Foreign Minister Comanescu presents 2005-2008 Foreign Policy Report

Bucharest, Nov 26 /Agerpres/ - Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu on Wednesday presented the Report on Romania's foreign policy over 2005-2008, highlighting the major accomplishments and goals pursued in this time.

"Diplomatic activity requires imagination, steadfastness and perseverance plus the existence of a vision, and between 2005-2008 Romanian diplomacy succeeded in fitting into this paradigm", said Minister Comanescu.

In the early days of the current administration, a fundamental goal was for Romania to meet as fast as possible the requirements for acquiring EU membership on Jan. 1, 2007, and the process is still going on for Romania to reap the benefits of its EU membership, said the Romanian chief diplomat.

"Through all what Romania did in the EU and NATO we proved that we carry value-added," said Lazar Comanescu, pointing out that Romanian initiatives are an effective contribution to the global development of the two structures.

Between 2005-2008 Romania has been one of the most active states of the North-Atlantic Alliance, said the Foreign Minister, reminding the top important event in this line - the April 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest. 

Important initiatives were launched in the EU with Romania's support, such as the Black Sea Synergy and the European Neighborhood Policy.

"The Black Sea was brought to the international policy agenda with Romania's major contribution," said Comanescu, referring also to the NATO Summit Declaration reasserting how important security in the Black Sea region is for Euro-Atlantic security.

The strengthening of regional security and stability and the reinforcement of European perspectives of neighbor states has been a steady concern of the Romania diplomacy under the current government. Romania initiated the CEFTA modernization process and also contributed to other initiatives within OCEMN, the South-East European Cooperation process and the Regional Cooperation Council.

As far as the Republic of Moldova is concerned, important steps were taken - also with Romania's contribution - towards taking this country closer to European structures. "Romania was, is and will remain the strongest advocate of the Republic of Moldova's drawing closer to the EU culminating Moldova's accession," underscored Minister Comanescu, who also pointed out that the authorities in Chisinau are beginning to admit to Romania's having an important role, which benefits bilateral relations.

Romania's relation with the Russian Federation grounds on a fundamental principle - pragmatism. Lazar Comanescu said that special interests exist to develop bilateral relations, particularly on economic ground and in the line of Black Sea cooperation.

"We cannot strengthen security and stability in the Black Sea region in absence of dialogue and of a commitment by the Russian Federation," said the Foreign Minister. He added that Romania and Russia are close to crafting an economic cooperation and an investment agreement.

Over 2005 - 2008 Romania strengthened partnerships with important countries like the US, France, Great Britain, Spain and Germany. The Romanian, Hungarian and Italian governments also sat down in joint meetings.

Economic diplomacy has been an important dimension of the Romanian Foreign Ministry's activity under the current ruling. "It is obvious that this dimension of diplomacy will need to win its role back," said Comanescu, under whose stint major steps were taken in this direction. Comanescu considers that economic diplomacy should be a priority for his successor appointed after the Nov. 30 elections.

"We have the capability of being competitive and reap economic benefits through economic diplomacy," underscored the chief diplomat.

Not in the last place the 2005 - 2008 period witnessed the intensification of interstate bilateral visits outside the EU, where Romanian potential is extremely important, reminded Lazar Comanescu, who mentioned Asian and Arab states in this context. Representatives of the business milieu and of the Chambers of Commerce accompanied Minister Comanescu during his visits to these countries to the effect that cooperation agreements were inked.

"Direct contacts among businesspeople need to be promoted," said the Foreign Minister, who condones that the "reinvigoration of relations with states from outside the European space is particularly important, the more so as Romania is now a EU member."

In other news, the Foreign Ministry promoted Romania's interests before international legal bodies; one of the most noteworthy such actions is the Romania vs. Ukraine lawsuit referred to the International Court of Justice in the Hague for the delimitation of maritime space.

Another dimension that was brought to the limelight in the last years is the continuation and consolidation of the reform of the Romanian diplomatic corps. Lazar Comanescu explained that the beginning was made with the consular staff, because after Romania joined the EU, new relevant standards emerged and strong Romanian communities built outside country borders.

Minister Comanescu mentioned that he enjoyed the Prime Minister and the President's support with the establishment of new consulates, most of them in Italy and Spain, and the enhancement of the human resources capacity. The concept of mobile consulates was also implemented, with the consular personnel traveling to the site of Romanian communities to settle the nationals' issue on the spot.

Concomitantly, accent was laid on raising the professional quality within the Foreign Ministry. The quality of the professional performance of the Ministry's personnel must further be a priority, said Lazar Comanescu.

Three Ministers successively took over at the Foreign Ministry's helm during the 2005-2008 rule: Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu (Dec. 29, 2004 - Feb. 4, 2007); Adrian Cioroianu (April 5, 2007 - April 15, 2008) and Lazar Comanescu (April 15, 2008 - current date).