“We were less isolated than they say.” What Nicușor Dan's adviser says about his presence at the Peace Council convened by Trump

What happened in Washington was “the main process, if not the only process through which the international community, under the guidance of the United States, dedicates it to peace in the Middle East” and it was “difficult” for Romania not to have participated, Marius Lazurca, the presidential advisor for national security, told Digi24.

Asked, in an interview for Digi24, what Romania gained through the presence of Nicușor Dan at the first meeting of the Peace Council initiated by Donald Trump, Marius Lazurca said that “it was a significant presence”:

“It was particularly noted in the United States, the initiator of this format and the main actor in this group of states that propose at this stage to advance the Gaza peace process.”

“We were less isolated than they say”

He said that there is “a solid legal framework, based on the United Nations Charter”, which allows Romania to participate in the peace effort in Gaza.

“Secondly, we were less isolated than they say. The European Union was present in this format through a member of the European Commission,” said Nicușor's advisor Dan.

He said the president's presence at the Washington event “also follows a long tradition of involvement in the peace process and the attention we have given to the Middle East peace process.”

“It was difficult for us not to have participated in this unique peace process”

“By the way, what happened in Washington the other day was the main process, if I'm not too bold to say, the only process through which the international community, under the guidance of the United States, dedicates it to peace in the Middle East. It was difficult for us not to have participated in this, I say it once again, unique peace process dedicated to the Middle East”, said Marius Lazurca.

Asked if, after the presence in Washington, the chances of President Nicușor Dan meeting with Donald Trump or of American officials coming to Romania increased in the next period, Lazurca did not give a concrete answer:

“I had the opportunity to see the positive effects of President Dan's presence at this event. American officials directly confirmed to me that they appreciate the interest that Romania, through the head of state, gives to this initiative of the United States or to the initiatives, in general, of the Trump administration.

I cannot, therefore, exclude that from the positive energy that the president has created through this presence, other beneficial projects for Romania will be born.”

Asked about the rumors regarding a possible visit to Bucharest by the head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, Marius Lăzurca said that this topic is still “premature”.

“It is certain that the president mentioned important elements of bilateral cooperation in this conversation, elements that can, of course, allow a visit to materialize,” added the president's adviser.

How Nicușor Dan answered the critics that he went to the Peace Council

The presence in Washington at the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council established by Donald Trump was a symbolic gesture for the Romania-USA relationship, the president reasoned in a press conference held Thursday evening at the headquarters of the Romanian Embassy in Washington.

“We came because it's an initiative of our strategic partner. It's a matter of security in a world where all things are interconnected,” explained Dan.