March 20, 2023 UPDATE

VISIT - On an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, Romania's president Klaus Iohannis Monday had a meeting in Abu Dhabi with his counterpart, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan. "There are a lot of bilateral, regional and global areas where we can cooperate quite well. There are huge opportunities and I believe we both want to capitalize on them,' the Romanian official said during the meeting. President Iohannis suggested the two countries may cooperate with a view to promoting environment education and skills for the green transition. He also presented the goals of the Three Seas Initiative that Romania will host this September in Bucharest, and the opportunities it provides to private investments and investment funds, encouraging the involvement of UAE investors. In turn, his counterpart pleaded for the development of relations with Romania and for Bucharest's active presence at the COP28, a meeting scheduled to take place this year in the UAE. On this occasion, the two countries' relevant ministers and officials signed bilateral documents in the fields of energy, cyber-security and education. On Sunday president Klaus Iohannis visited Masdar City, a model of sustainable urban development focusing on energy efficiency and environment protection.

DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu Monday took part in the meeting of EU foreign ministers (Foreign Affairs Council) and in a joint meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, the EU officials primarily discussed Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the implementation of the EU Action Plan on the geopolitical consequences of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. On this occasion, Bogdan Aurescu highlighted the multifaceted consequences of the security crisis generated by Moscow, with an impact beyond Ukraine, and warned against destabilizing Russian actions against the pro-European authorities in the Rep. Moldova. Mr. Aurescu voiced Romania's support for carrying on the Union's support efforts for Ukraine, including the provision of ammunition, and the need to further isolate Russia internationally and to maintain pressure on Kremlin. The Romanian official also announced that this April Romania and Ukraine will organise jointly a first high-level conference on Black Sea security, under the Crimea International Platform. Also in Brussels on Monday, at the international donor conference for Turkey and Syria, in the aftermath of the February earthquakes, Minister Aurescu announced a new financial assistance package totaling EUR 1.3 mln.

MOLDOVA The Romanian PM Nicolae Ciucă will travel to the neighbouring Republic of Moldova this week, for a meeting with his counterpart Dorin Recean. On this occasion, PM Ciucă will reiterate Romania's support for that country's reforms, for consolidating its economy, resilience and security and for its EU accession efforts. Meanwhile, in Chisinau, the Supreme Security Council announced a number of decisions after Monday's meeting convened by president Maia Sandu in the context of the "exceptional situation in the judiciary." One of these decisions is to step up the creation of the Higher Council of Magistrates, which is to become operational within 30 days. After the meeting, Moldova's president stated that some members of the system oppose the cleaning of the judiciary and seek to continue using it to their own benefit. "We need a judicial system free from corruption, able to uphold justice and rebuild people's trust," Maia Sandu concluded. (AMP)