On December 1, Romania celebrates 104
years since the Great Union, a crucial moment — when “hope and history rhyme”,
to quote the Irish poet Seamus Heaney — in the country’s history, and the
culmination of the most important story of our evolution as a state, society
and democracy.
اضافة اعلان
On December 1, we
celebrate Romania, our freedom, our liberty, our independence, our people.
In the evolution of
a nation there are moments when the need for transformation, of the society and
the state, is obvious, when adapting to another context, to new realities is
vital for security, prosperity and even survival.
In 2022, nations
need to overcome many challenges: the post pandemic era, the February 24
unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, a long economic crisis
with global consequences related to food and energy security, and inflation.
But the bleak and gloomy is not part of diplomacy, and in no way part of my
personal appraisal of life, when optimism should prevail and support mankind in
making decisions.
The National Day of
Romania, the Great Union, is a reason for joy, a day for praising the
predecessors, the Romanian political elites inspired by a country project of
the 1848 generation and by great personalities like the American statesman
Woodrow Wilson, and our forerunners and founding fathers who fought for their
goals and reaching the ideal of the unity of a nation. That was an important
moment, an intrinsic European tendance that Romanians intelligently grasped to consolidate
our statehood and to accomplish the national unity that today we are proud of.
The democratic
values that guided the people in 1918 are the values that still guide our
nation today, when sharp sense, a strategic vision for a better and wealthy
future, continued efforts to consolidate our state as part of the Euro-Atlantic
community, a community based on respect for international law, human dignity,
freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, and for the rights of
minorities and cultural diversity are still required.
This is the second
time I have the privilege to celebrate the National Day in Jordan as ambassador
of Romania to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a very beautiful and culturally
rich country. In this capacity, it is my utmost privilege to mention and
commend the position and active role of Jordan in the region, as a key factor
of political equilibrium and moderation, as well as its stance as a longtime
and close partner in the Middle East in terms of diplomacy, security, and counterterrorism.
One of Romania’s
goals is to work to promote new initiatives and programs to bring peace,
stability and prosperity to this historically and geopolitically relevant
region. As a member of the EU, Romania contributes substantially to strong partnerships
across many sectors, mainly within the broader EU-Jordan Association Council.
Starting on January
1, 2023, the Romanian Embassy in Amman will take over the mandate of NATO
Contact Point Embassy, meant to enhance the relationship between the North
Atlantic allies and the partners in the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue. This will
provide another opportunity to work together with Jordan to prevent and counter
common threats.
The nearly 14,000 Jordanian citizens who graduated from universities in Romania and are now successful specialists with considerable experience in various fields, and enjoy the respect of their communities, are clear evidence of decades of traditional and unbroken ties between Romania and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Trust is key in our
bilateral relationship; it came about as a result of a longstanding and
substantial history together, joint interests and strong ties between our
peoples. For generations we understood that our most valuable resource is
represented by our citizens and that is why Romania and Jordan focus more and
more on education as a strong bridge between our cultures.
The nearly 14,000
Jordanian citizens who graduated from universities in Romania and are now
successful specialists with considerable experience in various fields, and
enjoy the respect of their communities, are clear evidence of decades of
traditional and unbroken ties between Romania and the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan. Furthermore, in my country there is genuine interest, both at
governmental and academic levels, in strengthening bilateral cooperation within
this important area. Currently, up to 100 scholarships in different areas and
at different levels (bachelor, master, PhD) are being granted. A new
inter-governmental protocol was signed. Direct relationships between Romanian
and Jordanian universities are another effective tool of increasing student and
teacher exchange, including through participation in European programs that we
encourage and support.
Like education,
economy has a direct impact on the future of the world. Jordan is one of the
most important economic partners of Romania, and the 57 years of diplomatic
ties have greatly contributed to the development of the bilateral economic,
investment and trade relations.
Nowadays, our
countries have strongly committed to strengthening our excellent cooperation
and trade partnership, with viable outcomes that benefit both our nations. By
2021, our total bilateral trade stood at almost $0.5 billion, a 65 percent
increase over 2020. Bilateral trade has witnessed a constant upward trend in
recent years, benefiting both economies. An extended partnership between our
countries will no doubt help increase Jordan’s exports to Romania. There is
certainly great potential to increase the value and expand the structure of our
bilateral trade, and we can do this by working together to identify new
opportunities.
Nowadays, when
global challenges are so diverse, we should focus on increasing the role of the
two business communities, and creating the best conditions to stimulate a
sustainable economic growth by intensifying direct contacts, exchanging
business opportunities, and working in economic and investment projects.
Although indicators show that our bilateral relations are on a solid footing,
we believe that there is still room for the development of our historical
partnership. This should be done through increased cooperation and partnership
in the field of food security.
Political
diplomatic dialogue is at the highest level as well. This year — when Romania
celebrates 160 years of diplomacy — was particularly successful in our
bilateral relationship. We have witnessed constant interaction between the
leaderships of our countries, which in turn enabled us to strengthen
cooperation, trade and investment. For the upcoming 2023, we are aiming for a
more enhanced high-level dialogue highlighting the special relationship and
partnership between Romania and Jordan. And there are good premises for this
goal.
The National Day of
Romania’s celebration looks different this year as we are all contending with
old and new sets of complex challenges. We passed through a pandemic with
global consequences, we experience anxieties due to the effects of climate
change, security uncertainty and unrest in many parts of the world, and
economies worldwide face challenges due to the war in Ukraine.
Only by standing
together can we overcome the present challenges, with wisdom and intelligence,
with resilience and mindfulness of the UN Charter and the fundamental
principles of international law.
On this special
occasion, I wish Jordan, as well as my fellow Romanians and their families, the
best of health, happiness, peace and prosperity!
George Cristian Maior is the ambassador of Romania to the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan.
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