Romanian President Ion Iliescu has invited ex-king Michael to visit Bucharest in a move aimed at ending their strained relations, a presidential spokesman said.
The former monarch, who lives in exile in Switzerland, has been invited to attend an art exhibition being staged in the former royal palace in Bucharest, said presidential adviser Octavian Stireanu.
He described the invitiation as of "deep political significance" and in line with Iliescu's aim of normalising Romanian society. This included re-establishing ties betwen the state and its former sovereign.
The ex-king's attempts to return to Romania have been rebuffed several times previously by Iliescu.
Michael has never recognised Romania's republican constitution adopted in 1991 but had courteous relations with the previous 1996-2000 administration of Christian-Democrat president Emil Constantinsescu.
The ex-king was stripped of his nationality by the communists shortly after he was forced to abdicate in 1947. It was restored to him in 1997 – BUCHAREST (AFP)
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