The republic’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said on Tuesday that he will visit Ukraine “definitely next year”, indicating details are yet to be finalized with Ukrainian authorities.
“As for the visit to Ukraine, certainly next year and when agreed with President Zelensky and the Ukrainian authorities,” he said.
The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces spoke to journalists at the military base of Caracal, Romania, where he traveled to visit the 212 Portuguese soldiers who are there as part of a NATO mission.
PR conveys “confidence and pride” from Portugal to Portuguese soldiers in Romania
The President of the Republic conveyed this Tuesday to the Portuguese soldiers who are in Romania that “Portugal is confident and proud” of its achievement, in a period that he found “difficult, critical, full of uncertainties” because “the war has returned to Europe”.
The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces paid a visit on Tuesday to the 212 Portuguese soldiers of the 2nd National Detached Force integrated into a NATO mission in that country bordering Ukraine.
The military base of Caracal, about 200 kilometers from Bucharest, is home to soldiers from the three branches of the armed forces, but the majority belong to the army.
The Portuguese contingent in Romania also consists of more than 20 special operations soldiers, who are in the country under bilateral agreements.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was received by Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, and the two had a private meeting before addressing the military.
For the Portuguese, Romanian and also North Macedonian soldiers, the President of the Republic stated that this visit has “unique significance” and “increases not only the good relations of the two countries, but also the closeness” he maintains with the armed forces . , “especially in this Christmas season”.
“We live in a difficult, critical period, full of uncertainties. The war has returned to Europe. I am talking about Russia’s unacceptable attack on Ukraine,” he reflected, pointing out that “this ruthless and violent invasion posed a serious threat to European stability, with repercussions at all levels, around the world”.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa indicated that “everything related to the Atlantic alliance concerns Portugal”, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasized that “Portugal has contributed and contributes with a national contingent to the presence of multinational forces on the southeastern flank of the alliance on Romanian territory, an ally and friendly country.”.
The Head of State emphasized that “Portugal has had excellent relations with Romania for a long time”, and indicated that the “presence of Portuguese troops here, which already predetermined the visit of the Portuguese Prime Minister, will make the visit of the Portuguese Prime Minister this Christmas period and the end of the year President of the Republic”.
“To reaffirm, on the one hand, the solidarity and friendship with Romania that stems from the past and continues into the future, and, on the other hand, the Portuguese presence in the Atlantic alliance and its unconditional commitment alongside the Ukrainian people and authorities in defense of their sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he stated.
In a speech to the Portuguese Army, the Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Armed Forces expressed his “public appreciation to all who serve in Romania, to everyone around the world, on practically all continents”.
“Portugal is confident and proud of your achievements, widely recognized and admired for your professionalism and exemplary conduct,” he stressed, wishing all military personnel and their families “a Merry Christmas and a much better 2023”.
During this short visit of about four hours, accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Helena Carreiras, and by the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Nunes da Fonseca, the President of the Republic received military honors upon arrival at the Caracal military base .
After the intervention of the two presidents before the army and statements to the press, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had lunch with the Portuguese contingent at a time without the presence of the media.
The Romanian President noted that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s visit “takes place in a very difficult context for European and Euro-Atlantic security, marked by the Russian aggression against Ukraine” and considered that his presence and that of the Portuguese army in Romania “a special meaning”.
“It is also an expression of the very good relations between the two countries, including in the field of defence, which we will continue to develop,” said Klaus Iohannis.
The Romanian Head of State also considered that “the Portuguese military contingent here in Caracal, together with the North Macedonian army and the two allies, is making an important contribution to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense on this flank, and to strengthening defense and security.” of Romania and its citizens”.
Marcelo says Portugal will “always be on Romania’s side” on joining the Schengen area
The republic’s president said on Tuesday that Portugal “will always be on Romania’s side” regarding that country’s entry into the Schengen area, which its Romanian counterpart labeled as a “national goal of great importance”.
“Portugal was, is and will always be on Romania’s side on the issue of Romania’s access to the Schengen area,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said at a joint press conference with Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis.
The President of the Republic stressed that this is “a position that is not just national, it is a European position of Portugal”.
Marcelo believed that “it is important that the European Union reconsider the recently adopted position as soon as possible, so that both Romania and Bulgaria, but specifically Romania, can join the Schengen area”.
“European solidarity cannot be partial or unilateral solidarity, it must be global, and global solidarity means on issues so important, at a time as serious as the one we are living through, avoiding additional problems to those we face all already have in Europe and in the world”, defended Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The Portuguese president referred to the decision of the Council of the European Union of December 8 that once again denied Bulgaria and Romania access to the Schengen area of free movement of persons, recommended by the European Commission, but rejected by Austria and the Basses.
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis said he was “100% convinced that Romania will become part of the Schengen area” and indicated that “this will remain a national objective of great importance”.
The Romanian head of state noted that it is not possible to talk about a concrete date and said that authorization for membership could be possible next year.
In the press statement, the Portuguese president indicated that another theme that was discussed was the “enlargement of the European Union” and the “importance of sensitivity not only for Ukraine and Moldova, but also for the states of the Western Balkans, and how this requires that the European Union has political determination and adequate economic and financial preparation”.
“We also talked about the importance of the southern flank. The Atlantic Alliance is very clearly present from the Atlantic to Eastern Europe, from Northern Europe to the South and, of course, in the same way that Romania has this Tuesday and for the future counts. with the Portuguese presence, namely military, we also count on the Romanian willingness to be sensitive to the southern flank of the Atlantic alliance and the European Union, a flank that is of course essential for all of us,” he added.
Romania’s president expressed his country’s support for the enlargement of the European Union, “both with regard to the Western Balkans and with regard to its eastern partners”.
Source: DN
