Jerusalem: Frictions between Presidency and Foreign Ministry

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said the Government had not consulted the Presidency before blocking the Joint EU Declaration to denounce US decision to move its Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

President announced he would call on Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu to explain position taken by Romania's representatives at the discussion on the matter within the European External Action Service (EEAS). Head of State underlined the need for a predictable foreign policy and also Romanian citizens’ desire to be an integral part of the core of Europe.

Klaus Iohannis: This is another example of how badly the Romanian Social Democrats (PSD) rule. It is the second time they are trying to maneuver foreign policy and it’s not right, as they do a lot of things that are not right and end badly. I want to remind you that Romanians are Europeans and that these increasingly frequent anti-European measures, which come along the PSD line, really risk getting us out of Europe.

RRA Reporter: Klaus Iohannis has also said that no move has been yet made to move the Romanian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but that this decision cannot be taken without his consent.

In turn, Romanian Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that it rejected the text proposed by EEAS to be endorsed by EU Member States after a complex analysis and taking into account the complicated regional context.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the text is unbalanced by focusing on one element only, namely the move of European diplomatic representations in Israel to Jerusalem.

Foreign Ministry's communiqué also mentions that similar positions have been adopted by other EU Member States, namely Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei