6 September 2019

Tribute is paid today to the Romanian military killed in an attack in Kabul on Thursday.

Newsroom, 06.09.2019, 14:00

Commemoration. Tribute is paid today
in all military units in Romania and the theatres of operation to the Romanian
military killed in an attack in Kabul on Thursday and claimed by the Taliban.
On Monday night, another Romanian national, who was part of the security staff
of the Romanian diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, was killed in a terrorist
attack that targeted a compound hosting embassy headquarters, including that of
Romania. Another Romanian was wounded in this attack, also claimed by the
Taliban, and later transferred to Europe for medical assistance. The building hosting the embassy was severely damaged, its
staff being for the time being hosted by a NATO military base. In Bucharest,
president Klaus Iohannis and prime minister Viorica Dancila have sent their
condolences in the aftermath of the two attacks and have reiterated Romania’s
support for the fight against terrorism. A crisis cell was established at the
foreign ministry. Almost 30 Romanian soldiers have died since 2003 in
Afghanistan, where Romania has deployed 762 military as part of the NATO
Resolute Support mission.

Diaspora. The
forum of Romanians abroad is under way in Bucharest until Sunday, bringing
together 120 representatives of the Romanian diaspora and of historical ethnic
Romanian communities. The participants are taking part in working sessions,
workshops and debates alongside representatives of state institutions. The
agenda includes issues such as education in the Romanian language, investments
and opportunities to return to Romania and the voting process abroad. On
Thursday in the opening of the forum, the Romanian prime minister Viorica
Dancila said she had requested the Standing Election Authority to extend the
deadline for Romanians abroad registering to vote, in order to increase the
number of those voting by post in the upcoming presidential elections in
November.

Ban. The former leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party Liviu
Dragnea has been banned from entering the United States for involvement in
significant corruption, the US State Department said in a statement. The ban
also applies to Dragnea’s two children. The statement explains that under an official
act, in cases where officials of foreign governments have been involved in acts
of significant corruption, those individuals and their immediate family members
are ineligible for entry into the United States. The move sends a strong
message that the US is committed to fighting corruption and supporting the rule
of law in Romania, the press release notes. Dragnea, who also served as speaker
of the Chamber of Deputies, was sent to prison in May after receiving a 3 and a
6 month sentence for corruption. Earlier, he had received a suspended sentence
for election fraud in a 2012 referendum on the impeachment of the former
president Traian Basescu.

Festival. Today is another busy day
at the George Enescu International Festival. The highlights include the
performance of the National Orchestra of France featuring the pianist Evgeny
Kissin, while in another performance, the La Scala Chamber Orchestra will
include a work by George Enescu in their programme. Radio Romania has been a
co-producer of the festival ever since its first edition in 1958. This year,
Radio Romania’s music channel is broadcasting most concerts in the festival,
while the Radio Concert Hall is playing host to a series of concerts. Radio
Romania’s Children’s Choir, Academic Choir and National Orchestra are also
themselves giving performances as part of the festival.

Football. Romania
lost to former world and European champions Spain 1-2 in Bucharest on Thursday
in a qualifier Group F match ahead of next year’s European Championships. In
the same group, Sweden defeated the Faroe Islands 4-nil and Norway defeated
Malta 2-nil. Spain top the group with 15 points followed by Sweden with 10,
Norway with 8, Romania with 7, Malta with 3 and the Faroe Islands with no
points. Romania will face Malta in their next match on Sunday in Ploiesti. The
two best ranked sides in the group will qualify for the final tournament. The
drawing of lots ceremony for the European Championships will be hosted by
Bucharest on the 30th of November. The Romanian capital will also
play host to four championship matches, three from the group stage and a
quarterfinal.

Tennis. The 19-year-old Canadian player of Romanian origin Bianca
Andreescu will be facing Serena Williams in the women’s final at the US Open.
Andreescu, who was yet to go past the second round in a Grand Slam, on Thursday
defeated Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, while Serena Williams made it to her
tenth US Open final after defeating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.