RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Week in Review (May 24-30)

A review of the most important events of the past week.

The Week in Review (May 24-30)
The Week in Review (May 24-30)

, 30.05.2020, 02:00

Coronavirus in Romania


Romania has reported 1,250 deaths and about 19 thousand confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 3 months since the first case of coronavirus infection on its territory. According to President Klaus Iohannis, we cannot say that the epidemic has significantly subsided. He has announced, however, that restrictions will be further eased starting June 1st. Among the new relaxation measures are the opening of café and restaurant gardens, of beaches, and the organization of open-air performances with up to 500 spectators. Sports competitions, that do not require direct contact among athletes, will be resumed, as well as international road and rail transportation. People will also be allowed to travel without any restrictions outside their home towns or metropolitan area.



Ministers fail the test of simple motions


The Bucharest Parliament, dominated in terms of number by the Social Democratic Party and its occasional partners Pro Romania, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, has tabled a number of simple motions against the Liberal ministers. This past week alone, simple motions against Education Minister Monica Anisie and Interior Minister Marcel Vela, have passed. Minister Anisie was criticized for contradictory and confusing statements as regards the way in which national evaluation and high school graduation exams would be held, which, according to the Social Democrats, created panic among students and teachers. The Social Democrats in the Senate have also requested the resignation of Marcel Vela, claiming that the structures coordinated by the interior minister minimized the risk of the pandemic and did not focus on purchasing protective equipment for the medical staff. In reply, the interior minister has stated that all the measures taken during the pandemic, although restrictive, have been correct and aimed at protecting the population’s health. Previously, Parliament passed simple motions against Finance Minister Florin Cîțu and Agriculture Minister Adrian Oros. Simple motions do not automatically trigger a minister’s dismissal.



Partnerships


15 specialists with the Romanian Defense Ministry travelled to the United States on Monday to help authorities of the state of Alabama fight the coronavirus pandemic. The five doctors, five nurses and five military specialized in defense against chemical, biologic, radiologic and nuclear weapons will grant expert support to their American colleagues in the medical units in Alabama and also learn about how the virus is fought against in the US. Allies within NATO, Romania and the US are connected through a strategic partnership. We remind you that between April 17 and 24, a Romanian team made up of 11 doctors and 6 nurses travelled to Italy to help the medical staff there fight the coronavirus. Also, another team travelled to the neighboring Republic of Moldova, with a similar mission, as part of a convoy that also included 20 trucks with medical equipment worth 3.5 million euros.



Reaction to Chisinau’s statements


The Bucharest authorities deem as completely unacceptable and disapprove of the denigrating statements regarding Romania, made by the pro-Russian PM of the Republic of Moldova, Ion Chicu. In a Facebook post in which he dismissed criticism for the way in which he handled the medical crisis in his country and the delays in the implementation of reforms, he wrote that “Romania is the most corrupt state in Europe.” The Romanian Foreign Ministry says the statements show deep disrespect for Romania and the bilateral relation. The implementation of reforms assumed under the Association Agreement with the EU are not only an obligation for Moldova but also a guarantee for its citizens’ prosperity, while their well being cannot be ensured by such public statements, made in a rudimentary language, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has also said.



Bucharest and Budapest reach a truce in the duel of statements


The Romanian and Hungarian foreign ministers, Bogdan Aurescu and Péter Szijjártó, respectively, have recently met in Bucharest amid strained relations between their countries. The two officials agreed their countries would try to overcome tensions through dialogue and pragmatism and for Hungarian officials visiting Romania in the coming period to refrain from statements that could contradict in any way the strategic partnership with Bucharest. As regards the Hungarian plan for economic development in Transylvania, central Romania, where most of the Hungarian minority lives, the Hungarian foreign minister pointed out that his country had a verbal agreement for its implementation with the former Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea and the former government of Romania led by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, through the then foreign minister Teodor Melescanu. Minister Aurescu pointed out that only a written agreement has legal value and that verbal understandings made in the past with previous Romanian leaders are not valid.



The new national defense strategy


Romanias Supreme Council of National Defense adopted the draft defense strategy for 2020-2024, which will have to be endorsed by parliament. According to President Iohannis, in 2021 the Romanian Army will have 1,940 military and civilians in international missions, 436 less than this year, while the Interior Ministry will contribute 841 military and policemen, some 181 less than in 2020. The Strategic Partnership with the United States of America, as well as membership of NATO and the European Union are reaffirmed in the document as pillars of the countrys foreign and security policy. The president has said that the National Security Strategy for the next four years entails a new approach, determined by the deteriorating relations between the North Atlantic Alliance and the Russian Federation, the proliferation of terrorism and hybrid and cyber threats. Also approved was the modernisation of the Romanian Army by 2026 and beyond. (Translated by Elena Enache)





Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 02 November 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Electoral campaigns in Romania The electoral campaign for the parliamentary elections in Romania started on the night of Thursday to Friday and will...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 26 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The electoral campaign at the start The electoral campaign for the presidential elections in Romania started at midnight from Thursday to Friday and...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 19 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, at the European Council meeting in Brussels The leaders of the EU countries, including the Romanian President...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Eveniment top
The Week in Review Saturday, 12 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

The Central Electoral Office announced, on Thursday, the final list of candidates for this year’s presidential elections. There are 10...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Week in Review Saturday, 05 October 2024

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

German support for Romania’s accession to Schengen by land The fastest possible accession of Romania to the Schengen area by land will...

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Week in Review Saturday, 28 September 2024

22-29 September, 2024

The first budget adjustment in 2024 This past week, the Romanian Executive adopted the first budget amendment this year. Although it was operated on...

22-29 September, 2024
The Week in Review Saturday, 21 September 2024

The Week in Review 16-20.09.2024

Aid for victims   Like the authorities in several European states, the Romanian authorities have also been on alert this week, after the severe...

The Week in Review 16-20.09.2024
The Week in Review Saturday, 14 September 2024

The Week in Review 9-15.09.2024

A new school year in Romania Schools must be absolutely safe for the students, the teaching staff and the rest of the educational staff, said, on...

The Week in Review 9-15.09.2024

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company