The head of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow
Photo: Valery Melnikov
|
 |
“If Russian depots in Pridnestrovye blow up this will be like an atomic explosion”
// The head of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow
Official opinion
The head of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, visited Russia. He inaugurated the Consulate General of his country in Rostov-on-Don and held negotiations with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Before flying back home Mr.Ungureanu tried to convince Kommersant's correspondent Vladimir Solovyev that the relations between Bucharest and Moscow would only get better once his country joined the European Union.
- Lately the president of Romania, Traian Basescu, has said some rough words about Moscow: he said that the “Putinization” of Romania was impermissible; he accused Russia of regarding the Black Sea as the “Russian Lake”. Why?
- I can't recollect the first quote. As for the “Russian Lake” with reference to the Black Sea, I would like this Sea to become the Romanian Lake. Actually, this statement contained no aggression against Russia. He simply had a talk with the Romanian students in California and these words were said in a purely historical context. I will even say that the conduct of the Romanian president has always demonstrated the importance of the relations with Russia. His visit in the February of this year and my present visit are proof to that. The relations between our countries are essential for Romania's political and economic success.
- Is Pridnestrovye an irritant in the relations between Bucharest and Moscow?
- No, it's not. It is rather an issue for discussion. Russia is involved in the adjustment of the Pridnestrovye conflict as a mediator between Kishinev and Tiraspol. However, 13 years of negotiations have not brought the sides even close to the solution of the problem. We think that apart from those already participating in the settlement there should be several more parties involved in it. Besides the Pridnestrovye problem is not limited to the interests of several countries. It affects all of us. The fact that the mediators – and both Kishinev and Tiraspol – have approved of the EU and USA's participation in the negotiations in the role of observers is of great significance.
- Is it okay with Romania that the EU and the USA are now involved in the Pridnestrovye adjustment or would Bucharest like to play an independent role – just like Moscow and Kiev?
- Any variant will do. As a country that will soon become a member of the EU and has already signed the EU Accession Treaty we are marching under two banners – the own tricolour and the blue flag of the European Union. This is why we are part of the European policy. In many respects our foreign policy coincides with the principles of the foreign policy pursued by the EU. Moreover the Pridnestrovye problem does concern us. We are among the states that are located the closest to the area of the conflict. So it actually does not matter who participates – we or the EU – because the result will be pretty much the same. This is not an issue of national pride.
- In December there will be parliamentary elections in Pridnestrovye. Do you have any comments on the subject?
- Pridnestrovye is an unrecognized region from any point of view. I don't know of any country that has recognized the independence of this territory. This is why what they call the electoral process there is not recognized either. Democracy cannot exist in structures like Pridnestrovye.
- What's your opinion of the plan of the Ukrainian president, Victor Yushchenko?
- The mere fact of its appearance is good. It is very good that after Primakov's plan and Kozak's memorandum there emerged Ukrainian initiative. This shows that Kiev is interested in the adjustment of the conflict and in stirring to activity the negotiations between Kishinev and Tiraspol. The Ukrainian plan contains some good principles but they need technical specification. Do you know the saying “The devil is in the details”? The best about Yushchenko's plan is that at present the EU is organizing the monitoring of the Pridnestrovye border between Moldavia and the Ukraine. This in itself is a big accomplishment. They arrived at that after quite tense negotiations. Here is the first encouraging example of how a plan brings about positive results. On the other hand the plan mentions elections in Pridnestrovye as well. However, if elections are held this means that they become legitimate. This is something that we cannot agree with. Besides, the plan has nothing on security inside Pridnestrovye. What will happen to the Russian troops, to the ammunition stored in Kolbasnaya (Russian army's depots in Pridnestrovye – Kommersant)? How can Russia finally fulfill the 1999 Istanbul obligations on the removal of this ammunition? In other words the plan is not the panacea. It needs detailed elaboration and it should be in line with the Constitution of Moldavia in what has to do with the borders, with the principles of integrity, independence, etc. One more thing – it is mainly thanks to us that so much has been said about Pridnestrovye lately. We recognize the existence of the seat of instability just several hundred kilometers away from us. Organized crime, arms and drug smuggling, human traffic – all this brings up the issue of security.
- What if the Russian troops are withdrawn from there and the arms are removed? Will the situation become more stable?
- I think, it will. I don't see what keeps Moscow from implementing the 1999 decisions. This decision was based on the analysis of the situation in the region. Moldavia has all the prerequisites for becoming a stable country. Then what can substantiate the existence of ammunition depots there? This is a threat even to ecology. Many say that if suddenly everything blows up – and they have several dozen thousand tons of armaments – this will be like the explosion of a small atomic bomb.
- Does Bucharest keep up with the schedule of joining the EU?
- I am sure we are on time. By 2007 we will become a full-fledged member. There are several conditions to be met if we want to join the EU in two years. If we comply with them, we will become a member in 2007. If not – in 2008. I am talking about the reform of justice, the improvement of cadre, the improvement of quality of jurisprudence, the reform of the Ministry of Interior, protection of borders, administrative reform, etc. In the recent nine months we have made progress in these spheres and all that will be reflected in the monitoring report to the EU.
- Won't the relations with Moscow aggravate once Romania becomes a member of the EU?
- On the contrary. Many things will be simplified. Because the policy that Romania will pursue in relation to Russia (especially in the economic aspect) will not differ from the policy of say Germany. Once Romania joins the EU, this will introduce clarity into our relations. This will make the way for our business to Russia and for Russian business to us easier.
- What is the situation with the Uzbek refugees that you have sheltered?
- It's most simple. On the petition of the UN Supreme Commissariat for Refugees we agreed to shelter them for a time. These are the Uzbek citizens who fled to Kirghizia. There are more than 400 people. For us they are refugees and this matter is not discussed from the political point of view. It is a purely humanitarian issue. I am glad that Romania has showed elementary concern about these people. The issue could have had political interpretation had there been a report of the EU on the situation in Andijan. However, it was Uzbekistan that did not let international experts in. So there is no politics to it.
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 13, 2005
|
|
|
