February 9, 2016 UPDATE
Romanian defence minister takes part in NATO meeting; Romanian tennis team to play against Germany
Mihai Pelin, 09.02.2016, 12:06
The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihnea Motoc, is taking part in Brussels in a meeting of NATO defence ministers on Wednesday and Thursday. The agenda focuses on the Alliances adjustment to the new security context, in view of preparing the decisions to be adopted by the heads of state and government in the forthcoming summit in Warsaw. The defence ministers will also talk about the implementation of the Action Plan to increase the operational capacity of NATO, to fight hybrid and cyber threats, to streamline the Allied missile defence system, the commitment in Afghanistan and ensure the necessary budget resources. During the meeting, Mihnea Motoc will have bilateral consultations with General Philip M. Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, and with the defence ministers of several NATO countries.
Romanias womens tennis team will be facing Germany in the playoffs for the Fed Cup World Group on February 16 and 17, at home, according to Tuesdays draw in London. Germany has ten players in the WTA top 100, whereas Romania only has four: Simona Halep (3), Irina Begu (34), Monica Niculescu (37), and Alexandra Dulgheru (54). In the Fed Cup quarter-finals, Romania was defeated by the trophy holder Czech Republic, late last week in the Romanian city of Cluj, 3-2, while Germany lost to the Switzerland in Leipzig. Germany is 4th in the Fed Cup ranking made public on Monday, with Romania on the 9th place. The two teams only met once before in this competition, in 1975, when West Germany defeated Romania 3-0, in Naples, in the World Cup quarter-finals.
(translation by: Ana-Maria Popescu)