The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents the transcript of the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu before the start of the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the member states of the European Union – the Council of Foreign Affairs (CAE), which is held in Brussels.

It is the first Foreign Affairs Council meeting this year, so we have a lot of topics on our agenda. We will also have a meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a very important discussion on nuclear safety in Ukraine. In fact, Ukraine will be the most important topic on our agenda.

But before briefly speaking about Romania’s positions on the topics on the agenda, I would like to remind the fact that today I will also use the opportunity, even if the Foreign Affairs Council is not having the Schengen accession of Romania on the agenda, to have discussions with my colleagues on the continuation of our demarches towards Romania’s accession, because it is very important to keep the topic in the attention of all European partners.

On Ukraine: today I will express support for the adoption of the seventh tranche of the European Peace Facility. It is very important to reach consensus on this issue. I will also express the firm support of Romania for the adoption of the 10th package of sanctions that we very much support. And I will express, once again, the support of Romania for the creation of an international tribunal to punish the crime of aggression related to the conflict in Ukraine. Last week, the European Parliament adopted an important resolution in that regard and I have expressed Romania’s support for this resolution.

Then I will also inform about the latest evolutions regarding the multidimensional support of Romania for Ukraine. For instance, more than 11.2 million tons of grain and other agricultural products have transited Romania, in order to help Ukraine and, at the same time, to cope with the food crisis at the global level.

I will also express support for the “Peace Formula” proposed by President Zelensky and, of course, there are many other aspects which will be discussed together with our colleague, Minister Kuleba.

At the same time, we will discuss about the Mission which is created by the European Union in Armenia. I will welcome the establishment, today, of this mission, which is very important, because it will monitor the situation at the border between Armenia and Azerbaidjan. This mission is the result of a proposal which I made after the tour which I made together with other two Foreign Ministers, European colleagues, in June 2021, in South Caucasus.

Today, we will also discuss, together with the Prime Minister of Palestine, about the relationship between EU and Palestine, about the latest evolutions between Palestine and Israel, and I will reiterate our full support for the two-State solution.

At the same time, we will discuss Iran and I will also express, on behalf of Romania, the full condemnation for the gross violations of human rights which are taking place in Iran, and on this occasion I will express support for the adoption of the fourth package of sanctions on human rights, which Romania also co-sponsored.