France acting 'outside the norms': Romanian president
(BUCHAREST) - France is flouting European norms by expelling Roma immigrants, Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Thursday ahead of a visit by two French ministers.
"The French government is acting outside the norms of a European state," Basescu said, adding however that Romania's government and the Roma people themselves also shared responsibility for the current situation.
French Immigration Minister Eric Besson and Secretary of State for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche are set to visit Bucharest on Thursday.
Basescu said their trip would be "useless" if the two lectured Romania but added: "If they are coming to find solutions, we will find solutions."
France has come in for heavy criticism after the expulsions of nearly 1,000 Roma to Bulgaria and Romania since the government of President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a high profile security crackdown in June.
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