U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm does not have to vacate his office, since he is a career diplomat, the U.S. Embassy to Bucharest told Mediafax on Saturday.
“The measure is not applicable to Ambassador Hans Klemm, who is a career diplomat,” the U.S. Embassy informed.
Hans Klemm became U.S. ambassador to Romania in September 2015. Prior to that, he was main deputy of the secretary of state’s assistant within the Human Resources Bureau and, from July 2013 to December 2014, interim director general of the Diplomatic Service and interim personnel director of the U.S. State Department. In 2012, Klemm was main U.S. representative at APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, and since 2010 he led all U.S. civil and military rule of law programmes in Afghanistan. He also served multiple mandates in Japan and worked for the U.S. embassies in Bonn, Seoul and Port of Spain.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal from office of all political ambassadors appointed by his predecessor Barack Obama, according to sources quoted by ‘The Independent.’
Donald Trump has asked the ambassadors appointed by Barack Obama to vacate their offices on January 20, even though their replacements have not been named yet. The decision affects approximately 80 U.S. ambassadors to foreign countries and international organisations.
ForMin Melescanu meets U.S. Ambassador Klemm, emphasises importance of direct dialogue
Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu on Friday met U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm, on which occasion the Romanian chief diplomat underscored the need for the U.S. Embassy to have direct dialogue with the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) and governmental authorities, not a dialogue through the media, a release of the Ministry informed.
“During the talks, the Foreign Affairs Minister firmly argued the need for the US Embassy to have a direct dialogue, not one through the media, with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and governmental authorities, in accordance with the spirit of the strategic partnership relations, with the observance of the diplomatic standards and practices,” reads the release.
According to the MAE, the two officials referred, during the meeting, to the relevance of the strategic partnership between Romania and the U.S. and mentioned the importance of further developing it, on all its dimensions.
In context, the Romanian side recalled the Government’s commitment, reflected in the governance platform, to strengthen the relations with the U.S., the release points out.
ForMin Melescanu: I assured Ambassador Klemm I’m capable of understanding very direct messages
Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu stated on Friday that he assured U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm, during the meeting they had that day, that he is capable of understanding very direct messages and that “it is not normal when there are certain topics of interest for bilateral affairs they be brought to knowledge through the press”.
“There was a discussion which, from my point of view, started from a very clear point, namely that Romania is a sovereign state, an ally of the United States of America and a partner state of the U.S.,” the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated at the MAE headquarters.
He emphasised the importance of the bilateral partnership.
“In our view, the current Government’s view, the continuation and development of the strategic partnership with the U.S. is one of the priorities that we have assumed and we will do everything in our power for this partnership to develop, to expand, being [a partnership] with the most important partner that we have internationally,” the Foreign Affairs Minister stated.
Furthermore, the head of Romanian diplomacy added that important messages must be sent directly, between institutions.
“At the same time, I have referred to the fact that it is not normal that when certain topics of interest for bilateral relations exist, they be brought to knowledge through the press. I have assured the ambassador that I am capable of understanding when I am spoken to very directly and that we hope such things not happen in the future,” Teodor Melescanu said.
He added that the discussion did not touch on specific cases.
“I have referred to the fact that when there are things to convey, they should be conveyed institutionally (…) and not through the press. I did not discuss any concrete topics, it was a discussion about principles, which I believe clarified the way our government sees the collaboration with the United States and all the embassies present in Bucharest,” Melescanu said.
U.S. Embassy: Ambassador Klemm noted the United States’ commitment to strengthening our strategic partnership
“The Embassy of the United States in Bucharest acknowledges that Ambassador Hans Klemm met Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu earlier today. The Ambassador congratulated the Minister on his appointment, and noted the United States’ commitment to strengthening our strategic partnership, a partnership based on shared values and the common goals of promoting regional security, economic prosperity and the rule of law. The United States Embassy values its ongoing dialogue with the Government and other institutions of the Romanian state, as well as with the Romanian public on matters of mutual concern,” a press statement issued by the U.S. Embassy on Friday informed.
