Interim President Ilie Bolojan said on Wednesday that Romania's membership of the EU, NATO and the relation with the United States of America have been the pillars of the foreign policy during his time in office.

Ilie Bolojan, who took stock of the months he spent at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, said that Romania's EU membership provides conditions for prosperity and development, but also values. At the same time, he emphasised the importance of NATO membership, the strengthening of relations with the USA and the Strategic Partnership.

'The second pillar has been NATO membership and the relationship with the United States of America, because NATO is an efficient and respected entity as long as the main military force that ensures NATO's functioning and reaction capability is present and maintains all its commitments. The strengthening of the relationship with the United States and the strategic partnership has been the second important pillar,' the interim president told a press conference held at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

Ilie Bolojan mentioned that he took office as interim president 'in difficult conditions', with a 'low' level of trust in the institution.

'We were coming after the annulment of the presidential elections at the end of last year, in a climate of social tensions, and the mandate was also carried out in rather difficult conditions. Low authority, as you know, that an interim president has, because he doesn't have the millions of votes behind him and the length of his mandate. Moreover, in a pre-campaign and election campaign period, where, whatever you do, things are interpreted in an electoral key. Furthermore, in conditions of turbulence in international politics: from the war in Ukraine, from the inconstant dialogue between the US and the EU - tariffs, other approaches,' he went on to say.

Mr Bolojan added that Romania has had 'clear and constant' positions regarding the war in Ukraine, where our country has supported 'a just peace' and respect for international law.

'As far as the Republic of Moldova is concerned, we have always supported the partnership with this country, a sister to us. And we have done everything possible to strengthen co-operation relations from all points of view. Moreover, Romania's positions within the EU and the European Council have been predictable, convergent with the Romanian government, and in this way I believe that in this short period of time we have contributed to consolidating an image of a state and a country that one can rely on, a predictable and safe country,' the interim president showed.

Ilie Bolojan also said that in these months he had 'important' discussions related to defence, aimed at consolidating the Eastern Flank in NATO, strengthening the national defence industry, its integration into the value chains of the European military industry, but also access to European funds.

He mentioned that one of his priorities was the collaboration with the Government and thanked former prime minister Marcel Ciolacu and all the ministers.

'Under conditions of high budget deficit, political instability means even greater complications and if we have done something, I believe that this stability has contributed to the development of normal processes and has been an important direction. It is appropriate to thank the Romanian Government, former prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, and all the ministers for the cooperation we had, which meant that in terms of external positions, on energy and competitiveness components, we had elaborated positions and all the commitments we made were respected and the directions were established together with the Government,' interim president Ilie Bolojan also explained. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Irinela Visan; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)