The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) states, in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Sunday, that the statements made in the public space by Professor Andrei Marga, former head of Romanian diplomacy, regarding Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects, "are unacceptable".

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that the statements made by Mr. Andrei Marga in the public space regarding Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects are unacceptable. These statements are in flagrant contradiction with Romania's official position towards the illegal, unjustified and unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine, as well as with the fundamental principles of international law that currently govern international relations," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasises in its press release.

Also, MAE adds that it "firmly rejects Mr. Marga's position, which takes over, encourages and propagates the malignant narratives issued by Russia".

MAE also shows that it reiterates its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Bucharest also reacted, on Saturday, to Professor Andrei Marga's the statements. "We regret that former minister Andrei Marga of a European and democratic state makes statements that call into question the basic principles of international law, especially the inviolability of borders. Ensuring full respect for these principles is the basis of security and stability on the continent. Such statements are unacceptable under any circumstances. They represent a particularly flagrant violation at a time when Ukraine is heroically defending its independence and the security of the whole of Europe," the Embassy of Ukraine said in a message posted on its Facebook page.

Andrei Marga said, on Friday, on the occasion of the launch of a volume at the "Alba Transilvana" Book Fair in Alba Iulia, that Ukraine is in "unnatural borders" and must cede territories to Russia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. "We are here with an absolutely special situation and I submit it with all responsibility, Ukraine is in unnatural borders. It must cede territories to Hungary - Transcarpathia, Poland - Galicia, Romania - Bucovina and Russia - Donbass and Crimea. They are territories of other countries. We are clinging, that's it, there will be conflict. And I conclude with this, let's be very clear: as long as it is not resolved through a discussion with America and Russia, Germany, Ukraine and China and an agreement is not reached, there will be no peace in Europe. If there is no peace, democracy will suffer," said Andrei Marga, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs between May and August 2012, during Victor Ponta's government.

At the same time, Andrei Marga was Minister of Education in the period 1997-2000, president of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in 2012-2013, rector of the 'Babes-Bolyai' University in Cluj-Napoca between 1993-2004 and 2008-2012, laureate of the Herder prize in 2005. In 2015, he lost a trial under a final ruling after which it was established that he was an informant for the Securitate [political police], during the communist regime. AGERPRES (RO - editor: Marius Fratila; EN - editor: Adina Panaitescu)