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Traian Laurentiu HRISTEA: “We persistently support granting Ukraine the MAP”

01 April, 00:00
TRAIAN LAURENTIU HRISTEA / Photo from The Day’s archive

On April 2 to 4 the leaders of NATO will visit Romania for the first time. What does the host country expect from the upcoming NATO summit? Why does Bucharest, in contrast with Berlin and Paris, not question the necessity of granting Ukraine the MAP during the alliance’s April summit? These and other questions are raised in The Day ’s interview with Traian Laurentiu HRISTEA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Ukraine.

Mr. Ambassador, what does your country expect from the NATO summit in Bucharest?

“In April Romania will host the most high-profile summit in the history of the alliance. Naturally, our interest is to hold this event successfully. From the political viewpoint, our expectations are very high. The summit will be aimed at strengthening trans-Atlantic solidarity, transforming the alliance, and working out an all-round approach to the problem of security.

“The results we expect from the Bucharest summit are as follows:

— a new stage of enlargement, work with the Balkan candidate countries; we hope that their individual actions and domestic political development will lay the necessary background for this;

— improving NATO’s relations with Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, as well as Montenegro;

— confirming NATO’s contribution to the advancement of stability and democracy in Eastern Europe, the Black Sea area, and Central Asia, including granting Georgia and Ukraine the Membership Action Plan;

— confirming the unity of the goals and actions of NATO member states with respect to Afghanistan. We must issue a strong signal regarding the need to boost consolidation for the other part of the international community;

— introducing a flexible approach to new problems, including the role of the alliance in the field of energy security, protection from cyber attacks, and development of the NATO’s missile defense system. We strongly support the development of the NATO’s missile defense system in addition to the one that the US has. Romania is addressing this problem from the viewpoint of security and solidarity among the allies.”

What do you think about the ongoing NATO debate on the possibility of Ukraine and Georgia obtaining the MAP?

“As you have just mentioned, there is a serious debate going on about granting Ukraine and Georgia the MAP. And, since there is a debate, it is likely that the NATO summit will make the final decision. This is a positive fact because it will allow us to exchange ideas and hold a constructive discussion. We are all interested in the further enlargement and reinforcement of NATO’s role in the Euro-Atlantic region. The debates are only allowing us to analyze existing possibilities and make proper decisions.”

Why do you think important countries, like France and Germany, are opposed to giving the MAP to Ukraine, while all its neighbors support Ukraine?

“The standpoint of any country on a certain subject can only be clarified with the government of that country. We are not in a position to provide any explanations about the policy a certain country is pursuing. All I can say is that in NATO decisions are made by consensus. Therefore, to make a positive decision, all the alliance members should be present at the summit.”

What is your country’s attitude to granting Ukraine and Georgia the MAP?

“Romania is directly interested in the presence of Ukraine and Georgia in the system of Euro-Atlantic stability and security. Therefore, we strongly support a positive decision on the MAP for these countries in Bucharest.

“For Georgia, the MAP is the result of Georgian public support for Euro-Atlantic integration and will help promote an irreversible democratic course for the country. For Ukraine, the MAP would be a clear- cut answer to the direct demand of the Ukrainian government, and this would also create conditions for carrying out and speeding up reforms.

“As far as granting Georgia and Ukraine the MAP is concerned, we should not ignore the regional perspective. The action plan for these countries would also have a positive effect on relations between NATO and other Black Sea region countries, such as Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

What results do you predict for the Bucharest summit? What decisions will be made in general and about Ukraine’s request in particular?

“I have already talked about our general expectations for the Bucharest summit. As for Ukraine, we are actively in favor of granting it the MAP. As for the overall results of this summit, the key word is consensus. All decisions will be made with the full consent of all the allies.

“I am certain the summit will support the allies’ ambitious and well-coordinated initiatives. This will also confirm the overall vision of the future, solidarity, and viability of NATO as the main protector of security in the Euro-Atlantic region.”

What do you think about the latest letter from President Yushchenko and Prime Minister Tymoshenko to the NATO secretary-general, the French president, and the German chancellor?

“On Jan. 16 Ukraine filed an official request to be given the MAP at the Bucharest summit. This request was and still is supported through lobbying. The March 17 letter is an integral part of these efforts.

“Romania supports Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. So we consider the March 17 letter as a resumption of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic strivings.”

Why does your country oppose the EU’s decision to recognize the independence of Kosovo?

“The European Union has resolved that each member state will opt for relations with Kosovo in accordance with its national practice and international law. Therefore, the EU did not make an overall commitment to recognize Kosovo, which is the prerogative of each member of the union.

“Romania decided not to recognize Kosovo for the simple reason that the proclamation of independence did not comply with international law — mostly with respect to the rights of people who belong to national minorities. This fundamental international principle was infringed.”

What do you think about Ukraine’s official position on Kosovo?

“I have already said that recognizing or not recognizing the independence of Kosovo is a national prerogative. This applies to any country of the world, not only to the EU, so it also applies to Ukraine.”

Why are “certain problems” between Romania and Ukraine being resolved so slowly?

“Romania and Ukraine have created a mechanism for dialogue that includes various issues, including those considered controversial. I would like to point out that the bilateral dialogue has been continuously improving in the past few years. For example, the Joint Romanian-Ukrainian Presidential Commission began to function on Oct. 30, 2007, during President Yushchenko’s visit to Romania.

“The speed of solving the problems you mentioned depends on the nature of the problem. Romania has a special interest in creating a more effective mechanism than bilateral dialogue.”

In what way are the Romanian authorities satisfying the national needs of the Ukrainian minority in your country? Is the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages being fully observed?

“Romania guarantees members of national minorities all the necessary means for them to preserve their identity in accordance with international documents. The Romanian government supports minorities by allocating certain state budgetary funds every year in order to cover expenses, such as the publication of newspapers, magazines, and books, and organizing of cultural and scholarly conferences. These funds are not part of the funds that the state budget earmarks for education and culture, nor are they a replacement of them.

“In the past few years the Romanian state has considerably increased its financial support for the Union of Ukrainians in Romania. In 2008 this organization will receive 1.4 million euros.

“In Romania, national minority organizations can nominate their own candidates to national and local elections. In 1990 the Union of Ukrainians in Romania was represented by one deputy in our parliament. Members of this union are also heavily represented at the local level. In 2004 two candidates from the union were elected as mayors and 17 as deputy mayors.

“In addition, the Union of Ukrainians in Romania has 29 local counselors. The staff of the Ministry of Culture and Cults and the Ministry of Education and Research includes advisers who have special experience working with the Ukrainian national minority. We recently increased the number of Ukrainian-speaking inspectors at departments of school inspection in areas densely populated by Ukrainians. As you may know, Romania has ratified the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages. As for the Ukrainian language, the government has pledged to adopt measures to guarantee and promote its use in all regions to which the Charter applies. So members of the Ukrainian community in Romania can use their native language and ask the authorities for help.

“The government of Romania also supports and encourages Ukrainian-language cultural events as well as international exchanges and the use of the Ukrainian language in all fields of economic and social life.

“These measures were drafted to encourage the use of minority languages in economic and social events, whereas the official language should only be used in mandatory official documents.

“I am convinced that the mechanisms provided by the Charter will help us improve and boost the effectiveness of actions aimed at encouraging the use of minority languages in the public sphere, and I look forward to being able to share my ideas on this matter with my Ukrainian colleagues.”

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