Traian Basescu: Accusations against Romanian state are unacceptable

 

 

Bucharest, April 14 /Agerpres/ - The attempt to externalize the origin of the Republic of Moldova's domestic problems and the accusations against the Romanian State are unacceptable, said on Tuesday president Traian Basescu, in his address to the Parliament's plenary sitting on the recent developments in Chisinau.

He underscored that Romania was the first state to recognize the Republic of Moldova, right after its proclaiming independence, on August 27, 1991.

'Romania was also the first state to establish diplomatic ties with Chisinau, to put the basis of a natural relation between the citizens on the two sides of the Prut River. Romania made this gesture though the territory at the eastern side of the Prut has been taken away from Romania's territory by the Ribbentrop-Molotov fascist-communist pact, which Romania's Parliament has also declared illegal and arbitrary,' the President said.

Basescu highlighted that in the first years after 1989 the two states started a long transition to a modern and democratic society, founded on the observance of the fundamental human rights and freedoms.

'Both Romania and the Republic of Moldova have voiced the wish to sanction the unique nature of our ties, also strengthened by the use of the Romanian language and by a joint history. The European values were shared by both Bucharest and Chisinau and the integration in the European family was a common wish of both states,' Basescu said.

He added that in the latest four years, 'despite syncopated moves', Romania has made efforts to relaunch the bilateral relations, having the conviction that it is in the interest of both states to benefit from a constructive relationship. He added that almost every year meetings and talks were held at the level of heads of state, of prime ministers, of foreign ministers, between the two states.

'We have proposed and achieved a maximum of commitment in the political dialogue. Every time, at the end of such an optimistic process, the leaders from Chisinau have launched, by a public diplomacy wrongly understood, the most diverse ungrounded accusations, against Romania, which can block almost any progress we had done. We have not given up, we have not taken the way of futile talks, we have not cancelled resources or understandings we had already agreed on, we have continued to keep all the positive offers, which have been in keeping with the interests of the citizens of Romania and the Republic of Moldova,' the president also said.

He added that he is convinced that 'no logic of escalation' is good, either as regards the bilateral relations, or as regards the spirit of the European norms.

'We will give up neither the European values, nor the obligations incumbent to us thinking of the historical unity, of that of language and culture, between the two states. Despite an approach when we have shown openness and wishful dialogue, we are again facing hostile attitudes from the authorities in the Republic of Moldova, with unprecedented accusations. Accusations, but not proofs, ' stressed Basescu.

He also said there were allegations that the Romanians and the Romanian state are responsible for the steps backwards in the process of democratization, 'even that they are responsible' for the economic and social hardships of the Republic of Moldova.

'These accusations make me say that it is not Romania that is responsible for the failure of democratization in the Republic of Moldova, but its leaders, who are dangerously directing it backward toward the communist Soviet past, ' said Basescu.

He reiterated that Romania is unconditionally backing the Republic of Moldova on the European track.

'It is in the direct interest of Romania that the Republic of Moldova meets its European destiny, in line with the yearnings of its citizens to live in security and democratic stability. Romania considers that the democratization and modernization of the Republic of Moldova and the respect of the civil rights and freedoms of its citizens are basic elements influencing the quality of the relationships with the neighbouring country, and they have to be taken into account, irrespective of the political orientation of the authorities in Chisinau, if they are the result of fair election, ' stressed Basescu.

President Basescu on Tuesday also said that Romania would not allow turning Prut River into a new Iron Curtain.

'Prut River has to be only a temporary demarcation line of the European Union's border, until the Republic of Moldova's EU accession, process which Romania endorses unconditionally,' said the head of the state.

Basescu appealed to all the political parties of Romania and public opinion leaders to understand this moment as a moment of national solidarity.

Basescu stressed that Romania reaffirms the principles of the UN Chart and of the Helsinki Final Act, urging to the observance of territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova.

'At the same time, we have a legal, moral and honour duty for the Romanians from Moldova. Romania will continue to endorse the democratization and Europenization of the Republic of Moldova. We'll step up the grating of Romanian citizenship to those who have this right, we'll use all the instruments of the national and European policy to strengthen the cultural ties and economic relations with the Republic of Moldova, to develop the assistance extended to the central and local administration, to streamline access of Moldovan students to the educational resources of Romania,' said Basescu.

Traian Basescu stressed that taking place at present at the EU's eastern border is a conflict between two systems of values.

'On December 18, 2006, ahead of the Romania's accession to the EU, in the name of the European and universal values, I wanted to blame the communist regime of Romania. Today I realise with concern that realities for which I officially condemned the communist regime may be found at Romania's border of the 21st century: the absence of the state of law, ethnical discrimination, repression of opponents, censure, assailment of Romanian culture, utilisation of poverty to establish dependence on the political class, threat to use force against own citizens. These are elements which put together create a climate of terror,' said Traian Basescu.

The President pointed out that, two decades after the anti-communist revolution of 1989, the supreme values that inspired those who decided not to live in lie anymore: the liberty of individuals cannot be negotiated, there is no justification for the humiliation of the human being in the name of of false state or party reason, no one holds the monopoly of the absolute truth and no one can deny the citizens' right to the freedom of speech, of movement and of political organization in independent parties.

Romania has no intention to claim any rights on certain territories that were lost long ago, but the country feels like it has certain moral obligation not to abandon those who speak the same language (that is people from the Republic of Moldova), Traian Basescu said on Tuesday

'Romania has no intention to claim any rights on the territories that were lost in the past. Romania has no intention to launch any kind of talks over the sovereignty or borders of the Republic of Moldova. It is in Romania's direct interest to have as neighbour a stable and prosperous country. As a European state, we have the responsibility to explain our allies, the same as other states of the world, what happens on the other side of the Prut River (the River at the eastern Romanian border with the Republic of Moldova),' Basescu also said.

The President underscored that Romania is concerned about the possible illegal measures directed against Romanian citizens.

'Romania is concerned about the violence and illegal measures taken against the Romanian citizens. We think that failing to inform the Romanian side on its citizens that are being detained or arrested, and forbidding them to contact the Romanian Embassy for consular assistance is a serious violation of the international norms. We urge the Chisinau authorities to give the Romanian consular representatives immediate access to the Romanian citizens that are probably detained, if such situation is real,' Basescu said.

He pointed out that there has been a 'violent pressure'' lately, on the Moldovan citizens who have asserted their Romanian ethnic identity.

'These anti-Romanian attitudes, encouraged by the Moldovan authorities and the limitation, by any means, of the right to the free speech and assertion of ethnicity are unacceptably intolerant behaviour, specific to deeply undemocratic governing, that have nothing in common with the European spirit,' Basescu said.

The head of state hailed the courage and professionalism of the journalists that reported about the events in Chisinau and the solidarity of the Romanian media with their Moldovan counterparts.

'I praise the courage and professionalism of the journalists who have correctly mirrored the evolutions in the neighboring state and ensured the access to information sources. I have appreciated the Romanian media's solidarity with their Moldovan colleagues,' Basescu pointed out.

 

[Source: Romanian National News Agency AGERPRES ]