Romania and European diplomacy
Romania calls for the continuation of support provided to Ukraine, and for the resumption of peace talks in the Middle East
Ştefan Stoica, 28.05.2024, 13:50
With few exceptions, Russia’s war against Ukraine dominates the meetings of EU member states at the level of foreign ministers. Such was also the case of the Foreign Affairs Council that took place on Monday in Brussels. Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, emphasized the need for swiftly providing military assistance to Ukraine, while at the same time adopting the 14th package of sanctions against Russia. The Romanian Minister also expressed support for the introduction of a new regime of sanctions for Russia’s hybrid actions. She condemned the recent unacceptable challenges to some EU member states in the Baltic Sea region and expressed Romania’s solidarity in that regard. The Romanian official also highlighted Russia’s hybrid attacks on the Republic of Moldova, which generate vulnerabilities in the context of the electoral processes in this country.
Luminiţa Odobescu emphasized the need to continue and strengthen support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s intense and repeated attacks on its civilian and energy infrastructure. Bucharest has offered substantial support to Ukraine in the field of energy and is willing to continue doing so, Minister Odobescu said. The Romanian chief of diplomacy also reiterated our country’s support for the European integration efforts of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and the organization of the first Intergovernmental Conferences by the end of June. With regard to president Zelenskyy’s peace plan, Minister Odobescu emphasized the importance of coordination at European level and with global partners to ensure the success of the Conference slated in June in Switzerland.
The Foreign Affairs Council also tackled developments in the Middle East, with informal exchanges between European ministers and counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. The Romanian Foreign Minister hailed the role of regional states in maintaining regional stability, de-escalating security developments and helping broker peace, as well as facilitating the provision of urgent humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. Luminiţa Odobescu emphasized the need to solve the crisis by continuing efforts to ensure the release of all hostages, secure a ceasefire, provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance and resume the political process leading to a lasting peace, based on the two-state solution, in coordination with the USA, Great Britain and regional partners. Minister Odobescu reasserted Romania’s constant commitment to improving the humanitarian situation and announced a new humanitarian assistance transport to Gaza via the humanitarian corridor in Cyprus. (VP)
