Romania has joined the international Crimea Platform
As most pundits have already noted, Ukraine is trying to hold on to Crimea, the peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. The Crimea Platform, whose inaugural summit was held on Monday and which Moscow has immediately labeled as an action against Russia, is an initiative trying to draw more global awareness regarding Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, and to ultimately facilitate its return to Ukraine. Representatives of over 40 states have adopted a final resolution condemning what they have termed the temporary occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea, which is a direct challenge to global security. The document warns that the ongoing militarization of the region undermines security and stability in the Black Sea region, condemns Russia's efforts to legitimize the temporary occupation and the illegal annexation, as well as all violations of human rights in the peninsula.
The joint declaration calls on Moscow to make sure that all people belonging to ethnic and religious communities, including Ukrainian and Tatar ethnics, have their rights fully observed. Romania was represented at the Crimea Platform summit by Prime Minister Florin Cîţu and Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. The Romanian Prime Minister announced Romania's accession to the Platform and reiterated our country's constant support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as Romania's firm commitment to denounce the illegal annexation of Crimea. Bucharest authorities, Florin Cîţu explained, are aware of the current challenges and threats to the values, stability and security of the Black Sea region. The Prime Minister also expressed Romania's support for Ukraine's efforts to join the EU and NATO, recalling that Romania was the first EU member state to ratify the Association Agreement with the EU. Achieving these goals must rely on a reform process that should bring benefits to all Ukrainian citizens, including those of Romanian origin, the Romanian official said.
Florin Cîţu went on to say that external threats and challenges can better be managed if states act together towards solving bilateral issues. On the sidelines of the event, the Prime Minister met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, reiterating Romania's readiness to boost bilateral cooperation, including by hosting a new sitting of the inter-government Committee on economic, industrial and scientific cooperation. The two Prime Ministers said they also want to step up cooperation in various sectors such as transports, infrastructure and border crossing. Florin Cîţu insisted on the observance of the rights of the Romanian minority in Ukraine, which totals some 400 thousand people. (VP)
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