April 30, 2014 – Debate following the Romania -Ukraine Civic Forum, 2nd edition
The Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE) has organized on April 30th, 2014 a debate regarding a potential reset of the Romania – Ukraine bilateral relations, in the context of the recent political developments in Ukraine. Preceding the debate, which was part of the Romania – Ukraine Civic Forum Project, the main conclusions of the Forum, as well as of the subsequent policy papers, were presented.
Following the second edition of the Forum, which took place in Kiev from 23 to 24 January 2014, experts from the Romanian Center for European Policies and its partner from Ukraine, Institute of World Policy (IWP), have prepared three papers on the following topics: (1) Cooperation on the Romanian minority in Ukraine; (2) The need for a reset in bilateral relations , based on consultations with Romanian experts, including three former ministers of foreign affairs, and (3) Expectations of the Ukrainian civil society from the EU and from the EU member states, and Romania in particular. The subsequent debate organized on April 30th was attended by diplomats, experts, civil society and media representatives.
Sergiu Celac, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania: “The methodology and content of this report (Kiev’s new turn: the necessity to reset the Romania – Ukraine relationship) is a huge breakthrough for the civil society in terms of critical assessment, including of certain positions that have received support in our country. ( … ) Secondly, I would like to mention that a generalized sympathy for the Ukraine, which hardly existed in Romania before, has emerged due to the recent developments that were rather tragic in nature. There is therefore a mutual understanding that ought to be capitalized on both sides.
Teofil Rendiuk (Embassy of Ukraine): “The fact that we are discussing the issue of Ukraine during this this meeting, as well as during the Forum, is illustrating a widespread interest in the Romanian society, reflected at all societal levels (President, Parliament, Government, scholars, mass media, as well as ordinary people). We enjoy the solidarity of the Romanians to what is happening in our country. We are pleasantly surprised by the readiness of the Romanian society regarding a reset of the bilateral relations between Romania and Ukraine.
The reports and extensive consultations undertaken were part of the Romania – Ukraine Civic Forum project, second edition, financed through the Official Development Assistance programme and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP ) Bratislava.