Iohannis: It's Romania's duty to really support Moldova; bombastic speech not helpful to either nation

It is Romania's duty to really support the Republic of Moldova and the Moldovans, while "bombastic speech in an electoral key" do not help the citizens of either of the two countries, President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday after touring the Bucharest International Auto Show (SIAB).

He was asked by journalists about not attending on Tuesday a solemn ceremony in Parliament that marked 100 years since the unification of Basarabia and Romania.

"The event itself, March 27, is of very great importance, which I have outlined in my message to the nation and is a very bright point in our history," said Iohannis.

He mentioned a future-oriented approach of the Romania-Moldova relationship.

"I think it is important to know history, but also to see the present. If we are talking about the Republic of Moldova, I believe that it is Romania's duty to really support the Republic of Moldova and the Moldovans," he said.

Iohannis added that in all his conversations he also includes the topic of the Republic of Moldova.

"I am interested, I am concerned and I think that we can find this fact in many Romanians and even in some Romanian politicians. On the other hand, it is good for us to ask ourselves how we can really help Moldova today and I think we can do so through economic measures, through aid, for example through the financial aid we've had for Moldova," Iohannis pointed out.

He also said that it is very important for Romania to support the neighbouring country on the European path.

"I think there is a point where political approaches are slightly different from politician to politician. I think that we need to help them, to be alongside them during their European journey and to do concrete things that reach the Moldovan citizens, and I think it is less important to have bombastic speeches in a populist, electoral key, because that does not help either nation," Iohannis said. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Rodica State)