March 21, 2017

The Supreme Defence Council convenes in Bucharest today

Newsroom, 21.03.2017, 13:57

DEFENCE – The Supreme Defence Council convenes in Bucharest today, at the initiative of President Klaus Iohannis. The main topics on the agenda are the army equipping programme and Romanias stand at the NATO summit due to take place in Brussels in May. The Council members will review the progress made last year with respect to the army upgrading and equipping programme by 2026 and after that date, as well as the activity of national security institutions in 2016 and their main goals for this year. The previous meeting of the Supreme Defence Council was held on January 31.

MILITARY CEREMONY – The south-eastern Romanian port city of Constanta has hosted today a repatriation ceremony for the Romanian troops in Battalion 341 Infantry, known as “the White Sharks. Between August 2016 and March 2017 they took part in the NATO-led mission Resolute Support in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The 420 troops were in charge with the security of the Kandahar Airport and the coalition forces deployed there. According to data made public by the Defence Ministry, 25 Romanian military died in missions in Afghanistan, in which Romania has been taking part since 2001 as a member of the international coalitions led by NATO and the USA. Over 100 other troops have been wounded in missions in that country.

FRANCOPHONIE – The French section of Radio Romania International won the Francophonie Award, granted by the group of Francophone embassies, delegations and institutions in Romania. Our colleagues were handed the award yesterday, on the International Day of La Francophonie, for their outstanding contribution to promoting the French language and the values of La Francophonie in Romania. Also yesterday, in central Bucharest, a bust was unveiled, in memory of Leopold Sedar Senghor, co-founder of La Francophonie. Many cultural, artistic and scientific events were also organized abroad, by Romanias diplomatic missions. The International Francophonie Day is celebrated on March 20 every year. Romania has been a member of this organization since 1993.

FRENCH ELECTIONS – Centrist Emmanuel Macron strengthened his leadership in polls ahead of the forthcoming presidential election in France, after the first TV debate last night between the top 5 out of 11 candidates. Macrons pro-European rhetoric was counterweighed by the leader of the far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who tried to blame all Frances problems on immigration and the EU, and promised an EU membership referendum and the implementation of nationalist policies. Originally seen as the election frontrunner, but severely affected by a judicial scandal, the Conservative François Fillon presented an economic and social programme based on ultra-Liberal measures. The presidential election in France is scheduled for April 23rd and May 7th. According to current polls, Marine Le Pen will likely win the first round, but will be defeated by Emmanuel Macron in the runoff.

HOLY SEPULCHRE – Conservation works on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalems old city centre have been finalised, and the site where Jesus Christs body is buried, according to Christian belief, will be reopened tomorrow. The last restoration works were performed over 200 years ago, and authorities were concerned with the stability of the site. The project lasted for 9 months and cost 3.3 million euros, contributed primarily by the Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian churches. The Holy Sepulchre dates back to the 12th Century, and it was built over a 4th Century structure.

FOOTBALL – Romanias national football team is preparing Sundays home match against Denmark, in preliminary Group E for next years World Cup in Russia. After a clear win, 5-0 in Armenia, two draws, 1-1 on home turf in Montenegro and 0-0 away from home in Kazakhstan, and a severe defeat, 0-3 in Bucharest against Poland, Romania ranks 4th in the group with only 5 points. During this season the national football team is for the first time in history coached by a foreigner, the German Cristoph Daum, brought in last autumn after a poor performance at Euro 2016 in France.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)