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German president Steinmeier: We believe for a long time that Romania's place is in Schengen Area
President Klaus Iohannis welcomed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace on Wednesday his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is paying a state visit to Romania until Friday.
The Federal President was welcomed with military honours.
Germany has "long believed that Romania's place is in the Schengen Area," President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier told a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is on a state visit to Romania, which he described as "a visit to friends."
Regarding Romania's accession to Schengen, he assured that Germany will support this demarche.
He also mentioned the current security situation, in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine.
"Our unity is an asset in these challenging times, as it has never been in recent decades. We will face these challenges together," the German president said, according to the official translation.
He praised the way Romania welcomed the Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war and its handling of grain transit from Ukraine.
The German president also mentioned the struggle of Romanian citizens against communism. "Romania is a country with a great culture, with a rich history," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.
The German president spoke of the arguments used by the representatives of his state to convince "those who hesitate" about granting the status of member of the Schengen Area for Romania.
"There is nothing that contradicts the efforts made by Romania. The Federal Chancellor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Interior will bring these arguments to Austria and the Netherlands," he added.