As most pundits have already noted,
\nUkraine is trying to hold on to Crimea, the peninsula illegally annexed by
\nRussia in 2014. The Crimea Platform, whose inaugural summit was held on Monday
\nand which Moscow has immediately labeled as an action against Russia, is an
\ninitiative trying to draw more global awareness regarding Russia’s illegal
\nannexation of Crimea, and to ultimately facilitate its return to Ukraine.
\nRepresentatives of over 40 states have adopted a final resolution condemning
\nwhat they have termed the temporary occupation and illegal annexation of
\nCrimea, which is a direct challenge to global security. The document warns that
\nthe ongoing militarization of the region undermines security and stability in
\nthe Black Sea region, condemns Russia’s efforts to legitimize the temporary
\noccupation and the illegal annexation, as well as all violations of human
\nrights in the peninsula. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The joint declaration calls on Moscow to make sure
\nthat all people belonging to ethnic and religious communities, including
\nUkrainian and Tatar ethnics, have their rights fully observed. Romania was
\nrepresented at the Crimea Platform summit by Prime Minister Florin C\u00ee\u0163u and
\nForeign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. The Romanian Prime Minister announced
\nRomania’s accession to the Platform and reiterated our country’s constant
\nsupport for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as
\nRomania’s firm commitment to denounce the illegal annexation of Crimea.
\nBucharest authorities, Florin C\u00ee\u0163u explained, are aware of the current
\nchallenges and threats to the values, stability and security of the Black Sea
\nregion. The Prime Minister also expressed Romania’s support for Ukraine’s
\nefforts to join the EU and NATO, recalling that Romania was the first EU member
\nstate to ratify the Association Agreement with the EU. Achieving these goals
\nmust rely on a reform process that should bring benefits to all Ukrainian citizens,
\nincluding those of Romanian origin, the Romanian official said. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Florin C\u00ee\u0163u
\nwent on to say that external threats and challenges can better be managed if
\nstates act together towards solving bilateral issues. On the sidelines of the
\nevent, the Prime Minister met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal,
\nreiterating Romania’s readiness to boost bilateral cooperation, including by
\nhosting a new sitting of the inter-government Committee on economic, industrial
\nand scientific cooperation. The two Prime Ministers said they also want to step
\nup cooperation in various sectors such as transports, infrastructure and border
\ncrossing. Florin C\u00ee\u0163u insisted on the observance of the rights of the Romanian
\nminority in Ukraine, which totals some 400 thousand people. (VP)<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Romania has joined the international Crimea Platform<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":89767,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[36365,36101,32996],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-89766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-crimea-platform","tag-prime-minister-florin-citu","tag-romania-ukraine-relations"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n