for Ukraine at all levels, both from the
EU and Member States individually, with a focus on providing military equipment
and training for the Ukrainian army as quickly as possible as part of the EU
Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The Romanian
official will also express support for consolidating the sanctions regime
against Russia, while also streamlining the implementation of existing
restrictions, with a focus on continuing diplomatic efforts to further isolate
this aggressor state. Minister Aurescu will also address the security
developments in the Republic of Moldova and destabilizing actions targeting the
pro-European administration in this country. The Romanian Foreign Minister will
encourage Member States to continue their support for Chișinău. Also today,
Bogdan Aurescu is attending the joint meeting of EU Foreign and Defense
Ministers and the International Conference of donors in support of the people
of Turkey and Syria, affected by the February 6 earthquake.

MOLDOVA – Romania’s Prime Minister, Nicolae
Ciucă, will this week travel to the Republic of Moldova to meet his Moldovan
counterpart, Dorin Recean. On this occasion, Prime Minister Ciucă will reassert
Romania’s support for the reform process in this country, the consolidation of the
economy, the resilience and security of Romania’s neighbor, as well as for
advancing Moldova’s European track. On the other hand, Moldova’s Supreme
Security Council is expected today to discuss what president Maia Sandu has
called the exceptional situation of the country’s judiciary, after the
General Assembly of Magistrates has delayed the appointment of members of the
Superior Council of Magistracy. President Sandu argues Moldovan judges want to
block efforts to reform the judiciary by setting their next meeting for the end
of April. In last week’s address to Parliament, the Moldovan president called
on the Government and Parliament to create a special court of law to
investigate corruption cases in the justice system.

AWARD – The Radio Drama show The Sixties
written by Ema Stere and adapted and directed by Mihnea Chelaru scooped the
Best European Drama award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2023 in a gala hosted
by the BBC Broadcasting House in London. Starting 2012, the BBC Audio Drama
Awards have been celebrating the range, originality and cut-through quality of
audio drama on air and online and giving recognition to the creativity of
actors, writers, producers, sound designers and others who work in this genre. The
Best European Drama was introduced in 2019 to acknowledge the role of other
European public service broadcasters in nurturing this distinctive genre.

RUGBY – Romania’s national rugby team
ranked 3rd in the 2023 edition of Rugby Europe Championship after
securing a dramatic 31-25 win against Spain in the bronze final, held away from
home. In the big final, Georgia defeated Portugal 38-11. Romania’s rugby team
will next play friendlies against Georgia and Italy ahead of its participation
at the World Cup in France this autumn. Romania has been drawn in Group B
alongside Ireland, South Africa, Scotland and Tonga. (VP)