THE WEEK IN REVIEW

April 25 - 29 2022

Daniela Budu, 30.04.2022, 14:00

Romania
supports Ukraine

Romania
continued to express its support for its neighboring country, through
visits by important decision makers to Kiev. On Tuesday, PM Nicolae
Ciuca, Chamber of Deputies speaker Marcel Ciolacu, and head diplomat
Bogdan Aurescu went to Ukraine. On Wednesday, Senate speaker Florin
Citu took part in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, led
by Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky. In fact, Nicolae Ciuca was
received by the Ukrainian leader and met the PM and the speaker of
the Supreme Rada. On the agenda were topics like the continued
Romanian support for Ukraine, the humanitarian situation, and the
process of reconstruction in the neighboring country. The Romanian
head of government reaffirmed that Romania condemns in the harshest
of terms the flagrant violation by Russia of Ukraine’s territorial
integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, the PM once again
condemned the atrocities committed by the invading troops, and
expressed Romania’s support for an ample international investigation
to bring to justice the perpetrators of the crimes. The Ukrainian
president said that this visit was an important and clear sign of
support for Ukraine in its war against the Russian Federation. The
head of government in Bucharest also referred to the situation of the
Romanian minority in Ukraine.

President
Zelensky underlined the fact that the Romanian minority in Ukraine
will benefit from the same rights in the mirror, I emphasize this, in
the mirror, just as the Ukrainian minority in Romania benefits from.
I underlined that they are Ukrainian citizens, they are doing their
duty for their country. Also, they have to have the benefit of
support from the Ukrainian authorities and institutions with
everything they need to preserve their language and cultural
identity.

At
the same time, the PM said that Romania is not affected right now by
the Gazprom cut off of gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland, after the
latter refused to pay for the gas in rubles, as required by Moscow.
The head of state said that gas consumption is way below the
country’s capacity of production, as Romania is one of the few
countries in Europe with a consistent gas resource. He explained,
however, that, on medium and short term, Romania will still need gas.
He specified that the offshore and onshore law, supported by the
ruling coalition, ensures the opening of investments in gas
exploitation in the Black Sea and in deep wells in Buzau County, in
the southeast. In turn, the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies said
that the visit to Kiev was meant to send a clear signal regarding the
will of a political and parliamentary majority on support granted by
Romania to Ukraine. Upon return to Kiev, the Senate speaker specified
that the Ukrainian authorities are looking to the future with
optimism, in spite of the difficult situation in the neighboring
country. He specified that, although sanctions imposed on Russia are
causing right now discomfort in many areas, they are meant to ensure
future national security and integrity. Defense Minister Vasile Dincu
also reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The minister
on Tuesday took part in the first meeting of the Defense Consultation
Group on Ukraine, hosted by the Ramstein airbase in Germany. The
Romanian official condemned the atrocities that have been committed,
and underlined the need to urgently open humanitarian corridors
unconditionally. Vasile Dincu also had a short meeting with his
Ukrainian counterpart, where he expressed his full solidarity with
Ukraine, and conveyed his availability top maintain a constant and
open dialog.

Romania
supports Chisinau’s European aspirations

The
Ministry of Defense on Wednesday specified that right now, the
Romanian armed forces do not have any troops in the Republic of
Moldova, for exercises or any other types of common training. This
clarification comes in the context in which a Russian language
publication spread false information according to which Romania
intends to attack Transdnestr with NATO support, and plans to invade
Moldova. The publication claimed that Romanian troops are already on
Moldovan territory. The misinformation disseminated by Russian
channels came after a series of attacks in Transdnestr perpetrated by
unknown parties. Against the background of armed provocations in the
separatist region, Romania reaffirmed its support for Chisinau’s
European aspirations. Romanian politicians consider that the Republic
of Moldova must receive a firm message from the EU that it will be
supported in the future in its attempt to join it. Liberal Party
chairman, PM Nicolae Ciuca, said that the latest occurrences in
Tiraspol have to be scrutinized in a balanced way, of such manner
that the security situation, already fragile, does not deteriorate
further. Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu believes that the
incidents in Tiraspol were an attempt at intimidation, and announced
that over the last few weeks, a joint meeting will be held by the
leaders in the Senate and Chamber with the Parliament in Chisinau.
The idea is supported by the USR, who considers that the incidents in
Tiraspol were mere provocations, which have to be seen with a wise
diplomatic eye, and that Moldova’s only chance to be a European state
lies with the EU. The Hungarian Union points out that now is the time
to analyze the applications for joining filed by Ukraine, the
Republic of Moldova, and Georgia, which allow them to be official
candidates to membership in the union. The Alliance for Romanian
Unity also condemned the incidents in Tiraspol, and believes that
Moldova should no longer inhabit a gray area.