Ukraine continues works at Bastroe canal, Romania demands ceasing of all unilateral acts

Ukraine notified Romania that it conducts dredging operations on the Chilia part of Danube, within the Bastroe project, starting in July, the Foreign Ministry spokesman declared for NewsIn. Ukraine thus defies all international authorities and their recommendations, also breaking its assumed commitments.

„The Environment Ministry, responsible for the mutual cooperation with Ukraine in all matters regarding the management of frontier waters, was recently notified by the homologue Ukrainian institution, the note informing that Ukraine will begin dredging works on the Chilia arm of the Danube, within the Danube – Black Sea deep water navigable canal”, said Cosmin Boiangiu, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.

Romania asked Ukraine to refrain from any one-sided activities that would come against international authorities or against the repeatedly assumed commitments.

Ukraine was recently warned by several international organizations, as well as parties within international conventions – the Espoo Convention, the Berne Convention, the Aarhus Convention, the Ramsar Convention, along with UNESCO, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River – being asked to cease all activities related to the Bastroe canal.

Studies made by the organizations named above indicate that the project has a negative impact on the Danube ecosystem.