Why did Oana Țoiu say that “we are particularly interested in what is happening in Venezuela”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Țoiu, said that Romania is “especially what is happening” in Venezuela, where there is “a small, but relevant, community with Romanian roots”.

She stated, in a post on social networks, “that our country is closely coordinating with partners from the European Union on the situation in Venezuela and we discussed today the alignment for a joint statement in preparation for the UN Security Council.

“The decision to bring Nicolas Maduro to justice can stop the growth of the scourge of drug trafficking, it can give Venezuelans the chance for a good future in prosperity, but it is also a decision that brings us to the table of diplomatic discussions to reaffirm and protect international rules,” continued Țoiu.

“We are particularly interested in what is happening in Venezuela, a country where a small, but relevant, community with Romanian roots lives. The first priority is the safety of Romanian citizens in this country. Romania's diplomatic and consular missions in Latin America are prepared to provide assistance in case of need alongside the permanent mission of the EU,” the head of Romanian diplomacy emphasized.

What else did Oana Țoiu say:

“Since a few hours ago, we have a joint process of mutual information and consular assistance between EU member countries. We speak for restraint and responsibility on the part of the authorities and support the initiation in the shortest possible time of steps to return to democracy, a wish constantly expressed by Venezuelan citizens.

The leader of the Venezuelan opposition and recent laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, María Corina Machado, was forced by the Maduro regime to live underground because this dictator was afraid of democracy, of the will of the Venezuelan people, but brutal regimes cannot continue indefinitely.

We fully share the priority of combating drug trafficking and organized crime, which pose a significant threat to our common security.

The European Union instituted, with the participation of Romania, successive regimes of sanctions against the undemocratic regime in Caracas, including after the deeply flawed conduct of the presidential elections in July 2024. The European Union and Romania did not recognize Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.”