Băsescu: "Romania unconditionally supports the Republic of Moldova"

C.M.

President Traian Băsescu yesterday said, speaking before the Parliament, that the Bucharest government will not accept for Romanians " to be blamed for being Romanians", referring to the situation in the Republic of Moldova.

"We will not tolerate for Romanians across the Prut river to be humiliated just because they don"t believe in a hostile system", he said, and he continued: "Romania unconditionally supports the Republic of Moldova".

According to him, the citizens of the Moldova were the victims of a system that left them with deep scars".

President Traian Băsescu said that there are serious efforts being made to pass the blame for the setback of the democratization of the Republic of Moldova, with the same voices, in turn, making unprecedented allegations against Romania.

It is not Romania, but rather Moldova"s leaders that are responsible for the country"s setback, who outlined that Bucharest will not give up on the European values.

The head of state emphasized that at this time he can only present a partial evaluation of the situation, and stressed that he can not keep silent forever about the accusations of the leader of Kishinev, Vladimir Voronin.

"We have the duty to review together the situation created on Romania"s eastern border, which is also a part of the European Union"s border", the head of state said.

Traian Băsescu stressed that Romania is not looking to review the borders or the self-determination of the Republic of Moldova.

"It is in Romania"s interest to be the neighbor of a prosperous and stable country", president Băsescu said.

The head of state said that Romania is not looking to claim rights over the territory it lost in the past, but, at the same time, it has a moral duty to not abandon those who speak its language.

Traian Băsescu explained: "Romania is not looking to claim rights on territories it lost in the past. Romania is not looking to revise the border or the sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova. It is in Romania"s interest to be the neighbor of a prosperous and stable country. As a European state we have the responsibility to make our allies as well as other countries of the world aware of what"s happening on the other side of the river Prut".

The head of state added that there are voices saying that Romania should forget about the Republic of Moldova and act like it doesn"t have a special relationship with the citizens of Moldova.

Traian Băsescu said: "I want to suggest to these people to see how Romanians feel about people who give up on their brothers. Our moral duty is not to abandon those who speak our language, who share our history, those who want to share Romania"s European future, regardless of whether they are Romanians, Ukrainians, Russians, or of another ethnicity".

Băsescu answered to those who asked him why he didn"t react right away on the situation in the Republic of Moldova that he did not want to answer the provocations, Agerpres informs.

The head of state explained "I requested the opportunity to speak before the reunited chambers of the Parliament to express my concern with the recent events in the Republic of Moldova. I hereby consider that we all have the obligation to review together the situation created on the eastern border of Romania, which is also a border to the EU. We did not want to answer the provocations of these past few weeks, which were trying to excuse the repressive acts by invoking Romania"s attitude and actions, but we can"t keep quiet forever, even though I can only present you with a partial evaluation".

Băsescu emphasized that Romania"s attitude comes from the values that underlie the European Union.