On March 19, 2025, the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest hosted the high-level “Black Sea Forum: Frontier of the Future for a Secure & Stable Europe.” Among the participants was Mercè Monje Cano, Secretary General of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), who delivered an appeal for inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable strategies for the region.
In her remarks, Ms. Monje Cano thanked the organizers of the event, particularly the Forum of Free Nations of Post-Russia, Paneuropa Romania, and the Romanian Parliament for their leadership in creating a space where crucial geopolitical and democratic questions can be addressed openly.
“It is an honor to speak at such a pivotal moment, and to do so alongside so many voices committed to the freedom and dignity of peoples across the Black Sea and beyond. My gratitude to Olek and the Forum of Free Nations of Post-Russia, Paneuropa Romania, and all involved for supporting nations that continue to be oppressed by authoritarian regimes,” she said.
As Secretary General of an organization that represents nations and peoples without formal representation, Ms. Monje Cano brought a critical perspective often missing from high-level security discussions: that of stateless peoples, oppressed minorities, and those denied a voice in international forums.
She emphasized that UNPO has deep historical ties to the Black Sea region, with founding members such as the Estonians, Latvians, Crimean Tatars, Ingrians, and Chechens. These communities, she noted, have long endured marginalization, displacement, and cultural erasure, experiences that must be acknowledged in any sustainable regional vision.
Key Messages from the UNPO Speech:
- The Rights of Peoples as the Cornerstone of Stability: Peace cannot be built without recognizing the rights and agency of the communities most affected by conflict and repression.
- Inclusive and Re-imagined Alliances: Security strategies must include non-state actors, including indigenous peoples, unrecognized nations, and self-determination movements, as legitimate contributors to regional development.
- Decolonization and Transitional Justice: A post-Russia framework must go beyond power redistribution and directly address the legacies of colonialism, oppression, and denial of representation.
- Security Through Inclusion: True security lies not in militarization, but in protecting human rights, civic space, and democratic participation.
- Economic and Political Resilience: Sustainable development requires a shift away from dependence on authoritarian regimes toward community-centered governance and local empowerment.
- People-Centered Conflict Resolution: Diplomatic processes must actively include affected communities; peace cannot be negotiated over their heads.
Ms. Monje Cano also emphasized that any future agreements concerning the Black Sea region must be rooted in justice and inclusivity. She cautioned that state-centric solutions risk overlooking the legitimate needs and rights of peoples who have borne the cost of geopolitical rivalries.
“The Black Sea is not only a space of strategic interest, it is a living region, home to communities who have been marginalized for too long. They must not only be heard, they must be central in shaping the region’s future,” she urged.
The UNPO’s participation at the forum affirmed a central truth: a just and democratic future for the Black Sea cannot be achieved without the meaningful inclusion of the peoples who live there. By calling for human-centered strategies, the UNPO challenges European and international policymakers to build peace from the ground up—through justice, not dominance; through inclusion, not erasure.
