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Romanian diplomat Konstantin Gribia: Nagorno-Karabakh and other frozen conflicts are dangerous for Europe

15 March 2007 17:31 (UTC +04:00)

â€œRomania understands that Black Sea region represents some dangers to Europe. The Nagorno-Karabakh and other frozen conflicts hold first places among those dangers. These conflicts must find their solution as it delay the political, cultural, economical development of the Black Sea regionâ€?, the former Romanian Ambassador to South Caucasus countries Konstantin Gribia told APAâ€™s East Europe bureau. He said that the conflicts must be settled peacefully within the framework of territorial integrity of states. The former diplomat said that Romania approaches frozen conflicts delicately as neighboring Moldova has a Transdniestrian conflict:â€? With Bulgariaâ€™s and Romaniaâ€™s joining the EU this body came nearer to the Caucasus. So EU is to systematize and concretize its strategy towards those problemsâ€?. Emphasizing the serious prospects for the development of economic relations between two states the former ambassador said that more than 200 Romanian oil specialists work in the oil platforms of Azerbaijan. He thinks that systematic work of the Konstansa - Batumi dock could play an important role in the development of relations with South Caucasus: â€œRomania have ferry-boats conditioned to European standards. Attempts were made for the working of that line and about 10 visits were paid in this way. Now the project needs investing either by public or private sectorâ€?. Konstantin Gribia considers that Romania could help Azerbaijan to gain candidate status for EU membership in the near future. Expressing his views towards GUAM the former ambassador stressed the importance of the development of relations between member-states of this body:â€? GUAM is cooperating with EU and is supported by the US. As a member state of EU Romania approaches GUAMâ€™s development positively and supports its strengtheningâ€?. As to importance of â€œNabuccoâ€? gas pipeline project for Romania Konstantin Gribia pointed out to Romania president T. Baseskuâ€™s statement and said that EU must break up Russiaâ€™s monopoly on gas supply:â€?There is a tendency that we must not break our relations with Russia as it supplies us with gas. But Russia solds it gas. Russia budgetâ€™s 70 percent depends on energy resources. It means that we depend on Russia as much as it depends on us. Russiaâ€™s energy recourses can exhaust one day. That is why turning towards Caspian region we ease Russiaâ€™s conditionâ€? .Konstantin Gribia stated the importance of BTC pipeline in the supplying West Europe with energy resources. He thinks that Baki-Tbilisi-Ceyhan plays indispensable role in the gas sector:â€?Europe can receive gas via Arzurum. Azerbaijan plays particular significant role in the realization of that projectâ€?. /APA/