May 20, 2022 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 20.05.2022, 20:00

UN At the UN Security Council in New York, Romania’s Foreign Minister,
Bogdan Aurescu, spoke about Romania’s contribution to mitigating the effects of
the Russian war against Ukraine, at a debate titled ‘Maintaining international
peace and security – conflict and food security’. The Bucharest diplomacy chief
Thursday participated, at the invitation of the American Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, in the open debate organised by the USA, the country that is
holding the monthly presidency of the UN Security Council. Bogdan Aurescu
reiterated the need for a wider effort at international level to create a
transport corridor that would include Romanian routes and ports, in order to
facilitate Ukrainian exports to third-party destinations. At the same time, the
Romanian minister firmly rejected the completely unfounded accusations made by
the Russian Federation’s representative during the debate that there was an
agreement for Ukraine to export grains to the West in exchange for
military assistance. The head of the Romanian diplomacy also announced that
starting with 2023 Romania will host a Regional Agro-meteorology Centre for
Europe, approved by the World Meteorological Organisation.

LABOUR The labour ministry in Bucharest plans to constantly monitor the
situation of Romanian workers abroad, especially seasonal workers, who have
sometimes been victims of exploitation. Four million Romanians are officially
registered as working abroad, in European Union states, but the actual number would
be close to 5 million. The labour minister Marius Budai has stated that
Romanian seasonal workers mainly work in agriculture, constructions or in the
meat industry, and have faced various issues related to working conditions,
occupational health and safety, or the fact that they have not been granted
even the minimum wage in Germany. Other issues include salary withholdings,
dismissals with repatriation requests, non-payment of salary, non-compliance
with labour protection regulations, non-compliance with hygiene conditions,
improper accommodation and food.

POLL Most Romanians perceive Russia as an enemy state, and the war in
Ukraine is seen as a critical or important problem for the country in the
medium and long run. These are the findings of an opinion poll conducted this
month by the Avangarde social and behavioural research. According to the
survey, 64% of the Romanians see Russia as an enemy state, and only 2% see it
as a friendly country. In a ranking of friendly states, first comes the Republic
of Moldova, followed by Germany and the US. More than half of the respondents
also see France, the UK, Spain and Italy as friendly states, while Serbia, Hungary
and China are seen rather as competitors. Among the problems seen as important
for Romania in the medium and long run, the respondents mentioned climate
change, Hungary’s investments in Transylvania, the fact that nearly half of the
Rep. Moldova’s population are pro-Russian, the war in Ukraine, as well as the
fact that Germany, Austria and Hungary rely on Russian natural gas.

UKRAINE The industrial region of Donbas in Ukraine has been completely
destroyed by the Russian forces, the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky
said. Donbas is the main target of Russian troops after being pushed back from
the regions of Kyiv and Kharkiv. The Russian army resorts to intense shelling,
including over towns, in an attempt to break through the Ukrainian frontline. Odessa
has been also a preferred target of Russian bombings lately, president Zelensky
also said. Odessa is Ukraine’s main port city and has been under Russian
blockade since the war started, which prevents Ukraine’s exports and affects
global food supplies and food prices. On the other hand, the last Ukrainian
soldiers in the Azovstal plant have been ordered by Kyiv to stop defending the
city of Mariupol, the leader of the Azov Regiment announced. After the recent
evacuation of the civilians, including women and children, who had taken refuge
in the plant, nearly 2,000 Ukrainian fighters surrendered to the Russian troops
as of Monday, including wounded soldiers, according to the latest figures
announced on Friday by the Russian defence ministry.

G7 The members of the Group of 7 of the world’s largest advanced
economies promised on Friday to mobilise USD 19.8 billion to support the budget
of Ukraine, which has been struggling under the Russian invasion since February
24. The decision was announced by the German finance minister Christian
Lindner, after a meeting with his counterparts from the US, Japan, Britain,
France, Italy and Canada. Germany currently holds the presidency of the G7.

TENNIS The Romanian tennis
player Simona Halep will face the Croatian Ana Konjuh in the first round of the
Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament, which starts on Sunday in Paris, according
to the draw held on Thursday night. Halep won the French Open in 2018 and was a
finalist in 2014 and 2017. She did not attend last year’s edition due to an
injury. Sorana Cîrstea will play against the German Tatjana Maria, Gabriela
Ruse will face the Belgian Elise Mertens, and Irina Begu will take on the
Italian Jasmine Paolini. Another Romanian, Ana Bogdan, will have a difficult
mission in the match with the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. Irina Bara has also
qualified for the tournament. On Friday, Mihaela Buzǎrnescu lost the last round
of qualifiers to Mirjam Bjorklund of Sweden (6-1, 6-3). (AMP)