Romanian president says Romania stays involved in backing European integration path of Moldova, Ukraine

Chisinau, 24 July /MOLDPRES/ - Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has said that he stayed a firm supporter of the process of enlargement of the European Union, stressing that Romania stayed committed to back the European integration path of Moldova and Ukraine. The Romanian head of state made statements to this effect at a meeting with the heads of the diplomatic missions, consular offices and the directors of the cultural institutions from abroad, on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the Romanian Diplomacy, MOLDPRES reports, quoted by AGERPRES.   
According to the Romanian president, the bilateral cooperation with Moldova has reached an unprecedented level, being at the highest level in history.  
„I have been and will remain a strong supporter of the process of enlargement of the European Union, taking into account the transforming power and the ability of this policy to unite countries and nations around the European values and principles. We need an ambitious and predictable calendar for the partners involved in the enlargement process, both from the Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, held based on the own merits of the states candidates. Romania strongly supported the historical decision on the opening of the negotiations on accession to the European Union with Ukraine and Moldova, adopted at the meeting of the European Council from 14-15 December 2023 and we will stay involved in the supporting of the European integration way of these countries,’’ the Romanian president said at the Cotroceni Palace.   
Klaus Iohannis noted that Romania, as neighbour of Ukraine and Black Sea riparian country, was in the first line of the war unleashed by Russia against this country.  
 
 „As for the security and defence sector, as NATO member state, Romania has a constructive role and a factor of balance, being a provider of security and stability. Given the decisions taken at the NATO Summit, where I represented our country in the last ten years, we can say with no traces of hesitation that Romania presently benefits from the highest degree of defence and protection in all our history. You must continue the approaches needed, meant to ensure Romania’s security,’’ Iohannis noted.   
Romania’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on 24-25 July organizes the Annual Meeting of the Romanian Diplomacy. The event is hosted by Foreign Affairs Minister of Romania Luminita Odobescu and brings together the heads of the diplomatic and consular missions of Romania, the directors of the cultural institutions from abroad, along with Romanian high-ranking officials and members of the diplomatic corps accredited by Bucharest.