Consultations of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu held on Friday, April 22, 2022, political consultations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, who visited Romania at the invitation of the head of the Romanian diplomacy. Minister Dmytro Kuleba's visit to Bucharest took place in the context of Russia's illegal military aggression in Ukraine and the particularly serious security and humanitarian situation caused by it.   Minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated Romania's firm support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the Ukrainian authorities' efforts to repel Russian aggression. At the same time, the head of Romanian diplomacy also conveyed Romania's firm position condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is a flagrant violation of international law. At the end of the consultations, Minister Bogdan Aurescu and Minister Dmytro Kuleba made joint press statements.   Below is a transcript of the press statements by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu and Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba.   Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu: Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!   Dear Minister, dear Dmytro, welcome to Bucharest! Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again. I am glad we had the opportunity to meet again, to talk in person during this extremely complicated period. I want to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart for the exceptional work you are doing for the benefit of Ukraine and our common values.   We have had a very substantial dialogue today, which we will continue after this press conference, a very detailed exchange of views on the serious security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, caused by Russia's illegal, unprovoked, unjustified and premeditated war on Ukraine. I reiterated Romania's firm support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as for the heroic efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and Ukrainian citizens to repel Russian aggression, which constitutes a flagrant violation of all international obligations undertaken by Russia.   Neither Romania, nor Ukraine, nor the international community can accept the trampling of the rule-based international order, which would mean the imposition of arbitrariness by force.   I also take this opportunity to express my condolences and deep regret for the loss of human lives, for so many human lives that have been lost in this illegal aggression, for the massive material destruction in Ukraine, which has a profoundly negative impact on the life of Ukrainian society. The human dramas, the horrors, the suffering that the Ukrainian people are going through have left us, along with the whole world, in mourning. We stand with the Ukrainian people. Dear Dmytro, all those killed in Ukraine are in fact our brothers and sisters, our parents and children. That is why atrocities and war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide cannot go unpunished, and Romania actively supports the efforts of the international community to investigate these violations of international law, human rights and international humanitarian law. As you know, the Romanian Government has decided to make a voluntary financial contribution to the International Criminal Court to support the investigation in Ukraine.   We have also reacted promptly and consistently since the beginning of the Russian invasion with numerous measures to provide shelter and assistance to Ukrainian refugees, for whom the Russian aggression has had dramatic effects. So far, more than 800,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered our country. The assistance provided to these people, including those who remained on Romanian territory, was worth more than 63 million euros, consisting of free access to medical services, education - more than 1,600 children are already registered in the Romanian system, students are admitted to Romanian universities - , support measures for children facing special circumstances, free transport within Romania, opening of the labour market - more than 2,000 Ukrainian citizens are already employed in Romania after the beginning of the invasion.   I would like to assure you, dear Dmytro, that all Ukrainian refugees in Romania are and will be treated properly, will have the chance to continue, under the given conditions, their normal life, until the conditions allow their safe return to Ukraine. I must mention and welcome once again the extraordinary solidarity and hospitality shown by Romanian citizens, who have supported the refugees who have arrived in Romania, as well as those who have remained in Ukraine, from the very first moments of the conflict.  The government platform, which has been set up for this purpose, shows more than 9,200 initiatives for support from civil society. We have also sent several tranches of humanitarian aid, fuel, medicines, food. I would like to mention here several support packages: that of February 28 worth EUR 3.4 million, that of March 16 worth EUR 2.3 million, the donation of 11 ambulances which was completed this week and others.    The humanitarian hub in Suceava, which has been operational since 9 March, also ensures the constant delivery of international support to Ukraine and is currently transited by more than 31 humanitarian convoys, meaning. approximately 162 trucks from many European countries - Italy, France, Bulgaria, Austria, Slovenia, Cyprus, Romania and others.   Ukraine has to win this war and I am convinced that it will win it. Then the reconstruction process will follow, once the conflict is over. In this reconstruction process, which will be a long-lasting one, the whole international community will have to provide support and I assure my colleague that Romania is ready to be part of this sustained effort.   I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ukraine for submitting its reply to the first part of the questionnaire for accession to the European Union and to reiterate Romania's extremely strong support for Ukraine's European aspirations, for the recognition of the European perspective of this friendly and neighbouring state. I have constantly conveyed and advocated, at the level of the European Union, both at the level of the meeting of Heads of State and Government and at the meetings of foreign ministers, which I attended, that the European Union must show vision, must show courage, in order to give Ukraine, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, the signal they are waiting for - namely that they are entitled to be full members of the European Union.   I am also pleased to welcome the fact that today the Republic of Moldova has also submitted its reply to the first part of the accession questionnaire. At the same time, we know from our own experience that the path to accession is a complicated one that requires a lot of efforts and reforms. We will continue to actively support, as necessary, Ukraine throughout this complex and laborious process.   We also discussed the opening of the Romanian Embassy in Kiev, we informed about the decision we took - at the time we announced this approach of Romania, there were eight missions of EU Member States already open in Kiev. I hope that the preparations will be completed as soon as possible and that we will be able to resume our work in the Ukrainian capital.   We also discussed increasing physical connectivity between our states. We discussed the opening of new border crossings, because we need more connectivity between us, to facilitate the flow of people, the flow of goods, and it is, from this point of view, eloquent the role that, for example, the border crossing at Isaccea has played for the movement to Romania of Ukrainian citizens affected by the war.   We have also taken measures related to facilitating Ukraine's trade with other countries - for example, temporary liberalisation of transport by Ukrainian operators on the territory of Romania - a decision adopted on April 5. We also discussed cooperation on energy security and I am pleased to welcome Ukraine's connection to the European electricity grid on March 16.   We also discussed the fact that the strong links between our countries are also given by our related minorities. We highlighted the exemplary behaviour of ethnic Romanians in Ukraine, who supported the joint effort to defend the Ukrainian state. We will continue to deal with the problems of the Romanian and Ukrainian communities in Romania and Ukraine respectively and I am convinced that we will solve all their problems.   I'll stop here. I express once again my conviction that, through our joint effort, we will be able to raise our bilateral relations to a new level, to build a model of cooperation in this part of Europe. I know from the very close relationship we have, and which we have built up over the last few years, that there are not only prospects, but certainties in this regard. And this very complex period, with war, aggression and human suffering, has only brought our societies and our citizens closer together. Dear Dmytro, please, you have the floor.   Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba:   Thank you, Bogdan! I really appreciate that you agreed to receive me on the Eve of Easter, as your Prime Minister and your Minister of Defense did. This is yet another example of the real, sincere friendship that we have between Ukraine and Romania. When it comes to the substance, you almost stole all of my speaking points, I can only subscribe to what Bogdan just said, on all accounts. Let me say just a couple of points, in addition to that.   Every time President Putin tries to stop Ukraine in its development, in its European integration, the only result that he achieves is the speeding up of this process. To my and our deepest regret, every such attempt by Putin comes at a price for Ukraine. But what is happening now is not only another attempt of Russia to maintain its influence in this part of Europe, in the Black Sea region, not only the attempt to stop Ukraine, it’s also the final battle. The final battle for the right of all European nations - and it’s not only about Ukraine, it’s also about Georgia, about Moldova, about all countries in the Black Sea region - it’s our common final battle for the opportunity to live in peace, in prosperity, as part of a whole and free Europe. And I have no doubts, and I appreciate that Bogdan doesn’t have any doubts either, that we will win this battle! Ukraine will prevail!   And there are two components which are necessary for us to prevail. The first one is the Ukrainian stamina and courage. The second one is friends, friends who stand by Ukraine in practical terms, who support providing Ukraine with all necessary equipment, who support more sanctions against Russia, who embrace Ukrainian refugees, giving the chance for husbands, fathers and brothers to fight against Russia, knowing that their mothers, sisters, and children are in safety and taken care of. As long as these two ingredients are in place, the victory is getting closer and closer. And I would like to commend the Government of Romania for shaping a very smart policy, since the beginning of aggression, to provide, to stand by Ukraine.   We all share the Black Sea and this war, as I said, is also about the future of the Black Sea region. Our security is your security. You are helping us, you are also helping yourself. The fair deal that Ukraine offers to the world is simple: you give us everything that we need to fight and to win, and we, in return, contain Putin in Ukraine and defeat him there, so that he doesn’t dare to test Article 5 of NATO, and doesn’t try to expand further his aggression.   Those in Europe, who believe that this is just a Ukraine - Russia war and Putin will never dare to test Article 5, shouldn’t be naive!  We, in Central and Eastern Europe, are not naive, we know history. But others should be aware of a very simple fact: the best way to stop Putin is to give Ukraine everything it needs.   During the war, the divisions are all gone. In Ukraine, ethnic Ukrainians, ethnic Romanians, ethnic Hungarians, ethnic Belarusians, ethnic Georgians, Moldovans, Russians, they all fight for Ukraine. Some of them, regretfully, die in the war, in combat, but they understand what they’re fighting for: they’re fighting not only for Ukraine, but for their own motherlands, for their countries, so that they do not know the tragedy of war. And we respect highly every sacrifice on the battleground. And the Romanian community in Ukraine, while being an inseparable part of a broader Romanian culture, they also fight for their motherland, for Ukraine, and this is another element that brings us even closer, us - Ukraine and Romania.   Now, unspeakable crimes were committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, but unfortunately this is only the tip of the iceberg of all the crimes committed, especially in Mariupol. Romania and Bogdan personally, have vast experience in international adjudication, in the prosecution of international crimes, at international level, so, yes, we discussed how we can use the ICJ - International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, to bring Russia to account for everything it has done, and we will be happy to learn, to work with Romania on this.   I would like, once again, to thank the Romanian Government for embracing Ukrainian refugees. These people could have been victims of the Russian war crimes, and the fact that you allowed them to come to the country saved the lives of many of them.   Now, it would be unfair for me not to mention that, of course, I want all of my compatriots to go back to Ukraine, and to live a new life, and to rebuild the country, and hopefully together we will bring the moment closer to when this will be possible. But let’s be objective: some of them will stay in Romania and will start a new life here. I would like to assure you that they will be very committed new members of your society, and the Ukrainian community will fill, will enrich the Romanian society, and will be another joint between our governments.   Thank you for the readiness of Romania to participate in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. We are already thinking about it, we are already building plans; we already have a picture of the new Ukraine that will be built. And this new Ukraine will be a European Ukraine, and the support of Romania in providing Ukraine with candidate status at the nearest opportunity in the end of June is very much appreciated. This will be a Ukraine that will remain a happy home, a home for many ethnicities and nationalities, and this will be a Ukraine that will, together with friends and partners like Romania and other countries, ensure safety and security of the entire Black Sea region.   The final words that I want to use are the following: Please, have no doubts, we will prevail!   But to make this happen rather sooner than later, we need to continue working on all fronts, on every issue, in the fastest way possible to make sure that Ukraine receives everything that it needs, to make sure that all necessary sanctions are imposed on Russia, to make sure that Russia is isolated everywhere in the world! We cannot stop; neither we, nor you, nor anyone else can stop until we all defeat this evil! Thank you!  (Source: mae.ro)