Romania Embassy Marks 98 Years Unification & Extolls Ties with Georgia

In a reception attended by the representatives of various diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia, as well as members of Georgian parliament and government, international organizations and media representatives, H.E. the Ambassador of Romania to Georgia, Mr. Radu-Liviu Horumba opened the occasion to celebrate the National Day of Romania.

“On December 1, 1918, 98 years ago, for the first time in the long history of my people, all the Romanian historical territories became united within the borders of one country, and we started building the modern state of Romania. The unity of the country and of the people is one of the most sacred values for the Romanians and, since then, it has been promoted and defended, many times with sacrifices and suffering.”

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the re-construction of Romanian society on the international recognized principles of democracy, rule of law and market economy commenced. “Therefore, December 1989, like December 1918, is another important mile-stone for the history of my country, marking the return of Romania into the large family of democratic countries, confirmed by our membership in the European Union and NATO,” the first Romanian diplomat stated.

In 2017, the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Romania and Georgia will be marked, which coincides also with the anniversary of 10 years since Romania became a full-fledged member of the European Union. “I am very happy to note that these anniversaries will meet Georgia with a strong bind to the EU through the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement. I am also proud to recall the fact that Romania was the first EU Member State to ratify these important international documents, which reflect also our firm support for the Georgian European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” he said.

The ambassador also talked about the similar histories of two countries:

“The relations and contacts between the peoples of Romania and Georgia are deeply rooted in the history of our region. Our history is similar and we have in common our constant struggle for independence and the preservation of our national identity and our Orthodox faith.”

Mr. Horumba remembered the figure of Anthim the Iberian, a Georgian born arch-bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as an emblematic symbol of the long historical relations, “who left a deep mark in the Romanian culture in the 18th Century with his spiritual and academic writings and personal contribution to the introduction and development of the typographic craft in Romanian language. Today, he is praised and celebrated as a Saint of the Romanian Orthodox Church, every year on the day September 27, and the 300 years since his demise was commemorated this year both in Romania and Georgia.”

Next year, the anniversary of 25 years of bilateral relations between Romania and Georgia will happen in the year when the final decision on EU visa liberalization for Georgian citizens will be adopted, which in the Romanian Ambassador’s words, will “enhance the dialogue between the two countries, including the economic projects in the fields of transports and energy corridors, both in the Black Sea basin and in the framework of the transit connections between Europe and Asia, as well as tourism, education and culture.”

Davit Zalkaliani, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, congratulated the Romanian people on their national day from the party of the Georgian authorities.

“I am glad to note that our cooperation, based on mutual respect, principles and values of support and historical friendship, is permanently becoming ever firmer. Romania is one of the most active supporters of Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.”

He thanked Romania for their contribution in the framework of the EUMM and also congratulated the country on its successful fulfillment of the function of NATO contact embassy in the years of 2013-2016.

“Romania and Georgia are geographically connected. The Black Sea does not separate us, it unites us. In this context, our wish is to maximally use the potential of cooperation, particularly in such spheres as transport and energy, as we represent the natural bridge between Europe and Asia,” the First Deputy Minister added.

Maka Lomadze