It is a great honour for
me to address the General Assembly today on behalf
of the Romanian delegation. At the outset, allow me
to congratulate the Honourable Sam Kutesa on his
election as President of the General Assembly at its
sixty-ninth session and to assure him of the full support
of the Romanian delegation in fulfilling his high
responsibility and functions.
(spoke in French)
As this is the first time I have had the honour to
participate in this high-level debate, let me reaffirm
my country’s peaceful mission as a promoter of peace
and international security, the values of democracy,
the rule of law and respect for human rights. The
report of the Secretary-General on the work of the
Organization (A/69/1) over the past year again confirms
that cooperation among Member States, based on
the principles of the United Nations and in a spirit
of solidarity, can meet the current challenges of our
peoples.
I would like to address some issues of interest to
my country in regard to developments in international
relations. Since the General Assembly’s general debate
a year ago, the area of international security has
witnessed the most complex and serious developments
since the end of the cold war. In that context, we have
a duty to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,
the non-use of force and the peaceful resolution of
all problems between States, in accordance with
international law.
(spoke in English)
One of the crises of utmost concern to my country
is the current situation in Ukraine, given its impact
on the security of the countries in Eastern Europe.
The crisis started, as the Assembly knows, with the
unilateral annexation of Crimea, an integral part of
the sovereign State of Ukraine. That action on the
European continent, unprecedented in recent decades,
was followed by an internal conflict in the eastern
regions of Ukraine, generated by forces pursuing
separatist goals. I wish to reconfirm our clear and firm
national position on the crisis in Ukraine. Romania
rejects any form of external pressure on States in
Eastern Europe with aspirations to achieve integration
with Europe. Romania firmly supports the territorial
integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and all countries.
A strong, united and sovereign Ukraine, committed to
its European path and to reforms in the economic and
political fields, is in the best interests of Europe and the
whole world.
The international community has been involved in
finding a solution to the crisis from its beginning. We
commend the United Nations for its constant presence in
the field and the efforts of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the day-by-day
developments on the ground and to support the whole
international effort through its specific mechanisms.
For many years, all countries of Eastern Europe
and the Black Sea region have shared and openly
declared the common goals of peace and cooperation.
But instability and grave security concerns, such as in
Ukraine, in Transdnistria, Ossetia and Abkhazia, and
now in Donetsk, continue to pose obstacles to those
goals. We must condemn aggression. We should not
lose trust in the rule of international law. We should
not lose faith in the benefits of cooperation, and we
should all strive to prevent a spillover of the current
crisis. The region has always been a bridge between
Central Asia and Europe. At this juncture, we have
a historical responsibility to assume, protect and
preserve the potential for collaboration, cooperation
and development in that part of Europe.
Situated at the crossroads of the Danube and Black
Sea regions, as well as serving as a bridge between
Northern Europe and the Balkans, Romania is fully
aware that regional cooperation is key for ensuring
regional stability, for building confidence and for
promoting the universal principles and values of the
Charter of the United Nations. Joint initiatives on the
economy, environment, infrastructure and cross-border
cooperation have a long-term impact on all countries in
our region. As a European Union member, Romania is
an active contributor to the European Union Strategy
for the Danube Region, to the Black Sea Synergy and to
the South-East European Cooperation Process.
We praise the solidarity expressed by the European
Union and transatlantic partners in supporting a
sustainable path for democracy and development in the
Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, assisting
them to freely achieve their European aspirations.
It was 75 years ago, based on the infamous Molotov-
Ribbentrop Pact, that parts of Romania and some other
independent States were dismantled. We have learned
that history must not be an excuse for justifying actions
against other countries. On the contrary, our answer to
any temptation based on past history is strong support
for democratic development, respect for the right to
democratically choose one’s future, and respect for
international law.
I want to state that position clearly, on behalf of
my country, as an expression of our democratic identity
and responsible conduct in our relations with all our
neighbours, and when speaking about the democratic
future of all the countries in those regions, including
the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. The
desire to turn the extended Black Sea region into an
area of peace, stability and prosperity should continue
to guide our cooperation. We express our support, one
again, for a democratic, secure and stable region, and
we encourage our regional and international partners
to broaden our solidarity with Ukraine, Moldova and
Georgia.
A source of concern to all of us is the multiplication
of political, security and strategic challenges in the
southern neighbourhood of the European Union and in
the Middle East. The proliferation of radical Islamist
movements and the emergence of new groups, such as
the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), have led
to an enhanced terrorist threat. They represent a new
breed of terrorism, which threatens to destabilize the
entire Middle East and the world. ISIS goes beyond Iraq
and Syria, and therefore represents a major challenge to
the international order and must be dealt with by all
States. We must all stand united and fight terrorism
wherever it arises. I want to express my country’s firm
support for building solidarity in confronting this new
challenge.
In the field of development, we believe that the
current session of the General Assembly is crucial
for the preparation of the post-2015 sustainable
development agenda, which will guide our actions in
coming decades. As a member of the Open Working
Group on Sustainable Development Goals, Romania
made its contribution to that very important process, in
accordance with the decisions taken at United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development. Our national
vision of the future goals was adopted by the Government
of Romania in December 2013, and we are pleased to
see that our areas of interest are reflected in the report
of the Open Working Group (see A/67/941). The future
development agenda should address poverty eradication
and sustainable development, good governance and the
rule of law. However, it should also provide a platform
for social inclusion and the reduction of unemployment,
giving our present and future generations of young
people confidence and hope.
Over the past year, the number of people in need
of humanitarian assistance, especially the number of
refugees and internally displaced persons, has grown
to unprecedented levels. We commend and support
the assistance provided to those persons by the United
Nations system in close cooperation with international
organizations, non-governmental organizations and
international donors. Despite our limited financial
resources, we have made efforts to contribute to the
process of assisting refugees.
In that respect, I would like to mention the activities
of the emergency transit centre in Timisoara, Romania,
established by the Romanian Government, the Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
and the International Organization for Migration. The
centre, the first of its kind in the world, has proved to be a
feasible mechanism offering safety to persons in urgent
need of international protection, thereby becoming a
practical expression of the human security concept.
That contribution reflects the responsible conduct that
Romania has always adopted in facing global challenges.
We will continue to contribute to international efforts
with the same dedication and responsibility as our
troops and civil experts have already shown in several
areas, such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, or places
in Africa.
(spoke in French)
The year 2014 has particular resonance for Romania
and brings us closer to our national centennial,
which we will celebrate in 2018. In 1989, Romanians
chose democracy and respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. We encountered difficulties,
but our resolve led us to a successful transition.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our firm
and continuing commitment to the Organization and
the Charter of the United Nations and their governing
values and principles. Romania will continue to uphold
international law and the principle of the peaceful
resolution of conflicts, while promoting human rights
in order to achieve prosperity for all.