Nicușor Dan’s first message since the Middle East war began: “The safety of Romanian citizens is a priority”
Romanian President Nicușor Dan says Romania is “fully safe and not under any direct threat.” He appeals to Romanians stranded in Middle Eastern countries to remain calm and listen to instructions received from both local and Romanian authorities.
President Nicușor Dan says that although “the current regional security context in the Middle East has significantly deteriorated, our country is out of any danger,” writes hotnews.
The Romanian president’s message makes no reference to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the attack launched by the United States and Israel. Iran is not mentioned; the only location mentioned by the president is related to “the Middle East.”
“The Romanian state institutions responsible for foreign policy and security are monitoring the evolution of the situation and are taking all necessary measures in such circumstances,” according to the president.
The Romanian president said that currently, a priority is the safety of Romanians in conflict zones.
"I urge Romanian citizens and tourists in the area to remain calm, to follow the instructions and messages sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the local authorities in the countries where they are. A crisis cell is operating at the MFA, which aims to identify the safest and fastest options for the repatriation of those who remained stranded as a result of the closure of airspace in the Middle East region", announced Nicușor Dan.
"Romania will continue to act responsibly, in coordination with our partners, for stability and security. Respecting the rights and protecting civilians remain fundamental priorities, added the Romanian president.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Romania, Andrei Țărnea, recommended that Romanian citizens in Middle Eastern countries remain in safe places and follow the instructions they receive from the authorities of their countries of residence, given that the situation in the region remains tense.
"The situation in the Middle East region remains tense. Drone and missile airstrikes continue in several countries in the region. Against this background, the airspace of multiple countries in the Middle East is still closed, commercial flights are not operated. And against this background, a number of Romanian citizens are unable to travel to the country or to the respective countries. The priority, every time, as has been seen in all previous similar cases, is to ensure the safety of Romanian citizens caught in such circumstances. Which means that at this moment the priority is for them to remain in the places where they are safe, to follow the instructions they receive from the authorities of the countries of residence regarding their safety", Andrei Ţărnea said on Sunday, in an intervention on the Digi 24 channel.
Two series of explosions were heard on Sunday morning, March 1, in Dubai, the second day after the attacks began in the Gulf, in retaliation for the US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader.
According to AFP correspondents in Dubai, a first series of explosions were heard earlier in the night in Dubai, as well as in Doha, Qatar, and the Bahraini capital, Manama. A black column of smoke was seen in Doha on Sunday morning following several loud explosions.
The cloud of smoke was visible in the south of the city after Iran targeted US bases in the Gulf states with missiles and drones, in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Two missiles were launched by Iran towards Cyprus, British Defense Minister John Healey told the BBC on Sunday, March 1, adding that the country may not have been "necessarily" the intended target.
Cypriot Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas categorically denied reports that missiles were aimed at Cyprus, reports Cyprus Mail.
