Unanimous condemnation of the Brussels attacks
Romania has joined the international community in firmly condemning the Brussels attacks.
Bogdan Matei, 25.03.2016, 13:22
In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, we felt the Romanians by our side, the Belgian ambassador to Bucharest, Thomas Baekelandt has said. And it was not only the Romanian officials who expressed their compassion and support, but the Romanians in general! Thursday was a day of national mourning in Romania, in token of solidarity with all those who lost their relatives or friends. Just like in many other cities, the Romanian Government’s headquarters was lit up with the Belgian flag colours, black, yellow and red, in solidarity with Brussels.
Politicians and prominent figures of the Romanian society, foreign ambassadors accredited to Bucharest, as well as ordinary citizens, came to Belgium’s Embassy in Romania’s capital city to write a message in the book of condolences, pay floral tributes or light candles, in solidarity with the Belgian people, severely hit by Tuesday’s attacks. The first to sign the book of condolences was the French ambassador to Bucharest, François Saint-Paul, whose country was severely hit two times last year: in January, the terror attacks at Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris and in November, when a string of Jihadist attacks took 130 lives.
Other heads of diplomatic missions who signed the book of condolences opened at the Belgian Embassy in Bucharest included the ambassadors of Germany, Spain, Japan, Greece, Bosnia, Serbia, Cyprus, Poland, Turkey and Cuba. Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, upon returning from a state visit to Turkey, urged people to show solidarity and courage:
Klaus Iohannis: “I am confident that we can combat this scourge of attacks, only if all countries work closely together. The words which come to my mind when I’m thinking about what should be done are solidarity, calm, unity.”
In his turn, the Prime Minister, Dacian Ciolos, has launched an appeal for solidarity in the fight against terrorism:
Dacian Ciolos: “I firmly believe that only by boosting cooperation among us, the EU member states, we can we further preserve the freedom area we have within the Union, and which is worst tried. At present, each member state has the tendency to be in retreat, with the aim of protecting itself.”
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Valeriu Zgonea, stood for tightening security:
“Freedoms are extremely important. But in order to have liberties, you should first ensure people’s welfare, well-being and security. Security is extremely important to us, at home and in the street.”
Religions, dialogue and peace, are the terms of a theoretical equation, which however turns out to be far from reality, because bombs are detonated in the name of religion and the situation degenerates into major conflicts. Muslim and Christian religious leaders on Thursday attended a forum organised by the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, reiterating that extremism and fanaticism emerge out of a lack of education and as a result of manipulation. And, they agreed that dialogue should be the religious authorities’ response to Islamic radicalism, as dialogue can promote and herald a culture of peace and tolerance.
(Translated by D. Vijeu)
