November 27, 2018
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Roxana Vasile, 27.11.2018, 13:39
ROMANIA-FRANCE CULTURAL SEASON — President Klaus Iohannis, on an official visit to Paris, is today launching at the Georges Pompidou Centre, alongside his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, the Romania-France Cultural Season. The two officials visit the Brancusi Workshop, the exhibition devoted to the famous Romanian blouse, called “ie” featured by works of the French and Romanian painters Henri Matisse and Theodor Pallady, respectively, as well as exhibitions of contemporary artists Ciprian Mureşan, Şerban Savu and Adrian Ghenie. Presidents Iohannis and Macron have had official talks aimed, among others, to confirm the special character of the bilateral relation, deepen the strategic partnership, boost economic cooperation and enhance the role played by the Romanian community in France. Yesterday, at the Romanian Embassy in France, president Klaus Iohannis attended a meeting with representatives of the Romanian diaspora in France. Over 400 events will be organized both in France and Romania during the Romania-France Cultural Season, which runs until July 14, 2019. The Cultural Season offers to the public events from various domains: culture, education, innovation, entrepreneurship, cuisine, tourism, sports and cooperation between local communities.
UKRAINE VESSELS — Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has expressed deep concern about Kiev’s decision to put its armed forces on the alert and to instate the martial law, a communiqué issued by the Russian Presidency writes. Ukraine’s Supreme Rada approved on Wednesday, the instatement of the martial law in 10 regions, most of them alongside the border with Russia, as well as in two regions in the south-west of the country- Odessa and Vinitsa, neighboring the Transdniester region of the Republic of Moldova. In order not to impact the organization of presidential elections due on March 2019, the measure will be applied for 30 days and not for 60, Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council had earlier demanded. The martial law provides for limiting civil rights and imposing a curfew. Public assemblies are banned, radio and TV transmissions are censored. The decree signed by president Petro Poroshenko was issued following Sunday’s seizure by Russian coast guard of three ships of the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea, near the Kerch Strait. Kiev sources say the incident has left 6 Ukrainians injured, 2 of which severely.
REACTION — Romania is ready for any scenario and any measure in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, says president Klaus Iohannis, who pleaded however for the two sides involved to approach the situation with calm. Representatives of the Romanian Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed deep concern about the recent Russian-Ukrainian maritime conflict. The Foreign Ministry also says Romania expresses full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and its right to use international waters. The seizure by Russia of three Ukrainian naval vessels and the injuring of their crews is a dangerous escalation and an infringement of the international legislation, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, also says, adding that the US condemns Russia’s aggressive action. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Russia to release the Ukrainian naval vessels and marines, adding that there is no explanation for Moscow’s actions. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, considers that Russia should return the seized vessels and marines back to Ukraine and called on Moscow to abstain from any other provocation.
INVESTMENT— Romania competes with Bulgaria and Hungary for a new Skoda car factory. The over 1 billion Euro investment might generate at least 4,000 — 5,000 jobs, the Automotive News Europe publication writes. The president of the managing board of Volkswagen Group, Herbert Diess, said on November 18 that the group is looking for a new location in Eastern Europe for a Skoda factory, to start production post 2022. The need has emerged after VW’s decision to convert the factory in Emden, Germany, to the production of e-cars and to relocate the production of the Passat model in the current Skoda factory in Kvasiny (the Czech Republic), which is now producing Skoda Superb. The future factory, whose location should still be identified, will produce the Skoda Karoq and Seat Ateca SUVs, which are currently assembled in Kvasiny.
VISIT — The Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet country with a predominantly Romanian speaking population, Andrian Candu, is today paying a working visit to Bucharest. He is due to meet the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, and is to be received by the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta. On this occasion, Her Majesty will receive, during a ceremony, the Medal for Democracy of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. The Custodian of the Crown is hosting the ceremony of signing “The Centenary Book”, an anniversary anthology of signatures devoted to the celebration of 100 years since the creation of the Romanian unitary state, on December 1.
TENNIS – Australian Darren Cahill, who has trained the Romanian woman tennis player, Simona Halep, no 1. WTA, over the past few years, has been nominated by WTA for the title of best coach of the year 2018 in women’s tennis. This year, Cahill has helped Halep win her first Grand Slam title, at Rolland Garros. Halep has also won the finals in Shenzhen and Montreal and reached the finals at the Australian Open, in Rome and Cincinnati. Darren Cahill announced on November 9 that he will stop working with Simiona Halep in 2019, for family reasons. The winner of the WTA poll will be announced on December 4.
