EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier: Germany ready to contribute to creation of a NATO command center in Romania / Plus: sanctions and Ukraine, interests of German companies

German Foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has given an exclusive interview with HotNews.ro one day before his visit to Bucharest today, which comes just weeks after Romanian President Iohannis visited Berlin. Steinmeier says an important issue he would discuss with top Romanian officials will be to identify joint initiatives for stronger cooperation between the two countries. He said Germany was ready to take part in the creation of units to integrate NATO forces and of a multinational command center in Romania. Regarding German companies active in Romania, he said the extension of infrastructure, better legal safety and fair public tenders would be advantages for Romania in attracting German investments. He also spoke of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, saying it was wrong to believe that sanctions or weaponry deliveries would be a remedy in the Ukrainian conflict.

Key statements in the interview:

• A major focus for his talks with Romanian President, prime minister, minister of Foreign Affairs would be identify common ideas and initiatives for an even closer cooperation between Germany and Romania
• Germany was ready to take part in the creation in Romania of units for NATO forces integration and of a multinational command center
• Extending infrastructure, better legal safety and fair public tenders, as well as an efficient administration would be important advantages for Romania when it comes to future investment decisions in favor of Romania
• Germany will promote a program to support teachers in German ethnic minority schools in Romania
• By signing the Accord of Association with the EU, the Republic of Moldova has set new ground for its relation with the EU. It is a proper ground for Moldovan-European relations – and we’re not speaking about EU accession now, but more of an offer to Chisinau for a deeper collaboration with the EU and for the modernization of Moldova
• It is wrong to believe that sanctions or weapons deliveries would be a remedy for the conflict in Ukraine

Full interview in Romanian here