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PM Dancila: Romania's Embassy in Israel will be moved to Jerusalem
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced that Romania's Embassy in Israel will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
"Romania's Government initiated an assessment process regarding the opportuneness of moving Romania's Embassy to Jerusalem. This is why, I am delighted to announced today, before the AIPAC audience, that after the completion of the analysis by all the constitutional actors involved in the decision-making process of my country and in full consensus, I, as Romania's Prime Minister and the Government that I lead, we'll move Romania's Embassy to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel," she stated on Sunday within the Conference of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which takes place in the US.
Viorica Dancila brought to mind that US President Donald Trump opened the Embassy of the US to Jerusalem and appreciated this demarche as "an admirable and courageous" one.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila is paying a visit to the US between Saturday and Tuesday, where she attended the Conference of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
"The visit takes place following an invitation extended to Romania's Prime Minister by AIPAC President Morton Fridman and AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr. The visit reflects the intensification of the bilateral dialogues and is in line with the efforts of the Romanian Government to strengthen and develop the partnerships which Romania has with the United States and Israel," a Government release sent on Friday informs.
"This admirable and courageous step impressed me, my Government and the Romanian people. The relocation of the US Embassy is emblematic and proves the strong link of values between the American people and the Israeli people. Moreover, this gesture launched a refection process at international level," she mentioned.
Viorica Dancila mentioned that Israel and the US are "special strategic partners of Romania and great friends of the Romanian people." She brought to mind that last year, Romania celebrated 70 years of interrupted diplomatic relations with Israel. Furthermore, she underscored that Romania shows its "openness for continuing the peace dialogue" between Israelis and Palestinians.
"In the '60s and '70s when other countries interrupted the relation with Israel, we strengthened it. We did a correct thing, we did what was needed to be done. Because friendship has value when it's needed. We remained an important voice during the peace process, especially the Camp David one, which led to the peace between Israel and Egypt. Romania shows its openness to continue the peace dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians," she stated.
Viorica Dancila also stated that a joint meeting of Romania's and Israel's Governments is to take place. She also mentioned that she is determined to contribute to "a closer relation of Israel with the entire European Union", in the context in which Romania holds the EU Council Presidency.
Dancila on Sunday night told private TV broadcaster Antena 3 that when she talked about moving the Romanian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem she mentioned that such a thing would only take place when all the steps enshrined in the Constitution are taken.
"In my speech I spoke about moving the embassy to Jerusalem but (...) I did formulate it in a proper manner, I said we must take all the constitutional steps. I didn't say: I will move the embassy. I said we must observe the Constitution," Viorica Dancila said.
She expressed her disappointment in the Presidential Administration's reaction following her speech in the United States of America.
"I think that the president's statement and the way he voiced himself, talking about ignorance, about the fact that the Romanian Premier has no idea about the steps, only disappointed me. Because I had a correct approach and I took into consideration the fact that the Constitution must be observed. The fact that in my opinion we must take this step, this is another matter, but it is a personal opinion, the important thing is to observe the Constitution," the Premier mentioned.
In her opinion, President Klaus Iohannis should analyse the whole context and make the best decision for Romania.
"The fact that we want the embassy to be moved, the fact that we want to be close to the United States of America and Israel does not move us away from the European Union or the EU Member States. Whatever I can do in this respect, as Prime minister, I will do. (...) The final decision according to the Constitution is up to the president," Viorica Dancila added.
President Klaus Iohannis deems that by the statements referring to moving Romania's Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the Romanian Premier "demonstrates once again her total ignorance in the field of foreign policy," according to a release by the Presidential Administration on Sunday evening.
„Out of a desire to claim a decision that does not belong only to the Romanian Government, as she wishes to leave the impression, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila hurries in making public announcements without there being a decision in this respect," the Presidential Administration states.
The quoted source specifies that the decision to move the Embassy of Romania from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will take place only after the conclusion of the analysis that is being currently carried out and only with the approval of all the institutions with responsibilities in the field of foreign policy and national security.
"The final decision belongs to the President of Romania, who is, according to the Constitution, the holder of Romania's foreign policy decisions and a representative of our country at the external level," reads the press release.
At the same time, the Presidential Administration maintains that until now it has not received the analysis that has been repeatedly announced by the Government.
President Klaus Iohannis once again calls on the Government and the Prime Minister to show responsibility in the governing act.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila is paying a visit to the US between Saturday and Tuesday, where she attended the Conference of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
"The visit takes place following an invitation extended to Romania's Prime Minister by AIPAC President Morton Fridman and AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr. The visit reflects the intensification of the bilateral dialogues and is in line with the efforts of the Romanian Government to strengthen and develop the partnerships which Romania has with the United States and Israel," a Government release sent on Friday informs.