Visit to Romania of the Special Representative of the United States of America for the economic recovery of Ukraine, Penny Pritzker

US Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker arrived in Bucharest today. She visited the United Nations Refugee Centre at Romexpo with Romanian officials, including Victoria Stoiciu and Raed Arafat. Penny Pritzker also met with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the Government and with leaders from the private sector. With details Alex Buzica.

Penny Pritzker discussed regional cooperation in Bucharest, including emergency energy assistance for Ukraine, and the long-term benefits of investing in infrastructure in the neighbouring country at war with the Russian Federation.

Penny Pritzker, at the end of her meeting with Marcel Ciolacu, also went on a working visit to the UNHCR Ukrainian refugee centre at Romexpo.

She was accompanied by the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Her Excellency Kathleen Kavalec, Victoria Stoiciu from the Prime Minister's office in charge of refugee integration, the head of the IGSU Raed Arafat and Pablo Zapata, UNHCR representative in Romania.

Penny Pritzker also held a short press conference in the Ukrainian refugee centre in Bucharest where she said that "Romania has so far helped millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war, over 70 thousand of whom have chosen to stay and start a new life in our country.

"Moreover, Romania has sent fuel, energy and medical aid to Ukraine. Romania has invested in its own infrastructure, in ports and also in railway infrastructure, which is necessary when you have a war on the border.

"Your generosity has helped Ukraine and at the same time strengthened you as a country, and now Romania is a regional leader on the eastern flank of NATO and the EU."

"Romania will have a lot to offer in the future as well, because it has a geostrategic location and interest. Also, it can get involved in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, because there are many American and Romanian companies in your country that are ready to invest in the reconstruction of the war-affected neighbouring country."

Victoria Stoiciu, a state advisor in the Prime Minister's Office, who is in charge of the programme for Ukrainian refugees in Romania, also spoke at the event. She told Radio Romania News that the Romanian government supports the refugees in the country but also a future involvement in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. Also, Victoria Stoiciu said that today a family of Ukrainian refugees receives from the Romanian state an aid of 2000 lei, money that is transferred only if the refugees look for work in and send their children to Romanian schools. Whereas before the money was transferred to those from whom the refugees rented their apartments or houses, now the money is transferred directly to the Ukrainian refugee families. The Government representative wanted to point out that at this moment there are about 70.000 thousand Ukrainian refugees in Romania who are working legally and have started a new life.

Translated by: Radu Matei