Romanian FM Concerned About Tourists Stopped At Moldovan Border

“I have requested an explanation from the Moldovan Foreign Ministry regarding the reasons why Romanian nationals are systematically denied access to Moldova. We have expressed our concern and worry about the way in which these citizens have been treated. We will not start a public dispute, as there is also an electoral contest I don’t wish to comment on,” Diaconescu told a press conference.

 

Diaconescu said European citizens should be able to travel freely in Europe.

 

“Given that dozens of Romanians had to unboard trains without any explanation, we wish to know the explanations and what is expected from Romanian authorities. We know exactly what we expect, a cooperative spirit,” Diaconescu mentioned.

 

Sixteen Romanian tourists riding the international train on the route Bucharest - Chisinau said they were halted in Ungheni customs Thursday night and Moldovan customs officers denied them access to the Republic of Moldova.

 

The tourists said they will file a complaint to the police about the incident. They said they were denied access to Romania’s neighboring country to the east, were told to get off the train and were sent back to Iasi, eastern Romania, on another train.

 

"We were asked to get off the train, we got no explanations. We were kept in an unheated room and then taken back to Iasi,” one of the tourists said.

 

On Thursday, members of county councils in Iasi and Vaslui, who were supposed to attend a meeting in the Republic of Moldova, were also denied access to the neighboring country without receiving any explanations.