Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu in Odesa on Thursday took part in the first three-party meeting of Foreign
Affairs Ministers from Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, jointly with
his counterpart in Chisinau, Nicu Popescu, and the Ukrainian one, Dmytro
Kuleba.
Also attending the meeting were Energy ministers, as well as representatives
of energy companies of the three countries. The invitation of high-ranking energy officials and representatives stands proof of the three countries’ strategic
commitment to work closely in the field. Actually, participants consented to signing
a three-way intergovernmental Agreement, in a bid to stimulate interconnections
in the field of energy, for Romania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova.
The
launching of the three-party format seeks to strengthen cooperation between the
three neighboring countries, against the backdrop created by Russia’s illegal,
unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, but also by the multidimensional
crises affecting Ukraine and Republic of Moldova. By the same token, the aforementioned
three-way format also seeks to establish a long-term dialogue and coordination
mechanism between the countries involved.
The format also endorses the active support
Romania can offer to the authorities in Chisinau and Kyiv, in their bid to
implement the required reforms for the two countries’ European integration
efforts. Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister took the opportunity to reiterate
Romania’s unwavering solidarity with the Ukrainian people, which has been going
through really trying times. Aurescu also spoke highly of the courage and heroism
of the Ukrainian people. The Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister also highlighted
the great number of measures Romania has adopted, in order to support Ukraine.
To that end, Aurescu mentioned the humanitarian aid offered to the inflow of more
than 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees, as well as the efforts authorities in Bucharest
have made to facilitate Ukraine’s export of grains.
Romanian Foreign Affairs
Minister went on to say that, since the outbreak of the Russian aggression, roughly
4 million tons have been exported via Romania. In another move, Aurescu emphasized
that Republic of Moldova, a country with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population, remains Romania’s neighboring state which has been worst-hit
by Russia’ military aggression of Ukraine. Accordingly, Foreign Minister Aurescu
reiterated the fact that, constantly and comprehensively, Romania has supported
and is set to support Chisinau, in Republic of Moldova’s effort to overcome
such an unprecedented challenge.
Bogdan Aurescu recalled the European Council’s
historic decision, in June this year, to grant Ukraine and Republic of Moldova
the status of a candidate to European Union membership. Aurescu also stated the
decision was a strategic objective for which Romania worked resolutely and
unflinchingly. The Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister also reiterated Romania’s unwavering
commitment to work in favor of the two states, in their European integration
effort, at bilateral level, through the direct support offered for the reform efforts,
but also at the level of the European Union.(EN)