BILATERAL MEETINGS OF THE ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

New York, October 17th, 2005 – On the occasion of his presence at the special reunion of the Security Council on deepening and institutionalizing the cooperation between the UN and the regional organizations, the Romanian minister for foreign affairs, Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu , had a series of bilateral meetings with high UN officials, as well as with leaders of the main regional organizations present at the reunion.

During the meeting with the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan , both sides discussed over the major topics of the October agenda of the Security Council, having an exchange of views on the current situation and on its immediate perspectives in Kosovo, Irak , Lebanon and Syria . The UN high official approached the issue of the UN reform, requesting the Romanian side to continue its support of this ample and complex process. The Romanian dignitary seized this opportunity to reiterate the invitation addressed to the Secretary general to visit Romania , the significance of such an event being increased by the 60 th UN anniversary, as well as the 50 th anniversary of Romania 's membership to this organization. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.

The meeting with the president of the General Assembly, Jan Eliasson , occasioned an exchange of opinions on the UN reform process, while both interlocutors underlined the importance of observing the provisions and deadlines stipulated in the Outcome Document of the recent World Summit with a view to creating some important new bodies such as the Peace Building Committee and the Human Rights Council. Presenting his current endeavors in this respect, as well as for creating the consensus in adopting such decisions, Jan Eliasson urged Romania to be actively involved in the creation of a favorable climate for carrying out this process. The head of the Romanian diplomacy assured the UN official of his country's full support in it.

The main topic of the meeting with the secretary general of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, consisted in the cooperation between this European organization and Romania , with a view to the presidency of the CE Council of Ministers, soon to be undertaken by our country. Both sides went through the main topics and the priorities of the next Romanian presidency, establishing a mechanism of permanent consultation between the Romanian minister for foreign affairs and the CE secretary general, as well as between the presidential team and the Cabinet staff of the European dignitary.

The discussions with the OSCE secretary general, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut , focused mainly on the OSCE Ministerial Reunion that will take place in Ljubljana, on December 6-7, 2005, as well as on the ways through which this could end up by the adoption of a political document, that would reflect both the operational priorities and the evolutions of the consultations on the reform of the organization. The head of the Romanian diplomacy highlighted, on this occasion, the efforts that Romania has been making for the success of this ministerial reunion, and expressed Romania 's full commitment to actively support such endeavors.  

( source : the press office of the Romanian Permanent Mission to the UN)