Trilateral meeting in Bucharest: Moldova, Ukraine and Romania strengthen security cooperation
Ministers Nicu Popescu and Anatolie Nosatyi will sign a declaration on security cooperation with Romania and Ukraine at the trilateral meeting in Bucharest. Romanian diplomatic chief Bogdan Aurescu announced the priority topics, but first opened the Crimean Platform conference on Black Sea security. The US and Romania are working on a regional strategy in response to Russia's aggression over the past two decades.
"Transforming the Black Sea after this war ends with Ukraine's victory, as we all want, to become an area of peace and prosperity," said Bogdan Aurescu, Romania's foreign minister.
"I am sorry to say this, but I believe that the West has not had a consistent strategy in the Black Sea. While Russia has always had one - aggressive, vindictive, barbaric. By the way, I want to remind you that Russia's first assault on Ukraine's territorial integrity took place on the island of Tuzla between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. So if we go back to the origins of aggression the Black Sea was the place where the first attempt of aggression took place 20 years ago", said Dmitry Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
"One lesson has certainly become a priority: our strength lies in international partnership, based on common values and the principle of solidarity. Thank you," said Anatoly Nosatyi, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Moldova.
Minister Aurescu announced the priorities of the trilateral meeting.
"How to counter Russian military aggression and its effects, how to counter hybrid actions, we will discuss the developments related to the Transnistrian file and last but not least we will adopt a joint declaration that will focus our commitment to strengthen our cooperation in this trilateral format", said Bogdan Aurescu, Romanian Foreign Minister.
The Romania - Moldova - Ukraine trilateral was launched last September in Odessa.