September 21, 2022 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 21.09.2022, 20:00
Russia. Russia is prepared to use all means, including nuclear, “to defend itself”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address to his nation on Wednesday, France Press reports. Putin, who has accused the West of wanting to destroy Russia, has ordered the partial mobilization of reservists, which might escalate the conflict in Ukraine. Putin also said he supported annexation referendums to be held in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. Pro-Russian authorities in four Ukrainian regions – Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk – have announced referendums for the unification with Russia, to be held in the coming days. In Donetsk and Luhansk there are separatist republics proclaimed as of 2014, whose independence had been recognized by Russia before its invasion of Ukraine. In Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, on the other hand, pro-Russian authorities were installed after a part of the two regions had been occupied following the Russian invasion in February. In Bucharest, PM Nicolae Ciuca said he took notice, with concern, of the Russian Presidents statements regarding a partial military mobilization and the organization of the so-called referendums. The PM said that Romania will maintain its balanced stand and will continue to calmly monitor, alongside its NATO allies, the developments in the neighboring Ukraine.
Ukraine. “Romania will continue to support the neighboring Ukraine”, invaded by the Russian troops, President Klaus Iohannis said before the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He recalled that Romania had offered direct humanitarian assistance to those over 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees crossing its borders since the start of the war. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu took part in a meeting with members of the Bucharest 9 Format (B9), which are NATO member states on the Alliances Eastern flank. Aurescu pleaded for further multidimensional support for Ukraine and for further pressure on Russia, including through a new package of sanctions. He emphasized the importance of bringing Russia to justice by using the tools of international law.
Government. The Romanian Government has approved additional funding for the defense industry, to make up for the increases in the prices of materials and services. At the same meeting, the Executive adopted the decision by which the sums necessary for the payment of the approximately 20,000 people who were involved in this years census are distributed. The National Strategy for the Circular Economy was also approved, which provides for the most efficient method of collecting and reusing waste. Another document endorsed on Tuesday by the Romanian government concerns the possibility for administrative-territorial units to establish administrative consortia where the human resource can be used jointly when there are not enough specialists in areas of public interest.
Energy. Oil refineries in Romania have found an alternative to Russian oil, given that the embargo on Russian oil products takes effect in December, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu has announced. According to the Romanian Minister, given the current context on the gas market, OMV Petrom, the largest energy company in South-East Europe and Romgaz, Romanias largest producer and main supplier of natural gas, should announce this year the decision of investing in gas extraction in the Neptune Deep perimeter of the Black Sea. Also, the gas pipe connecting Greece to Bulgaria, to become operational on October 1st, will allow Romania to transport gas from Azerbaijan, Virgil Popescu has also said.(MI)
