Morocco requests Romanian officials to defer visit

Romanian Senate president Calin Popescu-Tariceanu had to cancel his visit to Morocco, a predominantly Muslim Arab country in northern Africa, after prime minister Viorica Dăncilă announced on March 24 in Washington that she would move Romania's Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Even though the outlook for such a move seems unlikely given the more moderate policy promoted by president Klaus Iohannis, in line with the European Union’s status-quo policy, Dancila’s statements prompted reactions from leaders in the Arab world.

According to sources from G4Media.ro, the Moroccan side has transmitted via diplomatic channels that it was not available for meetings.

"The official visit of Senate president Calin Popescu-Tariceanu in the Kingdom of Morocco, supposed to take place between March 27 and 31, 2019, was postponed at the request of the Moroccan side, to be rescheduled for a later period, to be agreed upon," the Senate announced in a statement.

"I, as prime minister of Romania, and the Government I lead will move the Romanian Embassy to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel," PM Viorica Dancila said in a speech at the American Israel Public Affair Committee summit in the U.S., on March 24, according to Hotnews.ro.

(Photo source: Facebook / Calin Popescu-Tariceanu)