Foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu calls for return to negotiations in Middle East conflict

Foreign Affairs Minister Emil Hurezeanu on Wednesday called for a return to negotiations to stop hostilities in the Middle East.

"It is almost a ritualistic leitmotiv if you like, but we are in a situation where we are asking for a return to negotiations, to respect for international order through negotiations, to respect for the security of citizens and states in the region, and we would like a peace process to be started as soon as possible through negotiations, through meetings, through what can be done to stop hostilities. This is our official opinion at this moment," Hurezeanu told press conference held at the Victoria Palace of Government.

He mentioned that the Romanian authorities are gathering information with a view to repatriating Romanian citizens from Iran and Israel. Some flights have already been scheduled.

"Depending on how they can be grouped in one region or another, they will head for one of the safe countries - Jordan, Egypt. In the situation where there is a sufficient number of people who arrive safely by land to their destination, in cities with airports or near cities with airports, airplanes are on stand-by, are chartered, financed, flights will be made especially at night, given the dangerous and increased air traffic in the region at this time, and these flights will take place. There are already scheduled flights," he explained.

Minister Hurezeanu emphasized that TAROM and military aircraft are ready to intervene in the coming days. A fund amounting to RON 500,000 has also been released for crisis management during 2025.

The Romanian head of diplomacy proposed, on Tuesday, at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, the creation of a multinational humanitarian corridor with the help of all EU member states.

"The proposal has been accepted, so, depending on the course of the conflict, which will probably continue in the coming days and we fear even weeks, these forms of cooperation will continue to operate on a common European and, in general, international platform," he said.

He also submitted a memorandum in the government meeting on Wednesday, on the creation of a "structured and simplified, efficient" framework of evacuation and assisted repatriation procedures for Romanian citizens.