Romanian foreign minister seeks closer Russia ties

BUCHAREST - The Associated Press

AP photo

Romania's foreign minister says his country should improve its strained relations with Russia.

The relations between the two nations have deteriorated after Bucharest granted Romanian citizenship to thousands of people in the neighboring former Soviet republic of Moldova.

But Andrei Marga says in an interview broadcast Friday that the two should undertake actions to warm up ties.

Marga, who became foreign minister earlier this month, told Digi24.ro there were "joint energy projects" in the works.

Romania's President Traian Basescu is staunchly pro-American. After Romanian joined the European Union in 2007, his government began to grant Romanian citizenship to thousands in Moldova, which was part of Romania until 1940. The move irked Russia which seeks to maintain a strong influence in the country of 4.1 million