Gunter Krichbaum
In his address against the backdrop of trade rows, Krichbaum summarized the ministerial conference, recalling that in the face of unprecedented pressure on democratic values, the Council of Europe adopted clear resolutions in defense of Ukraine and human rights.
The German diplomat paid special attention to the situation in Moldova and expressed solidarity with President Maia Sandu, calling her “a very courageous woman”
“She is a very, very courageous woman, especially when it comes to defending the freedom of the Republic of Moldova. It sounds so trivial, but in fact it is extremely difficult – against Russia, against Putin, who (…) decided to issue Russian passports to people living in Transnistria, a narrow strip of Moldova’s territory,” the minister said.
Krichbaum drew a direct parallel with the events in eastern Ukraine and emphasized that the strengthening of Moldova’s security is directly linked to the stability of Europe itself.
“Therefore, we have a great interest in strengthening and supporting Moldova, because by doing so we do it for ourselves as well – for our stability, for our way of living in freedom and security,” the German minister for European affairs said.
The minister explained the choice of such an unusual location for such a serious statement by personal preferences. He admitted that in his free time from official meetings he often visits the market in his hometown in Pforzheim and the district of Enz.
