Bucharest, 15 January 1997 (RFE/RL) - Romania's Foreign Ministry says this week's treaty negotiations in Bucharest between Romania and Ukraine explored new proposals for resolving remaining disputes. And the Ministry said the new proposals will be studied, and that the next round of negotiations will be held in Kyiv.
Our Bucharest correspondent reports a negotiating team from Ukraine headed by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Anton Ponteiko held talks with Romania's new Foreign Minister Adrian Severin. Two days of negotiations ended yesterday. Romania's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dmitru Ciausu headed the Romania team.
Romania has previously insisted Ukraine explicitly condemn the secret protocols of the 1939 Hitler-Stalin pact, under which parts of Romania became part of the USSR, and later parts of modern-day Ukraine and Moldova. Ukraine is reluctant, arguing that future territorial claims could arise.
Our correspondent notes completion of the treaty is important for Romania's aspirations to join the European Union and NATO -- each of which insists on resolution of territorial disputes and good relations with neighboring countries. Romania has signed bi-lateral treaties with Bulgaria, the Federation Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia,Montenegro) and Hungary. The treaty with Ukraine, and one with Moldova are still being negotiated.