Bucharest is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East

Bucharest monitors the situation in the Gulf

Roxana Vasile, 13.01.2020, 14:04

Through its Foreign Ministry, Romania
has announced it is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East after
Iran acknowledged against the political turmoil last week that it had shot down
a Ukrainian passenger plane. According to the diplomacy in Bucharest, the
monitoring includes the observance of the Vienna convention, which regulates
the diplomatic relations and the liberty to associate in public places.

Hundreds of students gathered in
Tehran on Saturday night to bring homage to the 176 victims mostly Iranian and
Canadian of the 737 Boeing plane shot down by mistake by an Iranian missile
shortly after its take-off from the Tehran airport. Iran’s Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps have assumed responsibility for shooting down the
passenger plane of Ukraine Airlines International.

Missiles fired due to human error
have regrettably caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane and the death
of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this
great tragedy and unforgivable mistake. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply
regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning
families. I offer my sincerest condolences, Iranian president Hassan Rohani
wrote on Twitter.

In response his Ukrainian
counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev expects Tehran to conduct
complete investigation so that the culprits may be punished and Iran offer
compensations. In turn, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expects
the Iranian authorities to fully cooperate in the investigation over the
incident and that his government is working together with foreign partners to
make sure the investigation is complete and detailed.

The EU High Representative for
Foreign, Security and Defence Policies Josep Borrell has summoned the EU
foreign ministers, Romania’s Bogdan Aurescu included for a special session on
Middle East issues. During the session, the head of the Romanian diplomacy has
urged the EU members to get actively involved in easing tensions and boosting
dialogue in the region. Aurescu has equally voiced Romania’s support for NATO’s
increased role in the Middle East and in fighting terrorism. Bucharest believes
in the EU & NATO complementary action.

(translated by bill)