ForMin Melescanu: Meeting of Romanian-Palestinian Intergovernmental Committee, proof of Romania's firm commitment to Palestine's institutional building

The third meeting of the Romanian-Palestinian Intergovernmental Committee (CIG III) is clear proof of Romania's firm commitment to Palestine's institutional building, an essential objective in the sustainable, political settlement of the conflict in Middle East, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said.

This event bears witness to the high level reached by the Romanian-Palestinian dialogue, the good cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, and the importance we attach here in Bucharest to the relationship with Palestine. It is also clear proof of Romania's firm commitment to the institutional building of Palestine, an essential objective in the sustainable and political settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. The third meeting of the Romanian-Palestinian Intergovernmental Committee represented a very good opportunity to review the main aspects of our cooperation, the results of the second meeting held in 2014 in Bucharest, and to identify the best means by which we can develop and boost our relations for the benefit of both peoples. Both myself and the other members of the Romanian Government have reaffirmed our country's willingness to collaborate with Palestine in various areas of interest, such as social justice and labor, agriculture, economy, emergency situation and environmental management so that we can confidently declare that the works of this intergovernmental committee were truly fruitful," Teodor Meleccanu on Friday told joint statements held alongside Palestine's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Riad Malki.

The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs also reaffirmed Romania's entire support "for the just and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct negotiations leading to the implementation of the solution of the two states, Israel and Palestine, coexisting at peace and in peace security, as the only viable option and able to guarantee the fulfillment of the aspirations of the two countries."

He mentioned that a program of cooperation was signed at the event between the Ministry of Culture and National Identity of Romania and the Ministry of Culture of Palestine.

"In this respect, we must not forget that investing in human resources is one of the most important investments. The Romanian Government has granted and will continue to grant scholarships in the fields of medicine, engineering, emergency situations and many others" said Minister Melescanu.

The Romanian minister has also referred to the performance of the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD) in our country.

"As it is known, in Romania, we have a highly appreciated service, both nationally and internationally, created by Dr. Raed Arafat, a Romanian citizen of Palestinian origin, an institution that already shares its know-how with its Palestinian partners. Moreover, based on the success of the specialization course at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Targu Mures in 2013, the representatives of the Department for Emergency Situations in Romania have forwarded within our works in this intergovernmental committee the proposal to revitalize this program in the future as well," Melescanu said.

The event was also attended, among others, by Romanian Minister of Culture and National Identity Daniel Breaz and the head of Emergency Situations Department, Raed Arafat.

The third meeting of the Romanian-Palestinian Intergovernmental Committee (CIG III) represents a form of cooperation belonging to Romania's demarches to support the development and consolidation of the Palestinian institutions.