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ForMin Aurescu: there are no Romanian citizens affected by Iranian missile attack in Erbil
Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu has stated in Brussels on Wednesday that there are no Romanian citizens affected by the Iranian missile attack in Erbil.
"Taking into account that a series of missiles also targeted the Erbil region, where a community of approximately 180 Romanian citizen is found, through the Consulate General of Romania in Erbil, we have confirmed the fact that the Romanian citizens are not affected by these developments," he mentioned.
The Iraqi military command has announced on Wednesday that 22 Iranian missiles were fired at two military bases housing U.S. forces on Iraq's territory without killing any Iraqi forces. It represented Iran's retaliation against U.S. interests, which killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on Friday, AFP reported.
According to Aurescu, "the Romanian servicemen who are part of the Coalition against Daesh haven't been affected by these attacks."
În his opinion, there is a series of "concerning developments and an escalation of tensions," and Romania is making a firm call "to de-escalation."
"We have noted a series of concerning developments and an escalation of tensions - firm promises of direct retaliation or through some proxies. Moreover, we have seen new attacks on the facility of the anti-Daesh coalition, acting in Iraq," Aurescu said.
He also brought to mind the resolution that the Iraqi Parliament adopted to demand the foreign military forces to leave the Iraqi territory, "which, nevertheless, doesn't contribute to ease the situation, particularly taking into account that the forces of the Coalition against Daesh are aimed at training Iraqi military to respond to the challenge represented by the Islamic State."
"We have equally noted a statement of Iran under which it further disengages the participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program, which, as well, doesn't contribute to a positive evolution in this file," the Romanian Foreign Minister pointed out.
In this context, Aurescu said, "Iran's missile attack on bases in Iraq hosting U.S. servicemen and those of the Coalition against Daesh does not contribute in any case and in any way to the reduction of tensions in Iraq and in the region, but on the contrary, it can lead to an additional deterioration of the security situation in Iraq and in the neighbourhood."
"It is a possible severe deterioration of this situation. Therefore, Romania is firmly reiterating its call to de-escalation," Bogdan Aurescu underscored.
Iran's missiles attack on two US military bases in Iraq "could lead to a serious deterioration of the security in the region," showed a message posted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) on its Twitter page.
"Iran's missiles attack on the Iraq-based US military bases do not contribute in any way to the relieving of the tensions in the area and could lead to a serious deterioration of the security in the region. Romania reiterates its firm call to reducing the tensions," reads the MAE message.
The Iraqi military command on Wednesday announced that 22 Iranian missiles fell on two military bases on the Iraqi territory "without making any victims among the Iraqi forces," as retaliation from Iran against the US interests, after the US killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Friday, according to the AFP.