Minister of Foreign Affairs Emil Hurezeanu, present at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (April 11-12), emphasized the role of the Black Sea in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security and called for a strategic approach of the European Union in the region.

According to a press release sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the Romanian official was one of the keynote speakers, alongside his Bulgarian counterpart, Georg Georgiev, and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Zeki Levent Gumrukcu,.

During the session „Black Sea security from the perspective of the allied littoral states”, Hurezeanu emphasized that the Black Sea region is becoming „of increasing strategic relevance due to its key role in ensuring Euro-Atlantic security, as well as for Europe’s energy security and food security” at a global level.

„He also called for a strategic EU approach to the Black Sea, with a focus on security and connectivity. The Romanian official emphasized the importance of a comprehensive perspective on security, which should include economic security, critical infrastructure protection and combating hybrid threats. At the same time, connectivity should be capitalized on as a factor of common interest for the partners in the region and as a facilitator for bringing our partners such as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova closer to the European Union,” reads the MAE press release.

The Romanian foreign minister emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, exemplified by the establishment in 2024, at Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey’s initiative, of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasure Task Group, and expressed his hope that this model of cooperation will be extended to other areas of common interest.

On the sidelines of the event, Minister Hurezeanu had a series of bilateral meetings, one of them with the British Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty, during which the Romanian official welcomed the „excellent level” of the bilateral dialogue and reiterated that the United Kingdom is „a key ally” in the process of strengthening the Eastern Flank.

„The essential contribution of the Romanian community in the United Kingdom to the strength of the bilateral relationship was also highlighted. The discussion also provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on the expectations in relation to the EU-UK Summit, which will take place on May 19, 2025,” the MAE press release informs.

During the meeting with the Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, the Romanian official highlighted the „positive developments” in the bilateral dialogue, underlining the Romanian side’s openness to deepening cooperation in areas such as trade, education and culture. Minister Hureazeanu also reiterated Romania’s support for deepening cooperation between Armenia and the EU.

During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konakovic, the Romanian official welcomed the recently launched projects aimed at diversifying economic and sectoral cooperation and encouraged the „continuation of pro-European reforms”.

„At the same time, the Romanian Foreign Minister conveyed Romania’s firm support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, in a broader context, for the security of the Western Balkans, evoking Romania’s significant contribution to the EU Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Romania will command from January 2025,” reads the pres release.

Emil Hurezeanu also met the the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt. The discussion highlighted the shared concern over the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Romanian minister expressing „concern over inflammatory rhetoric that jeopardizes the stability” of the country and the region. In this context, Minister Hurezeanu expressed his appreciation for the work of the High Representative and his efforts to maintain the functioning of the country’s institutions and the rule of law.

During the meeting with Touhid Hossain, the Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, the progress made in the development of bilateral relations was highlighted.

AGERPRES