The Week in Review 19-25.12.2022
A review of the past week's headline-making events
Corina Cristea, 24.12.2022, 14:00
The Romanian Revolution, 33 years ago
Ceremonies commemorating the heroes of the anti-communist Revolution of 1989 were organized, this week, in Romania. In the big cities, religious and wreath-laying ceremonies took place in the significant places for the historical moments that occurred 33 years ago. President Klaus Iohannis laid a wreath at the roadside monument in the University Square in the center of Bucharest, where he also observed a moment of silence. We remind you that the Romanian anti-communist Revolution started on December 16 in the city of Timisoara (west), to later extend to Bucharest and other cities. In the capital, the uprising that led to the fall of the communist regime broke out on December 21, with a large rally organized by Nicolae Ceauşescu, in the hope that he would be able to calm the population and remain at the helm of the country. After the failed rally, the revolt extended across Bucharest. Demonstrations against the regime took place, to which the law enforcement forces responded also by shooting at the demonstrators, killing around 50 people, injuring several dozen and arresting more than 1,000 people. Despite the reprisals, the demonstrations resumed on December 22, and the street pressure made the former dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu flee in a helicopter from the roof of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. All in all, more than 1,000 people died and around 3,000 were injured in the fighting that took place in the only country in Eastern Europe where the regime change included a bloodshed.
Visit of the President of the European Parliament to Bucharest
‘There is no justifiable reason not to welcome Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area, because all the conditions for accession are met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola said, on Monday, in Bucharest. In a press conference with President Klaus Iohannis, she also stated that efforts were being made for this situation to be solved as soon as possible, even next year. ‘The external border of the European Union is defended. We see that all countries, including Romania, apply all components of the Schengen acquis, which answers any concern that might exist from this point of view, the Brussels official added. In turn, the Romanian head of state stated that the Schengen topic would not be on the agenda of the extraordinary European Council due in February 2023, and the discussions were to take place only on the sidelines of the meeting. We remind you that, at the beginning of the month, Romania’s admission to Schengen was blocked by Austria in the Justice and Home Affairs Council, which invoked issues regarding illegal migration. Documents provided by Frontex – the European Border Police and Coast Guard Agency – contradict the Austrian Chancellor’s statements.
Romanian delegation in South Korea
A Romanian official delegation, which included several ministers, as well as the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, visited South Korea this week. Romania is interested in the development of major economic projects alongside the big Korean companies, in essential fields such as: transport, energy, defense, the IT industry, ITNs and semiconductors. Defense and energy industries dominated the talks with the South Korean officials, including the Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. They also approached such issues as how to manage the situation generated by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, security in the region and cooperation between NATO and South Korea. The Romanian delegation also had a meeting with the representatives of the Romanian community, to whom the Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation for the way in which they managed to integrate into that society, keeping, at the same time, the identity, language, culture and values of their native country close to their hearts.
The Romanian FM Bogdan Aurescu pays visit to Chisinau
Romania will continue to support the neighboring Republic of Moldova (with a majority Romanian-speaking population) in order to successfully overcome the crises which it is facing, the Romanian FM Bogdan Aurescu reiterated, on Monday, in Chisinau. The Romanian official had meetings with the president Maia Sandu, the prime minister Natalia Gavrilița, with his counterpart Nicu Popescu and with the president of the Parliament, Igor Grosu. The two sides emphasized the importance of developing electricity interconnections between the two states, of streamlining cross-border traffic, including through the construction of bridges over the Prut River. They also discussed the implementation of the agreement regarding the non-refundable financial assistance worth 100 million Euros Bucharest offered to Chisinau, as well as about the operationalization of the support platform for the Republic of Moldova, initiated by Minister Aurescu with his German and French counterparts. The European path of the Republic of Moldova and Romania’s concrete support for achieving this goal, including through the opening of EU accession negotiations, were also on the agenda.
High-level Romanian-Portuguese talks
The presence of the Portuguese soldiers from the South-East Multinational Brigade in Caracal (south), together with soldiers from North Macedonia and other allies, has an important contribution to strengthening Romania’s defense and security, said President Klaus Iohannis on the occasion of his visit to the ‘Olt Training Battalion 1, in Caracal, on Tuesday, where he was accompanied by his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The high-level discussions focused on the security situation in Ukraine, with an emphasis on the intensification of humanitarian assistance to the neighboring country, as well as on support in facilitating grain exports. The two presidents also discussed the intensification of Romanian-Portuguese cooperation in the fields of defense, economy, trade, the digital agenda, renewable energy sources, health and education. (LS)
