President Klaus Iohannis welcomes UNICEF’s desire to support the acceleration of children rights reforms
President Klaus Iohannis welcomes the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) desire to support the acceleration of children rights reforms. The head of state met with UNICEF Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States Afshan Khan, who appreciated that Romania is among the states on which the organization relies on in this area. Mrs. Khan had also discussions with Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu and Minister Delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall. The two Romanian officials reaffirmed our country’s desire to contribute with direct expertise to the introduction of projects in child protection and education field in transition states which are interested in Romania’s experience. (RADIO ROMANIA reports)
Ambassador Hans Klemm hopes that Washington and Bucharest will reach an agreement on Patriot missile purchase
The Ambassador of the United States of America in Bucharest Hans Klemm stated that he hopes an agreement for Romania to purchase Patriot missiles to be concluded until the end of 2017. Romania plans to acquire such facilities – explained last month the Chief of Romanian Army’s General Staff Nicolae Ciuca. In his opinion, Patriot fall within Romania’s multi-level defense anti-aircraft integrated system. Patriot is an advanced ground-to-air defense system which can be used in the event of an attack with airplanes or with ballistic and cruise missile. Hans Klemm also spoke about Romanian-American trade cooperation. „The United States”, said Ambassador Hans Klemm, „are very grateful to Romania for the decision to increase the defense budget to 2 per cent of GDP, in compliance with the NATO provisions. This provides opportunities for American companies to work with Romanian defense companies in order to develop new, modern equipments so as to help Romania and the Alliance, including the United States, to provide a better defense”. (RADIO ROMANIA reports)
World Press Freedom Day
Journalists are intimidated not only in authoritarian regimes, but also in countries considered democratic, is the finding of European Parliament President Antonio Tajani in a message on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated today. Antonio Tajani, a former journalist, gives as negative examples Turkey, Russia or China and points out that the European Union is the strongest protector of freedom of expression worldwide. World Press Freedom Day is also marked in Romania’s capital Bucharest by the launch of the FreeEx Report – Press Freedom in Romania 2016-2017, which makes an annual analysis of the main events affecting the freedom of expression. (RADIO ROMANIA reports)
Adrian Strugariu
