Romania, in its various forms, has been attacked by the Russian Federation 17 times in history, and the United States has always been an ally, Bogdan Ivan said on Tuesday at the regional conference "The Economist Romania Government Roundtable".
"From the very beginning, we understood how important energy security is in the region. Romania is a country in the middle of the vertical corridor. So, we supply gas and energy to the Union, but it is not enough. We have a strategic decision that we have to make. We have to choose correctly and, as Ambassador Guilfoyle (US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle n.r.) said, see how we can ensure that we are no longer dependent on Russian gas. It is important that we are not blocked by the lack of funding and, thus, prevented from making a decision in the area. This is a joint decision. Everyone says yes, but the reality is that changes come slowly. From this perspective, we have a chance to all sit down at the table and stop the supply of Russian gas, so that our resources are mixed in such a way that we offer an energy mix at a affordable, constant price, for at least the next 20-25 years. If we look back, Romania, in its various forms, has been attacked by the Russian Federation 17 times in history. In our history, the United States has always been an ally. This is also valid for the future. It is clear who our partners should be. It is not about choosing between the United States or the European Union. This is an erroneous perspective. It is about how we could increase our energy independence. At this moment we are seeing how important the existence of a combined energy supply chain is," explained Bogdan Ivan.
He also said that, worldwide, over 80% of energy is produced from non-renewable sources, emphasizing the need to return to nuclear energy.
In his opinion, Romania can no longer wait regarding the vertical corridor, but must make decisions and act immediately.
Major economic topics such as financial stability, investments, technological transformation, competitiveness and sustainability of public systems are on the agenda of the high-level regional conference The Economist Romania Government Roundtable, organized by The Economist editorial group in Bucharest, between March 30 and April 1.
High-ranking Romanian officials are entering into dialogue these days with officials from the region and at European level, as well as with business leaders, in sessions moderated by Joan Hoey and Alasdair Ross, editors of The Economist.
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