The only EU state that still has an operational diplomatic embassy in Damascus

World News Nilgun Salim
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Romania, the only EU state member with a diplomatic embassy in Damascus, will provide assistance and consular protection to Portuguese citizens established in Syria, while Portugal will do the same for the Romanian citizens from Guinea Bissau and Mozambique after the two states have signed an agreement on Tuesday in Bucharest, reports News.ro.

“Considering both the traditional presence of the Portuguese Republic in the two African countries and the possibilities of managing the consular situation by the Portuguese diplomatic missions of the two mentioned states, the provisions of the first document, the Portuguese side will assume the assistance and protection of the Romanian citizens from both countries.

In the same time, as recognition of the capacity to resolve cases of protection and consular assistance in a conflict zone, the second document establishes the acquisition of protection and consular assistance for the benefit of Portuguese citizens by Romania, the only EU state member with an operational diplomatic mission in Damascus.”

The Ministry of External Affairs states that the initiative of concluding the two agreements took place within the general efforts to ensure the highest standards of assistance and consular protection for the Romanian citizens”, includes a press release issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE).

Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, Romania remained the only country that has maintained its diplomatic mission in Damascus on a permanent basis and has given consular assistance to Western citizens on many occasions at the request of their countries of origin.

Most Western states withdrew their staff from embassies in Syria.