Europe

Romanian and German president discuss Moldova, security

Associated Press
Published | Updated

German President Joachim Gauck, left, shakes hands with his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis as his partner Daniela Schadt, left, and Carmen Ioannis smile during the official welcoming ceremony at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, June 20, 2016. Joachim Gauck and his partner Daniela Schadt is on a state visit to Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

German President Joachim Gauck, right, reviews an honor guard with his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis during the official welcoming ceremony at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, June 20, 2016. Joachim Gauck and his partner Daniela Schadt is on a state visit to Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

German President Joachim Gauck arrives for the official welcoming ceremony at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, June 20, 2016. Joachim Gauck and his partner Daniela Schadt is on a state visit to Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

The presidents of Romania and Germany have discussed regional issues including the situation in neighboring Moldova and security concerns ahead of a NATO summit in Warsaw.

President Joachim Gauck arrived in Romania Monday and held talks with President Klaus Iohannis, a member of the country's ethnic German community.

Iohannis said he discussed the Black Sea security situation with Gauck. NATO members Romania and Turkey want the alliance to have a fleet in the Black Sea, in the face of growing Russian influence, but another NATO member, Bulgaria, is opposed.

Former Soviet republic Moldova signed an agreement with the European Union in 2014, which Russia opposed. Romania supports Moldova joining the EU.

Gauck will visit the Transylvanian city of Sibiu, home to some of Romania's 40,000 ethnic Germans, on Tuesday.