„United around our values/United for Europe” is the motto under which the 4th summit of the Council of Europe took place on Tuesday and Wednesday in Reykjavik, during the mandate of Iceland’s presidency. The meeting took place in the geopolitical context generated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It should be noted that the institution responsible for democracy, human rights and the rule of law was one of the first international organizations to react through a concrete action, namely by excluding Russia from among the member states.
For Romania, participating in this high-level meeting has a special significance, because in 2023, it marks 30 years since it joined the Strasbourg-based institution as a full member state. The decision regarding Romania’s accession was made in 1993, at the first summit of the Council. Bucharest is a firm supporter of the values of the Council of Europe, especially those regarding the rule of law, values that are sometimes subject to challenges in some member states, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday, in Reykjavik.
He showed that these values should be kept at the center of attention and it is essential to act firmly against extremism, populism, xenophobia and intolerance. The Romanian president stated that democratic countries support Ukraine and its citizens. „Russia’s war is an attack on our common values and principles. But this crisis, the most severe since the end of the Second World War, catalyzed our unity and determination to defend the democratic way of life” Klaus Iohannis added. He mentioned that, at the summit, a declaration was adopted establishing a ‘Register of Damage’ caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
„This register is a first step for the establishment of a structure to compensate for all the damages caused by the war. Thus, we reaffirm the commitment of the participating states to the importance of achieving the objective to bring to international justice the persons responsible for planning and committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine”, stated Klaus Iohannis.
On the other hand, the Romanian head of state announced the adoption of a political document, part of the summit declaration, which affirms the recognition, at the highest political level, of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right closely related to other human rights and international law. At the same time, the activity of the Council of Europe in the field will be boosted and, in the future, a Committee for the Environment and human rights will be established.
Leyla Cheamil, Radio Romania International
