February 27, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 27.02.2023, 19:54

PLENARY– The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest convened on Monday in plenary sitting to mark a year since the start of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. “I don’t have any doubt that Ukraine will win and will bring to an end Russia’s thirst for power”, the Liberal chair of the Senate’s Defense Committee, Nicoleta Pauliuc said. “Those responsible for this tragedy must be brought before an international criminal court,” the Romanian MPs said in their speeches. Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the Social Democrat Daniel Suciu, presented some photos of Ukrainian refugees fleeing war and getting to safety in Romania. The head of the USR senators, Radu Mihail, criticized the fact that Parliament did not pass a resolution that condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The leader of the AUR senators, Claudiu Tarziu, condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine while the UDMR senator, Lorand Turos, said the end of the war was very far and further support for Ukraine was needed. In turn, the Ukrainian Ambassador in Bucharest, Ihor Prokopchuk, said his country was deeply grateful to Romania and the Romanians for their fast response to Ukraine’s needs. “Russia must be expelled from the United Nations Organization, and the guilty must be brought to justice,” the Ukrainian diplomat also said.

VISIT — Chamber of Deputies Speaker, Marcel Ciolacu is paying a two-day formal visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of the country’s speaker of the National Assembly, Sahiba Gafarova. The Romanian official held talks with the countrys president Ilham Aliyev on three major energy projects, thorough which Romania had the chance of becoming an EU gateway for the gas and energy coming from Azerbaijan. The first project focuses on the one-year purchase contract for one billion cubic meters of gas starting April. The second is about the construction of two terminals for liquefied gas on the Black Sea, while the third deals with the development of a underwater cable carrying green energy from the Caspian Sea to Europe, via Romania. Also on Monday Ciolacu had talks with Sahiba Gafarova and Board members of the local state-owned gas company SOCAR.

PRESIDENCY — Romania appreciates Luxembourg’s support for the country’s Schengen accession, President Klaus Iohannis said Monday in a news conference held jointly with PM Xavier Bettel. In terns of allied support provided by Luxembourg, Iohannis said that “together we are stronger”. In his turn, Bettel said Romania is to Luxembourg a “reliable ally” and announced that 24 military will join the NATO battle group in Cincu, central Romania. He reaffirmed his support for Romania’s accession to Schengen which he says is a candidate ready to join the border-free area. Iohannis is in Luxembourg to attend the European Investment Bank’s Forum, dedicated to the EU’s investment agenda.

EDUCATION — The Romanian Education Minister, Ligia Deca, presented on Monday the draft education laws after representatives of the Parliament’s majority agreed on this topic. The new laws have been debated for months by experts with the Education Ministry and by representatives of the ruling coalition. “We want teachers who are motivated and supported,” Ligia Deca said. The new laws are aimed at increasing the quality of education and reducing functional illiteracy.

LENT – Orthodox and Greek-Catholic believers, who are a majority in Romania, on Monday began the period of Lent, six weeks before Easter, which this year is celebrated on April 16th. Believers observing this fasting period must refrain from eating certain types of food, from partying and other types of entertainment. Weddings are prohibited during this period.

GOLD – Romanian judoka, Mircea Croitoru, on Sunday became gold medalist in the European Open hosted by Polish capital Warsaw after having defeated Slovakian Marius Fizel in the finals. The Romanian made his debut in the round of sixteen with a win against Daniel Udsilauri of Germany and defeated Anto Dubreta of Montenegro in the quarterfinals. Next the Romanian outperformed Mohamed Lahboub of Morocco in the semifinals. 8 judokas have represented Romania in the tournament, six in the mens contest and two in the womens. The European Open in Warsaw has brought together 429 judokas of 43 countries. (EE)