From Wikinfo
The Flag of Romania is coincidentally very similar to the civil flag of Andorra and the state flag of Chad. The similarity with Chad’s flag, which differs only in having a darker shade of blue (indigo rather than cobalt), has caused international discussion. In 2004 Chad asked the United Nations to examine the issue, but then-president Ion Iliescu announced no change would occur to the flag.[1] The flag of Moldova is related to the Romanian tricolor, except it has a 1:2 ratio, a lighter shade of blue and the Moldavian coat of arms in the middle.
This situation arose from a conjecture of special, apparently unrelated events. On the one hand, until 1989, the flag of Romania had the coat of arms of the Romanian Socialist Republic, and were after ripped of the flags, being perceived as a symbol of Nicolae Ceauşescu’s dictatorial regime. These flags were called “the flag with the hole”. However, as the hole couldn't be kept in official documents, the new state decided reverting to the old, simple 3 color flag, with nothing else on it. On the other hand and in the mean-time, the "domain" of the 3-color flag was temporarily vacant, and Chad took it after its own declaration of independence, while
Penalties
According to Governmental Decision nr. 1157/2001,[2] which details the rules of hoisting the flag of Romania, the citizens must show respect to the Romanian flag and never offend it.
The hoisting of a Romanian flag of another shape, dimension, model or color than those regulated by law, or having an improper condition, is a contravention and is punishable with a fine of between 500 and 1500 lei.
Not raising the national flag by public authorities and institutions, or in the mandatory situations stated by the law, the improper hoisting of the flag and the hoisting of the flag of another country outside the situations regulated by law, or with improper dimensions, represents contravention and is punishable with a fine of between 2500 and 5000 lei.
The contraventions are ascertained and sanctioned by mandataries of the Minister of Public Administration, by the Prefect or his mandataries, and are applied to the director of the public authority or institution, to the mayor, to the President of the county's council, or to the private individual or juridical person that committed the contraventions.
As of 2008[update], the article 236 of the Penal Code of Romania states that any display of contempt against the symbols of Romania is punishable by detention between 6 months and 3 years in prison. The article 344 of the same Penal Code rules that, in times of war, lowering the vessel's ensign during a battle in order to serve the enemy's cause is punishable by life in prison or detention between 15 and 25 years in prison and civil restraints.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "'Identical flag' causes flap in Romania"
- ^ Law published in Monitorul Oficial nr. 776 of 5 December 2001.
- ^ The new project of the Penal Code eliminates the provisions of article 236 and reduces the punishment stated at article 344 (now article 420) to 10 up to 20 years in prison and civil restraints.
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