Minister Oana Țoiu, on the situation of Romanians in Iran and Israel: “There is a team left that is available for consular assistance”
Oana Țoiu, during a press conference on October 14. Credit: Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP / Profimedia
Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu announced on Saturday morning, after the US and Israeli attack on Iran, that both in Israel and in Iran non-essential personnel have already been withdrawn. Țoiu said that there is a small community of Romanians in Iran, “of a few hundred people”, but he said that “what happens in Israel is also very important”.
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“We raised the travel alert for Iran since the beginning of the year, so a good part of those who asked for support to return home have already received it. At the moment, the community of Romanians in Iran is several hundred people. All of them are in direct contact with our team”, said Oana Țoiu, in an intervention on Antena 3.
“We have withdrawn the non-essential personnel from Iran, but that means the families of the diplomats and the administrative staff. There remains a team that is at the disposal of the Romanians there for the necessary consular assistance. At that moment, what happens in Israel is also very important,” added the Foreign Minister.
Oana Țoiu said that the withdrawal of non-essential personnel from Israel was approved on Friday, but both the ambassador and a consular team that can provide the necessary consular assistance remain at the disposal of the Romanians there.
Asked if there are Romanians who want to leave Israel, Oana Țoiu replied that “the recommendation is to stay in the safe zones”.
“At the moment, the recommendation is to stay in safe zones, there is a firm recommendation not to go closer than 1 km from the border lines, there are 2 border crossing points open at the moment and 2 more land border crossing points will most likely be opened tomorrow, because today is Saturday and this affects the work schedule in Israel of the public authorities”, said Oana Țoiu.
“Few requests for consular assistance”
Until now, 10 Romanians from Israel have requested consular assistance, said Oana Țoiu.
“At this moment, from the perspective of consular requests, there are relatively few: there are 10 requests for consular assistance from Israel since morning until now, but on this occasion I remind the citizens who hear us, who have friends or relatives in Israel, to notify the embassy and consulate about their presence on the territory so that we can also contact them in cases of emergency”, said Oana Țoiu.
“Being a relatively small community, a good part of the Romanian families in Iran are in contact with our consulate and we know where they are, where they reside, of course those who notified us”, added the Foreign Minister.
