President Iohannis: Reinforcement of eastern flank defense posture - a priority for Romania at NATO summit in Washington

 Romania's priority at NATO's July 2024 summit in Washington will be the continuation of the implementation of adaptation and reassurance measures, as well as the reinforcement of the defense posture on the alliance's eastern flank, President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday at the annual meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Romania."Through the decisions taken at the Vilnius Summit, Romania enjoys the highest degree of defense and protection so far. Also, the solidarity reaction of the NATO structures and allied states to the incidents occurred on Romania's territory following the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian port infrastructure was prompt, and we additionally strengthened the security of Romania and the entire region through internal and allied measures. Our ambitions and expectations for 2024 are all the greater as in March there will be two decades since the historic moment of Romania's accession to NATO. For Romania, the priority at the Washington Summit will be the continuation of the full implementation of adaptation and reassurance measures, as well as the reinforcement of the eastern flank defense posture, especially in the Black Sea region," stated Iohannis."We will continue internal efforts aimed at fulfilling our commitments as a host state, and we will continue action in close coordination with our allies, especially the United States and France, to ensure strengthened defense. Also, we will continue to capitalize on our action in the Bucharest 9 Format. Thank you, again, for the essential contribution of our allied partners to the security of Romania and of the Black Sea region, concretely proven by the deployment of military personnel and equipment to Romanian soil," declared the president.Iohannis added that the year 2024 "is expected to be an important one" for the Romania - U.S. Strategic Partnership."We will have a broad and diverse agenda for the next round of the bilateral Strategic Dialogue in spring. I am convinced that our joint action will continue with positive, tangible effects for the security, resilience, prosperity and connectivity of the Black Sea area. I welcome the adoption last year of the first American strategy for the Black Sea region, which also incorporates Romania's substantial contribution," the head of the state also said.   În context, Iohannis said that Romania has and will stand by Ukraine's side. "Unfortunately, the past year continued to be marred by conflicts and complex situations, with a major impact on international relations. The second year of war against Ukraine continued to cause huge losses, multiplying the negative consequences at global level. Romania has and will stand by the side of its neighbor and of the Ukrainian citizens, who bravely defend their freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Klaus Iohannis said.He emphasized that, thanks to Romania's efforts, more than 33 million tons of Ukrainian grain representing more than 60 percent of the products moved through the EU's Solidarity Lanes were carried across the Romanian territory.The president also brought to mind that during President Volodimir Zelensky's visit to Bucharest in October, the Joint Declaration was signed on upgrading the relationship between Romania and Ukraine to the level of Strategic Partnership."We reaffirmed this commitment during our recent phone conversation," Iohannis Romania will remain a "strong voice" in support of the adoption of new solutions to strengthen the internal security of the European Union, including by strengthening the space of free movement, said president Klaus Iohannis, on Tuesday, at Cotroceni Palace, during the annual meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Romania.   "We will remain a strong voice in support of the adoption of new solutions aimed at strengthening the inadded.He went on to say that at regional, European, and global level, it is "imperative to maintain a firm commitment to Ukraine"."Regarding the fate of the war, our stance remains categorical: only Ukraine can decide the moment, the parameters and the way how potential peace negotiations will take place," Iohannis said.   Romania is and will be with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in the negotiation process for joining the European Union, president Klaus Iohannis declared on Tuesday, at the annual meeting with the heads of accredited diplomatic missions in Romania.The president emphasised that it is crucial that the two countries continue to receive financial support and expertise for institutional consolidation and investment environment."I am glad to see that the efforts of the Republic of Moldova, as well as those of Ukraine, were recognized at the meeting of the European Council in December 2023. The decision to start accession negotiations to the European Union represented a strategic objective for Romania, which I supported with all my strength. Romania is and will be with the two states in the negotiation process as well, because we know very well its complexity, but also the benefits for the citizens. It is crucial that the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine continue to receive financial support and expertise for institutional consolidation and the investment environment, which will create stability and prosperity," the president said.Klaus Iohannis stressed that, among the countries in the region, the Republic of Moldova felt the most the impact of Russia's war against Ukraine, but also of Russian hybrid actions to destabilize it."The authorities in Chisinau had limited internal resources to manage the overlapping crises they faced and to advance the European integration process. However, they acted energetically and proved a special political will to irreversibly place the Republic of Moldova on the road to the European Union," president Iohannis concluded.   President Klaus Iohannis also expressed his support for the two-state solution on Tuesday, so that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and the right to security of the State of Israel are respected.The remarks were made during the annual meeting with heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Romania."With regard to the developments in the Middle East, we have strongly condemned the Hamas attack from the first moment and we have also called for strict compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law, by providing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. It is clear, after these months of open conflict, that a long-term political solution is needed, leading to a just peace, and the only viable option remains the two-state solution, respecting both the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and the right to security of the State of Israel," Iohannis said.The president recalled that, in the context of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, Romania has also carried out a "very difficult operation to provide assistance and support" for the Romanian citizens there."I would also like to thank the Romanian authorities involved in the evacuation operation of the affected Romanian citizens, as well as the partners from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan for their support," said the president.    Romania aims, this year, to intensify collaboration with African countries and to continue the programmes intended for partners from this continent, with an emphasis on education and the transfer of expertise, on Tuesday said president Klaus Iohannis, at the annual meeting with the heads of accredited diplomatic missions in Romania."In the past year, I made increased efforts to revive relations with Africa. To this end, Romania recently adopted the first National Strategy for Africa. My visits to Kenya, Tanzania, Cabo Verde and Senegal promoted this new dynamic and new projects and fields of cooperation. In 2024, Romania aims to intensify collaboration with Africa and continue the programmes intended for African partners, with an emphasis on education and the transfer of expertise. In the same logic were the visits in April 2023 to Latin America, to Brazil, Chile and Argentina, on which occasion I reaffirmed the interest of Romania, but also of the European Union, to develop high-level political dialogue," president Iohannis said.He mentioned that in 2023 he paid more attention to cooperation with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Also, during the visits, he agreed with the presidents of the respective states to expand bilateral relations in the traditional spheres of trade and investment, but also to diversify them in areas such as climate change, green transition, digitization."As far as Asia is concerned, I raised relations with Japan to the level of Strategic Partnership, during my official visit to this state. I registered the bilateral relationship with Singapore in a new stage of development, through my visit last year. On 15 years of Strategic Partnership with South Korea, we are laying the foundations for a qualitative leap by capitalizing on the common agenda of priorities of the two countries and we are pursuing the consolidation of bilateral cooperation with Vietnam and India," president Klaus Iohannis also said.