Implementing the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation doesn’t represent an end-purpose, but a modality to stimulate dialogue “as a peace solution to the conflict and to discourage aggressive action,” Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said at Romania”s Embassy to France, on the occasion of the conference-debate called ‘Security stakes and perspectives in the eastern neighbourhood – Romania’s vision.’
“Focused on the context of the crisis in the east of Ukraine, the presentation of Minister Bogdan Aurescu highlighted the complexity and ampleness of the current challenges in the ensemble of the security context in the region. A special focus was placed on aspects such as the security balance at the Black Sea, including the importance NATO grants to the region, also illustrated at the level of the decisions of the Alliance’s Summit carried out in Wales, which are currently being implemented,” a Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) press release remitted to Agerpres points out.
According to the source, Aurescu showed that the Minsk 2 agreements can represent a step forward to the political solving of the crisis on condition that these provisions are implemented entirely, especially the ceasefire, the withdrawal of the heavy weaponry and the access of the OSCE monitors for observing the fulfillment of these first stages.
“In case these steps aren’t implemented, the option of some new sanctions becomes of actuality again,” MAE states.
Moreover, Bogdan Aurescu said that “the level of observing the understanding agreed in Minsk will also represent the calibration reference point of implementing the sanctioning regime of the Union.” The Romanian chief diplomat also underlined the efforts done by the French and German leaders in furthering the understandings and then their implementation.
“Referring to the EU’s role in the Eastern Neighbourhood, Bogdan Aurescu insisted on the relevance of the Eastern Partnership as the main action instrument of the Union in the region, as it provides the partner states the proper framework form committing on the path of reforms. Moreover, he voiced Romania’s will to actively get involved in modernising the Eastern Partnership,’ the source adds.
Ambassadors of EU and NATO member states, of some states in the region – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as of some of the candidate states for joining the EU, participated in the event, organised by Romania’s Embassy in France and moderated by Professor Ronald Hatto (photo L) of the Paris Institute of Political Studies.
Instability potential in Ukraine could also contaminate regions closer to Romania
For the security interests of Bucharest it is “crucial” that Ukraine is stable, on Monday said the Romanian Foreign Affairs minister, Bogdan Aurescu deeming that this country’s instability potential could also contaminate regions closer to Romania.
Aurescu added that in case the cease fire is not entirely accomplished, the memorandums in Minsk “come into question.”
“There is a potential of re-escalating tensions in all the area under dispute in Eastern Ukraine. The instability potential could contaminate other zones in Ukraine, too, including regions closer to Romania. Besides, the regions nearer to the Romanian border, I’m thinking to Odessa were not spared of sporadic incidents either. Some explosions or rumors carefully disseminated, such as the creation of new separatist areas, like the so-called Bugeac people’s republic or other plans alike, existed,” said Aurescu for the RFI.
He characterised the current Eastern Ukraine’s crisis as of an “unstable calm.”
On the one hand, the Minsk memorandums are an encouraging step, on the other hand difficulties already occurred in implementing them. Should cease fire is not entirely enforced, the moving on to the next stage, meaning the withdrawal of the heavy weaponry, would not be possible, the Romanian chief diplomat said.
Aurescu reiterates Romania’s commitment to consolidate and affirm francophone values
Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated in Paris, during a meeting with Michaelle Jean, Secretary General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Romania’s commitment to consolidate and affirm the OIF and francophone values in the current global landscape.
According to a press release remitted by the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) to Agerpres on Monday, Aurescu addressed the interlocutor congratulations for her recent election as OIF Secretary General, he evoked the fact that Romania supported her candidacy and election, on the occasion of the Summit taking place in Dakar. The dignitary voiced Romania’s entire availability to support the future activity of the Secretary General in promoting the values and principles of the institutional Francophonie.
“On this occasion, they evoked the major coordinates of the francophone actuality in our country, with a focus on the fact that the use of the French language is not only a tradition, but a dynamic reality, as well as on reiterating the political commitment assumed within OIF, since 1993, when Romania became a member of the Organisation,” the cited source points out.
Referring to the concrete actions promoted by our country, Bogdan Aurescu underscored the attention Romania grants to consolidating the regional dimension of the Francophonie, in the context in which Bucharest hosts the OIF regional office for Central and Eastern Europe, MAE points out.
In this context, it was evoked the fact that Bucharest, a city that hosted the OIF Summit in 2006, is the only European capital hosting a Market of Francophonie.
“The OIF Secretary General thanked Romania for our country’s contribution to the organisation activity and proposed an intensified cooperation through Romania’s sharing the successful democratic transition experience to other OIF member states. At the same time, she underscored the importance of developing the OIF economic dimension,” the release mentions.
On the other hand, the source adds, Aurescu made a presentation, at his interlocutor’s request, of Romania’s vision on the security situation in the Eastern Neighbourhood and addressed the OIF Secretary General the invitation to pay a visit to Romania, an invitation which “she gladly accepted.”
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