Romania–Palestine relations
Encyclopedia
Relations between Romania
and Palestine
have been strong since the beginning of the Communist regime in Romania in 1947. Relations between Romania and the PLO
were established and strengthened under the regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu
, who ruled Romania from 1965 until 1989. In 1974 Romania recognized the PLO and a representative office was established in Bucharest
. The PLO representative office later became an embassy. During that time many Palestinian militants were trained in Romania and most of the weapons that the PLO used against Israel were made in the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact
countries including Romania. Even after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
which overthrew the communist regime and established a democratic republic, Romania remained committed to the Middle East peace process and the establishment of a separate Palestinian state. In fact, Romania had maintained bilateral relations with Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization
and was seen by both as a neutral mediator. Romania was one of the first countries to recognize Palestine after the Palestinian Declaration of Independence
on November 15, 1988. Romania has since maintained relations with the Palestinian Authority and has always supported Palestine's cause in the United Nations
.
The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas
, also paid an official visit to Romania in 2008, during his trip to Europe. During his two-day stay in Bucharest
, Abbas met Traian Băsescu
the President of Romania
as well as the then-Prime Minister
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
, Senate Chairman of Romania Ilie Sârbu
, and with leaders of both chambers of the Romanian parliament. President Abbas emphasised the strong relations between the two nations and he noted that it was in Bucharest in 1988 that both Israel and the PLO had held their very first meeting. Earlier in February 2008, the then-Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu
paid a visit to the Palestinian territories. During the meeting Cioroianu reiterated the Romanian people's continuing support for the Palestinian cause and the Middle East peace process. Also the Palestinian Authority agreed to never recognize the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo on the grounds that it was illegal and that it violated international law.
, pointed out Romania’s concern about the current situation and has expressed his belief that the cessation of violence and identification of solutions for the humanitarian issues from the Gaza Strip are absolutely necessary in view of resumption of political dialogue. He said that the solution to this crisis may be found only by political means and he has emphasised Romania’s availability to undertake, in cooperation with the partners from EU and following bilateral actions, the diligences necessary to support the political-diplomatic regulation of this crisis. He also said that, understanding the daily difficulties the population from the Gaza Strip is facing for, the Romanian authorities are available also for the identification of certain solutions to grant humanitarian assistance.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Palestine
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
have been strong since the beginning of the Communist regime in Romania in 1947. Relations between Romania and the PLO
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
were established and strengthened under the regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
, who ruled Romania from 1965 until 1989. In 1974 Romania recognized the PLO and a representative office was established in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. The PLO representative office later became an embassy. During that time many Palestinian militants were trained in Romania and most of the weapons that the PLO used against Israel were made in the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
countries including Romania. Even after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
which overthrew the communist regime and established a democratic republic, Romania remained committed to the Middle East peace process and the establishment of a separate Palestinian state. In fact, Romania had maintained bilateral relations with Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
and was seen by both as a neutral mediator. Romania was one of the first countries to recognize Palestine after the Palestinian Declaration of Independence
Palestinian Declaration of Independence
The Palestinian Declaration of Independence is a statement written by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and proclaimed by Yasser Arafat on 15 November 1988. It had previously been adopted by the Palestinian National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization , by a vote...
on November 15, 1988. Romania has since maintained relations with the Palestinian Authority and has always supported Palestine's cause in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
, also paid an official visit to Romania in 2008, during his trip to Europe. During his two-day stay in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Abbas met Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
the President of Romania
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
as well as the then-Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Romania
The Prime Minister of Romania is the head of the Government of Romania. Initially, the office was styled President of the Council of Ministers , when the term "Government" included more than the Cabinet, and the Cabinet was called The Council of Ministers...
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu
Calin Popescu-Tariceanu
Călin Constantin Anton Popescu-Tăriceanu is a Romanian politician. He was the Prime Minister of Romania between 29 December 2004 and 22 December 2008...
, Senate Chairman of Romania Ilie Sârbu
Ilie Sârbu
Ilie Sârbu is a Romanian theologian, economist and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party , he has sat in the Romanian Senate since 2004, representing Timiş County...
, and with leaders of both chambers of the Romanian parliament. President Abbas emphasised the strong relations between the two nations and he noted that it was in Bucharest in 1988 that both Israel and the PLO had held their very first meeting. Earlier in February 2008, the then-Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu
Adrian Cioroianu
Adrian Mihai Cioroianu is a Romanian historian, politician, journalist, and essayist. A lecturer for the History Department at the University of Bucharest, he is the author of several books dealing with Romanian history...
paid a visit to the Palestinian territories. During the meeting Cioroianu reiterated the Romanian people's continuing support for the Palestinian cause and the Middle East peace process. Also the Palestinian Authority agreed to never recognize the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo on the grounds that it was illegal and that it violated international law.
2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict
During the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cristian DiaconescuCristian Diaconescu
Cristian Diaconescu is a Romanian jurist and politician. A member of the National Union for the Progress of Romania and formerly of the Social Democratic Party , he has sat in the Romanian Senate since 2004, representing Constanţa County from 2004 until 2008, and Bucharest since then...
, pointed out Romania’s concern about the current situation and has expressed his belief that the cessation of violence and identification of solutions for the humanitarian issues from the Gaza Strip are absolutely necessary in view of resumption of political dialogue. He said that the solution to this crisis may be found only by political means and he has emphasised Romania’s availability to undertake, in cooperation with the partners from EU and following bilateral actions, the diligences necessary to support the political-diplomatic regulation of this crisis. He also said that, understanding the daily difficulties the population from the Gaza Strip is facing for, the Romanian authorities are available also for the identification of certain solutions to grant humanitarian assistance.