Romania – Germany – Republic of Moldova Trilateral
Romania and Germany support the Republic of Moldova in its efforts to deal with the challenges triggered by the war in Ukraine
Ştefan Stoica, 04.04.2023, 14:00
In
2010, when Romania and Germany marked 130 years of diplomatic relations,
Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Bucharest. 13 years on, her successor at the
helm of the government in Berlin, Olaf Scholz, also visited Romania, and the
sensitive issues addressed in the discussions with President Klaus Iohannis included,
as in 2010, Romania’s accession to Schengen.
Left
outside the free movement area because of Austria’s opposition, Romania
maintains its main goal of joining Schengen and has a strong supporter in
Germany. I hope, said Olaf Scholz, that accession will take place this year.
Romania, he said, has met all the requirments and we need secure borders.
Because Romania is neighboring Ukraine, a country that is militarily attacked,
and because the war has serious consequences for the Republic of Moldova, a
neighbor of both, the Iohannis – Scholz bilateral in Bucharest was joined by the Moldovan president
Maia Sandu. Romania will continue to support the Republic of Moldova, was the
firm message conveyed by President Klaus Iohannis.
We will keep supporting Chisinau, firmly
and unwaveringly, all the more so as the Republic of Moldova is subject to
systematic hybrid pressures, including attempts to undermine its constitutional
order. The Republic of Moldova is on the front line,
faced with the consequences of the war on its border and with Russia’s extremely
virulent and destabilizing actions, all of which are strongly impacting the
citizens.
In turn, President Maia Sandu stated
that Europe is strong thanks to the unity and firmness with which it defends
peace and people’s lives. The Republic of
Moldova is the most vulnerable neighbor of Ukraine, affected by the war and the
hybrid attacks orchestrated by the Kremlin, Maia Sandu stressed. According to
her, the country needs economic support, but also to strengthen the capacity of
institutions responsible for the security of citizens and the defense system.
Maia
Sandu thanked Romania and Germany for their support:
The
support of our partners, Bucharest and Berlin in particular, is highly
appreciated. Thank you for supporting peace, prosperity and our European
future. For its part, the Republic of Moldova ensures, together with Ukraine,
the security of over 1,200 km of European border.
The
Republic of Moldova is part of our European family, it is not alone and
benefits from massive international support, the Chancellor of Germany also
stressed. Olaf Scholz voiced his worries over the reports regarding Russia’s
attempts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova. The sovereignty and
territorial integrity of each state are inviolable, that’s why we are doing all
we can to support Moldova defend itself from all these destabilization attempts,
the
German Chancellor concluded. (MI)
