Also attending the meeting were Energy ministers, as well as representatives of energy companies in the three countries. The invitation of energy high-ranking officials and representatives stands proof of the three countries’ strategic commitment to work closely in that field. Actually, participants consented to signing a three-way intergovernmental Agreement, in a bid to stimulate interconnections in the field of energy, for Romania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova.
The launching of the three-party format seeks to strengthen cooperation between the three neighboring countries, against the backdrop created by Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, but also by the multidimensional crises affecting Ukraine and Republic of Moldova. By the same token, the aforementioned three-way format also seeks to establish a long-term dialogue and coordination mechanism between the countries involved.
The format also endorses the active support Romania can offer to authorities in Chisinau and Kyiv, in their bid to implement the required reforms for the two countries’ European integration efforts. Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministers took the opportunity to reiterate Romania’s unwavering solidarity with the Ukrainian people, which has been going through really trying times. Aurescu also spoke highly of the courage and heroism of the Ukrainina people. The Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister also highlighted the great number of measures Romania has adopted, in order to support Ukraine. To that end, Aurescu mentioned the humanitarian aid offered to the inflow of more than 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees, as well as the efforts authorities in Bucharest have made to facilitate Ukraine’s export of grains.
Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister went on to say that, since the outbreak of the Russian aggression, roughly 4 million tons have been exported via Romania. In another move, Aurescu emphasized that Republic of Moldova, a country with a predominantly Romanian speaking-population, remains Romania’s neighboring state which has been worst-hit by Russia’ military aggression of Ukraine. Accordingly, Foreign Minister Aurescu reiterated the fact that, constantly and comprehensively, Romania has supported and is set to support Chisinau, in Republic of Moldova’s effort to overcome such an unprecedented challenge.
Bogdan Aurescu recalled the European Council’s historic decision, in June this year, to grant Ukraine and Republic of Moldova the status of a candidate to European Union membership. Aurescu also stated the decision was a strategic objective for which Romania worked resolutely and unflinchingly. The Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister also reiterated Romania’s unwavering commitment to work in favor of the two states in their European integration effort, at bilateral level, through the direct support offered for the reform efforts, but also at the level of the European Union. (Mihai Pelin, Radio Romania International)
