Romania mixes up France, Germany in commemorative brochure

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, left, looks at his Romanian counterpart, Bogdan Aurescu, as he receives a document celebrating 135-years of Germany - Romania diplomatic relations, during a joint press conference, in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, March 9, 2015. Steinmeier discussed the situation in Ukraine during talks with Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, along with other matters of mutual interest. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru/Mediafax Foto) ROMANIA OUT German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, left, looks at his Romanian counterpart, Bogdan Aurescu, as he receives a document celebrating 135-years of Germany - Romania diplomatic relations, during a joint press conference, in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, March 9, 2015. Steinmeier discussed the situation in Ukraine during talks with Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, along with other matters of mutual interest. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru/Mediafax Foto) ROMANIA OUT

By Associated Press March 9, 2015 1 min read

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) – Romanian officials were left red-faced after Germany’s foreign minister was handed a brochure with a map of France on Monday.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier received the gift from Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu at the end of a news conference to mark 135 years of diplomatic relations.

Romania’s Foreign Ministry later apologized, saying it had received the brochure in the morning containing the “regrettable technical error” – the colors of the German flag contained within the map of France – from national news agency Agerpres.

Aurescu apologized to Steinmeier during a visit later to the city of Sibiu. Steinmeier responded diplomatically, saying he hadn’t even noticed the gaffe, the ministry said.

Agerpres later apologized to both the German and Romanian foreign ministries for the mix-up.