H.E. Dr. Laureniu-Mihai tefan:

I think there are now three European hubs in Poland, Romania and Slovakia, if I am not wrong, which means better co-ordination. Ireland could direct some specific items like those enumerated by H.E. Sochaska to one of these countries. Again I emphasise, as I said in my opening remarks and as members heard an hour ago, the need to help Moldova. Moldova is in need of logistical support. We have mature democracies and our systems are ready to take on board and co-ordinate efforts. We greatly need them, that is for sure. Of course, better co-ordination at European level and focused assistance is still necessary but attention should be on Moldova because it is taking a huge inflow of refugees. H.E. Miculet has told the committee they are overwhelmed. The political situation is also critical there; they have Russian troops very close to the border. I would focus a lot of attention in terms of the political dimension, providing the European perspective to Moldova, but also help by going into the field, taking a delegation to Chiinu and to Georgia as well. I am not saying Georgia is not important or is not under fire. Maybe we are much more sensitive to Moldova because we have a lot of refugees coming via Moldova to Romania.

There is a need for public attention. Sometimes we ask for specific help but attention, visits and discussions like this one, public awareness, are very important. As we speak here we are in the midst of a hybrid war. Of course Ukrainians are having the malchanceand unhappy situation of fighting a real war. We are fighting a hybrid war and we have to have our public opinion with us and we have to support Ukraine. We have to let Ukraine and countries like Georgia and Moldova know that we share the same values and we stand publicly and look at means to help them. I am sure visits from officials from Ireland, a country that is small in terms of size but very influential at the global level, would make a difference. That is why I am insisting on going as is the Georgian ambassador. Just go and see the country, talk to people; it would be easy for Irish representatives to take the message back home.

In terms of the assessment of the situation, as H.E. Sochaska said, everybody is concerned. It is unpredictable. Clearly Putin is hurt by the reaction of the Ukrainian people and the strong reaction by the European Union and NATO members. I am sure it was a shock for him to see all these like-minded countries acting together; his reactions may be improvisatory. I am not sure whether he would use chemical or nuclear weapons, God forbid, but as we just saw, he is trying to stretch the limits of armed physical and hybrid aggression also. We have to be prepared. We have to be prepared to stick together. As someone said, if you want peace, prepare for war. This is not something I would like to say but more troops to Romania, Poland and Baltic countries will be necessary because we have to be prepared if we want to defend. If this is what we want we have to be ready.