Romania does not allow the destruction of the Danube Delta under any circumstances, and the works on the Bystroye Canal have to stop now, national leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday, according to Agerpres.

„The Romanian state and people stood in solidarity with and helped Ukraine, despite the difficulties. The Romanian people do not accept to remain without this natural wonder that is the Danube Delta. Let me be very clear: the lies, manipulations and minimisation of the problem have to stop. The Romanian officials have to make quick decisions so that the ongoing works on the Bystroye Canal stop immediately and the situation returns to normal. We will appeal to all international, bilateral conventions and all forums for the cause of the Danube Delta. We will protect, with all our might, the heritage of the generations to come,” Ciolacu wrote in a social media post.

In a press release issued on Monday, PSD is calling on Ukraine to resume honest bilateral collaboration and to immediately stop deep-water dredging on the Bystroye Canal.

„PSD is calling on Ukraine to resume honest bilateral collaboration and immediately stop the deep-dredging of the Bystroye Canal! The unprecedented deepening of the canal, up to 8-10 metres, to enable the navigation of large container ships, dramatically changes the flow and water circulation, with fatal effects on the biodiversity of the Danube Delta. Romania has proved to be an honest neighbour and partner. It has welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees, provided them with a home, a meal, jobs for adults and school for children. It has facilitated the export of Ukrainian grains with great efforts and at considerable costs. It has ensured international support and support in all possible ways for Ukraine to resist the Russian invasion,” reads the PSD statement.

„Ukraine had and will have an ally in Romania that it can count on” and, precisely for that reason, „it should be compelled to protect this bilateral relationship.”

„PSD did not and will not hesitate to defend the Danube Delta, an invaluable asset of all humanity. That is why, as recently as last week, it raised the first alarm, through Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Sorin Grindeanu, a PSD first deputy chair. Moreover, PSD today has officially asked the European Commission, through MEP Victor Negrescu, to issue a statement on the unilateral action by Ukraine that ignores the international conventions and agreements it is a party to. Equally, PSD is asking all Romanian officials to show conviction and firmness for the defence and protection of the universally important heritage of the Danube Delta. We are all under an obligation to prevent the occurrence of an irreversible catastrophe and to hand down intact to future generations the unique heritage of the miracle of nature at the mouth of the Danube,” emphasizes PSD.

Agerpres