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Aspen Romania president Geoana: 15 - 20 years until more stable world order sets in
President of Aspen Romania Institute Mircea Geoana considers that another 15 - 20 years of turbulence must probably still pass before a more stable world order sets in.In his opinion, Europe must redesign its neighborhood policies.
"We might probably have another 15 — 20 years of turbulence before a more stable world order develops. Every year in Bucharest we attempt to make it clear that we should encourage cooperation between Europe and North America, the transatlantic dimension, but the Western and Euro-Asian dimension too. It's a fact that Asia and Eurasia become major superpowers. (...) We should be more aware of the fact that at the time we speak about our problems — the refugees, the euro crisis, the British referendum next year — Europe must still be present in this corridor too. Europe cannot afford not to rethink its neighborhood policies. We shouldn't be waiting for Russia and China to establish a cooperation in the Eurasian part of the world. We need to understand that we must be present there from a geopolitical, political and economic standpoint, to stabilize the region," Geoana said on Thursday in the opening of the 4th annual Bucharest Forum.
He added that in the given context, the Aspen Institute's ambition is to propose, alongside its partners, to Brussels and the major European capitals — Berlin, Paris, London — and to Washington as well the stabilization of this part of Europe's neighbourhood.
Geoana also mentioned that the Aspen Institute has a new meeting scheduled for December in Brussels, and most likely next year a branch of the institute will open in Kiev.
Geoana: Romania cannot be a gateway in Europe, unless it settles its domestic issues
Romania cannot be a gateway in Europe unless it first settles its domestic disputes and its decision makers understand that they cooperate while competing with Romania's neighbours, president of the Aspen Romania Institute Senator Mircea Geoana said Thursday."The Aspen Institute suggested to the Romanian Government three years ago a concept we called Romania Gateway. (...) The idea that we have the best management, political and administrative professionals as well as the best professional consultants we can convince to work with us has led to a concept that the Romanian Government has turned into an official policy, the idea of turning Romania into a gateway from and to Europe. It is obvious that where investment, commerce and resources pass is where prosperity and the stability of a nation also come in," Geoana told the opening of Bucharest Forum 2015.
He underscored that Romania cannot be a gateway in Europe unless it first settles some of its domestic disputes.
"We cannot be a gateway in Europe unless we first solve our issues. The problem is faster and high-quality investment in our infrastructures, logistics, intermodal transport, energy system, in all that means placing Romania on the map and not in abstract or as some geopolitical gesture, but in the most economically concrete manner," Geoana explained.
He added that in order for Romania to be a gateway of Europe, its authorities have to understand that Romania cooperates with its neighbours while also competing with them.
"That is why today in Bucharest we suggest a concept of cooperation to our neighbours in South-Eastern Europe, our strategic partners in Italy, our friends in Greece and Turkey, our natural partners in Central Europe and Poland. Instead of a zero sum game, we suggest that we work together to turn into reality all the possible trade avenues," said Geoana.
On the other hand, he said he is convinced the Romanian authorities are aware of Romania's vulnerabilities. "We have issues with governance, with corruption, the absence of continuity in large projects, but I want to tell you that we should be considering the glass half full instead of always looking at the glass half empty," Geoana concluded.