H.E. Mrs. Larisa Miculet:

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I want to say at the beginning that Georgia is in a better position today. I was eager to meet all the members, but Covid worked against it. Two weeks after we opened the embassy the lockdown was installed here. However, I am going to work very closely with the committee.

Regarding Transnistria, it is well known that there are still Russian forces there. The number is well known. It is approximately 1,400. Of this number, 400 are peacekeepers. As regards the peacekeepers, our position is that they achieved their goal already and in the new situation there is a need for a new format. I will stop there. With regard to the Russian forces that are not peacekeepers, we always call on Russia to withdraw these according to international obligations. What I want to say today especially is that we still are in that very dangerous environment, with high risks. I reiterate that the situation remains calm so far. There is no visible involvement of Transnistria or Russian forces in the conflict. The risk remains high. A lot will depend on developments in Odessa. I hope from the depths of my heart that there will be good developments or no developments at all and that the situation will be maintained in my country in that region as it is today.

With regard to the 500, I probably work well in this country as I already knew about the 500, but I was waiting for official confirmation. I thank the Deputy for confirming that. Yes, I hope that even today or in my future meetings we will be able together to increase that, perhaps, but let us start from something. We are already very grateful for such example and such assistance. I was asking for this when talking to officials. Again, I thank the Irish Government and Irish society for the €20 million package of support that went to the UN Refugee Agency. I know some money will also go to Moldova. It is going to be a great humanitarian and political support to Ukrainian refugees and to my country, which is helping and supporting in this process and, by the way, performing its obligations as a member of the international community. It is right to do it.