PM Bolojan: The presence of Nastase, Dancila in a photo next to Putin doesn't bind Romania in any way

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that the presence of former Prime Ministers Adrian Nastase and Viorica Dancila in a photograph alongside Russia's President Valdimir Putin, does not bind Romania in any way, because the respective persons do not hold public offices.

"I believe that two individuals, even if they were once dignitaries, have the freedom to do as they see fit, to attend the events they consider appropriate or wish to take part in. This image does not bind Romania, in any way, because they hold no institutional representation in a public office," PM Bolojan told Europa FM radio station.

In his turn, President Nicusor Dan conveyed that former Prime Ministers Adrian Nastase and Viorica Dancila did not act on behalf of the Romanian state through their presence in China, alongside Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

"They are two individuals, at liberty, who did not act on behalf of the Romanian state," the head of state said.

"Romania is not and cannot be represented by politicians who proudly pose next to Putin today," Foreign Affairs Minister Oana Toiu conveyed on Wednesday.

"At home, they speak of patriotism, but a patriot would not fawn over an aggressor, certainly not just days after a Russian drone attacked a vessel only a few hundred metres from our border on the Danube, nor weeks after Russia bombed Ukrainian communities where Romanian is spoken," Oana Toiu said.

Former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said that he attended the military parade in Beijing as a private individual and did not represent the current political leadership of Romania, also mentioning that the Foreign Affairs Ministry "did not understand that the event wasn't held in Moscow."

"At today's event, I participated in my capacity as a former dignitary and, therefore, as a private person. I had no intention of representing the current political leadership. I believe the Foreign Ministry misunderstood: the event took place in Beijing, not Moscow. No matter how great my influence might be in China, I don't think I can decide whom President Xi invites to his country. Just as I can't decide whom President Trump invites to Alaska. One day I will have to explain, in more detail, the importance of memory in foreign policy," Nastase wrote on his blog.