King and President do not meet yet

King Mihai yesterday declined President Ion Iliescu’s invitation to attend the re-opening of Modern Art Gallery at the National Art Museum planned for March 24.

The former sovereign sent only a message to be read during the festivity. “Unfortunately and in spite of all the attempts, His Majesty cannot be present in Bucharest over that period of time, due to several obligations that cannot be postponed,” specifies the former sovereign’s Press Office.

“The king and his family hope to come home as soon as possible. The dialogue with the authorities will maintain in the meanwhile,” reads the statement.

The Presidents’ invitation addressed to the former sovereign is turnabout in Ion Iliescu’s public attitude towards King Mihai. According to the President’s counsellor Octavian atireanu, the invitation is a proof of reconciliation addressed to the King. Some analysts consider that the invitation allegedly included the indirect pledge that the King would be granted a residence in Romania.

“The king’s juridical and inheritance claims repeatedly submitted to the authorities will certainly be solved by the Justice,” atireanu said. Ion Iliescu’s personal invitation letter was sent to Versoix on Saturday, through the presidential counsellors Victor Opaschi and Ioan Talpes. King Mihai handed the counsellors a personal reply to Ion Iliescu’s invitation.

The position of Cotroceni Palace regarding the Royal House has been rather cold so far, during Ion Iliescu’s mandates. The former sovereign was denied the visa to enter Romania in 1990.

He received it in 1992, when he visited the county on the eve of Easter, but he was expelled in 1994, when he next visited Romania.

Mihai I received again the Romanian citizenship in 1997 and visited Cotroceni Palace only during the mandate of Emil Constantinescu.