The security situation in the Middle East is volatile and top efforts should pursue avoiding a war that would affect the entire region, Foreign Affairs Minister Luminita Odobescu declared.

The Romanian top diplomat participated in the UN General Assembly in New York, stating in this context that the two predominant topics of discussion were Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

„Romania supports the two-state solution, but until then it is very important to continue supporting the efforts of the Biden Administration, which together with Qatar and Egypt proposed a three-point plan focused on a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, with the release of all hostages and the continuation of humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza,” Odobescu said about the situation in the Middle East, mentioning that Romania offers humanitarian aid in Gaza and also expressed the intention to take over Gazan children for treatment in Romanian hospitals.

Regarding the possible expansion of the conflict in Lebanon, Odobescu said that Romania’s mission in this country is focusing on the Romanian citizens who live there with their families, and that the Foreign Ministry „keeps in permanent contact with the embassy in Beirut. The embassy staff has been reinforced with a number of colleagues from Bucharest. We are in permanent coordination with the colleagues from the missions from the other European states, so it’s a team effort. We are in contact with the Romanian citizens there.”

According to the Foreign Ministry, up until now approximately 950 Romanian citizens and their family members have registered their presence in Lebanon, at the Romanian Embassy in Beirut. No evacuation requests were received so far.

AGERPRES