Three Balkan States Attend US Embassy Jerusalem Opening

Delegates from three Balkan states attended the US embassy opening on Monday - two of which, Albania and Macedonia, had voted at the United Nations General Assembly in December to reject Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. 

Romania was one of five European Union member states to abstain in the vote. Joining forces with Hungary and the Czech Republic, Romania last week blocked a statement by the full 28-member EU to condemn the US embassy move, deepening a row with President Klaus Iohannis. 

Iohannis on Tuesday summoned Prime Minister Viorica Dancila to explain the government's policy, warning that "any change in the balanced stance Romania has adopted until now would only spark anxiety and unease."

Initial reports suggested that representatives of Serbia had also attended the embassy opening, but this was denied on Tuesday by Foreign Ministry officials in Belgrade.

The ministry said that the "Serbia's principled position of towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" included supported for a two-state solution to the conflict, "without prejudging the future status of Jerusalem, while respecting all relevant UN resolutions", Beta news agency reported.

The decision by US President Donald Trump has incensed Palestinians who claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Fifty-eight people were killed and 2,700 wounded as Palestinians protested at Israel's security fence along Gaza's eastern border and Israeli forces opened fire. 

Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday that all 86 countries with diplomatic missions in Israel were invited to the embassy inauguration. Thirty-two confirmed attendance.

Note: This article was amended on May 15 to include the...