Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has snubbed the country’s top diplomat to the U.S. during a visit to Washington by not inviting him to attend key meetings with top officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Ambassador Andrei Muraru has not been invited to participate in any meetings during his three day visit which ends on Wednesday, the prime minister confirmed.
It is customary when a prime minister or another high-ranking official is on a state visit abroad to be accompanied to official meetings by the resident ambassador.
However, Mr. Ciolacu apparently did not think it was “necessary” for embassy representatives including the ambassador to join political meetings while he was in the U.S., Ambassador Muraru said on Sunday at a reception.
The snub is likely directed at President Klaus Iohannis, a political rival, who has good relations with the U.S. administration. The president appoints Romania’s ambassadors and Mr. Muraru is a former adviser to the president.
Mr. Ciolacu defended his actions, saying everyone has a different “mission”.
“It is important to take care of each of our missions … at an important moment for Romania and (think) less about our personal interests,” the prime minister added.
Mr Muraru thanked his team in Washington “for the effort made in recent days to facilitate the meetings in the coming days, but the Prime Minister considered that it is not necessary for representatives of the Romanian Embassy in Washington to attend the political meetings.”
“Having said that, Mr. Prime Minister, all I have to do is wish you and the government team every success, because your success here in America means Romania’s success,” he said.
The prime minister responded in an apparent condescending tone.
“If you will allow me… Mr. Ambassador is younger than me, I think the greatest quality in politics is patience. I do not think there is much difference between politics and diplomacy and I am firmly convinced that the Ambassador has not yet lost patience, nor did I many times in more difficult contexts. “
On Monday, Mr. Ciolacu will attend an official wreath-laying ceremony at the Arlington Heroes Cemetery in Washington.
He will then meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken. Later Monday, he will also meet with Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of Energy.
He is accompanied by s Defense Minister Angel Tilvar, Foreign Affairs Minister Luminita Odobescu and Economy Minister Radu Oprea.
This last prime minister to visit the U.S. was Dacian Ciolos in 2016.
Romanian ambassador received by U.S. President Joe Biden at White House
