Südosteuropa 62 (2014), no. 3, 373-384 DOSSIER: PERSPECTIVES ON THE UKRAINIAN CRISIS, II JULIEN DANERO IGLESIAS Ukraine, Romania, and Romanians in Ukraine Abstract. Romanian authorities kept a low profile with respect to the turmoil in ukraine until new pro-European leaders took power in Kyiv . Since then, Romania has tried to assume the role of a regional leader by supporting the new Ukrainian authorities against Russia . But relations between Romania and Ukraine have been tense for a long time, mainly because of border and minorities issues. Examining these two intermingled questions, the present article assesses the current state of the relationship by showing what issues still remain to be tackled by both sides . Particular emphasis is given to issues raised by the Romanian minority in Ukraine, which is in the spotlight at the moment . Julien Danero Iglesias is Research Associate in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow . Recent events in ukraine have been watched with great attention in neighbour- ing Romania . Romania sees these events as crucial for national security and of geopolitical significance. The Romanian media have covered the ukrainian events intensively since the first demonstrations in Kyiv. Romanian journalists have emphasized a connection between what they view as a “revolution” in the ukrainian capital and the previous 2004 “orange revolution”. They have adopted a strongly anti-Russian tone and have focused particularly on the fate of the local Romanian minority in the northern Bucovina region of southern Ukraine . Meanwhile, the Romanian authorities maintained a low profile.1 However, as soon as Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted and new pro- Western authorities took charge in Kyiv, the Romanian authorities demonstrated that they have opted for what a Romanian editorialist has called the “Polish variant”, meaning a firm reaction towards Russia. 2 The Romanian authorities 1 Horia-Victor Lefter, La crise ukrainienne vue de Roumanie, Regard sur l’Est, 5 February 2014, available at <http://www.regard-est.com/home/breve_contenu.php?id=1466> . All internet sources were accessed on 7 october 2014. 2 Sabina Fati, Ce poate face Băsescu pentru ucraina sau cum să le punem ruşilor piciorul în uşă, România liberă, 29 january 2014, available at <http://www.romanialibera.ro/opinii/editorial/ ce-poate-face-basescu-pentru-ucraina-sau-cum-sa-le-punem-rusilor-piciorul-in-usa-324479> . 374 Julien Danero Iglesias were among the first to support and recognise the new government in ukraine. President Traian Băsescu described the presence of Russian troops in ukraine as an “aggression”.3 Minister of Foreign affairs Titus Corlăţean, who visited Ukraine in March, showed full support to the new authorities in Kyiv, stating that “Romanians have sympathised with the ukrainian people in their aspira- tion for democratic life, a free and European life” 4. Currently, Romanian and Ukrainian authorities seem to be developing new partnerships as new agreements are signed . Romania shows a willingness to serve as an advocate for a western-oriented Ukraine . However, much as the Republic of Moldova has benefited from the events in ukraine in its effort to strengthen its relationship with the European Union,5 Romania has benefited in its desire to position itself as an important actor for regional stability . Romania seems to have earned the attention of both the united States and NaTo. according to Mark Gitenstein, a former US ambassador to Romania, the country has become “the most trustworthy ally in the region”, both as “a bulkhead against any fur - ther (Russian) expansion” and as “the anchor in southeast Europe for NaTo”. 6 The Romanian authorities and the new Ukrainian authorities share common anti-Russian positions, as was demonstrated in last May when, like Ukraine, Romania closed its airspace to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitryi Rogozin, who was returning to Moscow after visiting Transnistria .7 Rogozin reacted by saying that he would return in a Tu-160 bomber the next time.8 Russia is per- ceived in Romania as acting “irrationally”, and events in ukraine are presented as a threat to Romania’s national security.9 Representing the “eastern border of 3 Călin Marchievici, ucraina: În sfârșit, România își joacă activ cărțile, Cotidianul, 10 March 2014, available at <http://www.cotidianul.ro/ucraina-in-sfarsit-romania-isi-joaca-activ- cartile-233699/>. 4 Romanian Ministry of Foreign affairs, Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean Lays Wreath in Kiev’s Independence Square, press release, 10 March 2014, available at <http://www.mae. ro/en/node/25316>. 5 Julien Danero Iglesias, La crise ukrainienne vue de Moldavie, Regard sur l’Est, 5 February 2014, available at <http://www.regard-est.com/home/breve_contenu.php?id=1467&PHPSES SID=920ab6c3446d044c9fcfdb7a75f551a7>. 6 Paul Singer, Romania, Wary of Russia, Seeks Embrace of West, USA Today, 3 June 2014, available at <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/06/03/romania-russia- moldova/9840231/>. 7 Lally Weymouth, “The Russian Threat Is a Reality”. an Interview with Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean, Slate, 30 april 2014, available at <http://www.slate.com/articles/ news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/04/titus_corl_ean_interview_romania_s_foreign_minister_ on_russia_putin_and.html>. 8 Reuters, Russian Deputy PM Sends Bomber Tweet after Romania Airspace Ban, The Guardian, 10 May 2014, available at <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/10/russian- deputy-pm-bomber-tweet-romania-dmitry-rogozin> . 9 Traian Băsescu, Declaraţia de presă a preşedintelui României, domnul Traian Băsescu, 7 September 2014, available at <http://presidency.ro/?_RID=det&tb=date&id=15218&_PRID=ag>. Ukraine, Romania and Romanians in Ukraine 375 both NATO and the European Union”, Romania increased defence spending10 and called on NATO during the recent NATO summit in Wales to reinforce its presence in the country . Bucharest noted with unease that a Ukrainian separa- tist leader said he would be happy only when the army of New Russia reaches the border of Romania . At the same time, Ukrainian President Poroshenko told the BBC that Russia could occupy not only Kyiv but also Warsaw, Tallinn, Riga or Bucharest 11. The situation in Ukraine was now so tense that the Romanian government considers it “extremely, extremely grave”,12 and 67 .3% of the popu- lation in Romania declared recently that they were frightened by the events .13 For the Romanian authorities, the only alternative would have been to become part of a “cordon sanitaire” made up of countries such as Bulgaria or Hungary, which depend on Russia for energy 14. Romania, in contrast, can afford to take an anti-Russian position, as it produces approximately 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas while consuming 12.5 billion cubic meters, and only the shortfall is imported from Russia . Storage capacities have been raised, and Romania is the only state in the region now able to meet its own needs 15. In this context, according to Prime Minister Victor Ponta, sanctions imposed on Russia and Russian countersanctions “have an economic effect” but “it is a price that- de serves to be paid” 16. Despite these recent developments, it must be said that the relationship between Romania and ukraine has not been “cordial” in recent years.17 The 10 Romania to Boost Defence Spending this Year, Reuters, 28 april 2014, available at <http:// uk.reuters.com/article/2014/04/28/uk-romania-defence-budget-iduKKBN0DE0Y920140428>. 11 Antonio Glodeanu / ana Stan, violenţele se reiau în ucraina după 30 de ore de pace: separatiştii vor să ajungă până la graniţa cu România, Adevărul, 7 September 2014, available at <http://adevarul.ro/international/europa/violentele-reiau-ucraina-30-ore-pace-explozii- puternice-avut-loc-mariupol-separatistii-vor-ajunga-granita-romania-1_540b8d270d133766 a8eaeb63/index.html>. 12 Romania, Moldova, Georgia “alarmed” about ukraine, Associated Press, 29 august 2014, available at <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11315850>. 13 Mădălina Mihalache, Sondaj: Românii şi spaima de Rusia, Adevărul, 22 September 2014, available at <http://adevarul.ro/news/politica/infografie-sondaj-romaniisi-spaima-rusia- 1_541f0f140d133766a850d889/index.html>. 14 Fati, Ce poate face Băsescu pentru ucraina. 15 Adina vlad, Gazprom a dat drumul robinetului de gaze pentru România. După reducerile de vineri, livrările se fac la parametri normali sâmbătă şi duminică, Adevărul, 13 September 2014, available at <http://adevarul.ro/economie/stiri-economice/gazprom-dat- drumul-robinetului-gaze-romania-reducerile-vineri-livrarile-fac-parametri-normali-sambata- duminica-1_541429d00d133766a81924e3/index.html>. 16 Idem . 17 Marian Chiriac, Romania Risks Russian Ire with Ukraine Military Deal, Balkan Insight, 11 March 2014, available at <http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romania-ukraine-sign- military-cooperation-agreement> . 376 Julien Danero Iglesias “troublesome neighbourhood”18 has long been “captive to common misun- derstandings”, and “negative stereotypes, wrong perceptions and historical background disputes” have prevented both countries from cooperating, despite their common interests in the region .19 Historical Tensions over Borders and Minorities While the normalisation of relations between Romania and Ukraine can be seen mainly as the result of Romania’s accession to the European union and NATO,20 the demarcation of the more than 600 kilometre long border between the countries and the presence