MFA Spokesman's comments in response to a Romanian Foreign Ministry Press Release

MFA SPOKESMAN'S COMMENTS

In response to a Romanian Foreign Ministry Press Release which noted that the Romanian authorities are waiting for an official response from Singapore on the International Rogatory Commission, the MFA Spokesman said:

"Frankly we were baffled by these comments. As our Press Statement released earlier today had made abundantly clear, the Romanian Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Aurelian Neagu, had been informed by MFA this morning that Singapore agreed with the Romanian proposal to form a Joint Technical Working Group (or Rogatory Commission).

The message was conveyed to the Romanian Ambassador by the Second Permanent Secretary of MFA together with two MFA Directors and two members of the Attorney-General's Chambers. Needless to say, these officials were acting on instructions from their superiors and we did not know how more official our response could have been."

After MFA sought clarification from the Romanian Embassy in Singapore earlier this evening, the Secretary of State for Global Affairs of the Romanian Foreign Ministry (similar to our Permanent Secretary), Mr Doru Costei, contacted our Second Permanent Secretary to explain that their Press Release had been issued before they had read their Ambassador's report of his meeting with MFA. Mr Costei welcomed Singapore's agreement to set up the Joint Technical Working Group (Rogatory Commission) and said that they were working to send a team to Singapore soon. Mr Costei added that the Romanian MFA would issue a press release to clarify the situation.

The MFA Spokesman said that with this clarification from Mr Costei, this misunderstanding was considered closed. He welcomed Mr Costei's assurance that a Romanian team would be sent to Singapore soon, adding that it was important that justice be served expeditiously.

Bucharest is five hours behind Singapore time. MFA's meeting with Ambassador Neagu concluded at approximately 10 am Singapore time, that is about 5 am in Bucharest.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
9 APRIL 2010