BOGDAN AURESCU: "WE WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE KOSOVO’S INDEPENDENCE, AS WE RESPECT THE PRINCIPLE OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE STATES"

APA
June 9 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Viktoria Dementieva – APA. "Stability in the South Caucasus is
of great importance in terms of the security of Europe," said Bogdan
Aurescu, State Secretary for Strategic Affairs in the Romanian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, APA reports.

He said that Romania supported NATO countries’ attempts to establish
deep cooperation with the South Caucasus countries.

"Azerbaijan unites various geostrategic interests in itself. Romania
as a member of NATO and European Union is ready to cooperate with
the region and share its experience with Azerbaijan in the process
of integration. Romania supports the territorial integrity of all
states," he said.

Asked whether the recognition of Kosovo’s independence might set a
precedent for Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Bogdan Aurescu said Romania’s
position on the issue remained unchanged.

"We have not recognized and are not going to recognize Kosovo’s
independence. We respect the principle of territorial integrity of
the states," he said.