Plans for the repatriation of Romanian nationals from several Middle East states have been updated, amid security risks in the region, Foreign Minister Oana Toiu announced on Thursday.

'I have just finished a joint meeting between the EU foreign ministers and the Gulf Cooperation Council ministers. (...) At this moment, despite a shared effort toward de-escalation and increased confidence in air-defense capabilities, we have no indications that would allow us to conclude that this conflict will end immediately. However, given the heightened risks in the region and the ability of those states to ensure the protection of their own citizens as well as ours, even during this period of elevated risk, the plans we are proposing for the repatriation of Romanian citizens have been updated for each of the countries where we have consular alerts and communities under attention. As far as Israel is concerned, the alert stays at level 9 out of 9 - leave the territory immediately,' Oana Toiu said at a press conference.

The Romanian top diplomat participated in the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which was also attended by the Secretary-General and foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council states. According to Toiu, high-risk medical cases are currently safe, having been evacuated by Romania on a flight carried out through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, organized together with Slovakia.

'We currently still have 50 - 60 citizens on the territory of Israel who are under our attention, but we do not have any repatriation flights planned in the immediate period - wether assisted by travel agencies or otherwise. We are in contact with each of the citizens in that area in order to provide them guidance on their options. This is the situation in Israel at this moment,' the minister specified.

Regarding Qatar, where around 370 Romanian citizens are under consular monitoring, Oana Toiu said that support measures were decided together with the crisis cell, after consultations with members of the Romanian community and with representatives of other EU states.

'The plan we are proposing to Romanian citizens in Qatar right now, through our consular teams, is to inform us whether they choose to remain in Qatar - an option they can of course still take. The risk there is stable; it doesn't mean it does not exist, it is high, but we do not see an abrupt increase. Or, if they choose a land transfer to Riyadh, we will organize it with buses. We have already discussed with the Saudi foreign minister to ensure easy access at the crossing point, regardless of the visa status of the Romanian citizens. Today, our consular team will contact the groups and individuals who have notified us of their presence in Qatar to discuss this plan. The choice remains entirely with each citizen, but these are our recommendations and the assistance we can organise,' the minister said.

On Iraq, she noted that two Romanian citizens are receiving consular assistance and that individual solutions are being sought.

'The risk is extremely high, which is why we believe their safety is better ensured if they remain sheltered. As you know, we also have a group of Romanian soldiers there, near the NATO base. Their security is important, but speaking of a NATO base, NATO has shown and continues to show its defensive capability,' Toiu added.

In Iran, she said that eight requests for consular assistance have been registered. 'We have been in contact with the community there since mid-January. At that time, we raised the alert level to 9 out of 9 - 'Do not travel, leave immediately'.'

In Kuwait, about 250 Romanians are under consular monitoring, of whom 100 have expressed their intention to return to Romania soon. 'The risk in Kuwait remains very high, which means our recommendation is to prioritise personal safety and stay sheltered. We are evaluating, for the moment when it becomes possible, land routes to countries with open airspace, from where commercial flights can be used, or, in high-risk or medical cases, individualised solutions,' the foreign minister said.

In Lebanon, Oana Toiu said there are around 150 Romanian citizens under consular monitoring. 'The recommendations are similar to those for Kuwait - prioritising personal safety, staying sheltered, and assessing options for transfer to countries from which they can return by air,' the minister added.

In Saudi Arabia, where about 100 people are under consular attention, the Foreign Ministry is discussing transport options with travel agencies and airlines. Information will be sent both to citizens already in Saudi Arabia and to those who may choose to transfer there from Qatar.

'As for the United Arab Emirates, the numbers here fluctuate quite a lot, especially since commercial flights have resumed. At this point, of all Romanian citizens who were in the Middle East at the start of the crisis, about 1,000 have already returned through assisted repatriation or commercial flights. We currently have several hundred minors in the UAE. They, along with medical cases, are the priority for future planning. We are again discussing with travel agencies, airlines and UAE authorities to secure flight slots so that as many families as possible can fly directly from the Emirates, without needing a land transfer to Oman,' Toiu explained.

Regarding the group evacuated through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, she said the selection was based primarily on risk level. 'These include medical cases, and then children on unaccompanied by parents, on school trips, because the Romanian state has an additional responsibility there.'

Oana Toiu added that risk levels and alerts have been changed for several countries and urged citizens to check updates directly on the mae.ro website. 'At the moment, the 8 out of 9 warning level - 'Avoid all travel' - applies to Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Jordan. And countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Palestine remain at 9 out of 9 - 'Leave immediately',' the minister stressed. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Catalina Matei; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)