President Klaus Iohannis has met at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, on Wednesday, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Nineoclock.ro reports. 

According to a Presidential Administration release, State Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir reiterated the invitation extended to Romania’s President by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to pay a visit to Riyadh, an invitation which has been accepted by President Iohannis.

Iohannis commended, within the meeting, the good relations existing between Romania and Saudi Arabia, in the context in which this year marks 25 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Saudi Arabia.

“Romania’s President underscored that there in an important potential to strengthen them [the relations], at both political and economic level,” the Presidential Administration showed.

According to the quoted source, the two officials pointed out the necessity to develop bilateral relations both in economic and in other areas of shared interest, such as infrastructure, agriculture, IT, renewable energy, tourism, defence and security.

Moreover, President Iohannis welcomed the decision of the authorities in Riyadh to issue tourist visas for foreign citizens, including for Romanians.

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir congratulated President Iohannis for his re-election and commended Romania’s standpoint in important files included on the international agenda, such as the Peace Process in the Middle East, Syria, Yemen, underscoring the similarity of positions of the two states regarding these topics.

Without the participation of the U.S., a solution regarding the peace process, which can be viable in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, cannot be conceived, Minister-designate of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu has stated on Wednesday, in a joint statement alongside Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, who is paying a visit to Romania on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I have reiterated Romania’s standpoint regarding the necessity of a sustainable solution of this conflict which should be grounded on a comprehensive agreement, a fair agreement, based on the solution of the two states, to coexist in peace and security, this being the only viable solution which can correspond to the aspirations of both sides. I have underscored the importance of the United States being involved in this process, because without the participation of the United States, a solution regarding the peace process cannot be conceived, a solution to be viable, sustainable in this file,” Aurescu pointed out.

Talking about Iran, the Romanian official said that, in the dialogue with his counterpart, he reconfirmed Romania’s stance regarding the “necessity of Iran fully complying with the nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.” “I underscored that if this agreement fails, a more ambitious agreement needs to be drafted, which also takes into account aspects related to the ballistic programme,” he added.

In his turn, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir referred to the common principles of the foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia and Romania, respectively.

Both sides believe in the national sovereignty principle and in the principle of enforcing international legislation and non-interference in the domestic problems of other countries. These lines guide the foreign affairs of our countries. (…) We have a common philosophy in the area of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi official showed.

“This visit comes after a long period of time, but certainly, it is not the last one”, the Saudi Minister said, according to Agerpres.

According to Aurescu, the two talked about re-activating the periodical political consultation mechanism between Romania’s and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministries, about creating the Romania-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation, organising a business forum, but also the proposal to open a direct flight between the two countries.

The visit of the Saudi high official takes place in the context of celebrating, in 2020, 25 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Saudi Arabia.

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13.02.2020 09:23