site.btaBalkan Brief

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Ukraine is an important start – Turkey’s Cavusoglu

Antalya – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Thursday meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Ukraine, Sergey Lavrov and Dmytro Kuleba, is the first since the start of the conflict and commented that while miracles cannot be expected, it is an important start, reports the Turkish state TV TRT Haber.

Cavusoglu said that the sides discussed organizing a leaders’ meeting.

That the two countries are not against a leaders’ meeting in the future and the fact that Ukraine is clearly ready, strengthens our hope that high-level meetings can be organized, the Foreign Minister added. 

He said that despite the difficulties, it was a civilized meeting and the sides defended their positions with no tension and raising of voices. 

Turkey wants these meetings to continue and remain their host if the sides decide so, Cavusoglu said, adding that Russia and Ukraine continue to have confidence in Turkey. 

“We emphasized that a humanitarian corridor should be opened, especially in Mariupol. The parties said they would discuss this issue with the relevant authorities. Coordination is needed here,” said the Turkish Foreign Minister. 

At the moment, Russia has entered these regions and there are also Ukrainian forces. “If there is no coordination and if both sides do not coordinate this issue in the field, the civilians we will evacuate may be in grave danger,” said Cavusoglu.

German Foreign Minister: Ukraine war proves the need to bring Western Balkans closer to EU

Sarajevo – The Ukraine war is a proof of the need to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock quoted by Reuters. She arrived in Sarajevo late on Wednesday and met Thursday with her counterpart Bisera Turkovic. 

At a joint news conference, she said Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina needed to work most closely and intensively on the issue of bringing the Balkan country closer to Europe.

"We want to live together in the European house," said Baerbock.

She said that it is important to stand up against those who threaten peace in Bosnia. “We support those who strengthen the country, not those who are destabilizing it,” she added. 

The Dnevni avaz paper quotes her as saying that democratic and fair elections are important for all countries. “It is important to hold the elections as planned, in October,” said Baerbock.

She thanked Bosnia and Hercegovina for standing behind Germany and 141 UN member states on the matter of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. 

Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic called for stepping up the approval  process of her country’s application for EU candidate country status. In her words, that will help enhance the stability in Bosnia, where Serb separatists are working to break away their region with the tacit support of Russia. 

Slovenian Prime Minister: Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine

Ljubljana – Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said on Thursday as he arrived at a meeting of the European People's Party in Paris, Reuters reported. "Anyone can see that it is against all conventions," he added, referring to recent Russian military actions in Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials said Russian aircraft bombed a children's hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday, injuring pregnant women and burying patients in rubble despite a ceasefire deal for people to flee the city. The regional governor said 17 people were wounded.

Russia has denied accusations made against it by Ukraine and others that it has committed war crimes.

Romanian Prime Minister tells European Commissioner Lenarčič government counts on EU support to meet refugee needs

Bucharest – Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca Thursday received at Victoria Palace European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, who is in charge of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. Ciuca highlighted the importance of Europe's support for Romania and the Republic of Moldova regarding the management of the refugee influx from Ukraine, Agerpres reported.

Ciuca underlined the sustained efforts of the Romanian authorities and stressed that the government counts on the support of the European Commission, the Member States and other partners to respond as effectively as possible to the needs of refugees, the government said in a press release.

The Romanian Prime Minister referred to the "severe humanitarian impact of Russia's unjustified, illegal and unprovoked military aggression" against Ukraine. He emphasized "the strategic need to maintain EU and NATO solidarity and unity in the context of the crisis".

Lenarčič's visit is taking place in the context of the operationalization of the Humanitarian Hub hosted by Romania in Suceava, with support from the European Commission.

"The activation of this logistics center for the storage and distribution of humanitarian assistance reflects the Government's firm commitment to the operative and coherent management of the influx of refugees entering and remaining in Romania," the press release said.