VIDEO Nicușor Dan, about Trump's invitation to go to the Peace Council summit: “It is important for us to be there, but it depends on what conditions”

The president explained on Thursday, before the informal meeting of the European Council, that he is still considering the invitation of the US President Donald Trump to attend the Peace Council summit on February 19. He says that there are discussions with American officials to see what role Romania would have at the meeting in Washington. Romania has so far not responded to the US president's invitation to join the Peace Council.

Asked if he reached a conclusion regarding the participation in the Peace Council summit to which he was invited by Donald Trump, President Nicușor Dan said that he is still having discussions with the American side to understand what Romania's role would be at such a meeting:

“We are still in discussions with the American side. The subject of the discussion is what can be the status of a country that at this moment, like Romania, can only be an observer. That is, what is the format of the discussion and what is the role of possible observers in this meeting. Depending on the answer of the American side we decide whether to go or not.”

He also said that an official announcement regarding Romania's final decision will come at the end of the discussions, “probably this week.”

The head of state said that Trump's participation in the summit also depends on the conditions.

“It depends, because, as you know, the situation in Gaza is important for Europe, Romania traditionally has some relations with Israel and the Arab countries in the area. So it is important for us to be there, but it also depends on the conditions”, explained Nicușor Dan.

The president also said that he is also having discussions with the European partners regarding the positioning towards the format proposed by the American president, but “the answer is given by Romania”.

Asked about the overlap between the UN Charter and the Peace Council Charter, Nicușor Dan stated that “until discussions, which I estimate will be complicated, take place, we can only be observers”.

Finally, the head of state said that the discussions are dynamic, that the American side is reconsidering, depending on the answers already received from other states, but that a decision will probably be made this week.

What is the Peace Council summit called by Trump

The first summit of the Peace Council convened by President Donald Trump has been announced for February 19 and will take place in Washington, at the United States Institute of Peace, according to CNN.

A U.S. official told CNN the purpose of the meeting is to raise funds, but stressed that the details have not yet been finalized.

Nicusor Dan received an invitation from Donald Trump to participate in the first meeting of the Peace Council.

What is Trump's proposed “Peace Council”.

The Peace Council, chaired by Trump, was initially presented as a limited body intended to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

However, according to the draft statute, the purpose of the Council was extended to resolving conflicts around the world. The draft, which was sent with the membership invitations in January, does not even mention Gaza.

The Romanian Presidential Administration announced on January 18th the receipt of a letter from the American president officially inviting Romania to become a member of the Peace Council. The invitation also comes with a price tag: a billion dollar fee to become a permanent member.