On 10 October, an official ceremony was held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, to inaugurate the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine, headed by Vasile Ruscovan, a Romanian citizen of Ukrainian origin.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Olexandr Mischenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania Ihor Prokopchuk, Prefect of Cluj County Maria Forna, representatives of regional and local authorities, members of the Ukrainian community, volunteers, and Romanian citizens who support the development of Ukrainian-Romanian relations.
Addressing the ceremony, Olexandr Mischenko emphasized that the opening of the Honorary Consulate marked an important step in implementing the strategy of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha to expand Ukraine’s diplomatic presence abroad and demonstrated the commitment of both countries to further strengthening their strategic partnership. He underscored that the city of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, and Transylvania have significant potential for developing cooperation with Ukrainian regions in the fields of economy and investment, innovation and digital technologies, education and science, culture, tourism, and interregional cooperation.
“Our strategic course towards membership in the European Union is irreversible. In this context, Romania is not only Ukraine’s neighbour and strategic partner, but also an important ally on our European path,” Olexandr Mischenko stated.
The Deputy Minister expressed gratitude to Romanian partners for their unwavering and multifaceted support for Ukraine. He extended particular appreciation to the authorities of the region for their consistent support of the Ukrainian community and Ukrainians who have found temporary refuge in Romania during the war, as well as for their condemnation of Russian aggression. He noted that this principled stance has been translated into concrete decisions by the municipal authorities, including measures to prevent performances by Russian artists and the use of Russian national symbols by Russian athletes during sporting events in the city.
Olexandr Mischenko highlighted the personal contribution of Vasile Ruscovan to assisting Ukraine. Even before his appointment as Honorary Consul, he had actively supported Ukrainian defenders, facilitated Ukrainian cultural and volunteer initiatives in Romania, and promoted economic ties between the two countries. In particular, he provided assistance to Ukrainian cities affected by Russian attacks and actively supported the Ukrainian community in the region.
Operating under the guidance of the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania, the Honorary Consulate will focus on supporting Ukrainians in the region, establishing new partnerships between businesses and local communities, and deepening cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Romania.
During his visit to Cluj-Napoca, the Deputy Minister held a meeting with Mayor Emil Boc. The parties discussed prospects for deepening cooperation between Ukrainian and Romanian local communities, developing intermunicipal ties, and implementing joint projects, particularly in the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine. Olexandr Mischenko particularly acknowledged Mayor Emil Boc’s personal role in strengthening Ukrainian-Romanian relations at the local level and his principled stance in opposing Russian aggression.
During a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community, Olexandr Mischenko expressed appreciation for their efforts to preserve Ukrainian national identity, their active volunteer engagement, the provision of humanitarian assistance, and their support for Ukraine’s Defence Forces in the face of Russian aggression.
The Deputy Minister also participated in the conference entitled “Cluj-Napoca – A New Bridge Between Ukraine and Romania: Diplomacy, Cooperation, Security, Economy and the European Perspective”, organized with the support of Babeș-Bolyai University. In his address, he focused on the security challenges facing the Black Sea region as a result of Russian aggression, as well as the importance of deepening Ukrainian-Romanian cross-border cooperation, expanding economic ties, and undertaking joint efforts to strengthen regional security.