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President Iohannis in Bulgaria: We want intensification of negotiations for completing delineation of Black Sea areas
President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that the negotiations for the completion of the boundary delineation of maritime areas in the Black Sea need to be intensified, pointing out that Romania wants a solution that complies with the method established by international courts' jurisprudence.
"We agreed that we need to strengthen negotiations for the completion of the delineation of maritime areas in the Black Sea. Romania wants a solution corresponding to the method established by the jurisprudence of international courts," the Romanian head of state told a joint press conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev.
In respect to the Romanian community of Bulgaria, Iohannis pointed out that its rights must be protected and promoted.
"I believe it is to the mutual benefit that the national identity and rights which the Romanian community in Bulgaria must enjoy are protected and promoted, mainly as regards education in the native language, same as the Bulgarian community of Romania enjoys," the head of state showed.
According to him, Bulgaria is Romania's neighbour and traditional partner. Moreover, Iohannis also mentioned that Rosen Plevneliev was the first president to visit Romania after he took over as head of state.
President Iohannis also pointed out that he talked with his Bulgarian counterpart about rising the bilateral relation to the level of comprehensive partnership.
According to him, Romania's initiative to establish a permanent fleet in the Black Sea has exclusively a defensive purpose.
"We don't want to return to the Cold War and in no way do we prepare to attack anyone, yet we want to be capable of defending ourselves and prove that we are here. That's how the Black Sea naval initiative must be understood and we believe that it is natural and fair that riparian countries, and Black Sea countries in the first place, participate in this initiative. Not only does Romania receive security, we also want to participate and provide in our turn security in the region, and this initiative we believe Bulgaria and Turkey will join in with enthusiasm, is one we want to create locally, to place it within short under the NATO umbrella, because we are NATO allies," Iohannis told a joint press conference delivered with his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev.
He specified that this proposal of Romania's comes to NATO's support.
"This proposal will be materialized, we will take steps to reach a concrete form, we'll describe its evolution in time, probably starting with simple exercises of compatibility, with training, and we'll see how it evolves over time. It is important to present this initiative to our NATO allies and we try to persuade them that it supports the entire alliance," said the Romanian head of state.
The Bulgarian President said that his country will support Romania's initiative.
Bulgaria supports the Black Sea regional initiative, which is aimed at defence, said Rosen Plevneliev. Bulgaria will support not only with words but also with actions every effort to improve security in the region. It is our strategic interest. Bulgaria will contribute to the establishment of this NATO structure and is waiting for the relevant decision to be reached in Warsaw. (...) Bulgaria will prove not only that it throws its firm support behind regional cooperation, but we will also use NATO as a platform. It all depends on us and together we are strong and capable to face any challenge. We want more cooperation and security. This is why Bulgaria will support these initiatives, said the Bulgarian President.