Romania President Slates Call to Move Embassy to Jerusalem

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis on Friday condemned the Social Democrat-led government for suggesting that Romania might transfer the country's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Social Democratic Party leader Liviu Dragnea told a talk show on Thursday that the government had begun the formalities to move the embassy to Jerusalem in line with US earlier decision to do so.

"It may seem something not very important," Dragnea said. "But it has a huge symbolical value ... for a state that has a tremendous influence in the world, a state - Israel - that we've had special relations with for many years, a state where we have over 500,000 Romanians, and also [the decision] is highly valued by the US administration," Dragnea said.

Dragnea insisted that moving the embassy would only be a practical response to the fact that Jerusalem was the de facto seat of the Israeli government, and was a way to show the US that Romania is a reliable ally.

However, Iohannis on Friday complained that he was not consulted about the idea, adding that any such decision must be based on a solid assessment.

"Such a measure cannot be taken without a profound analysis that takes into consideration all the consequences and implications on international politics," he pointed out.

Iohannis also said that Romania's President is the figure responsible for main foreign policy decisions.

He pointed out that Romania still supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, supports UN Security Council Resolutions on the issue and that its stance remains unchanged.

Romania's Prime Minister Viorica Dancila told journalists on Friday afternoon that the classified document was drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and adopted during Wednesday's...