Romanians and the Algerian Hostage Crisis
The Algerian hostage crisis is finally over, and politicians are rushing to find explanations and to prevent more such situations.
Valentin Țigău, 21.01.2013, 13:52
The military operation meant to neutralize the commando that on Wednesday took hostages at an oil complex on the Libyan border, left dozens dead. Unfortunately, two Romanians were also among the victims made by the Islamist group with Al-Qaida ties. The two were among a group of five workers at the complex in the Amenas region.
The three survivors were returned home. Algerian forces have released almost 700 Algerian workers and over 100 foreign workers, capturing a few of the group of 40 terrorists who had taken them. The second Romanian to die succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, the Algerian authorities announced on Sunday. Until then, Romanians only knew of a single victim.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry expressed deep disappointment at the fact that the Algerian authorities did not provide correct and timely information on the Romanian citizen’s state of health. This bloody incident, related to the crisis in Mali, where Islamists have taken over the north of the country, prompted politicians to start finding solutions to prevent and keep under control such incidents.
Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean said that what happened in Algeria, far away from Romania, and in Mali, affects everyone, including Romanian citizens all over the world. He said it was Romania’s duty, as an EU member and a partner in all its collaboration endeavors all over the world, to continue to be committed to its contributions to fighting international terrorism wherever it may be, even outside the country’s borders. Romania may get involved in sending military training forces to Mali in this context. According to Prime Minister Victor Ponta, a decision to this end could be made in the next few days:
“We talked about this with the President of Romania. We will be discussing this at the Higher Defense Council session in a few days, and will makE a decision, but the decision of principle is one for all politically responsible parties in Romania, the president, the government. We will be submitting to Parliament an informative note, if and when that is necessary, namely that of showing solidarity with our European partners in the Mali case. That is not France’s conflict with someone, it is an operation undertaken by France and the EU for combating imminent extremist and terrorist dangers.”
The Higher Defense Council session has been scheduled for 5 February.
