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The first televised electoral debate for the runoff: Ponta will make energy independence from Russia his main objective for the next five years
Candidate of the alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Union for Romania's Progress (UNPR) and the Conservative Party (PC) in the November 16 presidential runoff election Victor Ponta told Realitatea TV private broadcaster on Tuesday evening, at the first televised electoral debate for the runoff, that if elected president he will make energy independence from Russia his main objective for the next five years.
He also said new selling markets for Romanian products have to be opened.
Ponta also said that in a Europe where consumption and business get contracted, solutions have to be sought to allow Romania's exports and industrial output to find selling markets.
In the same context, he mentioned that Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel visits China each year and her visits led to China having become Germany's third largest trade partner, a reason why, while keeping the Romania-US-NATO axis, Romania has to find energy investment and open new markets for its products.
'While keeping the Romania-US-NATO strategic axis, which is a political and military axis that means Exxon investment in the Black Sea and the so important German investment, Romania has to find energy investment, because energy independence from Russia will be may main objective as Romania's president in the next five years and new markets have to open for Romanian products. If we talk about Asia, we talk mainly about agri-food products,' Ponta explained.
He added that the strategic partnership with the US is an excellent thing that will be continued if he is elected president, while Romania is and will continue to be a serious partner inside NATO.
Ponta also said that, in his opinion, Romania should play a more important part for its regional friends and neighbours.
'First of all, for Moldova, which we have to help join the European Union and not swerve away from its European path in its November 30 elections. For Ukraine and Georgia, both of which were courageous to sign association agreements with the EU and are close to us, for Serbia and the Western Balkan countries, which should become Romania's friends and partners. Romania is now a model worth following by these countries in their European integration, NATO integration and the development of their institutions,' said Ponta.
Iohannis: no need for reinventing Romania's foreign policy or a new Bucharest-China axis
Candidate of the Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL) in the November 16 presidential runoff election Klaus Iohannis believes Romania should continue its strategic partnership and remain a serious NATO and EU partner, insisting that there is no need for reinventing Romania's foreign policy or a new Bucharest-China axis.
'Romania's security and the fact that we are finding ourselves in the current situation, despite all the geopolitical complications in the Ukraine area, is the result of that three pillars that have buttressed Romania's foreign policy, which has to be continued. We do not have to reinvent anything in the area of foreign policy. We have the strategic partnership with the US, our place and part in NATO and the EU and we have to prove that we are serious, long-term partners ready to undertake our part that we are ready to increase defence spending to 2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). There is no need for any new Bucharest-China axis, no need for reinventing. (...) We just have to prove that we are serious and for that we need a serious president,' Iohannis told Realitatea TV private broadcaster on Tuesday evening, at the first runoff debate.