Romanian gov’t distances itself from ex-foreign minister’s comments on Russia

Romania’s foreign ministry says that public statements made by a former foreign minister and academic on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its effects, were „unacceptable”.

Andrei Marga on Friday stated at a book launch in Alba Iulia, central Romania, that Ukraine has  „unnatural borders” and must cede territories to Russia, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

Unnatural borders

„We are here with an absolutely special situation and I say this with all due responsibility, Ukraine has unnatural borders. It must cede territories to Hungary – Transcarpathia, Poland – Galicia, Romania – Bukovina and Russia – Donbass and Crimea. These are territories of other countries….There will be  a conflict. … Let’s be very clear: as long as it is not resolved through a discussion with America and Russia, Germany, Ukraine and China and an agreement is not reached, there will be no peace in Europe. If there is no peace, democracy will suffer”.

Romania’s foreign ministry said it strongly disagreed with Mr Marga, who served briefly as foreign minister in 2012.

Unacceptable

„The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that the statements made by Mr. Andrei Marga in the public space regarding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects are unacceptable. ”

These statements are in flagrant contradiction with Romania’s official position towards the illegal, unjustified and unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine, as well as with the fundamental principles of international law that currently govern international relations”, a statement said.

It added that it „firmly rejects Mr. Marga’s position, which takes on, encourages and propagates the malignant narratives issued by Russia”.

Territorial integrity

The ministry said it was committed to „firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.”

The Ukrainian embassy in Bucharest also reacted to the statements: „We regret that former minister Andrei Marga of a European and democratic state makes statements that call into question the basic principles of international law, especially the inviolability of borders.”

„Ensuring full respect for these principles is the basis of security and stability on the continent. Such statements are unacceptable under any circumstances. They represent a particularly flagrant violation at a time when Ukraine is heroically defending its independence and the security of the whole of Europe,” the embassy said on its Facebook page.

Education minister

Andrei Marga was education minister from 1997-2000, president of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) from 2012-2013, dean of Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca between 1993-2004 and 2008-2012, and laureate of the Herder prize in 2005.

In 2015, he lost a court case after a court ruled that he collaborated with the Securitate [political police], during the communist regime.

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