President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that the new security situation calls for a consistent strengthening of the defense and deterrence posture on the Eastern Flank, especially in its southern part, including the rapid creation of the Fighting Group based in Romania.
“We have assessed (…) together the security situation in the immediate vicinity of the Eastern Flank and, of course, of the Black Sea in particular, as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This new situation requires a consistent consolidation of the defense and deterrence posture on the Eastern Flank, especially in its southern part, where Romania is located – including through the rapid creation of the Fighting Group based in our country. We count on Spain’s support in this regard,” Iohannis said, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, after the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, Pedro Sanchez who is paying an official visit to Romania.
The Romanian president appreciated the very good cooperation with Spain within NATO.
“The new allied Strategic Concept, to be adopted in Madrid, will have to adequately reflect the new security reality,” Iohannis said.
He thanked Spain for ensuring last year’s air policing mission in Romania and for its contribution to NATO’s command structures in Romania.
“I encourage the growth of these contributions in Romania and at the Black Sea, because the current extremely complicated context requires it,” the head of state added.
President Iohannis pointed out that Romania will continue to act, in its turn, as a responsible state, contributing to regional and Euro-Atlantic security alongside Spain and the other allies.
Iohannis points out in talks with Spain’s PM that R. Moldova needs support to manage refugee influx
President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday, that during the talks with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, he pointed out that the Republic of Moldova needs the support of the European Union and of the Member States to manage the increased influx of refugees.
“The war in Ukraine means, first of all, a deep humanitarian crisis. The dramas of millions of Ukrainians who are forced to leave their bombed country are devastating. From the outset, Romania has given full support to all refugees from Ukraine who come to our country. I have discussed with the President of the Spanish Government the measures adopted by Romania in this regard, in particular the operationalization of the logistics center in [northeastern] Suceava, which collects and transfers in Ukraine and, if necessary, in the Republic of Moldova, international humanitarian aid. This humanitarian hub is the concrete expression of European solidarity, essential in such moments. I have drawn attention to the fact that the Republic of Moldova needs our support, that of the Union and of the Member States, to manage the increased influx of refugees,” said the president, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, after the meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister.
He also pointed out that Romania and the Kingdom of Spain have developed strong ties over time, and there are genuine and lasting bonds of friendship between the citizens of the two countries.
“The Romanian community in the Kingdom of Spain, our second largest community, is very well integrated and plays a significant role in the economic and social life of the Spanish state. On this occasion, I thanked President Sanchez for the constant support offered to Romanian citizens living and working in Spain,” said President Iohannis.
Romania is prepared to provide its own energy infrastructure to diversify natural gas supply
Romania is prepared to provide its own infrastructure to diversify the supply of natural gas from multiple sources, considering that the aim is to eliminate energy dependence on the Russian Federation, President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace after meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez.
“From the discussions that we had today it turns out that Romania and Spain have converging opinions regarding the importance that we grant to developing energy transport infrastructure, ensuring inter-connectivity between member states, increasing production and storage capacities. Romania is prepared to provide its own energy infrastructure so as to diversify supply of natural gas from multiple sources,” the head of state said.
He showed that the necessary measures for mitigating the impact of energy prices for European consumers will be discussed during the meeting of the European Council, which will take place next week.
“The measures taken at European level must also take into account the energy security of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine,” added President Iohannis, according to Agerpres.
PM Sanchez: Spain will continue to be an example of how Ukrainian refugees should be received
Spain will continue to be an example of how Ukrainian refugees should be received, visiting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared on Thursday in Bucharest, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to weaken the EU, but member states have provided a unitary response and condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in unison.
“I conveyed to President Iohannis the Spanish people’s solidarity as regards the flow of refugees from Ukraine, but also from other countries. The Romanian people has taken them all in. Spain will continue to be an example as to how refugees should be received, not only those coming from Ukraine, but also those arriving through the Republic of Moldova. I spoke with the President of the Republic of Moldova and assured her of the Spanish people’s support. 1,000 Ukrainian refugees will be taken from the Republic of Moldova to Spain in this exercise of solidarity,” Sanchez said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace after talks with President Klaus Iohannis.He stressed that European states must also display unity as far as the sanctions against Russia are concerned.
“We must show unity as far as sanctions are concerned, because it’s important to send two very clear messages to Putin and his oligarchs: the sanctions package will keep expanding. This week we approved a new package of very harsh sanctions against Putin, the oligarchs and, of course, the Russian economy. We have imposed very tough sanctions on Russian oligarchs in Spain,” Prime Minister Sanchez said.
According to him, the Russian President has been attempting to weaken the EU for years now.
“We must be aware of where this conflict started, of why Putin invaded Ukraine. President Zelensky was quite clear when he spoke about this. Putin attacked Ukraine because he perceives it as a threat. (…) Putin is trying to weaken the European Union because he sees it as a threat, a global geopolitical project based on values opposed to the Moscow regime,” the Spanish Premier explained.
“We must be aware of this diagnosis and stay united, the way we have been since the beginning of this invasion, all governments, all societies. (…) Romania, Spain and many other countries, I’d say 40 of them, have given a unitary response and agreed that the International Criminal Court should investigate the genocide perpetrated by the Russian government in Ukraine. Virtually we all condemn this invasion. We also stand as one in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, each country provides combat and defense materials, as well as humanitarian aid to Ukraine,” Pedro Sanchez said.
He also sent a message of gratitude to the Romanian community in Spain for its contribution to the economic development of this country.
“We also want to thank the Romanian people, because the Romanians are integrating very well, they are hard-working and this proves that we are twinned nations with an extraordinarily good relationship,” said the head of the Spanish government.
He went on to remark the very good trade relations between Spain and Romania. “Data shows that trade exchanges in 2020 amounted to over 500 million euros, but there is room for improvement as regards investments,” Sanchez said.
The Spanish Prime Minister also stressed that the EU must take speedy action on the evolution of gas and electricity prices, and the Spanish and Romanian governments have agreed to work together on urgent measures to address the issue.
“The Romanian government, President Iohannis and I, along with other EU countries, have sent a letter calling for swift action on gas and electricity prices. We have a [European] Council meeting on March 24 and 25, and I and President Iohannis have agreed to work together towards a strong position so that we can take urgent, firm measures to ensure stable price levels that fit the needs of our economies and our citizens,” the Spanish official said.
Compiled from Agerpres
Photo: www.presidency.ro
The post President Iohannis welcomes PM Sanchez, voices reliance on Spain in strengthening defense and deterrence posture on Eastern Flank. Sanchez: Spain will continue to be an example of how Ukrainian refugees should be received appeared first on Nine O' Clock.