Intervention

to the Session on „Security and Stability in the Middle East and North Africa”

Bucharest, June 2^nd, 2016 – 2.30 p.m.

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished guests and members of the academic community,

Ladies and Gentleman,

At the beginning, allow me to congratulate the organizers for convening this Conference dedicated to fighting against terrorism, a timely event since the globalization of terrorism is an undeniable reality and a threat to international security.

It is my firm belief that the responsibility for confronting this phenomenon lies with all of us: governments, opinion making leaders, civil society, academic and media circles around the world.

In this sense, the foreign policy dimension is an important instrument in preventing and combating violent extremism and terrorism, ensuring a higher degree of international cooperation and the coherence of the collective efforts against this plague.

The recent terrorist attacks in so many places in Europe and beyond indicate that it is high time to strengthen international cooperation, both at European and global level. Only in the last days we have had to cope with terrifying news about two new terrorist attacks: in Mogadiscio, Somalia, where 20 lives were curbed by an attack claimed by Al Shabaab terrorist movement, and in Mali, where Al Qaida in Islamic Maghreb claimed an attack against the UN peace-keepers, resulted in four victims. I think you all will join me in firmly condemning these terrorist acts and in expressing our solidarity with the victims’ families.  In this sad context, I would also like to reiterate Romania’s unwavering support for the fight against terrorism, in all its forms.

I was asked to speak today about a very important dimension of Romania’s foreign policy that is its relations with countries in Middle East and North Africa and the security situation in this region.

It is a common fact that Romania has good relations with all countries in Middle East and North Africa. This is both the result of half of century cooperation during the Cold War times, and the product of constant and deliberate policy approaches of different Romanian governments in the post-1989 period.

In fact, geography teaches us that the two closest areas outside Europe to Romania are practically bordering the Eastern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean. These areas have a great economic potential – however, not fully explored by both sides – and this is why the highest figures in the Romanian foreign trade outside the Euro-Atlantic area could be found precisely in the relations with the Middle Eastern and North African countries (at the end of 2015, the trade volume was close to 5 billion US dollars).

The economy cannot work in the absence of human contacts and exchanges. Here again, one can identify the very existence of a pattern of cooperation, which refers to the educational field. Many thousands of youngsters from Middle East and North Africa have followed the Romanian higher education system, and this could be seen as a solid form of Romania’s response to those countries quest for development.

These specific forms of mutually beneficial interaction are the natural corollary of traditional and solid political relations. It is now obvious that political cooperation between Romania and the MENA countries does not depend on the ideological profile of successive governments in Romania and in these areas. That is why the level and pace of Romania’s political dialogue with MENA countries steadily developed over the last decades, with the Heads of State and Government of Romania visiting many of the MENA countries, whilst the Romanian foreign minister met practically with all our partners in the region.

Having in mind that Romania's relations with the Middle Eastern and North African states represent important components of the Romanian foreign policy, the new European and Euro-Atlantic status of Romania representsan additional capital towards the development of political dialogue, economic cooperation and human exchanges with our MENA partners.

With a solid record of cooperation with MENA countries, Romania is legitimately concerned with each and every development that could represent a threat to security and stability of the region.

In fact, the region is riddled with old and newly developed conflicts.

1. We see that expectations for progress in the Israeli-Arab conflict remain constantly unfulfilled. It is in fact a continuous standstill which does not favour the Peace Process in this very sensitive region.

Romania strongly supports the legitimate initiatives of the Quartet and its Road Map „vision of two states – the Israeli and the Palestinian ones – living side by side in peace and security”.

In our view, it is essential that every decision in the Peace Process is adopted through negotiations, so that the Israeli legitimate security needs and the Palestinian aspiration for statehood are carefully and adequately addressed. We are ready to take part and actively support EU’s diplomatic efforts to restore an environment of trust between the two parties, essential for the resumption of meaningful peace negotiations.

2. As for the new conflicts, the multiplication of political, security and strategic challenges rest with the emergence of a new wave of terrorism. The proliferation of radical Islamic movements and the emergence of new groups, such as the so-called “Islamic State”, lead to an enhanced terrorist threat. DAESH represents a new breed of terrorism, which threatens to destabilize the entire Middle East. DAESH is a major threat for the very existence of Iraq and Syria, but it goes beyond these two countries, and therefore represents a major challenge to international order as a whole. 

If we add the already existing terrorist threat represented by Al Qaida, and the activism of its regional branch in Maghreb (Al Qaida in Islamic Maghreb) and in the Arabian Peninsula, and of the Al Shabaab terrorist movement in the Horn of Africa, one could easily understand the destabilizing factors that are in action in our neighborhood.

The terrorist movements – and mainly DAESH – made a profit of the fragility of institutions in countries where the Arab Spring nourished the hopes for democratic change. In different ways, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Tunisia were confronted in recent years with the scourge of terrorism, and the consequences were dire.

In Syria, we witness an acute crisis. In post-2011 Syria, as in many other cases in the past, the innocent civilian population was often the victim of harsh confrontations between the Government and the opposition forces, while a long list of massacres have triggered the rage of the international community.

What could be the solution in Syria? We do not have too many options. Naturally we favour a political solution under a Syrian-led transition process and based on all Syrian parties’ cooperation, with the support of the United Nations. A good outcome of the efforts deployed by the Syria International Support Group (SISG) is the best way to help UN reach a solution as soon as possible.

In Iraq, situation on the ground has evolved, with the campaign to combat DAESH registering an important success – such as in Tikrit and Ramadi – and leading to reducing by one third the territory controlled by the terrorist organization. Also, the risk of regional contagion was avoided, due to successful coordination and cooperation with Jordan and Lebanon.

We commend the efforts of the Government in Baghdad, in line with Romania’s constant support for Iraq’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Also, we need to increase our support for the state’s reconstruction process, including through mechanisms and tools of the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

In Libya, we fully support the international endeavors in order to achieve the stabilization of the internal situation. We hope that the Government of National Agreement, led by Fayed al Sarraj, will be endorsed and supported by all the Libyan factions, in the nearest future. Therefore, we welcome the statement in Vienna in mid-May, as a solid basis for the continuation of the political process.

The establishment of new authorities is essential as DAESH has a stronghold in the Sirte area and is entrenching itself in the region. The continuation of the current political fragmentation is only benefitting terrorism and the organized crime in the region. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that the Government led by Mr. Sarraj will be able to lead the fight against DAESH as soon as possible.

In Yemen, we need to avoid the creation of a security vacuum, which could be exploited by terrorist groups acting in the region, such as Al-Qaeda or DAESH. We fully support the peace talks process hosted by Kuwait and welcome the recent encouraging declarations indicating an agreement of the two sides involved to form an inclusive government. In our opinion this is the best way to bring long-term stability to the country and to address the humanitarian crisis.

In Lebanon, there is growing need for assisting the Lebanese authorities to overcome the domestic hardships triggered by the regional effects of the Syrian crisis coupled with the outcomes of Daesh presence in Iraq. The stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon have crucial importance for the peace and stability of the entire Middle East region.

Lebanon is an example of diversity and tolerance for the region, but the long-lasting political deadlock generates vulnerability for the country and its institutions. Against this background, we encourage all policymakers in Lebanon to accelerate internal consultation processes for appointing the President. The establishment of a political stabile climate in Lebanon will lead to the improvement of the internal security situation.

In Tunisia,we commend the institutional building and the holding of free and fair elections. The Tunisian society succeeded in overcoming the inherent challenges of the transition to democracy, and the successful activity of the Tunisian Quartet, rewarded with a Nobel Prize, stands proof of this success. Nevertheless, Tunisian democracy needs to be supported and, while bearing in mind the constant threat of terrorism, we commend the activity of authorities for containing this threat.

Regarding Iran, we consider thatthe declaration of the “Implementation Day” on 16 January 2016 was a major step forward in the implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In the end, this is a guarantee that Iran’s nuclear program will be exclusively used for peaceful purposes. The quality of the nuclear deal will be proven by its full implementation, based on a long term and open cooperation between Iran and IAEA.

We encourage Iran to keep working together with the other states in the region on confidence-building measures, and to step up bilateral cooperation in order to gradually remove the current sensitivities and other possible misunderstandings.

Foreign Minister Lazăr Comănescu paid a visit to Tehran last March, accompanied by a powerful business delegation, with a view to give a boost to the already traditional relationship between Romania and Iran. It was an excellent visit which offered interesting opportunities to explore new ways for our two countries to get closer after the lifting of sanctions regime. We are convinced that this cooperation is mutually beneficial, and can pave the way for further developments both on bilateral exchanges, and on approaches to regional security and stability, thus contributing to the strengthening of the EU-Iran relationship.

To resume, the endeavours of the Romanian leadership currently follow several directions:

1. To work resolutely towards preventing and countering terrorism both at the national level and in the framework of international bodies: at the EU level, but also at the UN, the OSCE, NATO and the Council of Europe. Romania advocated for a coordinated, comprehensive and urgent response, while addressing not only the consequences, but also the root causes of terrorism.

Preventing radicalization and attraction to violent extremism and recruitment for terrorism is the key element for addressing the plague of terrorism on the long run. The focus should be on improving the social-economic conditions of people belonging to communities most vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment for violent extremism and terrorism.

2. To support the strengthening of dialogue with moderate Muslim states and populations, in order to secure a better mutual understanding and to avoid radicalization.

In this framework, the need to deny space to IS/Daesh, other jihadists groups propaganda and to counter its narrative on the global communications channels is of utmost urgency, not only to avert attraction for the would-be foreign terrorist fighters, but also for preventing further counter-manifestations and reactions of violent extremism, xenophobia and racism in Europe.

3. To stress the growing importance of the nexus between security and sustainable development in addressing not only the issue of violent extremism and terrorism, but also for curbing the pressing challenges associated to it, such as illicit trafficking of arms, drugs and human beings.

(III. Final remarks)

I will conclude my remarks by stressing that Romania, as a country which returned to democracy 25 years ago after long decades of authoritarian regimes, has an appropriate understanding of the problems most of the MENA countries are currently confronted with.

It also has the readiness to share its experience of transition process and to participate in the post-conflict reconstruction effort in the region, based on the well-known saying that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

Thank you for your attention.