8 September 2016

Romania is one of the most important supporters of Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the Ukrainian chargé d'affaires in Bucharest, Teofil Rendiuk.

Newsroom, 08.09.2016, 12:00

Romania-Ukraine. Romania is one of the most important supporters of
Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the Ukrainian
chargé
d’affaires in Bucharest Teofil Rendiuk at a reception to
celebrate Ukraine’s National Day. Rendiuk also said Romania may become
Ukraine’s new strategic partner and that the two countries have an excellent
dialogue adapted to the current geopolitical and geostrategic situation.
Bucharest was a firm critic of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula and
voiced its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity
within this country’s internationally recognised borders.

Republic of Moldova. Nicolae Timofti, the president of the ex-Soviet Republic
of Moldova, with a majority Romanian-speaking population, has refused to travel
to the meeting of heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States to
be held next week by the capital of Kyrgystan. The Moldovan delegation may thus
be headed by prime minister Pavel Filip. Moldova’s pro-western president
Nicolae Timofti, who is nearing the end of his term in office, did not attend
the summit last year, either, following a tough exchange with his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin in 2014 most likely over Moldova’s signing the
association agreement with the European Union and Russia’s embargo as a result.

UN peace keeping meeting. The Romanian defence minister Mihnea Motoc is today
attending in London a meeting of his UN counterparts to discuss peace keeping
operations. According to a ministry press release, talks will examine the
implementation of the commitments made by the states taking part in the peace
keeping summit held in September 2015 in New York. Romania’s pledged
contribution consisted in observers, air transport capabilities and combat
support. In London, ministers will discuss, among others, ways to render UN
operations and missions more efficient and the rapid deployment of peace
keeping capabilities.

Corruption. Romania’s
president Klaus Iohannis today approved a request by the National
Anticorruption Directorate to start prosecuting former interior minister Petre
Toba. The latter is suspected of aiding some of his staff accused of
embezzlement. As a result of the scandal, Toba resigned and was replaced by
Dragos Tudorache. The priorities of the new minister include the good
organisation of the parliamentary elections on the 11th of December.

Religious holiday. Christians across the world, including the majority
Orthodox Romania, celebrate today the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, which is
known as Little Mary in the traditional calendar. According to Christian
tradition, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was born through a miracle. She is
believed to be the greatest of all saints and is dedicated four days in the
Christian calendar: Nativity, Entry into the Temple, Annunciation and
Assumption. Around 2.2 million people are named after Mary in Romania.

Sailboat race. An international regatta of large sailboats begins today
in the Romanian port of Constanta. 13 sailboats from five different countries
will be docked for four days in the passenger harbour, where they can be
visited free of charge. Romania is represented in the race by the Mircea
training ship and the country’s largest civilian sailboat, Adornate. Romanian
navy personnel will take part in various sports competitions and a crew parade
on Friday.

US Open. World no. 5 Simona Halep of
Romania lost to world no. 1 Serena Williams in three sets in the quarterfinals
at the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year worth 22 million
dollars in prize money. This is the 8th time Halep loses to
Williams, whom she only defeated once. The holder of 22 Grand Slam titles,
Serena Williams has won the US Open six times. (Translated by: C. Mateescu)