November 13, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 13.11.2024, 19:52
Defence. The current security situation shows that peace is no longer a certainty on the European continent, saID the Chief of Defence of Romania, general Gheorghiţă Vlad on the anniversary of 165 years since the establishment of the Chief of Staff. He said that, counter to international humanitarian law, the actions of the Russian Federation fuel the negative progression of potential threats and security risks, while the Black Sea region, a strategic area of interest for NATO, is witnessing a defence crisis.
Visit. The head of the Romanian government, Marcel Ciolacu, was received, on Wednesday, by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Keir Starmer, at his residence in London. The Romanian official said that the talks focused on security and economy. He stressed that the British PM told him that the Romanian community in the UK was very much respected. Also on Wednesday, at a bilateral economic forum in which he participated, Marcel Ciolacu said that his interest as prime minister “is to reduce the number of Romanians leaving the country”. For his part, the Lord Mayor of London, Alastair King, pointed out that Romania has a dynamic and important energy market for British investors, and the forum aims to capitalize on the enormous possibilities that the Romanian economy has. Energy, defense and the food industry were the main themes of the Romanian-British economic forum. Regarding diaspora, Marcel Ciolacu stated that more than 1.2 million Romanians chose to live, study or work in the United Kingdom. On the eve, the Prime Minister talked with the representatives of the Romanian community in London, to whom he said that the state understood that they must come up with medium-term programs for those who want to return to the country.
Partnership. The partnership between Romania and the United Kingdom is stronger than ever, the Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, said on Wednesday, on the occasion of the signing in London of a bilateral defense cooperation agreement. According to a ministry press release, the agreement is meant to strengthen the long-standing partnership between Romania and the UK and to respond to current security challenges. With a war of aggression by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, on our border, said Angel Tilvar, “this solid partnership contributes to the defense of the Eastern Flank”.
F-35. The Romanian Senate adopted, on Wednesday, as a decision-making body, the draft law on the purchase of F-35 aircraft from the United States Government. On Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest had endorsed the bill with a large majority. The document regulates the program through which Romania will purchase 32 state-of-the-art F-35 aircraft, for which it will pay 6.5 billion dollars, being the most expensive purchase in the history of the Romanian Army. Engines, logistical support, pilot and staff training services, flight simulators, as well as air-to-air and air-to-ground ammunition are included. The funds will come from the budget of the Ministry of National Defense or through loans or loan guarantees provided by the United States Government or through a combination thereof. The first F-35 planes will arrive in Romania after 2030.
Travel. The Romanian foreign ministry reminds Romanian citizens currently in Andalusia or transiting or wishing to travel to this Spanish region that the local weather agency issued an orange code for bad weather, including heavy rain, large amounts of precipitation and strong winds in the Malaga province. If in need, Romanian nationals are urged to seek consular assistance by calling the telephone numbers of Romania’s general consulate in Seville, their calls being redirected to the call centre of the Contact and Support Centre for Romanian Citizens Abroad. Also, Romanian nationals who find themselves in difficult, special, emergency situations can call the permanence telephone number of Romania’s General Consulate in Seville.
Tennis. The Romanian women’s tennis team is taking part in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup finals held in Malaga between the 13th and the 20th of November. Romania will face Japan on 14th November, and the winner will play against Italy, last year’s finalist, in the quarterfinals. The team’s non-playing captain Horia Tecău called up Jaqueline Cristian, Ana Bogdan, Gabriela Ruse, Anca Todoni and Monica Niculescu for this tournament. Romania qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup finals after defeating Ukraine 3-2 on 14th April in Florida.
Football. The Romanian national football side are preparing their match against Kosovo as part of the Nations League, taking place on Friday in Bucharest. Romania will play their next match on Monday at home against Cyprus. Romania top Nations League Group C2, with four wins in four matches and with 12 points to their record. They are followed by Kosovo, with 9 points, Cyprus, with 3 and Lithuania with no points. The best four group winners in the Nations League will take part in a tie for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
