March 30, 2018 UPDATE

Romanian diplomat in Russia declared persona non grata, Foreign Ministry confirms

Newsroom, 30.03.2018, 19:45

DIPLOMACY – The Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dăncilă Friday took part in a meeting of the heads of EU diplomatic missions in Bucharest. The Prime Minister presented the priorities of her Cabinet in 2018, including the modernisation of the national economy, the introduction of measures to prepare the Eurozone accession and the preparations for the presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019. Of the topics currently on the EU agenda, the participants discussed the future of the Union, the security of the bloc and the EU multi-annual budget. The meeting was organised by the Embassy of Bulgaria, the country that is holding the EU presidency at the moment.

TENSIONS – The Romanian Foreign Ministry Friday confirmed that a Romanian diplomat accredited in Russia was declared a persona non grata, after Romania adopted a similar measure in solidarity with the UK. Previously, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu had said the decision was a means for Romania to express its solidarity in the wake of the grave incidents in Britain. Meanwhile, the expulsion of 60 US diplomats and the closing down of a consulate in Russia marks a further deterioration of the US-Russia relations, the White House said after Russias move on Thursday. The Kremlins decision was a tit-for-tat response to Washingtons measures against Russia, in a show of solidarity with Britain after a former Russian double agent and his daughter had been poisoned. The US expelled 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closing of Russias consulate in Seattle. The spokesperson for the US State Department Heather Nauert said Washington is now reviewing all its options.

CONDOLENCES – Russias Embassy in Bucharest has thanked all the Romanian citizens who expressed their condolences and sympathy for the families of the victims of the tragic incident in Kemerovo. On Thursday and Friday a condolences book was opened at Russias diplomatic office, to honour the 64 victims, including 41 children. On Wednesday, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, sent a message of condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)