ForMin Melescanu holds discussions with European official on EU-Central Asia cooperation

Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu discussed in Bucharest with the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, Peter Burian, about the situation in Central Asia and the cooperation between the EU and this region.

"The two interlocutors had an exchange of views on the overall situation in Central Asia, highlighting the phase and perspectives of the main developments in the five Central Asian states and the potential for the development of the EU-Central Asia cooperation," reads a Foreign Ministry (MAE) release.

According to the press release, the presence in Bucharest of the EU Special Representative was for holding a round of in-depth consultations on Central Asia, including in the context of the preparation of Romania's half-yearly Presidency of the Council of the EU as of January 1, 2019, which will coincide with the launch of the revised EU Strategy for Central Asia.

The quoted source mentions that the EU official had a round of consultations with State Secretary Dan Neculaescu, context in which the prospects for strengthening Romania's cooperation with the Central Asian states in order to contribute to the EU's commitment in the region were addressed.

"Also, the Romanian state secretary presented Romania's diplomatic actions in relation to the Central Asian states in order to ensure effective coordination, including in the light of EU objectives in Central Asia," the statement reads.

The MAE states that, in the context, the European official thanked Romania for its active contribution to the development of the EU action in Central Asian states. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Florea, editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Bogdan Gabaroi, editor: Simona Iacob)