Romania’s Foreign Ministry: Russia aims to stop Georgia’s EU and NATO integration

An international foreign affairs expert believes Russia is a real threat to Georgia and is eager to stop the country's planned European Union (EU) and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Romania’s Foreign Minister, Titus Corlăţean said "Russian threat is a reality" and were keen to halt any European or Euro-Atlantic process of enlargement in the region of the Black Sea.

This announcement was made in response to a journalist's question whether Russia was going to invade Georgia again. Corlăţean was originally speaking about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and Russia's aggression in the region with the Washington Post.

He said: "Already 30 percent of Georgia is under Russian [control]. They are willing to stop any European or Euro-Atlantic process of enlargement in the region of the Black Sea. It is our task to support those countries to become members of both the EU and NATO. This is wish of Georgia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.”

In the interview, Corlăţean spoke much about Russia’s threats to neighbouring states. He said he was worried about Romania, as the country shared a long border with Ukraine, but for the whole region as well.

"Not only for my country but for the region - for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and for Georgia, yes,” he said.

Corlăţean believed Russia would not stop with Crimea and it would remain very active in the region. 

"That is why we have to be very firm,” he added.

Romania is the only country in Europe in which the missile defence system will be deployed by the US and NATO. The NATO missile defence system remained to be a bone of contention in US-Russian relations. In 2015, the system will be operational [in Romania].

Earlier this week Georgia’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania called for NATO to put "air defence and anti-armour capabilities in Georgia" in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.