February 16, 2023

QUAKE - The first Romanian rescuers deployed to Turkey in the wake of the February 6 quake have returned yesterday with two Spartain aircraft. The team managed to save 4 Turkish citizens trapped beneath debris, thus displaying compassion and restoring hope to those in despair, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă said. In turn, Interior Minister Lucian Bode said the actions of Romanian rescuers confirm that Romania can provide support to every European citizen in critical need of help. 59 Romanian rescuers are still deployed to Turkey in support of local authorities. Romania also continues to send humanitarian aid to Turkey and Syria addressing the millions of people affected by the quake. The death toll continues to rise and has exceeded 41 thousand. According to the UN, 9 million people in Syria and 2.2 million in Turkey need help. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă earlier today announced the creation of an inter-ministry task force that will monitor developments with a view to preparing the proper response to emergency situations.

VISIT - Chamber of Deputies speaker Marcel Ciolacu is as of today paying a two-day official visit to Rome, Italy. The Romanian official will meet his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Fontana today, as well as Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. Tomorrow, Marcel Ciolacu will meet Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi as well as representatives of Romanian parishes in the Lazio Region.

MOLDOVA - Moldova's Prime Minister designate, Dorin Recean, is today expected to present before Parliament the structure of his Cabinet and his governing program. Most ministers in the Gavrilița Cabinet will preserve their portfolios, and only four ministers will be replaced. The Recean Cabinet should have no trouble getting Parliament's investiture vote, given that the Action and Solidarity Party founded by the pro-European president Maia Sandu enjoys majority in Parliament, our correspondent in Chișinău notes. Moldovan officials explained the Cabinet swap was necessary due to the deteriorating security context, which Dorin Recean was the best suited person to handle, given his experience as Interior Minister and national security presidential adviser. This is one further argument presented by president Sandu earlier this week, when she announced the interception of a Russian plan to overthrow the government in Moldova. Chișinău pundits believe there might have been other reasons behind Natalia Gavrilița's resignation, such as the slow-moving reform of the judiciary.

TIMIȘOARA - Over 130 events will take place over February 17-19 in Timișoara as the city prepares to officially launch its program "Timișoara - European Capital of Culture in 2023". Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz announced the opening event held in the Unification Square in the center will start with a symbolic moment whereby the city will receive the Melina Mercouri Award of the European Commission, traditionally bestowed to every European capital of culture that successfully complied with their candidacy obligations. "We have a historic opportunity to shape public perception and do away with prejudice. Let us use Timișoara's European story to create a new European destiny for Romania and rebrand the city on the map of Europe", the Romanian official said. According to Dominic Fritz, the program will comprise over 1,000 events to be held over the course of the entire year.

FILM - The 73rd edition of the Berlin International Film Festival kicks off today in its traditional format after two year of pandemic-related restrictions. Opening the event, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to deliver a live message in videoconference format. Some 400 features will be screened as part of the festival, which will end on February 26. Competing for the Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards are 19 features, 6 of which are directed by women. The Romanian production "Mammalia" directed by Sebastian Mihăilescu is competing in the Forum section. This year's jury includes American actress Kristen Stewart and Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude, who won the Golden Bear in 2021 for his comedy "Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn" as well as the Silver Bear award in 2015 with his historical feature "Aferim!"

FOOTBALL - Romania's football champions CFR Cluj are today playing Lazio Rome away from home in the first leg of the Europa Conference League round of 16 playoffs. CFR previously played Lazio in the 2019-2020 season in the Europa League group phase, when it managed to win against the Italian side at home. CFR is the only Romanian club left in European inter-club competitions. (VP)