Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu will participate on Monday in the meeting of the heads of diplomacy from the member states of the European Union – the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), which will take place in Brussels, a press release the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to Agerpres on Sunday informs.
According to the quoted source, the European Foreign Ministers will have an in-depth exchange of views regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, with the participation by videoconference of the head of diplomacy from Kyiv, the recent developments in the Western Balkans, as well as in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
At the same time, the European officials will discuss putting into operation the EU border monitoring mission between Armenia and Azerbaijan and will address the results of the EU-CELAC Ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires, of October 27, the results of the COP27 meeting in Sharm-el-Sheik, of November 6-18, as well as developments in Lebanon and Iran.
On the sidelines of the FAC meeting, Aurescu will participate, together with the other foreign ministers from the EU states, at an informal breakfast with the participation of the Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tihanovskaya. The meeting will provide the opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on the developments in Belarus, the release shows.
„The Romanian official will signal the concern of the Romanian side regarding the deterioration of the internal situation in Belarus and will reiterate the decision to maintain an active role of Romania in support of the civil society, the independent media and the Belarusian political opposition, highlighting the relevance of the Eastern Partnership to this end,” the Ministry says.
On Sunday, the Romanian Foreign Minister will participate in a working meeting with several European counterparts regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
Regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the ministers will be informed about the latest developments on the ground by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. During the discussions, Minister Aurescu will reiterate the need to continue EU support for Ukraine on all levels – financial, military, economic, etc. – especially in the context of the cold season nearing in. In this context, he will welcome the launch of the EU military assistance mission for Ukraine (EUMAM) and the adoption of new assistance measures in support of this country within the European Peace Facility, the Foreign Ministry points out.
Minister Bogdan Aurescu will inform about the recent developments regarding Romania’s multidimensional support for Ukraine, including regarding the export of grain and the consolidation of connectivity with this country, through the recent opening of a new border crossing point.
„The head of Romanian diplomacy will support the continuation of Russia’s international isolation and the strengthening of the regime of restrictive measures against this country and will present the Romanian side’s analysis of the implications of Russian military aggression in Ukraine. He will mention the need to increase EU support, including financial, for the Republic of Moldova, given the multiple challenges faced by this state, especially in the area of energy security, and will highlight the importance of the third meeting of the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova, a format created this year at his initiative and that of his German and French counterpart, a meeting that he will co-chair in Paris, on November 21, together with the foreign ministers from Germany and France,” the release says.
The discussions regarding the developments in the Western Balkans take place in view of the EU Summit – Western Balkans, which will take place in Tirana on December 6. Minister Aurescu will welcome the prospect of granting an assistance package to reduce the effects of the energy crisis in the region. At the same time, he will reiterate support for the European perspective of the countries in the region, based on their own merits and the revised methodology regarding enlargement.
Agerpres