President Nicusor Dan will attend in Washington on Thursday the Board of Peace meeting, an initiative of President of the United States of America Donald Trump, with Romania having an observer status.

The head of state's delegation includes Presidential Adviser for National Security Marius Lazurca, Presidential Adviser for Economic and Social Policies Radu Burnete, and State Adviser with the Department for Foreign Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Romanians Everywhere Vlad Ionescu.

In an interview granted to Radio Romania Actualitati radio broadcaster on Tuesday, President Nicusor Dan underlined that 'it is in Romania's interest' to participate in the Board of Peace as an observer.

The head of state pointed out that the organisation has a Charter already signed by the states that have become members and that it contains provisions which contradict international commitments undertaken by Romania.

'The members of this organisation intend jointly to impose sanctions, but Romania has obligations towards the European Union regarding the sanctions it may impose on a country or an economic operator and therefore we are serious people, we cannot sign while breaching an obligation we have already undertaken,' the president explained.

According to him, a first working meeting of this organisation is taking place in Washington on Thursday.

'After receiving the invitation to participate in this meeting, in the first gathering, I requested further clarifications. (...) After several days of discussions with the American side we established what it means to be an observer at this meeting. We believe it is in Romania's interest to participate in this capacity as observer,' the head of state pointed out.

Nicusor Dan mentioned that at this first meeting discussions will focus exclusively on Gaza.

Moreover, he appreciated that participation in the meeting will clarify bilateral relations.

'The message is, in my opinion, very important. There have been certain, how should we put it, doubts, perhaps mistrust, following the annulled elections, from the American administration. I believe that Romania's presence, through its president, helps to clarify once and for all, both diplomatically and for citizens, what the real bilateral relationship between Romania and the United States is,' the head of state stressed.

The president also mentioned that, in the context of his participation in the Board of Peace, no official meetings are scheduled, but it is possible that there may be 'incidentally a discussion, something more informal, but for the moment a bilateral meeting with an agenda is not planned.' AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)