The purpose of the conference attended by the foreign ministers of Canada, Italy, Austria, Finland, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway and the Czech Republic either live or via video was to garner political support for and express solidarity with Moldova, mobilise international assistance to help the country provide for Ukrainian refugees, launch a platform for helping Moldova continue its reform process and discuss its energy security.

In his address, State Secretary Dr Raščan in his capacity as Minister of Development Cooperation reiterated Slovenia’s strong political support for and expressed solidarity with Moldova, which is facing a complex humanitarian, refugee, energy and security crisis due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He went on to reaffirm Slovenia’s support for Moldova’s European perspective and outlined the measures Slovenia envisages for assisting Moldova in dealing with the humanitarian and refugee crisis. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry will finance a project to be implemented by ITF Enhancing Human Security entitled “Medical and psycho-social assistance to Ukrainian children refugees in Moldova” in the amount of EUR 25,000 and a project to be implemented by the Ministry’s strategic partner for humanitarian aid, Caritas Slovenia, entitled “Hot meals for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova” in the amount of EUR 30,000.

State Secretary Dr Raščan condemned in the strongest terms the Russian aggression against Ukraine, particularly attacks on civilian targets and crimes against humanity, including the horrific mass killings of civilians in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities.