Terrorism, a global challenge

Romania wishes to have a significant contribution to international efforts to combat terrorism

Valentin Țigău, 30.03.2015, 13:53

Crowds marched in Tunis on Sunday to affirm their determination to carry on anti-terrorism efforts. People of all ages protested in front of the Bardo Museum, where a terrorist attack killed 22 people, mostly foreign tourists, on March 18. Protesters thus answered the call of the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, who attended the international march, alongside major foreign political leaders, including the French President Francois Hollande, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Prime Ministers of Italy, Matteo Renzi and Algeria, Abdelmalek Sellal.

Romania was represented by its Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. On behalf of the country, the latter firmly condemned all acts of terrorism, and conveyed a message of support for the authorities in Tunis. “The tragic attack at Bardo Museum has once again brought to the forefront the need for closer and more efficient international cooperation in fighting all forms of terrorism,” the Romanian diplomat said, according to a news release published by the Foreign Ministry.

Minister Bogdan Aurescu recalled that Romania proposed the creation of a new judicial instrument — an international court for crimes of terrorism. Bogdan Aurescu had talks with his Tunisian counterpart, Taieb Baccouche, with the Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament and the President of Tunisia, Beji Caid Essebsi, to whom he conveyed Romania’s feeling of solidarity with the Tunisian people.

While in Tunis, the Romanian Minister also held talks with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo, who also expressed support for the proposal to set up an international court for terrorism. The two officials agreed that legal experts should work together to outline the concept.

The Romanian initiative also received support from the Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders, who travelled together with Minister Aurescu to Tunis, after a brief official visit to Bucharest. The Dutch official said he welcomed the idea of a special court to try acts of terrorism, and that he would analyse, together with the Romanian party, the possibility to create such as institution.