ForMin Oana Toiu discussed with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates the Romanian citizens stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

  The Romanian minister of foreign affairs, Oana Toiu announced on Monday night that she discussed with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice-minister and foreign affairs minister of the United Arab Emirates about the Romanian citizens blocked in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Similarly, Toiu said.   „Trust between people and countries is building in times of crisis, I concluded in telephone conversation with my emirate counterpart, H. E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates. I expressed my full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region affected by the Iranian attacks. We discussed the number of attacks and air defence measures, as well as the measures taken to ensure the safety of citizens, including Romanian citizens stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, about the situation of airports and the crossing of the border. We thanked him for the assistance and will continue the direct contact in support of the diplomatic dialogue on the ground."Oana Toiu said.   There are currently 14,000 Romanian citizens in the United Arab Emirates, but only a minimal number of extremely urgent cases, Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on Monday."The authorities' assessment is that, for today and tomorrow, remaining in their current locations is the recommended option for Romanian citizens," the head of Romanian diplomacy said at a press briefing.Oana Toiu added that there are around 200 Romanians in Israel, of whom 140 are in Jerusalem. These figures do not include dual nationals.Among Romanian citizens in Israel, there are four urgent medical cases, she said. Evacuation from Israel could be carried out via Egypt or Jordan, Toiu added.According to the minister, an emergency meeting with transport operators will take place on Monday to identify solutions for the return of Romanian citizens from areas affected by the conflict in the Middle East."We want to put together the data and analyses we have, including with travel agencies that organise a large part of these groups and with airlines. We are discussing with airlines, including the possibility of opening flight corridors, organising military flights and the availability of aircraft and crews," she explained.She also said that the European Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated. "This means coordination with other European Union member states so that when a member state can send an aircraft - whether civilian or military - we can assess to what extent urgent cases of citizens of other states can be included on those transports," Toiu added.If the situation allows flights enabling Romanians in the region to return home, priority will be given to medical emergencies and minors. She noted that, given the large number of people in the conflict zone, no EU country can provide personalised consular assistance, but citizens' safety remains essential. Romanians in affected areas are urged to register with Romania's diplomatic missions in those countries."When the airspace in the respective countries reopens, that will be the moment when we can announce in detail all our plans. As regards evacuation through airports in neighbouring states, the element we are currently assessing is land transport to those airports. In the Emirates, for example, the recommendation to avoid large-scale movements at this time is linked to transit duration, not to the airspace itself in neighbouring countries," she reiterated.Oana Toiu assured that Romanians are safe in the context of the conflict. "If we have data or information about a risk, we will communicate it through Romania's institutions. There is no reason at this point to believe analyses suggesting an Iranian attack on the continent. Clearly, we have no certainty regarding future developments, but it is very important at this time to rely on credible information," the minister said.