On the situation in the Republic of Moldova, Basescu said that Romania's stakeholders knew that "between 1 to 9 May there will be several challenges from the Russian Federation", the president urged for more “calm, caution, not to answer challenges ".
The president’s statement comes after the meeting held today by the president, Premier Victor Ponta and Government members, invited to Cotroceni for discussion concerning the “queries on Romania foreign policy, security and defense”.
Here are the most important statements of president Traian Băsescu:
I have noticed that all the mass media is extremely attentive to the positions taken by the Romanian institutions in future meetings. All, without exception have been repeatedly transmitted by the president and his advisers on different occasions to the European chancelleries and to the United Sates.
As there is nothing to his, with few exceptions, I give you all that is of public interest.
Related to Ukraine. Romania’s position is that there is a major risk for federalization. Romania believes that negotiations have to be held between Kiev and the representatives of the Russian minorities in the East and South of Ukraine. You have seen that this solutions has been applied and, following discussions between the Government and the representatives of Russian ethnics in Harkov, the referendum was no longer held.
- Kiev needs to continue discussions with Donetsk and Lugansk, where voting unrecognized by the international community have been held.
Romania proposes that in the situation where there will be international negotiations held related to Ukraine and the stabilization means of the country, the separatists should not attend the negotiations. See the example of Tiraspol.
In Romania’s opinion the Russian Federation has got two objectives: one would be the federalization of Ukraine, which has already started. The second one is to stop the holding of presidential elections on May 25. Clearly, Russian aims to destabilize the situation in Ukraine.
Romania does not recognize the annexation of Crimea, nor the referenda in Lugansk and Donetsk, because they go against the Ukraine Constitution.
Ukraine should be made a clear offer by signing the Association and Free Trade Agreement, as soon as possible, and to be given an European perspective.
We ask that President Putin keeps his word. Information indicates that he failed to tell the truth when he affirmed the public opinion that he had ordered the retreat of troops from the Ukraine boarder. (....) Putin is bound to respect his word. I have affirmed that I did not believe that President Putin would fail to keep his promise. There I have been too confident.
Romania believes that the fair solution is that Ukraine should get back all its guarantees of territorial integrity and of independence.
Related to the Republic of Moldova. Both I and all the decision making stakeholders knew that between 1-9, there will be challenges launched from the Russian Federation. I repeat, we knew.
The worst case scenario would be a destabilization of Odesa, that goes around Transnistria, and once destabilized, the Russian influence in a territory controlled by Russia could reach as far as the Chilia arm, the old frontier of Romania to the USSR. We believe this would be one of the objectives.
Currently, Odesa is attempting to regroup the pro Russians to be ready for action. Let’s hope that the state’s structure can keep a firm hold on the region’s equilibrium, so as not to reach a destabilization who would risk engage Transnistria too.
Moldova is subject to constant security risks, both in terms of the challenges related to Transnistria, but Gagauzia is not very calm either. We must keep calm, caution, not to answer challenges.