The priorities of the Romanian diplomacy

The priorities of Romanias foreign policy were presented at the annual meeting of Romanian diplomacy.

România Internațional, 01.09.2016, 14:28

Romania must actively contribute to the actions and efforts of the international community, the European Union and NATO, that is the community of values it belongs to, emphasised President Klaus Iohannis at the annual meeting of Romanian diplomacy. He urged Romanian ambassadors to conduct vigorous and more efficient diplomacy to promote the national interests. He also said Romania would remain a reliable and consistent contributor to the efforts to combat illegal migration, pointing out that its contribution should not be limited to support in defending the EU’s external borders, but should involve finding solutions to the profound causes of this phenomenon.

The president also spoke about the future of the European Union after Brexit. He warned that Romanian diplomats must make sure that beyond maintaining a special relationship with London, Bucharest should not compromise on the European fundamental freedoms, in particular the movement of workers. With regard to the problems outside the European Union, especially on its eastern borders, the president said the European sanctions against Russia should not be lifted, not event partly, until the Minsk agreement is enforced in its entirety.

However, Romania wishes to have contacts with Russia in areas that are not subject to sanctions, Klaus Iohannis said: “We wish to have contacts where this is possible, including culture and trade exchanges, in areas that are not subject to sanctions. Compliance with international commitments and restoring the strategic balance in the Black Sea region are, however, the essential premises for boosting dialogue.”

Iohannis urged diplomats to promote the Romanian model for the protection of national ethnic minorities and lobby the states with Romanian ethnic communities to make sure the latter provide similar protection to that granted by Romania. Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, who attended the meeting, underlined that Romania relies on the ability of regeneration of the European project and is determined to invest its diplomatic and political resources in this regard. Foreign minister Lazar Comanescu spoke about the need to consolidate economic diplomacy and for Romania to return to regions of the world that have been neglected in the last 20 years.

Lazar Comanescu: “It is important to continue to generate investment interest in Romania. Economic representation at an investment level means creating the premises for much more solid long-term ties with the respective countries. I’m thinking first of all of the creation of a mechanism benefiting from the direct involvement of the business community in activities of economic diplomacy.”

The foreign minister also said the Republic of Moldova remains “a priority” for Romania’s foreign policy, with the Western Balkans being another area of interest. Romania’s foreign policy will also focus on developing ties with strategic partners such as Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, as well as Turkey, which is a key EU partner and a major NATO ally.

(Translated by C. Mateescu, edited by D. Vijeu)